Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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THEBOOKOFAMOS
Lesson10,Chapter6continued
We’llcontinueinAmoschapter6;however,earlyinthislessonwearegoingto
makeamajorpivottoachallengingtopicthatcanbealittleharrowingtoventure
into,butitisonethatneedstobeaddressedopenlyandintellectuallyhonestly,
andseriouslyconsideredbyallworshippersoftheGodofIsrael,andHisSon
Yeshua.So,we’llgojustacoupleofminuteslongtoday.
TherehasbeenaslightdeviationinAmos6tonowincludetheKingdomofJudah
alongwithGod’songoingcondemnationoftheKingdomofEphraim/Israel.The
condemnationbeginsbytargetingthedecadentmaterialismoftheirgovernment
leadersandtheirelitecitizensnotonlybecauseoftheirlaser-likefocusonwealth,
leisureandpersonalentitlement,butalsobecauseitfurtherdrivestheordinary
citizensofbothKingdomsintopoverty.Let’sre-readthisentire(short)chapter.
RE-READAMOSTCHAPTER6all
Asweconcludedourlastlessonthesubjectwasthenearlydailyeatingofmeat
thattherichenjoyed.IpointedoutthatthedietsofordinaryIsraelitecitizens
onlyincludedmeatfromcattleandsheepafewtimesperyear;theirsourceof
animalproteinwasnearlyexclusivelyfish.Rather,theordinarycitizensusually
onlyatemeatatthetimeofbiblicalfeastswhenitwasrequiredtosacrificea
sheep,goat,coworbull.TherulesofritualsacrificingfromtheLawofMoses
allowedthesefolkstokeepaportionofthemeatfromtheslaughteredanimal,
withtheremaindergiventothepriestsandthelargestpartofthatportion
burnedupontheTemplealtar.Yehovehdeemedsuchinimbalanceindiet
betweenthewealthyandtheaverageIsraelitetohavebeensymbolicofgross
unfairnessanditviolatedthebasicgoverningprincipleoftheentireBibleto“love
yourneighbor”.
AlthoughthisisnottheharrowingpivotImentioned,Iwanttotakeafew
minutestosermonizeonanissuethat,sincetheFallofAdamandEve,has
alwaysbeenpartoflifeonEarthinhumansociety.Theissueconcernsmoney,
wealth,generosityandcharity.Sincethisstickyissuewillremainwithusuntil
Yeshuareturnstoruleandreign,whileHewasstillonearthHeofferedasevere

Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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warningaboutthistopicthatalltoooftenisofferedmerelyasaregularChristian
platitudebutonlysometimesisittakenseriously.
CJB
Matthew6:19-24
19
"Donotstoreupforyourselveswealthhereonearth,
wheremothsandrustdestroy,andburglarsbreakinandsteal.
20
Instead,store
upforyourselveswealthinheaven,whereneithermothnorrustdestroys,and
burglarsdonotbreakinorsteal.
21
Forwhereyourwealthis,thereyourheart
willbealso.
22
'Theeyeisthelampofthebody.'Soifyouhavea'goodeye'[that
is,ifyouaregenerous]yourwholebodywillbefulloflight;
23
butifyouhavean
'evileye'[ifyouarestingy]yourwholebodywillbefullofdarkness.If,then,the
lightinyouisdarkness,howgreatisthatdarkness!
24
Noonecanbeslavetotwo
masters;forhewilleitherhatethefirstandlovethesecond,orscornthesecond
andbeloyaltothefirst.Youcan'tbeaslavetobothGodandmoney.
ItcanbemostchallenginginmodernWesternsocietiestofigureoutexactlyhow
toputthiscomplexinstructionofChristintoaction.Standardsoflivingand
sourcesofincomeandhowsocietiesandculturesarestructuredaresovastly
differenttodaythantheywere2000yearsago(andmore)thatwemustbe
discerningaswellasdeliberateintheapplicationofthisobviouslyimportant
commandofGod.ThefirstthingforustograspisthattheBibleneverrails
againsttheideaofgainingwealthandabundance.Rathertheissueishowitis
obtainedandwhatisdonewithit,andoverridingeventhatishowmuchofour
life’sfocusissupposedtobegiventoobtainingandmaintainingwealth.Iwantto
beclear:thehumanistSocialistidealofnoonehavingmorethananyone
else…thatgovernmentshouldseetoitthatallshouldhaveequalwealthtothe
lowestcommondenominator…isnotatallwhatChristissuggesting.Jesusis
tellingusthatourmentalfocusandourenergiesaretobespentmuchmoreon
buildingupthingsthatareofvalueintheKingdomofHeaventhanonearth.This
doesNOTmeanthat,mystically,someitemsandobjectsthatwecanpurchase
haveanyactualintrinsicvalueinHeavenwhatsoever…orthatsomematerial
itemsareinsomewaygreaterinworthinHeaventhanwhattheirmonetary
worthmightbeonEarth.Rathertheideaisthatitisthevalueofaperson’s
virtuousandcompassionateactionsanddeedsasmeasuredintermsofGod’s
economythathasthegreatervalueandso,isinacertainsense,aretherefore
“storedupinHeaven”.Thesearethethingsofeternalratherthanmaterialvalue.

