Praise Worship, Psalm 106, Rubel Shelly

Kenneth Sublett, Piney.com, Hohenwald, Tennessee

Praise Worship, Psalm 106, Rubel Shelly: Rubel Shelly uses Psalm 106 as a pattern: We will try to read 106 as the RESOURCE of Worship. Rubel Shelly of Woodmont Hills: I want both to affirm the value and meaning of worship to the Lord and help to direct you in an experience of it.

Great Themes of the Bible (#17-Praise and Thanksgiving)

See Augustine Psalm 106

Jesus said that worship is in THE NEW PLACE of the human SPIRIT which is the human MIND. Worship happens IN TRUTH according to Paul when we Teach that which has been taught or give heed to the inspired Word.

ALL external worship is PAGAN and Perverted. See the charismatic connection

A Cappella Worship Leader
Aquinas, Thomas Praise Singing.
Praise Songs as Christian Voodoo
Ancient Pagan Praise Leader
Music as Brainwashing
Latter Rain, praise teams, praise singing, charismatic
Praise Worship Ploughs the Ground Hosea 10:ll
Rubel Shelly Praise and Thanksgiving
Rubel Shelly Psalm 106 YOU ARE HERE
See how CHARISMATIC music was born of sodomy preferably in the form of Pederasty.
See that ZOE is Eos or Helios or Aphrodite or Lucifer: the singing and harp-playing prostitute.
See how it works out when the "children and effeminate rule over you."
See more notes on a cappella.
See Edward Fudge on A Cappella

In part one we saw the common treatment of Psalm 106 as a "pattern" for worship. The two preachers proposed to help direct the audience in a experience of worship. Rubel Shelly claims:

Rubel Shelly: In my opinion, the single most important thing to an authentically spiritual life is to learn how to praise God.
It connects us to the source of all things spiritual.

Paul silenced the self-pleasure which defines all of the performing arts and said that the only way to glorify or praise God was by speaking with one MIND and one MOUTH that which is written.  Praise singing is the most ancient, superstitious and legalistic means of trying to AID the gods to keep them from failing. There was no praise service in the synagogue and that is why they all use the cursed sacrificial system to get the "praise" concept without knowing anything about its meaning.

What the "praise singers" want to impose.

g11984 Halal: most often used of PRAISE which means to make self vile as a musical threat to the enemy to turn them coward. The implied threat in was was always "we will rob you, rape you and 'rapture' you if you don't run awa. g1966 heylel or Lucifer from g1984.  Lucifer was personified by the king of Tyre as the "singing and harp playing prostitute in the garden of Eden."  The "snake" was really a musical enchanter(ess) based on word definition and history.



ISRAEL FELL FROM GRACE BECAUSE OF MUSICAL IDOLATRY WHICH PROFANED THE REST.

See how Lynn Anderson uses the "making self vile" concept a direct command for the church, ekklesia or school of the Bible.

Performing "praise rituals" was always seen as the superstitious belief that with enough WORK PERFORMED in praising the gods you actually ASSISTED them and therefore proved your MANLINESS. In the Aztec Jubilee alluded to by Dr. Shelly, the 52 year and 52 week JUBILEE was to guarantee that the gods did not fail for the following period.

Furthermore, "music" was always know as "the effeminate art." The king/queen of Tyre as a type of Lucifer (primarily male along with Sophia-ZOE) is identified as a "harp-playing prostitute."

Therefore, Christianity which lacks any hint of a professional priesthood--always effeminate--would be seen as uniquely MASCULINE while the end-time Babylon religion with music is identified as a HARLOT religion. Karen Armstrong in A History of God notes that the effeminate go for songs and symbols while the masculine are WORD oriented.

Musicologists, for instance, refuse to identify early "religious hymns" as true music because it is almost universally soft, feminine or effeminate to the point of embarassing males when the "team" gets up to perform. When Christ is being praised it will be in Word or masculine forms and not in "religious rituals" which are legalistic and works-intensive:

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth (publish) the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:1 Pe.2:9 [No light comes through singing]

Praise is: Arete (g703) ar-et'-ay; from the same as 730; prop. manliness (valor), i.e. excellence (intrinsic or attributed): - praise, virtue.

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 2 Peter 1:3

Arren (g730) ar'-hrane; or arsen +tx ar'-sane; prob. from 142; male (as stronger for lifting): - male, man

Other words for praise carry the idea of "dignity, honor, thinking, truthfully or reputation.

While we do not deny the value of personal praise we affirm that praise is not a musical worship team attempting to lead the worshipers into the presence of God or providing a platform upon which God lands. Rather, praise is telling others what God has done using God's Record. By analogy, I cannot praise your poetry by having a "praise ritual" and praising my own poetic or rhetorical skills.

Johannes Quasten in Music & Worship pge 52

"Philodemus considered it paradoxical that music should be regarded as veneration of the gods while musicians were paid for performing this so-called veneration.

Again, Philodemus held as self deceptive the view that music mediated religious ecstasy. He saw the entire condition induced by the noise of cymbals and tambourines as a disturbance of the spirit.

He found it significant that, on the whole,
only women and effeminant men fell into this folly. Accordingly, nothing of value could be attributed to music; it was no more than a slave of the sensation of pleasure, which satisfied much in the same way that food and drink did.

The ancient Christian writers detested performing any religious ritual,
........... especially music and drama, as a profession.

The early lectors and presenters were especially prone to secularizing and performing because they were "perofessional" worshippers:
........... "If a lector learns to play the guitar
........... he shall also be taught to confess it.

