Savage Street Church of Christ

01292017archaeologyandthechristian2donruhl

Archaeology and the Christian #2 

Second Kings 13.20–21

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • January 22, In the year of our Lord, 2017

Scripture Reader and Reading: Paul Hannan – Second Kings 13.20–21

Song Leader and Song Suggestions: Phil Joseph – Songs on Faith

Persuasion: 

1. Should Danger Stop Us? 
   1. No, but we should prepare for danger.
   2. It should not shock us,
      
      12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy (1Pe 4.12–13).
      
2. Will Discovery of the Ark Change People? 
   1. No one has claimed that it will change the whole world.
      1. Some, yes.
      2. Some, no.
   2. Same as with all biblical truth.
   3. Some Christians speak against the search for the ark in three ways:
      1. First, they say it will not change anyone,
         1. which I think overstates the issue, and
         2. no one makes the that it will anyway.
      2. Second, they say that it will never be found.
         1. Why are we are able to find other things, but
         2. for some reason Noah’s Ark seems to be off the table for them.
      3. Third, they say we should not try to find it.
         1. These same people do not speak against other archaeological work.
         2. Other biblical archaeological work was difficult to find.
3. Biblical Writers Used Archaeology 
   1. If they did, we should.
      1. I started with a list last week of the biblical use of archaeology, and
      2. I will continue that tonight, showing more evidence.
   2. Why do you accept the truth of Scripture?
      1. Merely because you grew up with it?
      2. You should know the evidences for Scriptures and its contents.
4. Does the Bible support the use of archaeology, or 
   1. is this just an invention of weak Christians
   2. who need it to make them feel good about the Bible?
      1. If the events recorded in Scripture truly happened,
      2. we should see evidence of at least some of it in the world.
         1. I believe that archaeology shows
         2. the events of Scripture happened in the real world, and
            1. that supports the idea that Scripture came from God, and
            2. that whatever else the Bible says is likewise true.
   3. Archaeology alone is not enough, but
      1. it is one of many evidences,
         
         “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established” (2Co 13.1).
         
      2. What other evidences support what the Bible says?
5. Does the Bible Reference Archaeology? 
   1. Does the Bible in anyway refer to things we would classify as archaeology?
   2. The Pillar of Rachel’s Grave (Gen 35.20; 1Sa 10.2).
   3. The Stones in the Jordan (Jos 4.9).
   4. The Stones of Achan (Jos 7.26; 8.28–29).
   5. The Altar of Gideon (Jdg 6.24).
   6. The Ark’s Stone (1Sa 6.18).
   7. Second Samuel 18 says that Absalom had set up a pillar,
      
      18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King’s Valley. For he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument (2Sa 18.18).
      
   8. Second Kings 2 presents something the author could substantiate,
      
      19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.” 20 And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. 21 Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’” 22 So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke (2Ki 2.19–22).
      
   9. Matthew 27 says concerning the field that was bought with the betrayal money,
      
      8 “Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day” (Matt 27.8).
      
   10. John 4 speaks of Jacob’s well,
       
       5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph… 12 “Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” (John 4.5, 12).
       
   11. Acts 2 is the first sermon in the Gospel age and
       1. it has a reference to archaeology,
          
          29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day” (Acts 2.29).
          
       2. Whereas, they could go to the tomb of Jesus and find it empty.
   12. Some things cannot be confirmed by archaeology or rather paleontology, that is digging stuff up:
       
       6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day (Deu 34.6).
       
6. Archaeology Confirms Prophecy 
   1. Archaeology shows that this prophecy of Babylon is true,
      
      17 “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them,
      Who will not regard silver;
      And as for gold, they will not delight in it.
      18 Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces,
      And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb;
      Their eye will not spare children.
      19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,
      The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride,
      Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
      20 It will never be inhabited,
      Nor will it be settled from generation to generation;
      Nor will the Arabian pitch tents there,
      Nor will the shepherds make their sheepfolds there.
      21 But wild beasts of the desert will lie there,
      And their houses will be full of owls;
      Ostriches will dwell there,
      And wild goats will caper there.
      22 The hyenas will howl in their citadels,
      And jackals in their pleasant palaces.
      Her time is near to come,
      And her days will not be prolonged.”
      (Isa 13.17–22)
      
      1. We can say the same about Egypt, but in a different way,
         
         13 “Yet, thus says the Lord GOD: ‘At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered. 14 I will bring back the captives of Egypt and cause them to return to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin, and there they shall be a lowly kingdom. 15 It shall be the lowliest of kingdoms; it shall never again exalt itself above the nations, for I will diminish them so that they will not rule over the nations anymore (Eze 29.13–15).
         
   2. Archaeology helps to destroy men’s theories.
      1. Some said writing was not in existence in Moses’ time.
         1. Discoveries show writing 100’s years before.
      2. Some say Hittites did not exist.
         1. Archaeology shows they did.
      3. Some say Ur of Chaldees, where Abraham was from, did not exist.
         1. Archaeology shows it did.
      4. Some say the Exodus never happened, but
         1. the film and book Patterns of Evidence show that it did.
7. Archaeology Can Be Misinterpreted 
   1. Shroud of Turin
      1. A simply reading of the Gospels shows
      2. the Shroud of Turin cannot be the burial cloth of Jesus.
      3. John 20,
         
         4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there,7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself (John 20.4–7).
         
   2. Popular Mechanics articles
      1. This magazines took a couple of swipes at the Bible,
      2. which I have addresses in sermons 12 to 14 years ago.

Exhortation:

1. Our seminar this year is on archaeology. 
2. Here is the line of reasoning that we all need to see. 
   1. The Bible is a historical document.
   2. Archaeology substantiates that claim.
   3. Therefore, whatever the Bible says is true.
      1. What it says about the past is accurate.
      2. What it says about us now is on target.
      3. What it says shall happen in the future, you know will happen.
3. Have the dead, the things of the past, spoken to you tonight? 
   1. Do you see that the events of Scripture are not inventions of the writers?
      1. In Acts 26, Paul said something to a king,
      2. that I believe is true, and
         1. I hope you believe is true, but
         2. if you are not yet persuaded,
            1. be sure to be here for our seminar,
               
               26 “For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner” (Acts 26.26).
               
            2. The world has never been the same since Jesus Christ lived here.
               1. How has He affected you?
               2. Is He your Teacher yet?
   2. Archaeology shows that the things of Scriptures are true.
      1. If these things be true,
      2. what shall we do?
         1. We cannot ignore them.
         2. It means
            1. that there is a God in heaven,
            2. who sent His Son Jesus Christ
               1. to live and to die
               2. that we might be saved from the coming condemnation.
                  1. It means further that what is coming
                  2. is the final Judgment,
                     1. which begins after God sends His Son Jesus again.
                     2. Yes, we all shall see Him this time.
                        1. Are you ready for that moment?
   3. If the Bible, and
      1. if the Earth and the things on the Earth, and
      2. if history,
         1. all came from the same God,
         2. they should all synched together perfectly.