Hebrews 4 = Ezekiel 20

 Ezekiel 20: 8-24Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10 So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live. 12 Also I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they rejected My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; and My sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them. 14 But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, before whose sight I had brought them out. 15 Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, 16 because they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they even profaned My sabbaths, for their heart continually went after their idols. 17 Yet My eye spared them rather than destroying them, and I did not cause their annihilation in the wilderness.18 “I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and observe them. 20 Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’ 21 But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands, 24 because they had not observed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My sabbaths, and their eyes were on the idols of their fathers. 

Lets look at the comparisons.

 Hebrews 4:1-16 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared an oath in my anger,  ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day YHWH rested from all his works.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” 6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 YHWH again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. 12 For the word of YHWH is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Yahshua the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach YHWH’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The parallel of Ezekiel in Hebrews 4 showcases that Hebrews 4 is AFFIRMING the Sabbath and ordinances of God ARE to be kept in actuality. They are practical and physical commands to rest and walk in His ways.  

Family Fusion

 "This understanding of marriage is then confirmed by Leviticus 18:15, “You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law (כַּלָּֽתְךָ֖); she is your son’s wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness.” Because a man’s wife has the status of an adopted sister, that man’s father has to treat the woman as if she were his own “flesh of flesh” daughter. In other words, through marriage, husbands and wives share the same parents and can thus truly be considered adopted siblings.This sheds light on a strange detail that pervades the Song of Songs, namely, the fact that Solomon keeps referring to his wife as his sister. Over and over again Solomon pours out his love for the woman he calls “my sister, my bride” (Song 4:9-10, 12, 5:1), even though we don’t have a record of Solomon ever marrying one of his biological sisters. In light of Scripture’s teaching on adoption, it’s most likely that Solomon’s wife could be called his “sister” because of her marriage-adoption into Solomon’s family. This is further supported by the fact that the word translated as “bride” throughout the Song is “כַּלָּ֔ה,” which is the very word used in Leviticus 18:15 to reference daughter-in-laws. This strongly suggests that the Levitical understanding of marriage-adoption is at play here, demonstrating that, through marriage, the woman of the Song became the daughter of David, and the sister-bride of Solomon.

All of this is crucial to understanding the only passage relevant to polygamy in Leviticus 18, “And you shall not take a woman as a rival wife to her sister, uncovering her nakedness while her sister is still alive” (Lev. 18:18). Although the popular interpretation of this verse is that it only condemns polygamy with the biological sister of one’s wife, we now know that it’s doing much more than this. Because marriage entails the status of an adopted sibling, if a man has two wives then these wives would always be sisters by virtue of being married to the same man, and thereby sharing his father. Leviticus 18:18 is thus a condemnation of polygamy as such, which is why it refers to multiple sister-brides as “rivals” (צָרַר). An almost identical word is used in 1 Samuel 1:6 to describe how Peninnah and Hannah were “rivals” (צָרָה) due to their mutual marriage to Elkanah, however it’s never implied that they were biological sisters. Instead, the reason two sister-brides are rivals isn’t due to their biological lineage, but rather their marriage-adoption to the same man." - Codex Justinianeus,  ancientinsights.wordpress.com

Where else can we see this dynamic of separate families becoming as one family?  We see it in the geneology of Christ. There is a recorded geneology of Christ through Joseph and though Joseph gave no genetic makeup to the creation of Christ, He is still regarded as if he hadand the account is listed in Matthew vs the genealogy through Mary in Luke. This fusion of seperate families becoming as one family is a fascinating dynamic and bolsters the claim made regarding the prohibition against polygamy.  Furthermore we also see the commands if a widowed woman has no children before her husband dies then the brother is to give her a son that there may be an heir and the name of the brother not be cut off before God. 

We can see in elements of the 

Genesis 38:8 8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” 

There appears to be a transitive property that occurs where the child is as the fallen brothers offspring, even though the fallen brother is not the one that passed his seed to the wife. This would further back the case in leviticus 18 where the married addition becomes as the natural- and by extension of the principle be a point against polygamy as a man is not to take another woman as rival to his wife since she would become her sister. 

We see this same dynamic in passages like Ephesians 2 where it is stated that we were FORMERLY gentiles but have now become adoptive sons. 

Bible Proofs

 Col 2 counter

“Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. "

‭‭

What is human tradition? Lawlessness.

What is Divine obedience? Keeping the Law of God through grace and faith because you are saved.

Knowledge proof

The knowledge of God is not like the knowledge obtained by laboratory science. Empirical data is based on the reliability of what is called “logical induction,” that is, phenomenological impressions of repeatability, continuity, and perpetuity which assume that metaphysical cause and effect event/relationships hold in “space-time.” However, the intellectual act of logical induction assumes several more basic things, for instance, the instinctive faith that the future will resemble the past; the unreflective assurance that sensory experience is reliable and that measurement is possible; the mystical expectation that mathematical concepts refer to (or correspond with) “external” reality; the metaphysical supposition that causal connections exist and are valid; the quasi-religious conviction that experiences (i.e., data) can be universalized and generalized into "laws," and so on. Moreover, scientific methodology further assumes certain "intellectual virtues" and non-empirical values, for instance, the assumption that truth is important; that insistence that data should be verifiable and not deliberately falsified (or politicized); the moral axiom that it is better to know than not to know, etc. Indeed science even expresses "artistic sentiment" by poetically arguing that some scientific theories (i.e., "narratives") or models ("metaphors") are more “coherent” or “elegant” than others, that symmetry and order are important to doing research, and so on. I say all this to demonstrate that science is a faith system that depends on logical, metaphysical, philosophical, spiritual, and axiological assumptions that are not derived from nor grounded in the practice of science itself... The foundations of science are based on concepts and ideas “pilfered” from the Torah and the truth of God. Far from discovering the means of doing science through the paradigm of the "scientific method" itself, understand then that the first principles of logic, the exercise of faith, and an objective sense of transcendental value are all presupposed in order to inductively identify and infer whatever is defined as "real." The knowledge of God, on the other hand, is based on moral intuition (conscience, a sense of justice, etc.), logical reflection (e.g., why there is something rather than nothing at all), mystical awareness and a sense of the numinous, direct revelation (i.e., spiritual encounter), the veridical experiences and testimonies of others, the perpetuity of the confession of believers, and so on. For those who have encountered the Divine Presence in Yeshua, the risen and ascended Savior, God further gives witness by means of “argumentum spiritus sancti,” the testimony of the Holy Spirit, the inner revelation that is imparted to comfort and assure the heart of faith.