If he does not return to it he shall suffer his penance for seven weeks. If he keeps at it he shall be excommunicated and put out of the church. (Canons of Basil, 74)

This was because "Their musical vocation made it possible for them to be more easily led astray in the area of instrumental music than for others.

"The lector may not wear a deacon's stole nor may he use a musical instrument."

According to Philo, the gods of the pagans exploit this weakness of men. For the sake of a better effect, and with the intention of more easily cheating their devotees,
........... they have set their lies to melodies, rhythms and meters.

Celsus said that it was well known that "music pertained only to the lowest gods, the demons,

and that the highest divine being had no need of melodies and sounds. And again, Philo claimed that:

One cannot truly offer thanks to God as the vast majority of men do, with external effects, consecrated gifts and sacrifices..., but rather with songs of praise and hymns - not such as the audible voice sings, but such as are raised and re-echoed by the invisible mind. (Philo, De Plantations 126 (II 148 Cohn-Wendland)

Preaching is NOT an "act of worship." Preaching is never callled praise. Preaching has never been said to have the power to make you spiritual. The PRAiSE mandate for the preaching task was given by Christ:

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my names sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. Mt.19:29

Whether from the pulpit in lecture or "one another" "preaching" or teaching with the inspired Word of God, praise is not charismatic exhilaration, enthusiasm or creating goose bumps or the hair standing up on the neck. Rather, praise is telling others what God has done and the only "source" of that is what God has chosen to reveal to us.

Connect means to join or fasten two things together.

Mesites (g3316) mes-ee'-tace; from 3319; a go-between, i.e. (simply) an internunciator, or (by impl.) a reconciler (intercessor): - mediator.

However, praise is not the mediator:

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 1Ti.2:5

The Source of all things Spiritual is God.

Therefore, the claim is that our self-composed songs connects to God is the claim which Musical Worship Teams make that they are the new Post-Modern mediators between man and God.

Paul said that we should pray:

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1Ti.2:2

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 1Ti.4:8

What we call worship can too easily become "bodily exercise" because it assuredly is not the "worship in spirit" or in the mind which is the only worship which God will accept.

You cannot, however presumptiously, supply anything as an agent or co-mediator with Christ:

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 2Pe.1:3

Life: You may believe that your own words can mediate worship but Jesus took that job as God Incarnate (just once):

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Jn.6:63

Godliness is how we live and worship: Christ has already taken that job:

Eusebeia (g2150) yoo-seb'-i-ah; from 2152; piety; spec. the gospel scheme: - godliness, holiness.

Eusebeo (g2151) yoo-seb-eh'-o; from 2152; to be pious, i.e. (towards God) to worship, or (towards parents) to respect (support): - show piety, worship.

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. Ac.17:23

Knowledge is the Spirit or Mental Disposition of God which rested upon Lord Jesus Christ 91 Cor 2). He has already taken that job:

And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; Isaiah 11:2

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and

he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: Isaiah 11:3

This was represented by the seven candlesticks or the seven branched Menorah which "branched" out from a root. It represented the seven spirits of God all related to knowledge about God. THERE WAS NEVER ANY SINGING OR INSTRUMENTS IN THE HOLY PLACE.

As Incarnate Judge of the universe nothing we dance or sing can replace right living and worship IN SPIRIT. Remember? John was in the spirit on the Lord's day and as far as I know that was not mediated by song or sermon of human composition.

Again: One cannot truly offer thanks to God as the vast majority of men do, with external effects, consecrated gifts and sacrifices..., but rather with songs of praise and hymns - not such as the audible voice sings, but such as are raised and re-echoed by the invisible mind. (Philo, De Plantations 126 (II 148 Cohn-Wendland)

There is no command, example or necessary inference that praise as a "religious ceremony" which Jesus defined as the burden laded upon people by the Jewish clergy ever has the power to be te Mediator (connector) between man and God.

Nimrod and all pagans believed that they could mediate with music and even change the spiritual nature of mankind by magic and music -- all external rituals. Click for the Orpheus method.

Psalm as a Double-Edged Sword

Rather than Psalm 106 being the fodder for a dissertation or book or how to compose praise songs, it is really a warning against the things which the Praise Craze promotes: forgive them Lord for they know not what they either say or do.

The idolatry Israel loved finally destroyed them. Therefore, before teaching Psalm 106 we had better grasp it. God said:

I let them become defiled through their gifts--the sacrifice of every firstborn--that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the LORD.' Ezek 20:26

The same story is told in the Psalms. For instance, Psalm 106 is not attributed but in Psalm 78 Asaph said that God abandoned Israel only after they turned to idolatry. He later abandoned the tabernacle, sent the ark into captivity, got mad and had the people slaughtered, fire consumed the young men, and the priests were murdered. They treated Him as they would any of the pagan "gods" and--

"He is represented as drinking, as inebriated, as sleeping, as someone hung-over"--
Then the Lord
awoke as from sleep, as a man wakes from the stupor of wine. Psa 78:65

Then, according to the Psalmist, he choose David. Undoubtedly David had aroused Him from sleep or drunkenness as many of his Psalms declare as he tries to "awaken" Him.

