When you say, “this matter has been crystallized for me” – do you mean that you came to the insight through your own reflections and readings (etc.), or through instruction within the Church, or otherwise? I’m also curious whether this answer reflects what is true “for you” but not necessarily a teaching for everyone at WBC.
Btw, this week, I did read Leviticus 25, 26 and 27 in Hebrew (and some English and commentary) and I thought of you – because of the curses (e.g., 26:29), the yovel (25), etc. By the way, since it is a Biblical institution, would the WBC accept some types of slavery (25) and the prohibition on interest-bearing loans?
Also, at the risk of trying your patience, I am wondering, what does “your friend” mean? Is this a courtesy term or does it have substantive meaning?
I wish that next you would please go to the Hebrew and read Genesis 18 & 19. And then read Judges 19, 20 and 21, as they go together to make the full face of that horrible mess that almost disposed of the Tribe of Benjamin. That tribe never recovered in size from that event. Those two parallel events that are separated in time by some 100s of years have amazingly similar language. Then see Hosea 9:9 and some verses around it – but 9:9 for a reference that the prophet could have used the Genesis event, but instead used the Judges event. I love that. It is one of the ways that God blinds the eyes, etc. Per Isaiah 6 and several times harkened back to by our Lord and by Paul.
In answer to your first question, it is true for all men in all times and all places and it is all of those things. Remember first that if God does not open the eyes of our understanding, we get none! It comes from searching the words and the promised work of The Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit that will do various jobs to aid us, including these: Teach you all things. Guild you into all truth. Bring all things to your remembrance. Daniel said that knowledge would increase in these last days of all. The expositors say that includes this activity whereby we compare scripture to scripture. We do that. We see the practical face of it in our days. We apply these words of life and health and truth and happiness and more words on that, to the events. Paul told Timothy to STUDY, to show thyself approved unto God, a workman needing NOT to be ashamed, but rightly dividing the Word of Truth! That would be portioning it out in proper application. Remember this verse in line with this question of how do we arrive at any conclusions about anything:
Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
And this goodness:
Isaiah 26:7 The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
Oh and this one more:
Psalm 97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
I hope that you will come to the place where you say plainly that all of that great edumacation (yes, a mocking term) is counted as a pile of dung!
The words are good here:
Philippians 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
As for that next question, I would ask you if God has permitted the House of Israel to continue in the Temple of Solomon where the Glory of God met with his people. Thereby making it possible for you to follow the law. That you can do those things contained in the law, inasmuch as you have rejected your Messiah. WHO is able to let you remain in the land, or cause the very land to VOMIT you out? How about if you go to Leviticus 18 and check the words.
After that answer, now here is a better answer. Read Acts 10, et seq. Then read Galatians. Short read.
Understand this – your whipping out of the Slavery word is so that the mind of humans runs to the cruel face of Doomed american slavery. That was a voluntary servant/master arrangement, and inasmuch as God warned that you better treat your servant right, I would think that some righteous Jews did just that! But as you know, all of that ceremony is gone.
So is the argument that if the ceremony is gone, that the moral code must also go away. So then my question to you would be, is it okay to kill your neighbor? Rape a child? Rabbis and Priests and all other forms of lying preachers have been given over by God to rape children, and others and worse and more! How about if you reach over to Ezekiel 8 and see how that Hebrew reads.
All of those words in the law are excellent for understanding of what they are the TYPE of. So while the ceremony is gone, the lesson is good and relevant to this very day, and is profitable for learning and understanding! Especially today.
As for the loaning, we do NOT loan money to our brother in need and then make money from that process. We use everything that we have to serve our God and that necessarily includes ministering to the saints in this earth! Everything I have under my control is for the service of MY HOUSE, pursuant to the policy of MY HUSBAND for our service to God! We seek our God every day for a proper heart and a heart to fear and know our God and to have proper words and a watch on our mouth so that only proper words would come forth for our loved ones and for this generation!
By the phrase “your friend”, it means YOUR FRIEND. At a risk of making rockets go off in your brain, I would ask you, have you anyone that you call FRIEND that has EVER had the kindness to tell you that your pride needs to GO AWAY? To fulfill these words for you:
Deut 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.
6 Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?
7 ¶ Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.
Are you not interested above all else in the truth of God?!
Your friend.