 A B Logic

Can you reconcile this for me

A:Christ followed and obeyed and taught the Law of God ( If He didn't He's not the sinless perfect Lamb without blemish) 

B: We are to follow, obey and teach living and being like Christ. 

How do we do B without doing A?

A: We are to obey the Holy Spirit

B: The Holy Spirit writes the Law of God on our hearts and minds that we may obey it 

How do we do A without doing B

A: We are to crucify the flesh and obey the Spirit 

B: The flesh is hostile to God's law, and the Law of God is Spiritual. 

How do we do A without B?

 

Spirit proof 1

1 John 3:4 Sin is lawlessness
1 John 2:16 Sin is in the flesh
Romans 8:5 The Spirit is contrary to the flesh
Hebrews 8:10-12 The Holy Spirit writes the Law on our hearts and mind
Romans 8:7 the flesh is against the Law of God
Romans 7:14 The Law is Spiritual

Sin= Violation of the Law = Flesh = against the Spirit 

 

New heaven proof 

Matthew 5:17-18 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.18“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Luke 16:17 “But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.

2 Peter 3:10-11 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.11¶Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness

Revelation 21:1-2 1¶Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

Isaiah 66:16-17;22-24 16For the LORD will execute judgment by fire And by His sword on all flesh, And those slain by the LORD will be many. 17“Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go to the gardens, Following one in the center, Who eat swine’s flesh, detestable things and mice, Will come to an end altogether,” declares the LORD. 22For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “So your offspring and your name will endure. 23“And it shall be from new moon to new moon And from sabbath to sabbath, All mankind will come to bow down before Me,” says the LORD. 24“Then they will go forth and look On the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm will not die And their fire will not be quenched; And they will be an abhorrence to all mankind.”

 

 Spirit proof 2

1 Thessalonians 5:19 says to not quench the Spirit.  

Hebrews 10:15 say "And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

16“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,” He then says,

17“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

The New Covenant is the Spirit writing God's Law on our minds that we may obey them. 

What does the Spirit do? It convicts us of Sin. 

What is sin? 1 john 3:4 says 4¶Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness

So sin is breaking God's Law. 

The work of the Spirit is conviction against sin which is breaking God's Law.  The Spirit writes the Law on our hearts and minds so we obey it. 

We know the Law of God is Spiritual Romans 7:14

14¶For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.

We know the law is contrary to the flesh Romans 8

6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,

8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

We also know that the Spirit is contrary to the flesh Galatians 5

16¶But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

17For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

So, if you're walking in the Spirit,  you're obeying God's Law. If you're walking according to the flesh you're hostile to God's Law and the Spirit who writes it

Walking contrary to God's commandments is to quench the Spirit.

Breakdown Of faith 

Before we were saved we continually violated God's Law.
We were saved by Grace through faith, and Titus 2:11-14 say that Grace redeems us from every lawless deed.
Once we are saved, we are to repent from sin,and sin is lawlessness 1 john 3:4.
We are to live according to Christ example, who was perfectly obedient to the Law of God as if He sinned He can't be the Savior.
As we are repentant, we are walking in the Holy Spirit- who convicts us of Sin which is violation of God's Law.
We are part of the New Covenant, which is the Law of God written on our hearts so that we may obey God,as Hebrews 10 states, quoting Jeremiah 33.
We are not not walk like the/an Anti-Christ, who is called the man of Lawlessness, and people who follow them are under a delusion according to 2 thes 2.
We are called to perseverance and overcome against Satan, and the perseverance is holding to the commands of God AND the testimony of Christ, Rev. 12:17, 14:12
Peter warns us to not interpret Paul's writings as saying not to obey God's Law in 2 Peter 3:14-17

Matthew Passages

Matthew 5:17-19 

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.


Matthew 7:21-23

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’


Mat 13:41 -42
41 “The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness
42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Whose being gathered?
Out of where?
To where?

The stumbling blocks and those that do lawlessness, are gathered OUT of the Kingdom of God , and thrown into the fire.

Gentiles

If the Torah was not for Gentiles, then why does God say over (Leviticus 18:26 ) and over (Leviticus 22:18-21) and over (Leviticus 24:16) and over ( Leviticus 24:22) and over (Numbers 9:14) and over (Numbers 15:15-16) and over (Numbers 15:29-30) and over (Deuteronomy 16:13-15 ) and over (Deuteronomy 26:10-11) and over (Deuteronomy 31:9-13) and over (Ecclesiastes 12:13) again that it is?