While David often praises God for His goodness, he also prays to awaken God (Psa. 3:7; 7:6; 9:19; 35: 23; 35:23; 44:23; 59:4-5; 68:1; 80:2; 132:8) from what he perceives as God's slumber when he does not respond promptly to David's demands. Many of the Jews adopted some of the psalms for pagan practices and remember that David was permitted to be the king of a "like the nation's" civil kingdom. Their purpose was to be able to worship like the nations. Therefore, in the musical guilds for the Temple-State:

"We even have a mention at a later date of a similar custom in connection with the cult in Jerusalem, where certain Levites, called me'oreim, 'arousers,' sang every morning this verse from Ps 44: 'Awake, Lord, awake! Do not abandon us for ever.' The Talmud tells us that John Hyrcanus suppressed the practice because it recalled too readily a pagan custom.

"A similar practice is attested in connection with the cult of Herakles-Melkart. According to Menander, as he is quoted by Josephus, the king Hiram, who was a contemporary of Solomon, rebuilt the temples of Tyre and, 'he was the first to celebrate the awakening of Heracles in the month of Peritius.'" (de Vaux, p. 247)

At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, the span of a king's life. But at the end of these seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the prostitute: Is.23:15

"Take up a harp, walk through the city, O prostitute forgotten; play the harp well, sing many a song, so that you will be remembered." Is.23:16

At the end of seventy years, the LORD will deal with Tyre. She will return to her hire as a prostitute and will ply her trade with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. Is.23:17

"In an inscription from Cyprus, in one from Rhodes and in several from around the district of Carthage, there are references to important personages who bear the title Mqm'lm which we can translate as 'arouser of the god.'" (de Vaux, Roland, The Bible and the Ancient Near East, Doubleday, p. 247).

(The me'oreim term is associated with the "resounding gong" and the "clanging cymbal" of 1 Cor. 13-- me'onem "means to emit a hoarse nasal sound such as was customary in reciting the prescribed formula" or charm.

The Greek for "resounding (echoing) gong" is similar to the Hebrew-

Greek chalkos "the idea of hollowing out as a vessel (this metal being chiefly used for that purpose); from 5465 chalao to lower as into a void: let down, strike. From 5400 a frightening thing, i.e. terrific portent: fearful sight."

A similar word describes the "familiar spirit" of the Witch of Endor if we can believe secular and religious history of the period&emdash;

Hebrew owb "the idea of prattling a father's name; prop. A mumble, i.e. a water skin (from the hollow sound): hence a necromancer.

Rubel Shelly: In my opinion, the single most important thing to an authentically spiritual life is to learn how to praise God. It connects us to the source of all things spiritual.

 
Psalm 106 should be preached as an object lesson for musical praise substitutes for the one-another singing of the Word of God:

A Sermon on Chapter 106 should make the paying "audience" aware of a few facts. The Psalmist did not sing this "praise" (Hebrew) or "psalm" (Greek) as a pagan praise ritual to "connect to the source of all things." Trying to praise your way "into the presence of the gods" is one of the most ancient pagan and supersitious practice. Furthermore, the Psalmist did not lead a ritualistic praise ritual.

Psalm 106:1 PRAISE ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 106: 2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? who can shew forth all his praise?

Therefore, praising God is reciting the mighty acts of the Lord.

Psalm 106: 3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

We noted in part one that this is not a legalistic, collective ritual which performs some magical encantation in order to control God. Rather, the Psalmist shows that it is impossible to really reveal all that God has done and equally impossible to understand it. This makes it doubly important to stick to His record which has the power of "spirit and life" (John 6:63)

Thomas Aquinas: Whether God should be praised with the lips?

Objection 1. It would seem that God should not be praised with the lips. The Philosopher says (Ethic. 1,12): "The best of men are accorded not praise, but something greater." But God transcends the very best of all things. Therefore God ought to be given, not praise, but something greater than praise: wherefore He is said (Sirach 43:328) to be "above all praise."

Thomas Aquinas: Reply to Objection 1. We may speak of God in two ways. First, with regard to His essence; and thus,

since He is incomprehensible and ineffable, He is above all praise.

On this respect we owe Him reverence and the honor of latria; wherefore Ps. 64:2 is rendered by Jerome in his Psalter [Translated from the Hebrew]: "Praise to Thee is speechless, O God," as regards the first, and as to the second, "A vow shall be paid to Thee."

Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection (noisy crowd) of the workers of iniquity: Psalm 64:2NIV

Philodemus takes offense at the fact that, in cultic music, the inner sentiment is lacking while this so-called worship is offered to the gods only for payment.

Philo, too, stressed the necessity of religious inwardness in preference to the cult of sacrifice:

"God has no joy in sacrifices, my dear sir, even if one should offer him hecatombs, for everything belongs to him.

Since he possesses everything, he has need of nothing. He takes pleasure only in a pious disposition in men who lead pious lives. He accepts the sacrificial cakes, the barley and the most modest gifts from them as if they were the most valuable offerings. He prefers them to costlier thing.

If they bring nothing more other than themselves in the fullness of moral goodness, they present the most acceptable offering, as they worship God their benefactor and savior in songs and thankful homage.

Sometimes they do so with their tongue, but sometimes without it, whey they speak only in their soul and in their thoughts the confession and invocations which the ear of God alone hears; for men cannot perceive such things with their ears." Philo, De specialibus legibus (I. 271 (v 56)

Psalm 106: 4 Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people:

O visit me with thy salvation;

Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them, Psa 106:4 NIV

How could a saved believer sing this without "preaching" it or explaining it? It would certainly be appropriate to teach its message or even explain the meaning of the Psalmist wanting to "dash out the heads of little babies."

Psalm 106: 5 That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.

Psalm 106: 6 We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

Psalm 106: 7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt;
........... they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies;
........... but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.

And the praise craze will guarantee that our children do not understand and will make the same mistake.