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Atthesametime,Yeshuagoesontospeakaboutbeinggenerousandnotstingy
onearthandisofcoursespeakingaboutmaterialitems.WhenHesaysthatthe
eyeisthelampofthebodyitisaHebrewexpressionandnottobetakenliterally.
A“goodeye”isagenerouseyeandan“evileye”isastingyeye.Andsinceinthis
expressiontheeyeiscomparedtoalamp,thenitisthatthetypeof“eye”we
haveindicateswhetheroursoulsarefulloflightortheyemitdarkness(nolight
atall).Ourgenerosityandcompassiontowardsothersdemonstratethatwehave
enlightenedsouls,whilethelackofthosevirtuesindicatesthatoursoulsarefull
ofdarknessandwickedness.
ThebottomlinethatYeshuaarrivesatonthismatterisexplainedwhenHesays:
24
Noonecanbeslavetotwomasters;forhewilleitherhatethefirstandlovethe
second,orscornthesecondandbeloyaltothefirst.Youcan'tbeaslavetoboth
Godandmoney.
Whilemostlyself-explanatory,Hesimplymeansthatifourlifefocusison
obtainingandmaintainingwealth,thenwewillnecessarilyshunbeinggenerous
andcompassionate.Thereisnowaywecanbeequallyfocusedontwothings
thatinGod’seconomyareopposites.Itoperatesmuchlikeateeter-totter.
Findingagoodbalanceisneartoimpossible,sooneendisupandthereforethe
othermustnecessarilybedown.Weallwanttolivedecently,tohaveasfew
financialworriesaspossible,andattainingthisinvolveshourseverydayofgoing
towork,aswellasdemandingagoodlyportionofourattention,asweattempt
toproducesomethingofvaluethatearnsusmoneytoliveon.Beingwiseinour
choices,determinedinourhardwork,andblessedbyGodcanandoftendoes
leadtobuildingupourwealth.Nomattertheera,workingandtoilingmuchof
ourwakinghourshasbeennecessarytoprovideagoodlivingforourselvesand
forourfamilies…andGodexpectsthatofus.However,ourgoodfortunesarealso
tobeusedformorethanonlyourownpersonalorfamilyneedsandwants.There
arethosepeoplewhohavetheirbasicneedsgoingunmetandtheyneedcare.If
wehavethemeanstohelpthem,wearecommandedtodoso.Butagain,thisin
nowaymeansaSocialistic“leveling-up”wherebyagovernmentdetermineshow
mucheachpersonoughttohaveandsoplaystheroleofRobinHood,takingfrom
sometogivetoothersinordertoachieveagovernmentdefinedequalityof
wealth.

Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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Atthesametimeletusalsorememberanotherbiblicalprinciplethatispartof
theequation:justasgreedanddecadencearenottobetoleratedneitherare
laziness,irresponsibilityanddrunkenness.Apersonwhoislazyorfoolishwith
theirlivesandmoney,orisalwaysdrug-dazedandhasdecidedtolive
(unnecessarily)onthecharityofothersisbynomeanswhotheBiblesaysisto
befinanciallyhelped.Inthebiblicaleratherewerenosuchthingsasgovernment
foodstampandwelfareprograms.Whatevercharitywasgiventothepoorcame
onlythroughindividualactsofmercy.InmodernWesternsocietiestaxesare
takenfromusinorderforthegovernmenttobetheprimarysourceofaidfor
thosethatneedit.Inmyopinion,whilewell-intentioned,suchasystemhasits
drawbacks.Forinstance,irresponsibilityandlazinessarenowentirelytolerated
andthesefolksarelumpedrightinwiththosewhoaresick,orlame,orhave
otherissuesnotoftheirownmakingthathavethrownthemintopoverty.In
somenations,suchasFrance,whethercompletelycapablepersonsdecideto
workforalivingornot,itisuptothegovernmenttoprovideabasiclivingfor
themiftheydecideagainstworking.Thephilosophyisthatifapersonis
essentiallyforcedtoworkinordertoprovideforthemselves,itamountsto
slavery.Whilesuchasocietalviewpointistheextreme(atthemoment),nearly
allWesternsocietiesaremovingtowardsabeliefthatallpeople…regardlessof
theirreasonorcircumstance…areowedabasicliving.Thisphilosophyis
thoroughlyanti-biblicalandGoddoesn’tapproveofit.Icouldquotetoyou
literallydozensofScripturepassagesthataddressthishead-on(especiallyinthe
Proverbs),butfortheBelieverIbelievethefollowingsumsitupbest.
CJB
2Thessalonians3:11-12
11
Wehearthatsomeofyouareleadingalifeof
idleness-notbusyworking,justbusybodies!
12
Wecommandsuchpeople-andin
unionwiththeLordYeshuatheMessiahweurgethem-tosettledown,getto
work,andearntheirownliving.
TheproblemGodhadwiththewealthypeopleofIsraelwasnotthattheyhad
wealth.Itwaswhattheydidwithitandhowtheygotit.Theylookedwitha
blind-eyetowardsthosefellowcountrymenwhoweredesperatelypoorthrough
nofaultoftheirown.Theyshowednogenerosityandnocompassiontothose
whocouldn’tputfoodontable,whileatthesametimetheygorgedthemselves
onthefinestofeverything,asmuchastheywantedandfarmorethanthey
needed.Usedasanexampleofthisdecadencewastheexcessiveeatingofmeat

Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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thatinthaterawouldhavebeenoneofthemostblatantdisplaysofsuch
decadenceandindifference.
TheissueYeshuaspokeaboutwasthesameaswhatAmosisaddressing,onlyHe
diditalmost800yearslater.AsHisfollowersweareexpectedtohelpthosewho
areindirestraightsduetonofaultoftheirown.Thewealthieramongusought
tohelpatagreaterproportion;butallwhocanaretohelp.Andthewealthyare
tokeeptheirlifestylesinchecksoasnottodescendintoabjectdecadence.This
isn’tlefttousasanoption;itisacommandment.Godproddedthepeopleof
Israel(especiallythewealthy)forcenturiesto“lovetheirneighbor”bybeing
generousandcompassionate.But,whenthewealthybecameevenmorewealthy
tothedetrimentoftheordinarycitizens,andthepoorweredrivenfurtherinto
poverty,Godbecameveryangryandtookactiontostripthewealthyoftheir
abundanceduetotheirdisobediencetoHimandlackofcompassiontotheir
fellowman.Itisnodifferentforustodayandatsomepoint,shouldwewhohave
soverymuchcomparedtosomanyarounduswhoaren’tsurewheretheirnext
mealiscomingfromtarryandnotact,wecanexpectthesameresponsefrom
God.
BacktoAmoschapter6.Verse5isspeakingabouttheextravagantbanquetsand
theleisuretimeoftheelites.Backgroundmusicwasimportantthenasnow.And,
theabilitytoplayandinstrumentandtocomposesongsandmusicwas
somethingthatusuallyonlythearistocratshadthetimetodo.Bymentioning
KingDavid,thecomparisonwasthatIsrael’swealthyaretryingtoactlikeroyalty.
WemustalsorememberthatDaviddidn’tgofrompoortowealthywhenhe
becameKingofIsrael.HecamefromawealthyJudahitefamilyandsoatanearly
agehadalreadybeguntolearnhowtoplayaluteandtosingandevento
composesons.KingDavidwasthehistoric“goldstandard”ofKingsforthe
peopleofIsrael,andsoGodaccusesallofIsrael’swealthyofstrivingtobecome
likeDavidinthatregard.
Inverse6,afterchastisingthewealthyovertheireatingexcessesandmusical
indulgences,Amosturnstotheirdrinkinghabits.Aswiththeissueofmoney,
simplyhavingsomewineisnotwrong.Itismatterofexcesses.Thus,asameans
ofhighlightingthatexcessAmossaysthatnotonlydotheyregularlydrinkwine,
theydrinkitbowls-fullatatime.Thepicture,then,isthattheydrinksomuch

Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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winetheygiveupdrinkingfromgobletsandinsteaddrinkdirectlyfromthewine
cask!Sayingthey(theelite)anointthemselveswiththefinestoilisreferringto
thenormalpracticeofrubbingoliveoilonone’sskinandscalp.Allbutthe
poorestofIsraeldidthismostlybecauseitkilledtheever-presentproblemoflice
infestation.Ofcourse,inadditiontohygieneitalsohadthepropertyofsoothing
dryskinandmoisturizingafemale’sskinsothatitwassoftertothetouch.This
issueisnotoftheuseofoliveoilforthispurpose;theissueisthattheyusedthe
“finest”oil.Oliveoilhasalwayscomeinvariouslevelsofpurityandquality.
Todaywecalltheselevelsvirgin,extravirgin,andextra-extravirgin(eventheir
sourcematters).Thebetterthegradeofoil,thebetterfoodthatwascookedwith
ittasted.So,theideaisthatratherthantheeliteusingthetypicallowergradeoil
toridoneselfoflice,theyusedthemoreconspicuouslyexpensivehigh-gradeoil
normallyusedforcookingasbutamoisturizerandlicekiller.Inotherwords,
needlessandgraphicextravagance.
There’soneotheraspectoftheseexpensiveindulgencesthattheancientJews
wouldhavenoticedthatweprobablydon’t.ItisthatGodinearlierversessaid
thatIsraeloughttobeinmourningforhowfarfromrighteousnesstheyhave
fallen,andbecauseofthecatastrophesthatHehaspromisedaresoontobefall
them.Itwastraditionalthatabstinencefromthesefinerthingsoflifeduringthe
requiredperiodsofmourningwastobeobserved.
Althoughtakenfromaslightlylaterperiod,wereadthisintheBookofDaniel:
CJB
Daniel10:3
3
Ihadn'teatenanyfoodthatsatisfiedme-neithermeatnor
winehadenteredmymouth,andIdidn'tanointmyselfonce,untilthreefull
weekshadpassed.
Itisnoco-incidencethatwhatDanielmentionsassomethinghedeprivedhimself
ofashewasinmourning,wasthesamethingsAmosthrewattheIsraelitesfor
continuingtoindulgeinwhentheyshouldhavebehavedasthoughtheywerein
mourning.Thismourningconceptishighlightedwhenverse6endswith“butfeel
nogriefwiththeruinofJoseph”.IhavepointedoutinmuchearlierTorahClass
lessons,thatifonelooksatthenamesofthetribesthatformIsraelwefindthe
conspicuousabsenceofJacob’sfavoritesonJoseph.Instead,wefindthat
Joseph’s2sons…EphraimandManasseh…borntohisEgyptianwifeduring

Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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Israel’s400yearstayinEgypt…wereeachgiventribesoftheirownintheir
father’sstead.InthiswaythetribeofJosephwasdoubledinpowerandsize.For
thepointAmosismaking,itistobenoticedthatEphraimandManassehtogether
madeupthebulkoftheNorthernKingdomofIsrael…inbothlandmassandin
population.So,whileJosephwasintendedtoreceiveadouble-portion
inheritancefromhisfather,Jacob(reflectedinthe2tribesofEphraimand
Manasseh),nowtherebellionofIsraelhasbroughtthatintentionofgreat
blessingforJosephtoruin.
Verse7beginswiththeword“therefore”.“Therefore”isastandardwordusedin
prophecytoannouncethejudgmentsentenceforthecrimesthatwere
committed.AndsincethemainsubjectinAmos6hasbeentheelite,the
wealthiestofIsraelwhoslatherthemselvesinonlythechoicestofeverything,
thereforeitistheywhowillalsoholdthechoicestofplacesinthecolumnsof
exilesastheyleavetheland…atthefront.TheleadersofIsraelwillleadthe
peopleintoexile…fromthefront.Thissectionofchapter6,then,concludeswith
thenoticethattheelitewon’tbeabletoavoidthesamefateasallthe“lesser”
ordinaryIsraelitefolk.Whiletheirwealthhasalwaysallowedthewealthytofind
waysaroundalltheproblemsanddifficultiesthattheregularIsraelitesface,God
hasdecidedthatthepartyisover.Theirexceptionalismiscomingtoaharsh
ending.
Verse8totheendofthechapterisaliteraryunitthatisabouttheterrible
militarydefeatthatisabouttoengulfIsrael.First,Ephraim/Israelwillfeelthe
stingofdefeatbyAssyria,andthenalittleoveracenturylaterJudahwill
experiencethesamefromadifferentinvader(Babylon).Thisnextoraclebegins
withanoaththatGodmakesinHisownname.Literallyitbeginswithsaying“By
His(God’s)life”.Thisistheequivalentofsaying“Himself”.Butthereismorehere
thanmeetstheeye.GodreferencesHimselfinacoupleofwaysandinbothcases
theEnglishratherobliterateswhatisactuallysaid.First,HecallsHimself“Lord
Yehoveh”.Second,HeaddstoHisidentitybysaying“Yehoveh,Elohimofthe
hosts”.Iwanttotakethisopportunitytofocusontheterm“Elohim”,whichis
nearlyalwaystranslatedinourEnglishBiblesassimply“God”andatothertimes
as“gods”(plural)that,withintraditionalChristianity,inevitablycarrieswithit
thesenseofbeingfalsegods.Icontendthatthereisquitepossibly(even
probably)adifferentpictureofwhatthisword“elohim”actuallymeanstoimpart

Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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tousthanwhatwehavehistoricallythoughtwithinJudeo-Christianity.And,just
likewhenwedealtwiththeword“Nephilim”,takenastheBibleintendsandnot
ashistoricalChristianityhaschangeditinto,itanswerssomanychallenging
questionsthatcomefromthewordsofanumberofbiblicalpassages.Wordsthat
wetraditionallyglossoverbecausetotakethematfacevaluefeelsmost
uncomfortabletous,especiallynowinthemodernageofEnlightenment.
So,we’regoingtodetourforawhilebyopeningyetanothercanofworms.The
“wormy”subjectconcernsthebiblicalmeaning(ormeanings)of“elohim”.Iwant
firsttoprepareyoubyadmittingthatsomeofwhatI’llbesayingmightfeel
uncomfortableifnotshockingorevenalmosthereticaltoyou.Ibelieve,however,
thatbythetimewe’redoneyou’llseethatifthereisanyheresyatallinit,that
itwouldbeheresytowardssomelong-heldmanmadedoctrinesbutcertainlynot
heresytowhatGod’sWordsays.And,thataswiththeissueoftheNephilim,
moremysteriesoftheBiblewillbeansweredinwaysthatfinallymakesense.I
furtherwanttostatefortherecordthatnothingIamgoingtosayinanyway
challengesthenotionofYeshuaasGod’sSon,orasourLordandSavior.Nor
doesitaddressthesubstanceofGodHimself,norchallengetherealityofHis
pluralnature.So,keepthatattheforefrontofyourmindsasthewormsstartto
crawloutinorderthatyounotassumeI’msayingsomethingthatI’mnot.Open
yourBiblestoPsalm82:
READPSALM82all
Ifyoureadandlistenedclosely,thosewordsoughttoraisesomequestionsin
you.Thereareafewdifferentwaysthattranslatorshavechosentointerpret
especiallytheopeningverse.You’veheardtheCJB,nowheartheRSV,oneofthe
morewidelydistributedBiblesamongtraditionalchurches.
RSV
Psalm82:1APsalmofAsaph.Godhastakenhisplaceinthedivinecouncil;
inthemidstofthegodsheholdsjudgment:
OtherversionssuchastheNRSsayessentiallythesame,andIcanassureyou
thatwhenyoureadtheHebrewtheyarecorrect.So,whatarewetomakeofGod
takingHisplaceinthedivinecouncil,whichisfurtherelaboratedwhenthe
Psalmistsays:“inthemidstofthegodsHeholdsjudgment”?Divinecouncil?

Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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Gods?IfthisweretheonlyplaceintheBiblethatweareconfrontedwithsuch
statementsperhapswecouldoweittocopyisterrororsomethingelse.Butbyno
meansisthatthecase.AddingbackintheHebrewwordthatisthecoreofour
topic(elohim)theversereads:“ElohimhastakenHisplaceinthedivinecouncil:
inthemidstofelohimHeholdsjudgment”.Elohimisthemostusednameortitle
intheOldTestamentforGod,secondonlytoHisformalnameYehoveh.Inthis
verseofPsalm82weseethewordelohimusedtwice.Thefirsttimeitissaidto
mean“God”(thestandardJudeo/ChristianGod),andthesecondtimeitmeans….
what,exactly?UnlessweacceptthetranslationsofsomeBibleversionsthat
attempttosay“GodhadtakenHisplaceinthedivinecouncil:inthemidstofGod,
Heholdsjudgment”,whichisnonsensicalonitsface,thenhowareweto
understandwhatisbeingcommunicated?
Toarriveatananswerthenextissuewehavetonecessarilytackleis:whatisthe
divinecouncil?ThemajorityofhistoricalChristianscholarshipsaysitjustmeans
acouncilofhumans.Or,alternatively,thatthiswastalkingabouttheTrinity.
Thatmakesnosensewithinthecontextitisgivenespeciallywhenwereadthat
Godsaysthattheseelohimhadbecomecorruptoverthenationsoftheearth.
Butevenmore,verses6and7saythattheseelohimwhoformthedivinecouncil,
althoughbeingsonsofGod,willinsteaddielikemortals.Onehastoworkawfully
hardtofilteroutwhatisplainlybeforeus.But,overthecenturies,much
filtering-outhasbeendoneinordertoupholdchurchdoctrinesthatsimplydon’t
fitwhattheHolyScripturesplainlysay.
Dr.MichaelHeiseroncesaid:“We’vebeentrainedtothinkthatthehistoryof
ChristianityisthetruecontextoftheBible…butChristianhistoryisNOTthe
contextofthebiblicalwriters”.Thatoughttobeself-evidentsinceWestern
RomanChristianitydidn’tevenexistuntilthe4
th
century,hundredsofyearsafter
Yeshua’sdeath,andtheBibleitself(OldandNewTestaments)hadbeenwritten
overaspanoftimefrom300to1500ormoreyearsearlierthanthat.
InChurchandSynagogue,wehavenoproblemtalkingaboutasupernatural
world.Butinpracticeweactlikedoubters.WecantalkaboutGodasspirit,even
aboutinvisibleangels,butmuchofanythingbeyondthatgetsabitpainfuland
makesussquirmalittle.AswelearnedinourstudyabouttheNephilim,wetend
torationalize-awayanumberofthingsthatareplainlysaidintheBiblebecause

Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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theyfeelsooddoronthefringeofstrangenessorprimitivemyth.Ourmost
learnedscholarsandPastors,Rabbisincluded,tendtodothesame.Nonetheless
wearegoingtofacethismatterofElohimandthedivinecouncilhead-onand
assumethattheBiblesayswhatitmeansandmeanswhatitsays.Truthisnot
alwayscomfortable.
ArathercommondebatetodaynotonlybetweenChristiansandtheworldof
science,butalsowithintheworldofChristianityitselfis:beforetheworldwas
created,whoorwhatexisted?TheusualanswerfromChristiansandJewsis
“God”…andnothingelse.AsitturnsouttheBiblesayssomethingdifferent;it
saysthatGodwasnotalonewhenHecreatedtheUniverse.Jobchapter38says
somethingmosttantalizing.
CJB
Job38:1-7ThenADONAIansweredIyovoutofthestorm:
2
"Whoisthis,
darkeningmyplanswithhisignorantwords?
3
Standuplikeaman,andbrace
yourself;Iwillaskquestions;andyou,givetheanswers!
4
"Wherewereyou
whenIfoundedtheearth?Tellme,ifyouknowsomuch.
5
Doyouknowwho
determineditsdimensionsorwhostretchedthemeasuringlineacrossit?
6
On
whatwereitsbasessunk,orwholaiditscornerstone,
7
whenthemorningstars
sangtogether,andallthesonsofGodshoutedforjoy?
Whatdoesthispassageplainlysay?ItsaysthatwhenGodlaidthefoundationsof
theearththesonsofGodwerealreadytherewithHim,aswerethemorningstars
whosangpraisesasGodcreatedtheUniverse.Clearlythereferencetomorning
starssingingistoNOTlifelessballsofburninggas;rathertheyareto
mysteriousspiritbeings.AndjustasclearlythesonsofGodarecertainlyNOT
humanbeingssincetheyweretherepriortoCreation.Further,whileitmightbe
convenientforus(perhapscomforting)tolumpallthesespiritbeingstogether
andlabelthemasangels,thatalsocan’tbecorrect.Whatwelearnisthatthere
werespiritbeingsinexistenceBEFORECreation,andthereweredifferentgroups
andcategoriesofthem.So,thesonsofGodofPsalm82arenothumanbeings;
rather,theyaresometypeofspiritbeings.Theotherthingwelearnisthatwe
cangenerallysaythatGodhadafamilyofsorts…spiritbeingsHeapparently
createdbeforeCreation…andtheylivedinHeavenalongwithGodBEFORE
Creation.

Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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Inorderforustohaveanhonestdiscussionaboutthis,yetaccomplishedina
waythatdoesn’tshockoroffendsomuchthatwesortofshut-downand
zone-out,Iwouldliketousetheterm“divinebeings”tocharacterizeanddefine
thesevariousspiritbeings(youwillseewhylaterinthislesson).Irealizethatthe
term“divinebeings”isarathernon-descriptnameforthem,butitatleast
acknowledgesthatwhatevertheyconsistof,theydefinitelyareNOTfleshly,they
arespirit.
Now,goingbacktoPsalm82verse1wherewefindtheHebrewword“elohim”
usedtwice.Elohimis,accordingtoHebrewgrammar,aplural;thatis,the“im”
thatendsthatwordmakesitmeanmorethanone.Yet,some2000timesinthe
Biblethispluralwordisusedasthoughitweresingular(one).Whenthisoccurs,
itissaidtorefertotheoneGod,Yehoveh.Thus,thiswordelohimcanbeused
eitheraspluralorsingularandonlythecontextcantelluswhichiswhich.This
isn’tallthatstrangeorrare.Englishwordssuchasdeer,fish,dice,fruit,andlots
moreareusedasbothsingularandplural.It’sthecontextinwhichitisusedthat
helpsustointerpretthatwordanditsmeaningassingularorplural.Clearlyin
thisversethefirstuseissingular(God)sinceitpointstoasingleentity,butthe
seconduseisplural(gods)becauseitspeakstoanassemblyofentities.So,
mightPsalm82beGodessentiallytalkingtoHimselfastheTrinity…Godtalking
totheother2membersoftheTrinity?Notachance.Ifthatwerethecasethen
wehave2membersoftheTrinitywhoaresaidtobecorrupt,sotheyaregoing
tobepunishedbydyinglikemortalmeninsteadoflivingeternally.Anyonewant
tosignupforacorruptTrinity?Meneither.So,wemustdiscardthatoption.But
evenmore,Psalm89blowsaholecompletelythroughanyfalsenotionthatthese
elohim(sonsofGod)mentionedinPsalm82thatformthedivinecouncilare
humanmen.
CJB
Psalm89:6-8
6
Lettheheavenspraiseyourwonders,ADONAI,your
faithfulnessintheassemblyoftheangels.
7
Forwhointheskiescanbe
comparedwithADONAI?WhichofthesegodscanrivalADONAI,
8
aGoddreaded
inthegreatassemblyoftheholyonesandfearedbyallaroundhim?
DidHebrewmen(oranyhumanmen)sometimeinancienttimesmeettogether
upintheskies,amidanassemblyofangels?Thatwouldbeutternonsense.And,
wealsoencountertheissueofthesegods(elohim)beingunabletorivalYehoveh,

Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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whoisaGod(anElohim)thatisdreadedamongtheassemblyoftheholyonesup
inHeaven.Howthencanwethinkaboutthis…howcanwecanmentallypackage
it…inawaythatwecandealwithitandmakesenseofit?Isuggestthatwebegin
bysimplystipulatingtogethertheclearandobvious:thattheholyones,thesons
ofGod,theelohim,andtheassemblyintheskiesthattheBiblespeaksaboutare
divinespiritbeingsandnothumanbeings.Tomovethissubjectalong
concerningthewordelohim,let’ssee,then,thevariouswaystheBibleusesthat
word.Itisused:
1)WhenitisreferringtoYehoveh,GodofIsrael.
2)WhenitreferstoYehoveh’sdivinecouncil.
3)Whenitreferstogodsandgoddessesoverothernations.
4)WhenitspeaksofthespiritualessenceoftheProphetSamuelafterhehad
died(1Sam.28:13).
5)Itisalsorarelyusedtospeakofangels.
WecanalsofindversesthatdrawcomparisonsbetweenYehoveh(God)and
elohim(gods).
RSV
Exodus15:11"Whoislikethee,OLORD,amongthegods?Whoislikethee,
majesticinholiness,terribleingloriousdeeds,doingwonders?
RSV
1Kings8:23andsaid,"OLORD,GodofIsrael,thereisnoGodlikethee,in
heavenaboveoronearthbeneath,keepingcovenantandshowingsteadfastlove
tothyservantswhowalkbeforetheewithalltheirheart;
RSV
Psalm97:9Forthou,OLORD,artmosthighoveralltheearth;thouart
exaltedfaraboveallgods.
Ifyouarelikeme(andthevastmajorityofChristiansandJews)thenwhenever
weencountertheword“gods”(little“g”gods)intheBible,wesubconsciously
inserttheword“false”or“non-existent”beforeit.Thatis,wethinkthatthisis
speakingaboutsomethingthatdoesn’tactuallyexist.So,here’sthefirst
harrowingquestionforus:isthatactuallythecasethatYehovehistheonly
elohim(god)inexistence?Thatthereisonlyoneelohimandanytalkofmore
elohimispurefantasyormyth?IntheTorahwefindthis:

Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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NRS
Deuteronomy32:17Theysacrificedtodemons,notGod,todeitiestheyhad
neverknown,tonewonesrecentlyarrived,whomyourancestorshadnotfeared
TheHebrewthatgetstranslatedtoEnglishas“demons”isshedim.There’snot
muchagreementintheacademicworldaboutjustwhattheshedimwere,exactly.
Fortoday,weonlyneedtoacknowledgethatwhatevertheyweretheyweren’t
humans,norweretheywoodenorstoneidols.Therewerereal,livingspirit
beings…likelyevilspiritbeings.Butwhatdowethendowiththeseveral
statementsintheOldTestamentthatthereare“noothergods(nootherelohim)
besideme(orbeforeme)”?ChristianityhasforcenturiesusedthoseScripture
statementstomaketheclaimthatthiseradicatesanypossibilityofanyother
gods(elohim)existingonanylevelwhatsoever.Butisthatactuallywhatthe
Scripturessay?TheseScripturestatementsdoNOTsaythatnootherelohim
exist,rathertheysaythattheseotherelohimarenotcomparableto,norarethey,
theMostHighGod(theMostHighElohim)…Yehoveh.
ThenthereisthematterofthebiblicalstatementsthatGodistheGodaboveall
gods.HowcanGodbeaboveotherbeingsthatdon’texist?Ifothergods
(elohim)arecompletelynon-existent,thenarewesayingthatGodisgreater
thanbeingsthataren’treal?Let’spausetocatchourcollectivebreath.Here’sthe
thing:thetermGodandgodsarebothattemptedtranslationsoftheHebrew
word,elohim.And,withinourJudeo-Christianfaithwerailattheideathatany
morethanoneGod(whetherbigorlittle“g”god)existsinanystrataor
dimension.Whenwestarttothinkofgods,ourmindsinstantlyruntotheGreek
pantheonofgods,ortotheseveralBa’algodsystems,andsoon.And,thenwe
shutdownourmindsandcloseourearstoanymeaningfuldiscussionofthe
matter.Whydowedothat?Theissue,Ithink,iswithsemantics,whichiswhya
littlewhileagoIsuggestedthatperhapsweoughttostoptranslatingtheHebrew
wordelohimasgodsandinsteadtranslateitas“divinebeings”.Thiswaywe
cannotoffendourselvesorothersbyspeakingaboutthepossibleexistenceof
manygods.Inhistorical,traditionalChristianityweseetheterm“God”as
meaningthehighestbeingofanykindinexistence,andthustospeakofother
“gods”islikesayingthatotherbeingsareonornearGod’slevel.Thatis,itisa
repudiationofourbeliefinmonotheism.Thisissomethingthatweneedtoputto
rest.Infact,oftenintheBible,YehovehisspokenofastheMostHighGod(in

Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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Hebrew,themosthighelohim).Howdoesoneeventhinkaboutsomethingthat
ismost-highifthereisnothinginexistencethatisless-high?
OK.Let’stakethisexplorationofthetermelohiminanotherdirection.Listenas
IreadtoyouafamiliarpassageinGenesischapter1.
CJB
Genesis1:26-28
26
ThenGodsaid,"Letusmakehumankindinourimage,in
thelikenessofourselves;andletthemruleoverthefishinthesea,thebirdsin
theair,theanimals,andoveralltheearth,andovereverycrawlingcreaturethat
crawlsontheearth."
27
SoGodcreatedhumankindinhisownimage;inthe
imageofGodhecreatedhim:maleandfemalehecreatedthem.
28
Godblessedthem:Godsaidtothem,"Befruitful,multiply,filltheearthand
subdueit.Ruleoverthefishinthesea,thebirdsintheairandeveryliving
creaturethatcrawlsontheearth."
Addingback-insomeoriginalHebrew,verse26says:ThenElohimsaid“letus
makehumankindinourimage…”Thisstatementabout“usmakinghumankind”
hasalwaysbeenperplexingandthepatChristiananswerthatwasdeveloped
overthecenturiesisthatthe“us”isreferringtotheTrinity.However,a
triune-godconceptneverexistedintheentireOldTestament,sothiscertainlyis
notwhatMoseshadinmindwhenHewrotethisdownnorwouldanyreaderhave
thoughtofitthatway.ThisisreadingalategentileChristianunderstandingback
intoapassagethathadbeenwrittenwellover1000yearsearlier.Lookat
Genesischapter3.
CJB
Genesis3:22-23
22
ADONAI,God,said,"See,themanhasbecomelikeone
ofus,knowinggoodandevil.Now,topreventhisputtingouthishandandtaking
alsofromthetreeoflife,eating,andlivingforever-"
23
thereforeADONAI,God,
senthimoutofthegardenof'Edentocultivatethegroundfromwhichhewas
taken.
Thereare2,andonly2,placesintheBiblewhereGodseemstobespeakingof
Himselfasaplurality(andthisistheChristianperceptionofthemeaning)when
Herefersto“us”.ThefirsttimeisBEFORECreationitself,andthesecondtimeis
shortlyafterwhentheonlyhumansthatexistedwereAdamandEve.Therefore,
ImeantoofferanalternativeexplanationthatIthinkpresentsuswithasolution

Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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thatismuchmoreinalignmentwiththeBibleasitwaswritten(eventhoughit
certainlypaintsoutsidethelinesofhistoricalandtraditionalChristiandoctrines).
IthinkGodisnotreferringonlytoHimselfwhenHesays,“us”.RatherIthinkHe
ishavingadialoguewithagroupofdivinebeingsthatareapartfromHim.Who
isHetalkingto?Tothedivinecouncilofelohim(divinebeings)thatweread
aboutinPsalmsandinJob.
WemustalwaysdrawunderstandingfromtheBiblebyapproachingitasa
mosaicratherthanasanencyclopedia.IntheBiblewedon’tgetalltheanswers
weseekinoneplaceorinonepassage;wehavetofindbitsandpiecesinvarious
ofitsbooksandassemblethemtogethertogetmorecompleteanswers…afuller
picture.EventhoughtheBookofGenesisdoesn’tspeakofadivinecouncilof
elohimthatwaswithGodatthetimeofCreation,JobandthePsalmsplainlydo.
But,itisjusttooupsettingtoourJudeo-Christianmindsifweinsistonusingthe
Englishword“gods”totranslateelohim(especiallyaswefinditusedinJoband
inthePsalms)becauseitbecomesnearlyimpossibleforourmodern-eraminds
toacceptthesemysteriousbeingsasactuallyexistentandreal.Itisfarmore
palatableforus(andlikelymuchmoreaccurateinreality)ifweinsteadusethe
term“divinebeings”asthemeaningofelohim.Itshouldinnowayshakeour
faithorourmindstothinkofGodHimself(inaverybroadandgeneralway)as
aspecialandset-apartdivinebeing:thehighestandgreatestdivinebeing
amongallbeingsofeverycategoryorkind.Heremainsthepreeminentandfirst
ofallspiritbeings,andtheonlyinfinite,self-existentbeing,spiritualorfleshly.It
is,asweregularlyreadintheHolyScriptures,thatHeistheElohimaboveall
elohim,andisthereforetheMost-HighElohim.Substitutingmydefinitionof
elohimas“divinebeing”innowaydiminishesYehovehGod,butitdoesallowfor
theexistenceofacategoryofdivinebeingswhoarelesserthanYehoveh,yet
whoarealsoaboveothercategoriesofdivinebeings(suchasangels).AmI
sayingthatitismuchbetterforourunderstandingtodroptheterm“God”or
“gods”whenweencountertheHebrewwordelohim,andthatBibletranslators
woulddousallabigfavorbyusing“divinebeings”asitsdefinitioninstead?Yes,
Iam.Foronereason,thereisadefinitiveandwellunderstoodbiblicalHebrew
wordforGodthatisnotconfusingnorisitsmeaningobscurenoristhewordused
inotherways:thatwordisYah.Elohimcarriesafarwideranddiversemeaning
thanwehavetypicallythoughtitdoesanduntilweacceptthat,ourbiblical
understandinginmanyareaswillbestunted.

Lesson10-AmosChapter6continued
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We’renotdonewiththistopic,justyet.Iwanttogiveyouafewdaystoponder
whatyou’veheard,andperhapstoreviewthislesson,beforeIbringittoa
conclusionthenexttimewemeet.