Gentiles 2

John 3:16 Is directly pitted against Matthew 15:24 UNLESS you recognize that:

A) Gentiles have always been allowed to become Israel 

Exodus 12:38,Exodus 19:8,Deuteronomy 31:9-13 

B) Gentiles have an Inheretance among the tribes,as part of Israel  Ezekiel 47:21-23 

C) Through Christ we become a member of the Tribes of Israel Ephesians 2:19,Romans 4:16,Romans 11:13-17,Galatians 3:29, Isaiah 56:2-8

Catholic 

“Blessed is the womb that carried You, and the breasts at which You nursed!”
“On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and follow it.”

___
extras
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

Leviticus 20:13 ESV


Pro 28:9 One who turns his ear away from listening to the Law,
Even his prayer is an abomination

Roman's 8:6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,  7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Christmas Extensive

In this post I cite a bunch of documented historical excerpts that show the link of modern Christmas customs, to the practices of which the Bible forbids. 

 "The letter to the church at Pergamum specifically charged them with having seduced people into eating meat offered to idols and into acts of fornication. The decree of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:28, 29) had laid down also two specific conditions upon which Gentiles were to be admitted into Christian fellowship: they were to abstain from things offered to idols and from fornication. These were the very regulations which the Nicolaitans violated.

They were a people who used Christian liberty as an occasion for the flesh, against such Paul warned (Gal 5:13). The enticement to such a course of action was the pagan society in which Christians lived where eating meat offered to idols was common. Sex relations outside marriage were completely acceptable in such a society. The Nicolaitans attempted to establish a compromise with the pagan society of the Graeco-Roman world that surrounded them. The people most susceptible to such teaching were, no doubt, the upper classes who stood to lose the most by a separation from the culture to which they had belonged before conversion.

It may be that the doctrine of the Nicolaitans was dualistic. They prob. reasoned that the human body was evil anyway and only the spirit was good. A Christian, therefore, could do whatever he desired with his body because it had no importance. The spirit, on the other hand, was the recipient of grace which meant that grace and forgiveness were his no matter what he did. They were those ready to compromise with the world. They were judged by the author of Revelation to be most dangerous because the result of their teaching would have conformed Christianity to the world rather than have Christianity change the world. Eusebius indicated that this sect did not last very long, and in all probability the only knowledge of their teaching that is possible will be found in the slight references to them in Revelation" Encyclopedia of the Bible, Biblegateway

Starting with the Nicolaitans as mentioned in the Bible by Christ, as hating their deeds. The Nicolaitans were disregarding what God's word said in matters of eating, were engaging in hedonism and sexual immorality . Nicolaitans being named after Nicholas- engaging in feasts after his own name 

"Many of those who say that they confess Jesus, and are called Christians, eat meats offered to idols, and declare that they are by no means injured in consequence. Confessing themselves to be Christians, and admitting the crucified Jesus to be both Lord and Christ, yet not teaching His doctrines, but those of the spirits of error. ...[They are those who] teach to blaspheme the Maker of all things, and Christ, who was foretold by Him as coming, and the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, with whom we have nothing in common, since we know them to be atheists, impious, unrighteous, and sinful, and confessors of Jesus in name only, instead of worshipers of Him. Yet they style themselves Christians, just as certain among the Gentiles inscribe the name of God upon the works of their own hands, and partake in nefarious and impious rites. Some are called Marcians, and some Valentinians, and some Basilidians, and some Saturnilians, and others by other names; each called after the originator of the individual opinion...the name of the father of the particular doctrine"- Justin Martyr Dialogue with Trypho (Chapters 31-47)

Justin Martyr shows that the same practices of the Nicholatians were done by the Saturnilians, and that each group was calling themselves Christians in name but their actions were that which were contrary to scripture. They stated that they are Christians, but they are atheists, impious, unrighteous, and sinful.

"Gradually a number of prevailing practices of the nations into which Christianity came were assimilated and ...were combined with the religious ceremonies surrounding Christmas. The assimilation of such practices generally represented efforts by Christians to transform or absorb otherwise pagan practices."
"The Feast of Saturnalia in early Rome, for example, was celebrated for 7 days from the 17th to the 24th of December and was marked by a spirit of merriment, gift giving to children and other forms of entertainment. Gradually, early Christians replaced the pagan feast with the celebration of Christmas; but many of the traditions of this observance were assimilated and remain to this day a part of the observance of Christmas. Other nations, the Scandinavians, Germans, French, English and others, have left their mark . . . as well (pp. 804, 805)."The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible

The Nichalitians and Saturnilian celebrations, being indistinguishable in practice were a pagan feast, and became the tradition at the time of "Christmas" and these customs are the reason for the date "Christmas" was set. 

"Various symbolic elements of the pagan celebration, such as the lighting of candles, evergreen decorations, and the giving of gifts, were adapted to Christian signification. Later as Christianity spread into northern Europe, the Celtic, Teutonic, and Slavic winter festivals contributed holly, mistletoe, the Christmas tree, bonfires, and similar items."The Christian Encyclopedia

The Evergreen tree, gifts, and the lighting of candles that are the customs of Christmas, haven't Biblical root or command, but are incorporated pagan customs that the people still practice. They are documented pagan customs that relate to winter festivals rather than God's Holy appointed times and His set apart days. 

"The giving of presents was a Roman custom; while the yule tree and yule log are remnants of old Teutonic nature worship. Gradually the festival sank into mere revelry . . . . The custom was forbidden by an act of parliament in 1555; And the reformation brought in a refinement in the celebration of Christmas by emphasizing it Christian elements." Unger's Bible Dictionary

The tree has elements of solstice and nature worship. It was celebrated with revelry. 