Psalm 106: 8 Nevertheless he saved them for his names sake,
that he might make his mighty power to be
known.

Praise would not be lots of empty "praise the Lords" but telling others about His mighty power.

Psalm 106: 9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.

Psalm 106: 10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

Psalm 106: 11 And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.

Psalm 106: 12 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.

Psalm 106: 13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

Psalm 106: 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

This would be a great time to teach that baptism is not a symbol that you are already saved by "faith only."

MOREOVER, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 1 Cor 10:1

And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 1 Cor 10:2
And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 1 Cor 10:3

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 1 Cor 10:4

Jesus said that drinking his blood and eating His flesh had to do with "my Words which are Spirit and Life." (John 6:63)

And Peter used the flood for the same teaching example

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 3:21

Psalm 106: 15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

Psalm 106: 16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord.

Psalm 106: 17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

Psalm 106: 18 And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.

Dathan didn't grasp, as most of us don't grasp, that the sin of the musical idolatry at Mount Sinai forfeited the Covenant in which everyone was holy and could come into God's presence.

After the sin, the Levites were organized like cherubim with flaming swords to keep the people away from the Tabernacle as the symbol of God's presence.

Neither could the common people come into the temple but worshiped "outside the camp." After Jesus fulfilled the final Jubilee, we are all priests of God and can "come boldly before the Throne." Unfortunately a growing number see themselves as professional priests and musical Levites.

The rising up to play was the musical worship of the Egyptian trinity: for that insult God turned them over to worship the starry host says Stephen and many of the prophets.

Psalm 106: 19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.

Psalm 106: 20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
Psalm 106: 21 They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
Psalm 106: 22 Wondrous works in the
land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.

Psalm 106: 23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

When they rose up to "play" they were holding a "Praise Service." The word play is from the Hebrew:

Cachaq (h6711) tsaw-khak'; a prim. root; to laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by impl. to sport: - laugh, mock, play, make sport.

This was mocking Jehovah God as they rejected Him and worshiped Apis. Elsewhere we see that this was seduction, the theme of all ancient worship with music:

And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: Ge.39:17

This agrees with many scholars who note that:

"The book of Psalms contain new doctrine after the Law of Moses. And after the writing of Moses, it is the second book of doctrine...

(David) first gave to the Hebrews a new style of psalmody,

by which he abrogates the ordinances established by Moses
........... with respect to sacrifices, and
........... introduces the new hymn and
........... a new style of jubilant praise in the worship of God;

and throughout his whole ministry he teaches very many othe things that went beyond the law of Moses." (Fragment of Commentary by Hippolytus, bishop of Rome, Ante-Nicene, V, p. 170)

Common to most Egyptian worship: "A burnt offering was then presented, accompanied by singing and music; and finally the goddess was ceremoniously clothed, adorned, and adored. The second service took place in the afternoon, which consisted chiefly of prayer and meditations before the images and symbols of the gods and which closed with music and antiphonal singing. A third service, quite brief... left Isis unclothed in her quiet temple... The two great autumn and spring festivals featured the death and resurrection of Osiris... and it was expressed with all the symbolism, mystery, music, singing, ritual, and pagentry... it was calculated to stimulate the deepest religious emotions, and fan the flames of ecstatic joy." (Fairservice, Walter A., Jr, The Ancient Kingdoms of the Nile, p. 171-172, Mentor)

"They sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. They practiced rites in which they made themselves naked, perhaps similar to those which were carried out by naked Babylonian priests." (Woodrow, Ralph, Babylon Mystery Religion, Ancient and Modern, p. 158).

"Not to be overlooked here is the accompaniment of music and dancing

which, with the character of the ensuing phenomena, makes the diagnosis (of idolatry) certain." (Schaff-Herzog, Ecstasy, p. 71).

"The prophets would urge the Israelites to remain true to the covenant, but the majority would continue to worship Baal, Ashera and Anat in the traditional way.

Indeed, the Bible tells us that while Moses was up on Mount Sinai, the rest of the people turned back to the older pagan religion of Canaan. They made a golden bull, the traditional effigy of El, and performed the ancient rites before it." (Armstrong, Karen, A History of God, p. 23)

"The triumphal hymn of Moses had unquestionably a religious character about it; but

the employment of music in religious services, though idolatrous,
is more distinctly marked in the festivities which attended the erection of the golden calf." (Smith's Bible Dictionary, Music, p. 589).

"The tambourine or timbrel, a hoop of bells over which a white skin was stretched, came from Egypt. Miriam used this instrument to accompany the singing and dancing on the shores of the Red Sea." (Quasten, Johannes, Music and Worship in Pagan and Christian Antiquity, p. 65)

The modern biblically illiterate kept that way by the "praise craze" do not know that at that moment God tore up The Book of the Covenant and gave them The Book of the Law. He imposed sacrifices and clergy to keep the common people away from the Tabernacle as the symbol of His presence.

Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live; Ezekiel 20:25

Click Here For the Story:

Psalm 106: 24 Yea, they despised the pleasant land,
........... they believed not his word:

Psalm 106: 25 But murmured in their tents,
........... and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.

