turn back

May 14, 2019

Stay where you are (Lk 17:31-17:31)

“On that day,

Anyone on the housetop,

Who has belongings

In the house,

Must not come down

To take them away.

Likewise,

Anyone in the field

Must not turn back.”

 

ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ὃς ἔσται ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος καὶ τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ, μὴ καταβάτω ἆραι αὐτά, καὶ ὁ ἐν ἀγρῷ ὁμοίως μὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω.

 

Luke indicated that Jesus said that on that day (ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ) of the coming of the Son of Man at the end times, anyone on the housetop (ὃς ἔσται ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος), who has belongings in the house (καὶ τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ), must not come down to take them away (μὴ καταβάτω ἆραι αὐτά).  Likewise, anyone in the field (καὶ ὁ ἐν ἀγρῷ ὁμοίως) must not turn back to the things left behind (μὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω).  This is almost word for word in Matthew, chapter 24:17-18, and Mark, chapter 13:15-16.  Mark indicated that Jesus said that during these end times, the people on the housetop or roofs of their houses (ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος) should not go down (μὴ καταβάτω) and enter their house (μηδὲ εἰσελθάτω τι) to take anything out of there (ἆραι τὰ ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ).  It would be useless to do so, as the world was coming to an end.  If they were in the field working (καὶ ὁ εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν), they were not to turn back or return to their house (μὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω) to get or take a coat or outer garment (ἆραι τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ).  Jesus, via Matthew, said that during this end time, the people on the housetop or roofs of their houses (ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος) should not go down (μὴ καταβάτω) to take things out of their houses (ἆραι τὰ ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ).  If they were in the field working (καὶ ὁ ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ), they were not to turn back or return to their house (μὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω ὀπίσω) to get or take a coat or outer garment (ἆραι τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ).  They had no need for clothes because the end was near.  What would you want to take from your house if the world was coming to an end?

March 12, 2019

The role of peace (Lk 10:6-10:6)

“If anyone is there,

Who shares in peace,

Your peace

Will rest

On that person.

But if not,

It will return

To you.”

 

καὶ ἐὰν ἐκεῖ ᾖ υἱὸς εἰρήνης, ἐπαναπαήσεται ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἡ εἰρήνη ὑμῶν· εἰ δὲ μήγε, ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς ἀνακάμψει.

 

Luke indicated that Jesus said that if there was a son of peace (καὶ ἐὰν ἐκεῖ ᾖ υἱὸς εἰρήνης) or anyone there who shared in peace, their peace would rest or remain on that person (ἐπαναπαήσεται ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἡ εἰρήνη ὑμῶν).  But if not (εἰ δὲ μήγε), that peace would return to them (ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς ἀνακάμψει).  Matthew, chapter 10:13, had something similar when Jesus was talking to his 12 apostles before their missionary expedition.  If there were worthy people or the house was worthy, they should let their peace come upon them.  However, if they are not worthy or deserving, their peace should return or turn back to them, the same as Luke here.  I am not sure how you would get your peace greeting revoked in some way.  Have you ever been mad because someone did not return you peace greeting?

June 24, 2018

In the fields (Matt 24:18-24:18)

“The one in the field

Must not turn back

To get a coat.”

 

καὶ ὁ ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ μὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω ὀπίσω ἆραι τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ.

 

This is almost the same, word for word, in Mark, chapter 13:16, but not in Luke.  If you were in the field working (καὶ ὁ ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ), you were not to turn back or return to your house (μὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω ὀπίσω) to get or take a coat or outer garment (ἆραι τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ).  You had no need for clothes because the end was near.

January 27, 2017

The day of destruction for the Philistines (Jer 47:3-47:4)

“At the noise

Of the stamping

Of the hoofs

Of his stallions,

At the clatter

Of his chariots,

At the rumbling

Of their wheels,

The parents do not

Look back

For children.

Their hands are so feeble.

The day is coming

To destroy

All the Philistines.

They will be cut off

From Tyre and Sidon,

From every helper

That remains.

Yahweh is destroying

The Philistines,

The remnant

Of the coastland

Of Caphtor.”

The Philistines were going to hear the hoofs of the stallions of these invaders. They would hear the noise of the rumbling chariot wheels. Parents would not turn back to save their children, because their own hands would be too weak. The Philistines would be destroyed, since they were cut off from any help from the Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon. Yahweh was going to destroy the remnant of the coastal people, who may have come from the island of Caphtor or Crete.