"Lord of Misrule, official of the late medieval and early Tudor period in England, who was specially appointed to manage the Christmas festivities held at court, in the houses of great noblemen, in the law schools of the Inns of Court, and in many of the colleges at the universities of Cambridge and Oxford. During his reign, which lasted anywhere from 12 days to 3 months, the Lord of Misrule was responsible for arranging and directing all Christmas entertainment, including elaborate masques and processions, plays, and feasts. The lord himself usually presided over these affairs with a mock court and received comic homage from the reveler" Encyclopedia Britannica 

These drunken revelries pagan feasts under the banner of "christian" appointment are the heart of Nicholation/Saturnilian doctrine. The deeds are documented

"lasts a week; that over, I am a private person, just a man in the street. Secondly, during my week the serious is barred; no business allowed. Drinking and being drunk, noise and games and dice, appointing of kings and feasting of slaves, singing naked, clapping of tremulous hands, an occasional ducking of corked faces in icy water,--such are the functions over which I preside. But the great things, wealth and gold and such, Zeus distributes as he will."Works of  Lucian  Vol. IV: Saturnalia 

 

Lawlessness, Drunkenness, Sexual immorality and gambling are the customs that are the origins of Christmas, Not the fruits of the Spirit nor adherence to God's word. 

"Consequently the Circumcision fell on the first of January. In the ages of paganism, however, the solemnization of the feast was almost impossible, on account of the orgies connected with the Saturnalian festivities, which were celebrated at the same time. Even in our own day the secular features of the opening of the New Year interfere with the religious observance of the Circumcision, and tend to make a mere holiday of that which should have the sacred character of a Holy Day. St. Augustine points out the difference between the pagan and the Christian manner of celebrating the day: pagan feasting and excesses were to be expiated by Christian fasting and prayer "-The Catholic Encyclopedia (P.L., XXXVIII, 1024 sqq.; Serm. cxcvii, cxcviii

This shows that the people were having issue with the mixing of orgies and paganism into their feasts in which they were trying to invent. 

"Encyclopedia Britannica

Saturnalia

Saturnalia, the most popular of Roman festivals. Dedicated to the Roman god Saturn, the festival’s influence continues to be felt throughout the Western world.

The Temple of Saturn, with the Temple of Vespasian (also called Temple of Vespasian and Titus; right foreground), among the ruins of the Roman Forum, Rome.

Originally celebrated on December 17, Saturnalia was extended first to three and eventually to seven days. The date has been connected with the winter sowing season, which in modern Italy varies from October to January. Remarkably like the Greek Kronia, it was the liveliest festival of the year. All work and business were suspended. Slaves were given temporary freedom to say and do what they liked, and certain moral restrictions were eased. The streets were infected with a Mardi Gras madness; a mock king was chosen (Saturnalicius princeps); the seasonal greeting io Saturnalia was heard everywhere. The closing days of the Saturnalia were known as Sigillaria, because of the custom of making, toward the end of the festival, presents of candles, wax models of fruit, and waxen statuettes which were fashioned by the sigillarii or manufacturers of small figures in wax and other media. The cult statue of Saturn himself, traditionally bound at the feet with woolen bands, was untied, presumably to come out and join the fun."

"The influence of the Saturnalia upon the celebrations of Christmas and the New Year has been direct. The fact that Christmas was celebrated on the birthday of the unconquered sun (dies solis invicti nati) gave the season a solar background, connected with the kalends of January (January 1, the Roman New Year) when houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and presents were given to children and the poor. Concerning the gift candles, the Romans had a story that an old prophecy bade the earliest inhabitants of Latium send heads to Hades and phota to Saturn. The ancient Latins interpreted this to mean human sacrifices, but, according to legend, Hercules advised using lights (phos means “light” or “man” according to accent) and not human heads." Encyclopedia Britannica 

Saturnalia, which is of the same customs of the Nicolaitans, the same practices that were incorporated to Christmas, is a pagan celebration to the god Saturn. It lists the same customs of misrule an immorality. It lists the same customs of gift giving.  it lists the same house decorating and lights that were incorporated to christmas. The symbolism of human sacrifices of the pagan world are mixed with Christ. 

 Some of the most depraved customs of the Saturnalia carnival were intentionally revived by the Catholic Church in 1466 when Pope Paul II, for the amusement of his Roman citizens, forced Jews to race naked through the streets of the city.  An eyewitness account reports, “Before they were to run, the Jews were richly fed, so as to make the race more difficult for them and at the same time more amusing for spectators.  They ran… amid Rome’s taunting shrieks and peals of laughter, while the Holy Father stood upon a richly ornamented balcony and laughed heartily.”- David I. Kertzer, The Popes Against the Jews: The Vatican’s Role in the Rise of Modern Anti-Semitism, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2001, page 74

"For the English Protestants who left in the early 1600s for Plymouth seeking religious freedom, such Bacchanalian festivities to mark the birth of Christ were utterly scandalous. And so true to the city’s “banned in Boston” reputation, the Puritans renounced English traditions and declared Dec. 25 a workday, even going so far as to criminalize Christmas from 1659 to 1681.

