Ashkelon was one of the five major Philistine cities located along the southern coast of ancient Canaan. The other main Philistine cities were Gaza, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath. Ashkelon is mentioned over 50 times in the Bible and played an important role in biblical events. The first mention of Ashkelon is in Joshua 13:3 which describes it as one of the remaining unconquered lands during the Israelite conquest of Canaan under Joshua. At this time, Ashkelon was a major Philistine stronghold. Later, in Judges 1:18, it is noted that the tribe of Judah captured Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron initially but…
Author: Kristal Wheatley
Knowing the exact date and time of one’s salvation experience can be meaningful for some Christians. However, an inability to pinpoint the precise moment of conversion does not indicate a lack of salvation. What matters most is the transformed life and heart that results from God’s saving work in a person’s life. The Bible itself does not emphasize or require recalling a specific salvation date. Scripture’s focus is on the changed nature of a believer after coming to faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). While dates can help memorialize spiritual milestones, the Bible stresses the importance of showing fruit in…
The verse Jeremiah 9:23 states “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches.” This verse teaches an important lesson – that we should not put our trust or find our identity in human wisdom, strength, or wealth. Instead, we should glory only in the Lord. To understand this verse fully, we need to look at the context. Jeremiah was writing at a time when Judah was facing judgment from God because of their idolatry and lack of…
In Matthew 5:20, Jesus makes a profound statement to his disciples: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” This verse raises an important question – why did Jesus say that the disciples’ righteousness needed to exceed that of the religious leaders of the day? To properly understand this verse, it’s important to first understand who the scribes and Pharisees were. The scribes were experts in the Jewish law and were responsible for making copies of Scripture and teaching it. The Pharisees were a religious group…
Understanding the Bible correctly is crucial for Christians. A key aspect of this is knowing the difference between interpretation and application of Scripture. While these two concepts are related, there are some important distinctions. What is Biblical Interpretation? Interpretation refers to the process of determining the original meaning and significance of a biblical text. It seeks to understand what the author intended to communicate to the original audience. Interpretation tries to answer questions such as: What is the historical-cultural context of this passage? What literary genre is being used? What do key words and phrases mean in the original language?…
The phrase “God’s holy mountain” appears several times in the Bible, but is specifically mentioned in Isaiah 11:9 which says, “They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” This verse points to a future time when God’s kingdom will be established on earth and there will be no more pain or destruction. In the Bible, mountains are sometimes used symbolically to represent kingdoms or authority. God’s “holy mountain” refers to Mount Zion in Jerusalem, the location of the temple…
Watchman Nee, originally named Ni Shu-tsu, was an influential Chinese church leader and Christian teacher who lived from 1903 to 1972. He founded the local churches and wrote many influential books that contributed greatly to the spiritual foundation of today’s house church in China and Christian outreach. Watchman Nee was born on November 4, 1903, in Swatow, China. His original name was Ni Shu-tsu, but later he changed his name to Watchman Nee. When Nee was 17 years old, he heard the gospel from a female missionary named Dora Yu. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior in 1920. After…
The phrase “drink water from your own cistern” comes from Proverbs 5:15, which reads: “Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.” In the Bible, a cistern was a man-made reservoir or tank used to collect and store rainwater. Cisterns were important sources of water in ancient Israel where natural sources of fresh water were scarce. In Proverbs 5, the father is warning his son about the dangers of adultery and encouraging faithfulness to his wife. By telling his son to “drink water from your own cistern,” he is using cistern imagery to represent the man’s…
What does it mean to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16)? In Colossians 3:16, Paul writes “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” This verse packs a lot of meaning into just one sentence! Let’s break it down phrase by phrase to understand what it really means to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” The “word of Christ” here…
The question of whether God is selfish is an important one that many people wrestle with. At first glance, it may seem like God only cares about Himself and His own interests. However, a closer look at what the Bible says about God’s character and actions reveals that He is not actually selfish. The most fundamental thing to understand about God is that He is love (1 John 4:8). This means that His very nature and essence is to give of Himself to others. Love by definition is other-centered, not self-centered. God’s motivation for everything He does flows out of…