December 19, 2016

The anger of Yahweh (Jer 30:23-30:24)

“Look!

The storm of Yahweh!

Wrath has gone forth!

It is a whirling tempest!

It will burst

Upon the head of the wicked.

The fierce anger of Yahweh

Will not turn back

Until he has executed

And accomplished

The intentions of his mind.

In the latter days,

You will understand this.”

Into every story must come a little sadness. The anger or wrath of Yahweh was always in the background of any story. Thus the storm of Yahweh or a whirling tempest would fall upon the wicked. No one could turn back the anger of Yahweh until he has executed and accomplished what he set out to do. Only later will people understand this.

November 29, 2016

The wrath of Yahweh (Jer 23:19-23:20)

“Look!

The storm of Yahweh!

Wrath has gone forth!

It is a whirling tempest!

It will burst

Upon the head of the wicked.

The anger of Yahweh

Will not turn back

Until he has executed

The intents of his mind.

It will not turn back

Until he has accomplished

The intents of his mind.

In the latter days,

You will understand it clearly.”

The wrath of Yahweh was going to come forward like a whirling tempest storm. His wrath would burst upon the heads of the wicked. They cannot turn back the anger of Yahweh, their God, who wants to execute and accomplish what he intended to do. In the coming days, people will understand more clearly the powerful anger of God, Yahweh.

October 29, 2016

The indifference of Israel (Jer 8:4 -8:7)

“Thus says Yahweh.

‘You shall say to them.

When people fall,

Do they not get up again?

If they go astray,

Do they not turn back?

Why then has this people turned away?

Why are they perpetually backsliding?

They hold fast to deceit.

They have refused to return.

I have given heed.

I have listened.

But they do not speak honestly.

No man repents of wickedness.

Saying.

‘What have I done?’

All of them turn to their own course,

Like a horse

Plunging headlong into battle.

Even the stork in the heavens

Knows its times.

The turtledove

Observes the time of its coming.

The swallow

Observes the time of its coming.

The crane

Observes the time of its coming.

But my people do not know

The ordinance of Yahweh.’”

Yahweh, via Jeremiah, points out the indifference of Israel. Most people when they fall, they get up. If they are lost, they turn back. Why are these Israelites continuing to backslide? Why do they refuse to return? They are deceitful. Yahweh was listening, but they were not speaking honestly. No one was repenting for what they had done. All of them went their own way like a horse plunging headlong into a battle. The various birds, like the stork, the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane, know when to come and go. However, the people of the Lord do not know and are indifferent to his ordinances.

October 21, 2016

Yahweh speaks about the desolate land (Jer 4:27-4:28)

“Thus says Yahweh.

‘The whole land shall be a desolation.

Yet I will not make a full end.

Because of this

The earth shall mourn.

The heavens above shall

Grow black.

I have spoken.

I have purposed.

I have not relented.

I will not turn back.’”

Yahweh, via Jeremiah, says that the whole land will be desolate, but he is not done. The earth will mourn, while the heavens will turn black. He has spoken. He has purposed this because he will not relent or turn back. The course is set.

August 17, 2016

Turn away from idols (Isa 31:6-31:7)

“Turn back to him

Whom you have deeply betrayed!

O people of Israel!

On that day

All of you shall throw away

Your idols of silver,

Your idols of gold,

That your hands have sinfully made for you.”

Isaiah warns that they have to turn back to Yahweh, whom they have betrayed. They have to throw away their silver and gold idols that they have sinfully made for themselves. Once again, this is an indication that idolatry may have been taking place in Jerusalem.

February 19, 2016

The stately strides (Prov 30:29-30:31)

“Three things are stately in their stride.

Four are stately in their gait.

The lion is the mightiest among wild animals.

It does not turn back before any.

The others are

The strutting rooster,

The he-goat,

Finally the king

Who strides before his people.”

Finally, we have the last 4 and 3 numerical proverb. There are 4 stately striders: 1) the lion, 2) the rooster, 3) the male goat, and 4) the king. Interesting enough the bull and the deer are missing from this stately list. The lion is the mightiest among all the animals that never turn back. The strutting rooster and the male goat once again emphasis the strutting male. The king, however, also strides before all his people.