One prominent Boston minister, Increase Mather, a 1659 Harvard College graduate who served as its president from 1681-1701, led the opposition, railing in his writings against Christmas celebrants “consumed in Compotations, in Interludes, in playing at Cards, in Revellings, in excess of Wine, in mad Mirth.” Christina Pazzanese The Harvard Gazette 

The Puritan minister Increase Mather  spoke out against Christmas and its pagan roots in 1687 stating that those who celebrated it:

"In the pure Apostolical times there was no Christ-mass day observed in the Church of God. We ought to keep the primitive Pattern. That Book of Scripture which is called The Acts of Apostles saith nothing of their keeping Christ’s Nativity as an Holy-day...Why should Protestants own any thing which has the name of Mass in it? How unsuitable is it to join Christ and Mass together? ...It can never be proved that Christ’s nativity was on 25 of December...who first of all observed the Feast of Christ’s Nativity in the latter end of December, did it not as thinking that Christ was born in that Month, but because the Heathens’ Saturnalia was at that time kept in Rome, and they were willing to have those Pagan Holidays metamorphosed into Christian ones." -"A Testimony against Several Prophane and Superstitious Customs"  Increase Mather

Historically the recognition that "Christmas" is pagan was not a secret. It was once illegal due to the paganism. 

"The celebration of Christmas remained a final obstacle to a strict Sabbatarianism. At
first the Council agreed to celebrate it on the nearest Sunday, but it was actually the
Consistory who voted to celebrate it instead on the traditional date. It wasn’ t until
November 1550, that Genevans adopted a strict Sabbatarian system. They decided by a
unanimous vote of the General Assembly that henceforth they would recognize no holy days except Sundays and would celebrate Communion only on Sundays."Preaching, Praying and Policing the Reform in Sixteenth-Century Geneva"  Ph.D Thesis by Thomas A. Lambert

Christmas was historically against holy days and Sabbatarianism. 

"Finally, in 1550, Calvin managed to get the Genevan authorities to outlaw Christmas and to mandate that communion would be celebrated only on Sundays, and not on “superstitious” pagan dates like December 25. Indeed, on December 25, 1550, the city council sat for business as usual, the courts were in session and businesses were all open under penalty of fine. Calvin, as usual, gave his weekday sermon on a book of the Old Testament and noticed something that upset him: there were more people in church than on a typical weekday. A committed soldier in the war on Christmas, Calvin boomed from the pulpit:

I see more people than usual at sermon today. And why? It’ s Christmas day. And who told you? It seems so [to be a holy day] to poor beasts. There’ s the fitting label for all who came to sermon today in honor of the feast… But if you think that Jesus Christ was born today, you are beasts, indeed, rabid beasts." Ph.D Thesis by Thomas A. Lambert, historian 

John Calvin, renowned preacher who founded the Calvinist ideology was fervently against Christmas and recognized that it is a pagan invention for "poor beasts", and worked for its prohibition.  

Baptist Preacher Charles Spurgeon was also vocal on the fact that Christmas is neither Biblical nor the date which Christ was born. He states correctly and unequivocally that Christmas is not of divine authority. 

“Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas: first, because we do not believe in the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be said or sung in Latin or in English; and, secondly, because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Savior; and, consequently, its observance is a superstition, because [it is] not of divine authority.”

“Many would not consider they had kept Christmas in a proper manner, if they did not verge on gluttony and drunkenness.”

“If there be any day in the year of which we may be pretty sure that it was not the day on which the Saviour was born, it is the twenty-fifth of December.”- Charles Spurgeon

 

People today are engaging in the customs of paganism according to the nations and hanging wreaths every year even though God tells us to not worship Him in the customs of the nations. 

Deut 12:29-32 “When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, 30 beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?’ 31 You shall not behave thus toward the Lord your God, for every abominable act which the Lord hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.32 “Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.

God tells us that we are to regard Him as Holy, Set apart. We do not regard Him as Holy by claiming Christ and engaging in the customs that Romans celebrate to Saturn, or Norse celebrate Jul, or Nicholatiants celebrate themselves.  

Daniel 7:25 He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time 

The one that is contrary to the Most High seeks to later appointed times and God's law. People take the meanings behind God's holy appointed times in Leviticus 23 and they ascribe them to different times, and different customs, of which God has said not to do, learn, or worship Him with.  

Deuteronomy 16:21-22 “You shall not plant for yourself an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of the Lord your God, which you shall make for yourself. 22 You shall not set up for yourself a sacred pillar which the Lord your God hates.  

God tells us to not set up trees or sacred pillars next to His altar. We shouldn't be engaging in what His word states are pagan customs and saying "this is a feast to the Lord" 

Jeremiah 10:2-5 Thus says the Lord,“Do not learn the way of the nations,  And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens  Although the nations are terrified by them; 3 For the customs of the peoples are delusion;  Because it is wood cut from the forest, The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. 4 “They decorate it with silver and with gold;  They fasten it with nails and with hammers  So that it will not totter.

The customs of the nations are peoples delusions and they cut down trees and bring them inside and decorate and hammer them so they will not totter. While people will argue that this isn't mentioning Christmas outright, it IS mentioning the practices and customs of bringing a tree inside, decorating it and making sure it doesn't fall over as something WE are believers are not supposed to do or learn. 

