Astrology and God
God provides everything for us that we need. We have seen it through scripture time and again. He also has prescribed ways of us finding out His will. In the Old Testament this was primarily through the prophets, fasting and prayer. In the New Testament, these revelations are more direct through Christ, and through the teachings of the Apostles. In modern times they come strictly through prayer and fasting and adherence to all that has been taught before. I say what I am getting ready to say not out of scorn but out of love and concern for the souls of all my friends. God has burdened me with this.
Yet, on Facebook, I find purported Christians apparently seeking the counsel of e-astrologers. I say apparently seeking their counsel because I see (until I've hidden posts from those apps) people I know and love posting their daily horoscope from 2-3 different sources. Some may say it's just for personal enjoyment, or that they don't take it seriously. It doesn't matter. God is quite clear on astrology and its worth.
Isaiah 47:13
You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you. (NKJV)
The scorn is quite evident in this verse. God makes no difference between idolatry that involves carved images or in using the stars to try and determine the future. In both cases you are replacing God and His wisdom for that of human creation. Your life is not dependent upon the position of the stars and planets in God's grand universe. Your fortunes won't be made or lost by them. Relationships won't succeed or fail because of your star sign.
Jeremiah also warns of the falseness of astrology.
Jeremiah 10:1-2
Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord. Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them. (NKJV)
Jeremiah is basically telling Israel to not worry about what the Gentiles (unbelievers) worry about. They worry about things which have no meaning. Israel (believers in the general sense) should only concern themselves with God. God is speaking to you, but you won't find His words in the heavens. You'll find them in His book. You'll find them in your heart and in your soul. LISTEN! He is speaking. God surely does control all things, but He does not give signs through the interpretations of heavenly bodies (though like the star that led the wise men to Christ, he will use them as signs with no other special meaning).
In Daniel, we find that putting our trust in the God first and foremost always puts us head and shoulders above the rest.
Daniel 1:20
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. (NKJV)
Some back story in this. Jerusalem had just been delivered into the hands of the Babylonians, and as part of Nebuchadnezzar's training of some of the men of Israel - of which Daniel was one - in the Babylonian ways, they were instructed to partake of the king's delicacies and wines. But Daniel and three of his companions (we might know them today as Shadrack. Meshach, and Abed-Nego (or Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah)) determined to themselves they would not be defiled by eating food and drink offered by the king for two possible reasons. First, the food not being prepared according to Mosaic Law (and no doubt included then forbidden food (such as pork)). Second, it had probably been offered to idols, which would have made it unclean. The eunuch in charge of bringing Daniel and his companions the food feared that not following the kings orders would make Daniel and his companions noticeably weaker than the other men which would probably warrant a death sentence for not following the kings orders. Daniel proposed a test. For 10 days him and his companions would eat only vegetables and drink water, then let their appearances be tested. If no worse then the other men, they could continue to feed them in this manner. God responded favorably to Daniel's continued respect for God's law. In 10 days, they were fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies (v 15).
By putting their trust in God and his commands, not only did they make way for themselves to eat a diet that God approved of without endangering anyone, but they received God's graces as evidenced in verse 20. They were given all wisdom and knowledge and were deemed by the earthly king to be superior to all in his land, even his astrologers and magicians. My question is then why would anyone, knowing God's provision to those who are faithful, seek - even in jest - the advice of something so plainly not of God?
God proves this through Daniel as he explains a dream to the king which none of the king's other wise men could interpret.
Daniel 2:24-28a
Therefore Daniel went to Atrioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.
Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.
The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?
Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayerss cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. (NKJV)
Those who are faithful to God will always receive what they need to know, just as Daniel was able to reveal to the king (because Daniel was faithful) what the king wanted to know. Because of Daniel's obedience, he was able to receive physical blessings in the form of promotion for himself and his friends (Meshach, Shadrach and Abed-Nego). Their obedience also protected the latter three when they were thrown into the fire (where, which according to Daniel 3:25, they were joined by a man that was like the Son of God).
What does your astrology benefit you aside from giving you worry?
Nebuchadnezzar basically denounces his own magicians, soothsayers and astrologers further along in Daniel 4.
Daniel 4:7-8
Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation. But at least Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, /saying:/ (NKJV)
Nebuchadnezzar understood where Daniel (ostensibly his Chief 'Magician') received his knowledge from. It was from the Holy God. So if all knowledge comes from God, why do we turn to heavenly signs? Especially knowing they are all constructs by men. There is no group of stars in close vicinity to one another shaped like a bull, or a man, or even a dipping spoon. These stars are hundreds, if not millions, of light-years away from each other. Do they form dotted lines when viewed from a certain way? Yeah, but that isn't any indication of who you are or what God has in mind for you if you allow His will to be done.
In Daniel 5:1-12 we find a new king of Babylon and yet another dream which no one else can interpret. None of his soothsayers, magicians or astrologers can reveal the secrets contained in the dream. His queen tells him about Daniel, about how his God (the one true God) revealed to Nebuchadnezzar via Daniel his dreams and how Daniel was rewarded for his interpretations. Once again, what benefit is astrology? Yet it is turned to in this modern age. Some see it for what it is, as a joke. Yet they bring it into their lives and let words given from astrological interpretation weigh upon their minds.
Do you trust in God? Do you really absolutely trust in God? If so, then you don't even need the entertainment you think astrology provides. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to rethink your use of such sources of entertainment. Don't invite doubt into your homes or your minds. Don't invite the enemy to live along side God.
