INTERESTING FACTS : Richard Stockton, JUDGE; SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

 

"[A]s my children will have frequent occasion of perusing this instrument, and may probably be particularly impressed with the last words of their father, I think it proper here not only to subscribe to the entire belief of the great and leading doctrines of the Christian religion, such as the being of God; the universal defection and depravity of human nature; the Divinity of the person and the completeness of the redemption purchased by the blessed Savior; the necessity of the operations of the Divine Spirit; of Divine faith accompanied with an habitual virtuous life; and the universality of the Divine Providence: but also, in the bowels of a father's affection, to exhort and charge [my children] that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, that the way of life held up in the Christian system is calculated for the most complete happiness that can be enjoyed in this mortal state, [and] that all occasions of vice and immorality is injurious either immediately or consequentially - even in this life."

 

DAILY READING :  JOB 24 - 28

 

TEXT : Job 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.;  27:8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?  27:9 Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?  27:10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?; Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

 

THEME : HYPOCRISY

 

The Bible is the truth, all truth. It does not matter what subject the Bible speaks on, it always states what is true. Some Bible teachers acquiesce to the pressure of science, for instance, when the Bible seems to state something scientifically inaccurate. They defend the Bible by saying the Word of God only speaks the truth on morality or spirituality. Others subjects, according to these Bible teachers, are not necessarily accurate. However, the Bible, written by God, could not contain any errors on any subject. If it did, God - who is Truth, could not be its' Author. The logic is simple.

 

Thus, we find a fascinating statement in Job 26:7 about the earth "hanging on nothing." How could Job know this? Even more so, if Job is the oldest Book in the Bible as some many scholars claim.

 

Christian Evidence Ministries states -

 

"Throughout the centuries philosophers, theologians and scientists have speculated about the resting place of planet earth.  Upon what or whom the earth is resting became an important part of mythology in many ancient cultures.  To the ancient Greeks the candidates were Atlas or Hercules.  The Hindus believed that elephants or turtles were the pillars upon which the earth rested. The fact of a free floating earth was apparently foreign to most ancient cultures.  In a world where all objects fall rapidly to their destruction, such a suggestion must have been terrifying.  However, in the book of Job, commonly believed to be the oldest book in the Bible, we find an astonishing piece of scientific foreknowledge.  While speaking of the incredible power of God, Job states of the earth."[1]

 

Thus, we have an amazing piece of evidence for the inspiration of the Bible. This implies, God wrote the Bible, all that is in it - whether it is science, archeology, geography, physics etc., and it is all true. The reason is simple - God is the Author, and He directed men to write what He told them, even when they did not understand, or fully understand, the words they themselves penned. This is inspiration.

 

"Job 26:7 - He stretcheth out the north - This whole passage is particularly interesting as giving a view of the cosmology which prevailed in those early times. Indeed, as has been already remarked, this poem, apart from every other consideration, is of great value for disclosing to us the prevailing views on the subject of astronomy, geography, and many of the arts, at a much earlier period than we have an account of them elsewhere. The word north here denotes the heavens as they appear to revolve around the pole, and which seem to be stretched out as a curtain. The heavens are often represented as a veil, an expanse, a curtain, or a tent; see Isa_34:4, note; Isa_40:22, note.

 

Over the empty place - על־תהוּ  ‛al-tôhû, "Upon emptiness, or nothing." That is, without anything to support it. The word used here (תהוּ  tôhû) is one of those employed Gen_1:2, "And the earth was without form and void." But it seems here to mean emptiness, nothing. The north is stretched out and sustained by the mere power of God.

 

And hangeth the earth upon nothing. - It has nothing to support it. So Milton:

 

"And earth self-balanced from her center hung."

 

There is no certain evidence here that Job was acquainted with the globular form of the earth, and with its diurnal and annual revolutions. But it is clear that he regarded it as not resting on any foundation or support; as lying on the vacant air, and kept there by the power of God." [ALBERT BARNES]

 

Further, the Bible makes more statements about the earth and the cosmos. Statements the prophets who wrote down the Word[s] of God may not have completely, understood themselves. More than likely they did not. Yet, they wrote down what the Spirit of God moved them to write. Dr. R.L. Hymers Jr. in a sermon entitled -" WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE WORLD  SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE "[2] states these facts written in the Bible centuries before science discovered them.

 

"Many people think there is a conflict between science and the Bible. Teachers in secular high schools and colleges tend to promote this view. But nothing could be farther from the truth. Some of the greatest scientists of all time believed in God, and the Bible, such as Sir Isaac Newton, who discovered the law of gravity and developed calculus. Sir Isaac Newton said,

 

"I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatever."

 

Lord Kelvin, who established thermodynamics as a science, said,

 

"With regard to the origin of life, science positively affirms creative power."