"On 15 May, 719, Wynfrith (his name at birth) was sent to Germany by Pope Gregory II and given the name Boniface. His mission was to convert the unbelievers in that part of Europe to Christianity. He worked tirelessly in the country destroying idols and pagan temples across Germany and building churches in their place. In 732 he was made an Archbishop and founded or restored the diocese of Bavaria. It was on this trip, around the time of Winter Solstice, that he was said to have come across a group of pagans worshipping an old oak tree. Horrified by what he saw as blasphemy, the all-action Boniface grabbed the nearest axe and hacked down the tree. As he did this he called the pagans to see the power of his God over theirs. The feelings of the locals were understandably mixed, but Boniface’s actions seem mainly to have been taken in good spirit, with some of the tales saying he converted the pagans on the spot. This is where the story divides. Some say that Boniface planted a fir tree there, but the most common idea is that a fir tree grew spontaneously in the oak’s place. The fir was seen as an image of God and many believed its evergreen character symbolised the everlasting love of the Creator. According to the story, the next year all the pagans in the area had been converted to Christianity and hung decorations from the tree to celebrate what they now called Christmas rather than Winter Solstice. The story spread and soon Christmas trees became the norm in the newly converted Bavaria, and then spread out to become the tinsel strewn, electric lit, bauble hung festival we know today."- Roger Steer, Historian 

2 Kings 17:33 They feared the Lord and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom they had been carried away into exile.

2 Kings 23:7 He also broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes which were in the house of the Lord, where the women were weaving hangings for the Asherah

 Just as early Christians recruited Roman pagans by associating Christmas with the Saturnalia, so too worshippers of the Asheira cult and its offshoots were recruited by the Church sanctioning “Christmas Trees”.  Pagans had long worshipped trees in the forest, or brought them into their homes and decorated them, and this observance was adopted and painted with a Christian veneer by the Church.-  Clement Miles, Christmas Customs and Traditions: Their History and Significance, New York: Dover Publications, 1976, pages 178, 263-271.

These continued the pagan customs with "christian" labels regarding the tree as the image of God. 
Christmas is a pagan invention that has no grounding in scripture beyond mentioned customs which are prohibited. 

Return to the Holy days of God. Remember, This custom is just like the example of the Golden Calf, when they made it and worshiped God/ YHVH with it, and then they rose up to eat and drink and play.

Exodus 32:5-6  Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.”6 So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

Dear Messianics

 Scripture has this to say to those who are hostile to our Christian brothers and sisters. 

 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written,“There is none righteous, not even one;11 There is none who understands,There is none who seeks for God;12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless;There is none who does good,There is not even one.”13 “Their throat is an open grave,With their tongues they keep deceiving,”“The poison of asps is under their lips”;14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,16 Destruction and misery are in their paths,17 And the path of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered.8 “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”9 Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” 10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; 11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.  

 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

  So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. -Romans

The hostility to Christian brothers and siters for not keeping many of the commands of God due to ignorance or whatever reason, is not and should not be, a cause for bitterness nor a cause for hostility to grow within our own hearts. As some judge others against themselves, they would do well to remember that they're supposed to instead be judging themselves against God.  

 23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26 So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 27 And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 30 But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 31 So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. 32 Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34 And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”- Matthew

If we're the ones forgiven our great debt and we start to beat on our Christian brothers and sisters, Then how are we any different than those in this parable?

  Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”19 Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. 21 For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”- Acts 

We are saved by grace just as they are. God does not show partiality between them and us, we're part of the same body. 

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.- Ephesians 

 17 But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. 18 For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.- 2 Corinthians 

 

Polygamy Chapter

 We’ve spoken about God’s authority and headship. We’ve spoken about how man is supposed to be that reflection of God to his bride, and how that bride is to reflect the bride of Christ. In submission to God’s will and His rulership and authority, we’re walking in that covenant relationship as one who walks with the bridegroom.  I’d like to look now at the subjects relating to the idea that we are in a marriage to the Creator of Heaven and earth. If marriage is a parallel of God and our marriage to Him, then we’d see such matters of Adultery and Polygamy as directly oppositional. Whenever polygamy is mentioned, a few points are usually brought up:

1. David had multiple wives and was a man after God’s own heart.
2. The Bible never says polygamy is wrong.
3. Joash had two wives. 

As I looked at the scriptures regarding David,  These passages stood out to me 

 Deuteronomy 17:17 He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.

1 Samuel 25:43David had also taken Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both became his wives.

2 Samuel 11:14-15 14 Now in the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15He had written in the letter, saying, “Place Uriah in the front line of the fiercest battle and withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and die.”
 

1 Chronicles 28:3 “But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’

David was in violation of this prohibition against taking multiple wives.  God watched as that sin grew into a greater sin. David did turn his heart from the ways of God when He committed adultery with Bathsheba. He then made it worse when he committed violence against Uriah.  Then David rounded it out and took Bathsheba to be his wife. That is 3 sins, not one.  Adultery, Murder, and Polygamy.

Remember what God said in Genesis? 

Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 

The one wife.  Not wives.   This is again affirmed in Matthew 19

Matthew 19:5 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh

If the parallel of us entering the marriage covenant with God is that we are like the Bride and Him the Bridegroom, then polygamy and adultery  would be the parallel of us saying we love God, while we cheat on Him with other gods.  There seems to be a correlation to either violence or the turning one's heart away from trusting God that occurs when polygamy is involved.  A case can be made from Genesis as mentioned in the chapter about the nephilim 

Genesis 4: 19 Lamech took to himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.

Genesis 4: 22As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, Listen to my voice, You wives of Lamech, Give heed to my speech, For I have killed a man for wounding me; And a boy for striking me; 24If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

Genesis 6:2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.

Genesis 6:13¶Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.

Lamech took two wives, and then he killed a man for wounding him and killed a boy for striking him. He likens this killing to Cain, his father the first murderer. Next thing we see is Lamech’s son making instruments of war. Then it says that the sons of God took whatever wives they liked- potentially in addition to the ones that they already had-   then the earth is filled with violence and the world is destroyed.

1 Kings 11:3 -6 He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away.4 For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites. 6Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not follow the LORD fully, as David his father had done.