Astrology is a tool used by the enemy to turn people away from God. It has no use to anyone. There is no benefit to be gained except that by happenstance. Don't live your life by happenstance. Trust in God. Be obedient to His will. God will never steer you wrong.
[tags]religion[/tags]
Originally published at Ameliorations 1.0.
Yet, on Facebook, I find purported Christians apparently seeking the counsel of e-astrologers. I say apparently seeking their counsel because I see (until I've hidden posts from those apps) people I know and love posting their daily horoscope from 2-3 different sources. Some may say it's just for personal enjoyment, or that they don't take it seriously. It doesn't matter. God is quite clear on astrology and its worth.
Isaiah 47:13
You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you. (NKJV)
The scorn is quite evident in this verse. God makes no difference between idolatry that involves carved images or in using the stars to try and determine the future. In both cases you are replacing God and His wisdom for that of human creation. Your life is not dependent upon the position of the stars and planets in God's grand universe. Your fortunes won't be made or lost by them. Relationships won't succeed or fail because of your star sign.
Jeremiah also warns of the falseness of astrology.
Jeremiah 10:1-2
Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord. Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them. (NKJV)
Jeremiah is basically telling Israel to not worry about what the Gentiles (unbelievers) worry about. They worry about things which have no meaning. Israel (believers in the general sense) should only concern themselves with God. God is speaking to you, but you won't find His words in the heavens. You'll find them in His book. You'll find them in your heart and in your soul. LISTEN! He is speaking. God surely does control all things, but He does not give signs through the interpretations of heavenly bodies (though like the star that led the wise men to Christ, he will use them as signs with no other special meaning).
In Daniel, we find that putting our trust in the God first and foremost always puts us head and shoulders above the rest.
Daniel 1:20
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. (NKJV)
Some back story in this. Jerusalem had just been delivered into the hands of the Babylonians, and as part of Nebuchadnezzar's training of some of the men of Israel - of which Daniel was one - in the Babylonian ways, they were instructed to partake of the king's delicacies and wines. But Daniel and three of his companions (we might know them today as Shadrack. Meshach, and Abed-Nego (or Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah)) determined to themselves they would not be defiled by eating food and drink offered by the king for two possible reasons. First, the food not being prepared according to Mosaic Law (and no doubt included then forbidden food (such as pork)). Second, it had probably been offered to idols, which would have made it unclean. The eunuch in charge of bringing Daniel and his companions the food feared that not following the kings orders would make Daniel and his companions noticeably weaker than the other men which would probably warrant a death sentence for not following the kings orders. Daniel proposed a test. For 10 days him and his companions would eat only vegetables and drink water, then let their appearances be tested. If no worse then the other men, they could continue to feed them in this manner. God responded favorably to Daniel's continued respect for God's law. In 10 days, they were fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies (v 15).
By putting their trust in God and his commands, not only did they make way for themselves to eat a diet that God approved of without endangering anyone, but they received God's graces as evidenced in verse 20. They were given all wisdom and knowledge and were deemed by the earthly king to be superior to all in his land, even his astrologers and magicians. My question is then why would anyone, knowing God's provision to those who are faithful, seek - even in jest - the advice of something so plainly not of God?
God proves this through Daniel as he explains a dream to the king which none of the king's other wise men could interpret.
Daniel 2:24-28a
Therefore Daniel went to Atrioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.
Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.
The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?
Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayerss cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. (NKJV)
Those who are faithful to God will always receive what they need to know, just as Daniel was able to reveal to the king (because Daniel was faithful) what the king wanted to know. Because of Daniel's obedience, he was able to receive physical blessings in the form of promotion for himself and his friends (Meshach, Shadrach and Abed-Nego). Their obedience also protected the latter three when they were thrown into the fire (where, which according to Daniel 3:25, they were joined by a man that was like the Son of God).
What does your astrology benefit you aside from giving you worry?
Nebuchadnezzar basically denounces his own magicians, soothsayers and astrologers further along in Daniel 4.
Daniel 4:7-8
Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation. But at least Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, /saying:/ (NKJV)
Nebuchadnezzar understood where Daniel (ostensibly his Chief 'Magician') received his knowledge from. It was from the Holy God. So if all knowledge comes from God, why do we turn to heavenly signs? Especially knowing they are all constructs by men. There is no group of stars in close vicinity to one another shaped like a bull, or a man, or even a dipping spoon. These stars are hundreds, if not millions, of light-years away from each other. Do they form dotted lines when viewed from a certain way? Yeah, but that isn't any indication of who you are or what God has in mind for you if you allow His will to be done.
In Daniel 5:1-12 we find a new king of Babylon and yet another dream which no one else can interpret. None of his soothsayers, magicians or astrologers can reveal the secrets contained in the dream. His queen tells him about Daniel, about how his God (the one true God) revealed to Nebuchadnezzar via Daniel his dreams and how Daniel was rewarded for his interpretations. Once again, what benefit is astrology? Yet it is turned to in this modern age. Some see it for what it is, as a joke. Yet they bring it into their lives and let words given from astrological interpretation weigh upon their minds.
Do you trust in God? Do you really absolutely trust in God? If so, then you don't even need the entertainment you think astrology provides. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to rethink your use of such sources of entertainment. Don't invite doubt into your homes or your minds. Don't invite the enemy to live along side God.
Astrology is a tool used by the enemy to turn people away from God. It has no use to anyone. There is no benefit to be gained except that by happenstance. Don't live your life by happenstance. Trust in God. Be obedient to His will. God will never steer you wrong.
[tags]religion[/tags]
Originally published at Ameliorations 1.0.