 

Dr. Wernher von Braun, space scientist, past director of NASA, who led in putting man on the moon, said,

 

"[It is] as difficult to understand a scientist who does not acknowledge the presence [of God] as it is to comprehend a theologian who would deny the advances of science."

 

Here's one they won't tell you in a secular university - even Albert Einstein grudgingly admitted the probability of God.

 

Ralph O. Muncaster says,

 

The decline in a scientific belief in God can be traced to Darwin's theory of evolution, introduced in 1860. This alternative to creation, combined with the prevalent theory of an infinite universe, caused many scientists to turn away from God and the Bible. But even as early as 1916, Einstein's general relativity breakthrough contained ample evidence to refute evolution with pure mathematical probability (Einstein begrudgingly admitted the probability of a Creator). Unfortunately, the world is slow to recognize the new scientific evidence supporting the Bible - and much outdated information is still in the textbooks of students. Scientific evidence of God is now increasing extremely rapidly - and gradually the scientific world is becoming aware of the many new breakthroughs (Ralph O. Muncaster, Science: Was the Bible Ahead of Its Time? Harvest House, 2000, p. 18).

 

I want to take you through several scientific insights given in the Bible, thousands of years before science "discovered" them.

 

I. First, the earth "hangs on nothing" in space.

 

Please turn to Job 26:7.

 

"He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing" (Job 26:7).

 

Dr. Henry M. Morris points out that

 

The "empty place" (Hebrew tohu) to the...earth [which] received its spherical form, in response to the gravitational force systems...then the north direction was defined when the earth began rotating about its axis. The north was surely stretched out, without limit, far into the infinite heavens.

 

Not only was the earth rotating, but it also began orbiting in space, suspended from the sun by "nothing" except the mysterious force of gravity, acting at a distance. This verse was written at least 3,500 years before Isaac Newton identified and described this force (Henry M. Morris, Ph.D., The Defender's Study Bible, World, 1995, pp. 583-584).

 

The Book of Job said this over 1,500 years before Christ. This verse indicates that the earth is suspended in space, and "hangeth...upon nothing" (Job 26:7).

 

At this same period in history the ancient Greeks believed that the earth rested on the back of a man named Atlas. The ancient Chinese believed that the earth rested on the back of a turtle. But God's Word said, "He...hangeth the earth upon nothing" (Job 26:7).

 

II. Second, the earth is a sphere.

 

As late as the fifteenth century, children were taught in school that the earth was flat. But Isaiah, writing in 700 B.C. gives the correct shape of the earth. Please turn to Isaiah 40:22.

 

"It is he [God] that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers..." (Isaiah 40:22).

 

The Hebrew word translated "circle" in the KJV is "khug." It means "sphere" or circle.

 

In his note on Proverbs 8:27, Dr. Henry M. Morris said,

 

"Compass" (Hebrew khug) is the same word as "circle" in Isaiah 40:22, as well as "compassed" in Job 26:10. All three clearly refer to the roundness of the earth, especially to the spherical nature of the sea level defining the global shape of the earth. The Bible never teaches a flat earth, though the charge is frequently made (Henry M. Morris, Ph.D., ibid, page 682).

 

Isaiah 40:22 was written a little over 700 years before Christ, two thousand seven hundred years ago. Yet it describes a round earth. At the same time, the Chinese thought that the world was square. Mesopotamians thought that the world was a floating boat, and people in the West thought the earth was flat. Yet all the time, the Bible declared that the earth is round!

 

III. Third, the earth is decaying, in accord with the second law of thermodynamics.

 

The second law of thermodynamics, the law of entropy, was discovered by Clausius in 1850. Entropy means that things run from order to disorder. Things decay over time. Energy is dissipated. Stars burn out. Springs unwind. The second law of thermodynamics is taught in the Bible. Please turn to Isaiah 51:6.

 

"Lift up your eyes to the heavens and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax [grow] old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner..." (Isaiah 51:6).

 

This text clearly shows the second law of thermodynamics: "the earth shall grow old like a garment." Regardless of all the work done in support of ecology, the world is still growing old, "like a garment," like the clothes you wear. We are now witnessing some of the effects of the earth's aging. This is one of the Biblical references to the phenomenon we now call "the second law of thermodynamics." Energy runs down. Things get old and die.

 

The second law of thermodynamics presents a strong argument against evolution. The theory of evolution teaches that things become more complex, while the second law of thermodynamics, the law of entropy, shows that things fall apart and become less complex. Study the second law of thermodynamics and you will find that it is a strong weapon against the theory of evolution. Many scientists realize this. That is why so many of them are turning to forms of theism (belief in God).

 

So, the Bible teaches that we live on a round earth that is suspended in space, and that time is running out for our world. The law of entropy, brought on by man's sin, is aging our world - as it rushes toward decay and judgment.

 

Turn to II Peter 3:10.

 

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (II Peter 3:10).