Psalm 106: 26 Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
Psalm 106: 27 To overthrow their seed
also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
Psalm 106: 28 They joined themselves also unto
Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

---- "The marzeah had an extremely long history extending at least from the 14th century B.C. through the Roman period. In the 14th century B.C., it was prominently associated with the ancient Canaanite city of Ugarit (modern Ras Shamra), on the coast of Syria... The marzeah was a pagan ritual that took the form of a social and religious association... Some scholars regard the funerary marzeah as a feast for--and with--deceased ancestors (or Rephaim, a proper name in the Bible for the inhabitants of Sheol)." (King, Biblical Archaeological Review, Aug, 1988, p. 35, 35)

---- "These five elements are: (1) reclining or relaxing, (2) eating a meat meal, (3) singing with harp or other musical accompaniment, (4) drinking wine and (5) anointing oneself with oil." (King, p. 37).

---- "With the wine-drinking (which is the literal meaning of the Hebrew for feasting), went music and dancing." (Heaton, E. W., Everyday Life in Old Testament times, Scribners, p. 93)

---- "Worship was form more than substance; consequently, conduct in the marketplace was totally unaffected by worship in the holy place. Amos spoke from the conviction that social justice is an integral part of the Mosaic covenant, which regulates relations not only between God and people, but also among people." (King, p. 44).

---- "In pagan traditions, musical instruments are invented by gods or demi-gods, such as titans. In the Bible, credit is assigned to antediluvian patriarchs, for example, the descendants of Cain in Genesis 4:21. There is no other biblical tradition about the invention of musical instruments." (Freedman, David Noel, Bible Review, Summer 1985, p. 51). (Proof Here). 

Psalm 106: 29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.

Psalm 106: 30 Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.

Psalm 106: 31 And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.

Click for the facts that David's Music was added and Hezekiah confirmed as a Plague Stopping bargain with God.

Psalm 106: 32 They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:

Psalm 106: 33 Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
Psalm 106: 34 They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them:
Psalm 106: 35 But were
mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.

Psalm 106: 36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.

God specificially gave the Book of the Law as a way to preserve a disobedient people from Canaanite Baalism. However, in modern jargon they lusted to break down the walls between God's people and the majority who are always idolatry.

See so many examples of breaking down the walls where the Mike Cope Creed has absolutely no authority.

Psalm 106: 37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,

"An interesting reference to idolatry and Moloch worship and their connection with demonism is found in Psalm 106:36, 37. The Hebrews are said to have 'mingled themselves with the nations... learned their works and served their idols... ye they sacrificed their sons and daughters unto demons... In fact, Manasseh's idolatries were the result of a gigantic outburst of demon-energized occultism. He is said to have practed augury, and used enchantment, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits (divining demons=old wineskin or owb) and with wizards (those possessed of occult knowledge because under the control of a divining demon ) (II Kings 21:6; II Chron. 33:6)." (Unger, Merrill, Archaeology and the Old Testament, Zondervan, P. 279)

Paul denied that the Jews were "predestinated" as they thought in Romans 9-11. The reason they were NOT is that they fell into musical idolatry which was demonism: Music was sourced from Lucifer the singing and harp playing prostitute in the garden of eden.  In chapter 10 and in 1 Corinthians 10 Paul warned them about the musical worship of demons.

Psalm 106: 38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

Isaiah 30 especially in the Septuagint (LXX) shows the connection between musical instruments and burning little babies in the red hot arms of Molech.

Psalm 106: 39 Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.

Psalm 106: 40 Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.

Psalm 106: 41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.

Psalm 106: 42 Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.

That is, according to Isaiah 5 God broke down the walls so that the wild beasts could get in and eat up their God-given crops while those holding religious festivals were involved in a wineskin religion with instrumental music.

When they PROFANED the Sabbath this is what they did:

The word h2490 Chalal has about the same meaning as h1984.  Lucifer is similar to Inanna, Ishtar, Aphrodite and Zoe. Lucifer is ALWAYS in the form of a female who probably knows how to use the "Lucifer Principle" to manipulate males. The word ZOE is the same as EVE and Paul knew the symbolic language of "eve" is the mother of beasts, congregations, merry multitudes or troups of people. She was "wholly seduced" in a sexual way says Paul and the seducer is most often female as a musical enchanter.  The Nahash is derived from the red brass which allowed "cainites" such as Jubal to make brass instruments which drove people into a frenzy: Jubah "handled" means without authority.

Is. 53:5 But he was wounded [defined to the left including musical mocking] for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Of Lucifer (h1966):
Eze 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Ezek. 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane [h2490] out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
    PREPARED: H3559 Kun A primitive root; properly to be erect (that is, stand perpendicular);. hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint,

    CREATED: means to created (qualified) to cut down, selected, dispatch.

"As Prince of the power of the air (Eph.2: 1-2), he is continuously broadcasting his lies and deceptions into their minds via the five sense gates. Helel works very hard in the children of disobedience (Eph.2: 1-2). Helel seldom inspires indifference to religion, as religion is his favorite form of deception. His children are usually the opposers of the true religion or energetic transgressors of the Torah (Clark's Commentary Vol.6, page 437).

Plutarch, Lives Pericles  IV. His teacher in music, most writers state, was Damon (whose name, they say, should be pronounced with the first syllable short); but Aristotle says he had a thorough MUSICAL training at the hands of Pythocleides.  Now Damon seems to have been a consummate SOPHIST,
DAMON
"Rise, Lucifer, and, heralding the light,
bring in the genial day, while I make moan
fooled by vain passion for a faithless bride,
for Nysa, and with this my dying breath
call on the gods, though little it bestead--
the gods who heard her vows and heeded not.
'Begin, my flute, with me Maenalian lays.'
Lucifer or Phosphorus "the bringer of light"). The name of the planet Venus, when seen in the morning before sunrise. The same planet was called Hesperus, Vesperugo, Vesper, Noctifer, or Nocturnus, when it appeared in the heavens after sunset. Lucifer as a personification is called a son of Astraeus and Aurora or Eos, of Cephalus and Eos or of Atlas By Philonis he is said to have been the father of Ceyx. He is also called the father of Daedalion and of the Hesperides. Lucifer is also a surname of several goddesses of light, as Artemis, Aurora, and Hecaté.