Solomon who built the  temple of the Lord. Took way too many wives, and instead of being the example of Christ as King  who has one bride, had his heart led astray to follow after other gods. There seems to be this connection to the fleshly desire craving more than one wife, and the perversion of purpose and headship that God established at creation.  A critic of this mentioned that God said He’d have given David Saul’s wives, so that must mean that God supports polygamy. For a second, when I heard this I thought “what an interesting objection”. Then I read the passage in question and saw that the context was that God is the one that provides everything that David has ever needed all the days of his life. If David needed food, God had provided it.  God gave David favor, gave him bread, gave him the entire kingdom of Israel and Judah. IF there was for some reason that David NEEDED more than one wife, It wasn’t for David to determine. God would have determined that and given him more than one wife.

2 Samuel 12:7-12 Nathan then said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.’”

See that in verse 10? God says that David despised Him and took the wife of Uriah.  He calls out David for despising the Word of the Lord. This is not an endorsement of polygamy. This is a rebuke. Look at the punishment, God says that because of the evil David did in taking wives, his offspring Absolom will also do so to him…. Publicly.  Another reason we know God wasn’t saying  “hey you need more wives, I’ll give you Saul’s wives” is because God already stated that this is against His will. David is married to Sauls daughter.

Deuteronomy 27:23 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

The fruit of David taking multiple wives is the death of  so many people  There are more examples

Judges 8:27-32 Gideon made it into an ephod, and placed it in his city, Ophrah, and all Israel played the harlot with it there, so that it became a snare to Gideon and his household.

28 So Midian was subdued before the sons of Israel, and they did not lift up their heads anymore. And the land was undisturbed for forty years in the days of Gideon.

29 Then Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. 30 Now Gideon had seventy sons who were his direct descendants, for he had many wives. 31 His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech. 32 And Gideon the son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Gideon who was a righteous judge of Israel even wandered into apostasy and played the harlot in adultery against God 

2 Chronicles 11:22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah as head and leader among his brothers, for he intended to make him king. 23 He acted wisely and distributed some of his sons through all the territories of Judah and Benjamin to all the fortified cities, and he gave them food in abundance. And he sought many wives for them.

2 Chronicles 12: When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he and all Israel with him forsook the law of the Lord. 2 And it came about in King Rehoboam’s fifth year, because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem

Rehoboam was a king and sought many wives for himself and then he and all of Israel forsook the law of God, and were unfaithful.  They cheated on God. They failed to represent the husbandly dominion of our King to His Bride. 

2 Chronicles 24:2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he became the father of sons and daughters.

2 Chronicles 24: 20 Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people and said to them, “Thus God has said, ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord and do not prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He has also forsaken you.’” 21 So they conspired against him and at the command of the king they stoned him to death in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which his father Jehoiada had shown him, but he murdered his son. And as he died he said, “May the Lord see and avenge!”

This one was interesting, because the elements are here. Many wives, then, forsake God and then engage in violence.  How do we then reconcile verse 2 and 3 since God doesn’t seem to endorse taking multiple wives, but it looks like the favor was upon him. To answer that, here is a quote.

"Some take this to mean that Jehoida gave Joash a two wives at the same time and since Joash is said to have “done what was right in the sight of the Lord” it must mean that polygamy is right in the sight of God. There are lots of problems with this interpretation. First, there is nothing here that requires us to read this in a polygamous way, for example, Joash could have one wife, and then she died, and then he was is given another, and Jehoida is the one who arranged a godly wife for the king. That’s a possible reading of the text.Another possibly reading is that that the Hebrew conjunctive vav in verse 3 is more properly translated as “but” instead of “and”, and if you ever learn Hebrew, one of the first things you’ll learn is that “vav” can mean and or but or other things and it depends on the context and flow of the passage to determine which it is. So in this case, it would actually be saying that Joash did was right in the sight of the Lord, except for, “but” he took two wives, and this would actually be a condemnation of the kind’s polygamous relationship, and it would concur with the law of Leviticus 18:18." - Aaron Ventura, pastor of Christ Covenant Church (CREC), Centralia, WA.

Everywhere in the Bible that Polygamy is present, it is a snare and a destructive force. There are no positive examples.  Kings are to represent God and are prohibited from multiple wives as reflections of Christ to avoid hearts turning from God, and Paul gives us this same classification in Titus in regards to pastoral eldership.

Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

 Look at that. This passage in Titus about Godly leadership mirrors the call to Kings.  All of the men who engaged in polygamy failed in their walks around the time where they were not husbands of one wife.  Abraham went into Hagar in order to force the promise of God, and what was the result? 

Genesis 16:2-3  So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife.

In this example we have Abra(ha)m who is supposed to be waiting on God to fulfill his promise.  Abraham is supposed to be leading his wife. Abraham, instead of leading his wife in waiting on the promises of God and God’s timing as an example of the Bride waiting on her husband, instead- acts like Adam in the garden and listens to his wife’s direction. At his wife's leadership, Abraham engages in polygamy. He does this while living in Canaan, and he takes an Egyptian woman- the two places mentioned as engaging in all forms of  forbidden relationships in Leviticus 18. What is the result of ignoring God’s timing and trying to force His promise? 

 Genesis 16:5-6 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the Lord judge between you and me.” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence.

Sarah afflicted her. One of the definitions is to bruise. It resulted in violence. Hagar ran away and God sent her back.  That wasn’t the end of the division or contention in Abraham's house. 

Genesis 21:9-11 Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. 10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.” 11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son.

