In 2 Chronicles 33:5-7 we see how the southern kingdom of Judah finally digressed (just as the northern kingdom had).....And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. (this is speaking of king Manasseh) And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: In verse 19 of Isaiah 8 we see Isaiah addressing what is taking place in the land of Judah at this time.......And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? In other words......And when they seek familiar spirits through wizards and witches, spirits which peep and mutter (peeping and muttering in an attempt to imitate voices of departed loved ones or people they once knew on this earth, thus claiming communication with the dead) the question is asked, “Should not a people seek the living God instead?”: The Hebrew word for peep is tsaphaph, to coo or chirp as a bird, or to whisper. It refers to the gentle whisperings which the ancients ascribed to voices of the dead. It was believed that departed spirits did not speak clearly, but with an indistinct, suppressed voice along with the mediums physical motions it implied the calling of the dead from under the earth. Leviticus 19:31 tells us......Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 18:9 says.....When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 13:54:58 +0000