Psalm 106: 43 Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.

Psalm 106: 44 Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:

Psalm 106: 45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies. [God protected His own Name but not because of the Jews]

Psalm 106: 46 He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.

God did not DISORIENT the people so that He could REBUILD them like the change agents.

Those taken captive by Assyria disappeared as a nation. Those who went into captivity in Babylon remained there for about 70 years. While there, the skills of the Jews made them useful and most of them became successful merchants, bankers and craftsmen and never returned to God's "fold."

The Willow Creek or the Saddleback Pattern intends that the Bible-based church be carried captive into the theatrical performance "craft" which is quite like the perverted worship in Babylon. As long as they are useful to their new masters, and bow dow to the "errected pillars" then all will go well with them. However, they were still favored slaves.

They are still in captivity and Dr. Shelly seems content that everything has worked out for the good. However, they wanted to "worship like the nations" and God let the nations take them captive and give them a 70 year dose of the "worship of the starry host." The end is a pray of a slave but not a victory praise:

Psalm 106: 47 Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise

Psalm 106: 48 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord.

John York: The word translated "love" or "mercy" (KJV) is hesed. It is the Old Testament term that affirms Yahweh's covenant faithfulness to Israel. It reminds the people of the promises on which they can always depend. Linking it with "goodness" here and other places suggests the sort of dependable, always-present, and never - failing support that one can rely on in a family or group of friends who won't let you down.

 
Well! It seems to me that all of Israel sang and played instruments (Amos 5, 6) while the people starved to death of hunger and thirst for the Word (Amos 8). They all went into captivity and most were never heard from since. God's love and mercy demands that He cleans His earth of those who live like the world. The walls were broken down, the Assyrians came and led them away captive. Their life had been filled with "praise the Lords" and stolen goods out of a new wineskin but they could not grasp that the Word had value as it had been delivered to them.

Judah went into captivity for 70 years and only a tiny remnant returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the pathetic temple which agan became "a den of thieves, a house of merchandise." After a short record the temple is not heard from for a hundred years when the Greeks were trying to force pork (a Gentile barbecue) down their throats.

By the time of Jesus the nation was perishing. Yet, God's love endures.

Rubel Shelly: In this case, the goodness and love of the One in whom Israel has placed her faith -- and with whom she has covenanted! -- are so magnificent that the writer despairs of any human's worthiness to praise him appropriately.

"Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise?" he asks. Here is his answer:
 
"Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right." Do you get his point? Right living is the preface to worship.
 
People who do not have their hearts set on Lord the other six days of the week can't "pull off worship" on Sabbath or Sunday. People who live by the world's dog-eat-dog rules until they pull into the church parking lot and who plan to return to those same rules in sixty minutes 
  • will never know why others find worship so enthralling, exhilarating, and transporting.
  • In What Jesus identified as a PARABLE meaning "a superior form of speech" God WORKED for six days and RESTED on the Sabbath which means REST. God did not WORSHIP or sing praise songs but RESTED. Rest finally brought by Jesus who DIED to fire the worship facilitarors means:

    Stop the singing
    Stop the musiStop the preaching

    Just STOP IT whatever you are DOING as superstitious PATTERNISM worship.

    See how MUSIC is always connected with LIFTING PEOPLE up with music in order to CARRY THEM AWAY for one's own USES. That is the meaning of HERESY.

    A holy convocation on the First and Seventh day was to OUTLAW the Babylonian, Canaanite forms of WORSHIP. The absolute command is to REHEARSE or READ the Word. It excludes "ministers" being able to TRAVEL to "venues for Rock and Roll."

    Read the "scripture" for this spiritual "beam me up Scotty" magic from Lynn Anderson.

    The "patternism" of the Willow Creek and Saddleback is to eleminate the Bible as the Core of its worship and turn the "temple" into a venue for Rock and Roll (Dr. Shelly's urge). That is, the "core" gospel leaves you nothing to do but to entertain the people and make them feel good about themselves. Just like the towers of Babel as temple, everyone is a slave of the watchtower and the "church" attempts to meet all of the social and psychological needs of the group.

    That means that its total "worship" focus is "body worship." But Paul said that the body is wasting away and no new paradigm can stop it. But, a faithful church is devoted to educating the spirit which is what survives.

    See how the bringer of the Abomination of Desolation standing in the holy place (pulpit area) claiming to be god made the cowardly Jews decide that they could throw away the Word of God and get on with worship of the body. The first thing they wanted to do to make it up to the abused Gentiles was to build a gymnasium and worship the body just like the Seeker Center of Apollo (Abbadon, Apollyon) of Willow Creek or Saddleback devoted to the worship of one man.

    They were anxious to get on with what Dr. Rubel Shelly has defined as "charismatic worship."

    Enthralling = To make a slave. To hold in a spell. Captivate. Facinate.

    This is what happens when the "starry host" including the serpent takes over at Mount Sinai:

    Drakon (g1404) drak'-own; (to look); a fabulous kind of serpent (perh. as supposed to fascinate): - dragon, the Devil, or Satan works by facinating.
     
    Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel (wineskin or instrument), he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out. Jer 51:34
     
    Vessel is a psaltery or old wineskin. Of the king of Babylon as a type of Lucifer:
     
    All your pomp (pomp, pride) has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and worms cover you. Isaiah 14:11

    Exhilarating = To make hilarious. to make cheerful. To invigorate (enspirit). The Laughing Exercises?

    Hillarious = Noisy, boisterous and gay. Silly

    Transporting = To carry a long distance, to carry away with emotion; enrapture. Delight, joy, rapture. (From ravishing or rape).

    This is the meaning of Dr. Shelly when he claims that the musical worship team can help "lead you into the presence of God." All of these are claims for Charismatic power.
     
    You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability. 2 Peter 3:17 [Men who deny that there is any law]

    All of these are secular, carnal feelings induced by agents but not of Christ.

    Didn't Paul speak about "fools loving to be fooled."

    Click To See How Exhilaration and Transportation takes place

    Click to See how Astonishment is produced

    Well, if we know the facts we don't just come to "the" worship conducted by others on sunday. Worship is never defined in terms of enthralling, exhilarating or transporting. Never. The church came together to eat the Lord's Supper on the Lord's Day and were edified or educated by reading the Word. The command was not to "sing." The command was to teach. The resource material is Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual songs which are all inspired like Psalm 106. Church as "school" rather than worship would read Psalm 106, have a grasp of what it really said, and teach and dialog it with the congregation. It would have been outrageous for a Jew to cut up Psalm 106 and derive a new paradigm of worship

    When the "worshiper" finds themselves "transported" they will look closely and find the needle marks from a strong dose of endorphins from the music and mini-love affairs with the theatrical performers. Don't be smug: even ugly, greasy headed, afflicted boy-men are worshipped if they have the charismatic power of enthralling, exhilarating or transporting the unwashed and unlearned with Rock or Rap.

    Experience Discourages Us

    John York: But don't we all permit life distractions and personal sins to get in the way of our experience of God? Don't all of us "fall flat" as worshippers on those days?

     
    Lordy, Lordy, we hope so -- if we are talking about worship rather than spectating. The "musician" was not a musician under the law but an overseer, straw boss, slave driver. The "service" was not worship but being under bondage. The only worship in a literal sense was to fall down:

    Shachah (h7812) shaw-khaw'; a prim. root; to depress, i. e. prostrate (espec. reflex. in homage to royalty or God): - bow (self) down, crouch, fall down flat, humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.

    As a direct contradiction Dr. Shelly teaches you how to raise holy hands and clap. This is trying to "ascend up to God" just as the Musical Worship Facilitator (maniuplator) was hired to do. That is, he and music replace Jesus as the only Mediator contrary to what the Sister Singers believe.

    In a spiritual sense, the only true worship word was identical to the New Testament word: worship is in spirit (in the mind) and giving heed to God's word through reading and meditating.

    There simply is no connection between a modern "praise service" and true worship. In fact, it is worship of our own sounds or the sights and sounds of the "idolatry of talent."

    The only hypothetical fellow who might hypothetically be said to worship in Corinth would fall on his face if he came into the assembly and found the church all teaching Psalm 106, understanding it, dialoging it and applying it. This would be the "praise" God wants and the only worship "in assembly" that we know about -- but it apparently didn't happen in Corinth and "to Corinthianize" is still valid in the end-time church.

    Rubel Shelly: Yes. And that's exactly where the writer goes next in Psalm 106. Israel was going through one of those valley experiences as exiles in Babylon when this prayer was written. And it wasn't the first time it had happened that God's covenant people were estranged from him. Just look at the Old Testament history that is recounted here: Israel had sinned through doubt and rebellion at the Red Sea (vs.6-12), in the wilderness (vs.13-18), by erecting a golden calf at Horeb (vs.19-23), and so on through her history.

    Two things seem particularly significant to me in this recitation of Israel's unfaithfulness. First, the writer saw his own experience to be continuous with that of his forebears. "Both we and our fathers have sinned," he lamented, "we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly" (v.6). Second, he saw not only Yahweh's anger and punishment in these times of sin but his continued hesed, his steadfast love.

    Blessed is the Lord!

    Here are the writer's words of praise to Yahweh in the context of his lament about the faithlessness of his nation:

    But he took note of their distress
    when he heard their cry;
    for their sake he remembered his covenant
    and out of his great love he relented.
    He caused them to be pitied
    by all who held them captive (vs. 44-46).
     
    But, the "circle was unbroken." They continued to praise Him with their lips but their heart was not on His Word and they failed again, and again until another million refused to be saved from the final destruction of the temple and Jerusalem. Scholars always forget that "poems tend to be poetic." This is the story of the musical idolatry at Mount Sinai which John York and Rubel Shelly choose to ignore as the "cause" of being utterly turned over to Babylonia.

    The prayer at the end is not a definition of what happened to Babylon. Most remained in Babylon (denominationalism) and only a pathetic few ever returned to Jerusalem. Within a 100 years the temple disappears from the Bible. When Jesus came He refused to speak to most of the tiny remnant because temple worship was still Babylon worship. He used parables (Mt. 13) to hide the truth. A few thousand who turned to Christ escaped into another dispersion but a million Jews, their temple and their harps and harps went into the "fires of hell" and were burned up just like the original Lucifer change agent, the king/queen of Babylon and Tyre.