 

When the Day of the Lord ends, the very atoms (elements from stoicheion, meaning fundamental constituents) will melt with fervent heat. Man learned to split the atom in the twentieth century, and produced nuclear bombs capable of doing that which we read about in II Peter 3:10. This verse seems right up to date, but the nuclear explosion described here will be triggered by God, not man.

 

Then read verse eleven,

 

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" (II Peter 3:11).

 

The Bible also says,

 

"The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (I John 2:17).

 

Since the whole world, and everything in it, will be burned in a nuclear fire, we ought to live as godly Christians. And since the end of this world is coming, you should make certain that you are in Christ, washed by His Blood, and converted."

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "THE HOPE OF THE HYPOCRITE SHALL PERISH!" 

 

Dr. Hymers finished his sermon on the most importatnt truth of all - you must be converted. With all the proof the Bible offers as having God as its Author, you should obviously concern yourself with what it says about eternity and where you will spend it. The Bible is the truth - on all subjects, as mentioned. Therefore, when it tells us Man will spend eternity somewhere - Heaven or the Lake of Fire, we, naturally, should consider this fact seriously. That is, you must be born again. Further, once you are, there is a change in your thoughts, deeds, and behavior. Holiness becomes the goal as we are in the process of being changed into Christ's image and likeness. With this in mind, we come to the topic of hypocrisy and its inherent dangers.

 

The Easton Bible Dictionary define a hypocrite as -

 

One who puts on a mask and feigns himself to be what he is not; a dissembler in religion. Our Lord severely rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy (Mat_6:2, Mat_6:5, Mat_6:16). "The hypocrite's hope shall perish" (Job_8:13). The Hebrew word here rendered "hypocrite" rather means the "godless" or "profane," as it is rendered in Jer_23:11, i.e., polluted with crimes.

 

Strong's Lexicon defines a hypocrite similarly.

 

"An actor under an assumed character (stage player), that is, (figuratively) a dissembler ("hypocrite"): - hypocrite. [Note - A "dissembler is someone who puts up a false appearance to conceal the true facts, feelings, or intentions" RMB]

 

It is quite interesting that the word hypocrite [singular] is used 11 times in the Bible, and 6 of them are in Job! This make sense, since Job represents the hardships, pain, afflictions, and difficulties experienced by all true  Christians. Every follower of God [must] be persecuted [2Ti_3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution], tested and tried [ Jas_1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. /1Pe_1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ], whereas the hypocrite will not have any of these things in order to be a true follower of God [Gal_6:12  As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ]. The hypocrite is content with pretending, fooling men - including themselves, but never God.

 

Here are the 6 references to hypocrites found in Job.

 

Job_8:13  So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

 

Job_13:16  He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

 

Job_17:8  Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

 

Job_20:5  That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

 

Job_27:8  For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?

 

Job_34:30  That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

 

As with all pretense, there comes a day when it must challenged. The hypocrite, who professes to be born again, a follower of Christ, a member of the Body of Christ, a man or woman in pursuit of holiness, etc. will have all hope of Heaven cut off by death. What could be more horrible than going to Hell with a Bible in your hand, or its contents in your memory knowing you never obeyed God, but were only a pretender, an actor playing the role of a believer. In my mind nothing is more frightening than going to Hell with knowledge! Even more so when you recollect you did not have to be there [i.e. Hell].

 

"For what is the hope of the hypocrite? - The same sentiment which Job here advances had before been expressed by Bildad; see it explained in the notes at Job_8:13 following It had also been expressed in a similar manner by Zophar (see the notes on Job_20:5, and had been much insisted on in their arguments. Job now says that he fully accords with that belief. He was not disposed to defend hypocrisy; he had no sympathy for it. He knew, as they did, that all the joy of a hypocrite would be temporary, and that when death came it must vanish. He wishes that his remarks should not be construed so as to make him the advocate of hypocrisy or sin, and affirms that he relied on a more solid foundation of peace and joy than the hypocrite could possess. It was by explanations and admissions such as these that the controversy was gradually closed, and when they came fully to understand Job, they felt that they had nothing which they could reply to him." [ALBERT BARNES]

 

Jesus worst castigation was of the Pharisees - the religious leaders of the people of God [Israel]. Just a quick read of these verses from Matthew 23 gives us a clue to the behavior of the hypocrite, especially of those in authority in the Church. 7 times, Jesus tells the heads of Israel they are hypocrites, and will not see Heaven or the Kingdom of God.

 

Mat_23:13  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

 

Mat_23:14  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

 

Mat_23:15  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

 

Mat_23:23  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

 

Mat_23:25  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

 

Mat_23:27  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

 

Mat_23:29  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

 

Therefore, like Job, let our faith be genuine, our lives without reproach, our hearts clear of any duplicity. The world will reject us for the way we live and the Person we follow. However, when Christ appears, HeE will not reject us! Further, while the hope of the hypocrite perishes, our hope will not! It will remain for eternity in Heaven with the Master.