Genesis 21: 14-17  So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba. 15 When the water in the skin was used up, she left the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “Do not let me see the boy die.” And she sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice and wept. 17 God heard the lad crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter with you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 

 This matter of Hagar is not God permitting polygamy.  This is not what God’s order and headship resulted in.  The laws governing polygamy in God’s law  are not for endorsement of the practice, but for repentance.  We are supposed to be a people that calls the world BACK to righteousness and walking in submission to God. In fact, to read Leviticus 18:18 as God permitting polygamy is to take the verse out of its meaning and context.  Check this out,

“The legislation most frequently cited as support for polygamy and concubinage in the Pentateuch is found in Leviticus 18:18. This passage is commonly translated as tacitly allowing for plural marriages. For example, the NASB reads, “You shall not marry a woman in addition to her sister [Heb. ’ishah ’el-’akhotah, lit. ‘a woman to her sister’] as a rival while she is alive, to uncover her nakedness.” In this and most other modern versions, the phrase ’ishah ’el-’akhotah (“a woman to her sister”) is taken as referring to a literal (consanguine) sister. The implication of this reading is that although a certain incestuous polygamous relationship is forbidden (ie., marriage to two consanguine sisters while both are living, technically called sororal polygyny), polygamy in general is acceptable within the law. However, the Hebrew phrase ’ishah ’el-’akhotah (“a woman to her sister”) in its eight occurrences elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible always is used idiomatically in the distributive sense of “one in addition to another,” and nowhere refers to literal sisters.6 Likewise, the masculine equivalent of this phrase, ’ish ’el-’akiw (“a man to his brother”), appears twelve times in the Hebrew Bible, and is always used in a similar idiomatic manner with a distributive meaning of “one to another” or “to one another,” and nowhere is it to be translated literally as “a man to his brother.”7 Consistent with usage elsewhere in Scripture, Leviticus 18:18 should be taken idiomatically and distributively as referring to “one [woman/wife] in addition to another [woman/wife],” and not to literal sisters.”- Davidson, Richard M., "Condemnation and Grace: Polygamy and Concubinage in the Old Testament" (2015). Faculty Publications. 69

Is that not consistent with the rest of the scripture?   Abraham vexed Sarah by listening to her council and taking another wife in addition to her.  Jacob didn’t seek to practice Polygamy it was an evil that was done to him by an evil man.

Genesis 29:21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may go in to her.” 22 Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her. 24 Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25 So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?” 26 But Laban said, “It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years.” 

Laban was a wicked man, emphasizing Dominance over Jacob for profit and not in the ways of God. Laban was a diviner who engaged in wickedness.

Genesis 30: But Laban said to him, “If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the Lord has blessed me on your account.” 

He was a man that served idols. 

Genesis 31: 19 When Laban had gone to shear his flock, then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s. 

When Laban chases after Jacob in his departure understanding that Jacob’s leaving was by the hand of God, he makes him swear by YHVH that  Jacob won’t take other wives

Gen 31:50-53 If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.” 51 Laban said to Jacob, “Behold this heap and behold the pillar which I have set between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass by this heap to you for harm, and you will not pass by this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53 The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac.

I don’t need to quote the entire story to you to show that the infighting and the contention between Rachel and Leah was NOT God’s design for what a marriage is supposed to be. It certainly isn’t  a model for OUR marriage to Him as the bride of Christ.

Proverbs 5:18-23   Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 As a loving hind and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; Be exhilarated always with her love. 20 For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress And embrace the bosom of a foreigner? 21 For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He watches all his paths. 22 His own iniquities will capture the wicked, And he will be held with the cords of his sin.23 He will die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.

Did that say the harem of your youth?  Did it say rejoice in the brothel of maidens that you have taken as wives? It does not. It’s ONE  wife. Rejoice in your one wife.  Be satisfied in HER breasts. Not in several, not in many womens, but hers- your wifes. If you are satisfied with your wife at all times, as is this prescriptive command- you’re not looking for another woman. If you’re always exhilarated with HER love, you’re not looking for someone else's love. God is JEALOUS for His bride, for our love and affection and attention. He doesn’t take another, we’re not supposed to either. When we take our eyes off of Him and our role in His leadership, in His dominion, as our Husband- then we seek carnality and we are led astray by the flesh and distort the image of God. We perverse every reflection of Him that He has made us to walk in. 

2 Corinthians  11:2-3 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. 3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 

A husband that is looking for another wife in addition to the wife that he has, is NOT a husband that is focused on loving his current wife like Christ loves the Church.  He is not a husband that is focused on being the bride of Christ, but rather to exaltation of self. 

Exodus 20:14 “You shall not commit adultery

Matthew 5:27-30 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

 
Looking at a woman with lust is adultery. Looking at someone with lust who is not your wife is adultery.  This does NOT say “if your eye causes you to sin, just sin bro- its fine” or, “There are laws that regulate sin, therefore God is pleased if I go choose sin”, that would be a justification for flesh.  That would be blasphemous. The imagery of severance from the body is so strong and severe here for a reason. We’re told throughout scripture that our focus is to be on God.

Matthew 6:31-33 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Just like God said with David, IF there was a need for multiple wives, He would have made it so. He forbids it, and therefore it is not so.  The greatest commands from God are to Love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself.  Loving God with all your heart, is submission to His leadership and dominion, and loving ONE spouse the way HE tells us to.

Revelation  19:7-9 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.9 Then he *said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he *said to me, “These are true words of God.” 

One. One Bride. 

Just as Deuteronomy 17:17 states that a King is not to have multiple wives, our Example of God as a husband- Christ, who gave that law, only has one Bride.