    Israel would be identical to Tyre of whom God lamented:

    At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, the span of a king's life. But at the end of these seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the prostitute: Is.23:15

    "Take up a harp, walk through the city, O prostitute forgotten; play the harp well, sing many a song, so that you will be remembered." Is.23:16

    At the end of seventy years, the LORD will deal with Tyre. She will return to her hire as a prostitute and will ply her trade with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. Is.23:17

    This was literal and spiritual prostitution by mixing their religion with commerce. There is an interesting story of how these people cheated others with musical women. Click to read about poor Wen amun the poor agen of Amun who was enthralled out of his cedar and almost lost his life by the use of a musical woman.

    John York: If one set of Israel's experiences is discouraging (i.e., its proneness to distraction, unbelief, and sin), there was a parallel experience of God in those circumstances (i.e., his hesed and intervention based on it) that caused the writer to see hope for his own circumstance in Babylon. Right?

    Precisely! And here is the high note of praise on which the writer closes Psalm 106:

    Save us, O LORD our God,
    and gather us from the nations,
    that we may give thanks to your holy name
    and glory in your praise.
    Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.
    Let all the people say, "Amen!"
    Praise the LORD (vs. 47-48).
     
    If you look at the Psalms, the preamble does not give authority for a collective 'praise service.' Rather, the psalms show that praise can be individual and continuous and it is not praise if we are not telling others what God has done.

    It has been a wonderful thing for this writer simply to remember in his time of personal and national distress the kind of God Yahweh has always shown himself to be.

    He is the God of steadfast love. He is the God who never forgets his people.

    He is the God who intervenes at the right time and place to do the right thing for those he loves. Praise the Lord. And let the people of both then and now say, "Amen!"

     
    Don't always count on it. John York may be telling you that you have been led into Babylonian Captivity but not to worry, God is still faithful. Of course. That is not the story: Israel was always unfaithful and music was both the cause and sign that they had a CORE GOSPEL but they would not obey the commandments of God.

    Before getting too exhilarated by John York, you need to see that not all prayers are answered in the way the poet wishes.

    See Jeremiah 23 below:

    39 Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your fathers.

    40 I will bring upon you everlasting disgrace--everlasting shame that will not be forgotten."

    Conclusion

    Rubel Shelly: Our customary way of thinking about God and visioning our own salvation, prayers, or worship is -- I fear -- ridiculously inadequate. "God, you are holy. We thank you for all you've done for us. Now, to my real reason for being here, there is still a long list of things I need from you: I want forgiveness for my latest sins. I want peace for my troubled conscience. I want to be delivered from certain embarrassing sins. I want this, and that, and some of the other too. So . . . I'm waiting!"

    Occasionally, we need to focus -- not for God's sake but for our own -- on praise and thanksgiving. No, let me correct that! Frequently, we must deliberately focus more on God and less on ourselves. For the most wonderful thing about us is not who we are but who he is. Not our worship but his willingness to receive it. Not that I am his child but that he is my Father. God himself!

     
     may be true but it has absolutely no role to play in an organized praise craze when the praise theme fulfils the prophecy that saying "Lord, Lord" and even claiming miracles mean that you don't give a hoot for God and His Word.

    Jeremiah Chapter 23 -- Those Whom God Will Forget

    1 Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD. 2 Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: "Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done," declares the LORD. 3

    I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.

    5 The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. 7 So then, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when people will no longer say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,' 8 but they will say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.' Then they will live in their own land."

    9 Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me; all my bones tremble. I am like a drunken man, like a man overcome by wine, because of the LORD and his holy words. 10 The land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land lies parched and the pastures in the desert are withered. The prophets follow an evil course and use their power unjustly.

    11 Both prophet and priest are godless; even in my temple I find their wickedness," declares the LORD. 12 Therefore their path will become slippery; they will be banished to darkness and there they will fall. I will bring disaster on them in the year they are punished," declares the LORD. 13 Among the prophets of Samaria I saw this repulsive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray. 14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah."

    15 Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty says concerning the prophets: "I will make them eat bitter food and drink poisoned water, because from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land."

    16 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

    17 They keep saying to those who despise me, 'The LORD says: You will have peace.' And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, 'No harm will come to you.'

    18 But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word? 19 See, the storm of the LORD will burst out in wrath, a whirlwind swirling down on the heads of the wicked. 20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come you will understand it clearly.

    21 I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.

    22 But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.

    23 Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away? 24 Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD. g

    25 I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!' 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their fathers forgot my name through Baal worship.

    28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream,

    but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the LORD.

    29 Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

    30 Therefore," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me.

    31 Yes," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, 'The LORD declares.' 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the LORD. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the LORD.

    33 When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, 'What is the oracle of the LORD?' say to them, 'What oracle? I will forsake you, declares the LORD.'

    34 If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, 'This is the oracle of the LORD,' I will punish that man and his household.

    35 This is what each of you keeps on saying to his friend or relative: 'What is the LORD's answer?' or 'What has the LORD spoken?'

    36 But you must not mention 'the oracle of the LORD' again, because every man's own word becomes his oracle and so you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God.

    37 This is what you keep saying to a prophet: 'What is the LORD's answer to you?' or 'What has the LORD spoken?' 38 Although you claim, 'This is the oracle of the LORD,' this is what the LORD says: You used the words, 'This is the oracle of the LORD,' even though I told you that you must not claim, 'This is the oracle of the LORD.'

    39 Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your fathers.

    40 I will bring upon you everlasting disgrace--everlasting shame that will not be forgotten."

    Don't put your trust in crying "Lord Lord" when God doesn't even know your name!

    Part One - The Danger of Trying to Manipulate others into a "Worship Experience."

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