CLAY TABLETS AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

By Dr. M. R. Dowler

Several months ago over a hundred ancient clay tablets were on display at the Bible Land Museum in Jerusalem. The 2,500 year-old Babylonian cuneiform tablets, discovered in modern-day Iraq, reveals a snapshot picture of everyday life of the Israelites during the Babylonian captivity around 600 BC. Another amazing detail is how these artifacts, discovered in a Muslim country found their way to a Jewish museum.

Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon during the two invasion waves that carried away thousands of Israelites into seventy years of forced exile. Biblical writers Daniel and Ezekiel were two Israelite captives that spent most of their lives as strangers in a strange land. Interestingly, another clay tablet on display in the British Museum mentions Nebuchadnezzar specifically by name as well as details of some of his military incursions. While analyzing the ancient cuneiform writings on the baked tablet, biblical archaeologists were excited to see what appears to be the Hebrew name of God carved into the surface.

History and the Bible both tell us that Nebuchadnezzar was a ruthless and narcissistic king. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was built by this arrogant ruler. And let’s not forget the massive 90-foot high gold statue to which three Hebrew young men were thrown into a fiery furnace for not bowing to the king’s false image. God ultimately humbled Nebuchadnezzar to the point that the king declared that there is no other God than the most High God (Daniel 3:26, 29). His declaration was a direct acknowledgement of God’s absolute sovereignty.

Sovereignty is defined as to be superior in position or power; to be independent of and unlimited by any other. Theologically, God’s sovereignty is referenced throughout the scriptures; however, the Psalms gives us a panoramic view of His sovereignty. He is the King Supreme (Psalm 29:10; 47:2); His name is over all (Psalm 83:10); His majesty is everywhere (Psalm 93:1), and He does as He pleases (Psalm 135:5-6). Archaeology does not prove the Bible; it merely validates the truths of God’s Word already established, and, as in the case of the Babylonian clay tablets, the majestic sovereignty of Almighty God. Think about it.

THE INCREDIBLE REGENERATING ZEBRA FISH

By Dr. M. R. Dowler

Walk into any tropical fish store and invariably you will find a tank of zebra fish. Commonly harvested from India, Pakistan and Burma and imported to the United States, the zebra fish (AKA Zebra Danio) is a tiny freshwater guppy-like striped fish, hence the name. Cheap in price and with a playful disposition, the zebra fish is considered a good starter fish for beginner aquarists. And while the zebra fish can be a colorful addition to your aquarium, there is a lot more to this tiny striped fish than meets the eye.

The zebra fish shares a unique ability with certain lizards allowing them to regenerate fins, skin, hearts, and in the case of the zebra fish, portions of their brains can be regenerated during the early stages of their development. Biologists report that zebra fish shares 70 percent of their genetic code with human. In fact, the tiny zebra fish is a genetic rock star in that researchers around the world are studying the applicability of the zebra fish’s regenerative abilities to the development of cures for human diseases like macular degeneration, glaucoma, leukemia, spinal cord injuries and many birth defects.

Spiritual Regeneration is defined as the spiritual transformation (literally, “regeneing”) of the repentant sinner through the new birth (John 3:3-8). The Bible pictures sinners as spiritually deaf, blind and dead, unable to understand truth (Romans 3:9-20). The idea of regeneration is pictured twice in the New Testament (Matthew 19:28 and Titus 3:5), and because of His finished work of salvation, spiritual regeneration is possible for Adam's entire race (1 Corinthians 15:45).

Theologically, conversion and regeneration are linked. As two sides of a coin, conversion is the human response to God’s offer of salvation (Acts 3:19), while regeneration is completely God’s doing; it is His response to our acceptance of Jesus as Savior (2 Corinthians 5:17). Although God created man without his man’s help, He will not save man without man’s consent. Science continues to study the zebra fish to understand natural regeneration; spiritual regeneration cannot be understood until it is fully experienced (Romans 10:9). Think about it.

ASK DAD!

By Dr. M. R. Dowler

Father’s Day is a holiday celebrated around the world on different dates ranging from April to September. In America, President Richard Nixon signed the bill in 1972 making the third Sun-day in June a national holiday. Sometimes dads get a bad rap; often characterized as being hapless and clueless to many common daily situations. And while it may appear as if Dad is the last to know; in God’s eyes, fathers are to be the guardians and communicators of spiritual truth in their respective families (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

The Apostle Paul visited the northern Greek city of Berea on his second missionary journey, although the biblical narrative of his visit comprises only four verses (Acts 17:10-14). I had the opportunity to visit the city (today called Veria) on a cold, drizzly day in 2011, standing on all that remains of the ancient synagogue. The Bereans serves as one of the best examples of biblical critical thinking. And verse 11 is the key; they listened with an open mind and heart and then searched the scriptures to verify the accuracy of the information.

We live in a day of biblical ignorance and doctrinal anemia, undoubtedly contributing to the lack critical thinking among Christians, who blindly turn to the Bible without taking time to think about the information communicated. The ancient Bereans knew the scriptures because they critically analyzed the message, made an evaluation and applied Paul's teaching to their lives. Sadly, most modern-day believers do not follow the Berean model; they’re too busy with church work and special projects to receive, dissimulate, and then communicate the truth to their family and friends.

It is important for everyone, especially fathers to have a basic knowledge of the scriptures. Jesus said it is the written Word of God that brings salvation and eternal life (John 5:39). Theologically, the Bible is the only source document we have about the life and mission of the Savior (Romans 15:4; 1 Peter 1:23). So in a world that is groping in the dark for the answers to the questions of life, love and livelihood, ask your (or a) dad. Hopefully, he will have searched the scriptures and will have a ready answer (1 Peter 3:15). Think about it. Happy Father’s Day.

THE CONFIDENCE OF INSPIRATION

By Dr. M. R. Dowler

It is truly amazing how quickly events transpire once set into motion. The Watergate Scandal of the 1970s is an example. In June, 1972 five men with connections to the White House were arrested while burglarizing the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate Office Complex in Washington. Twenty-six dizzyingly-rapid months later President Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace in August 1974 as a result of his involvement in the scandal and its subsequent cover-up.

The Senate Select Watergate Committee Hearings was at the very heart of the scandal, impaneled to thoroughly investigate who did what, when; or as committee member Senator Howard Baker’s question that later became an oft-quoted catch-phrase, “What did the President know and when did he know it?” Interestingly, all three television networks (ABC, NBC and CBS) broadcast the hearings, and ratings indicate that eighty-five percent of the American adult population had watched at least a portion of the 319 hours of hearings.

The inspiration of the scriptures is at the very heart of Evangelical Theology; it is the Greek word “theopneustos” meaning God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). Theologically, revelation (the message from God to man) is a vertical action, while inspiration is a horizontal action. Simply stated, inspiration is the supernatural influence on the writers of scripture by the Holy Spirit that what they were writing was (and still is) the absolute truth.

The Bible is the only religious text that invites investigation (John 5:39). Openness to belief must precede the reception of the truth (Acts 2:41; 17:11). Ancient Judaism knew God because they painstakingly scrutinized the written truth He conveyed. The US Senate investigated the events of the Watergate scandal leading to the indictment of sixty-nine people and twenty-five convictions. Conversely, biblical inspiration produces confidence in the truth allowing us to investigate the scriptures even further. So check out the Bible, really! Think about it