The Middle East is one of the most contested and controversial areas of the entire world. One of the reasons it is such a hot spot is that is has 65% of the world’s crude oil supplies. According to www.ereport.ru/en/articles/commod/oilcount.htm, Middle Eastern countries hold the top five positions in highest oil reserves in the world. The biggest is Saudi Arabia at a whopping 25.5%, Iraq has 11.1%, Kuwait has 9.5% and Iran has 9.2%. The United Arab Emerates has 7.8%.
That in itself secures the Middle East a pivotal position in world politics and influence. But in ancient days if someone mentioned oil, the inhabitants would not have thought of fossil fuels. The fuel under their land wasn’t even a speck on their horizon. Oil meant something else then.
Back then, olive oil was what it was all about, and has been one of the longest standing industries in world history.
The olive was one of the first fruits mentioned in the Bible. It is native to the Mediterranean region as well as Western Asia, and the short, gnarled trees grow to be centuries old.
The ancient Israelites of Palestine used oil in many different ways. It was such an integral part of their lives that it became a symbol of health and well-being.
The harvesters would use sticks to beat the trees to bring down the fruit, which was then put into a press where huge weights would press the oil into vats.
Olive oil was used instead of butter, to light in their lamps, to make their soaps, to anoint honored guests, to smooth chapped skin, and to make hair shimmer and shine for parties and weddings. They used it to keep the leather on their shields and helmets from cracking. The Garden of Gesthemane where Jesus Christ suffered for the sins of the world was actually a grove of olive trees. “Gesthemane” actually means oil press. There is a poignant symbolism here of the weight of the world pressing on His shoulders.
It was no coincidence the ancient Israelites also used olive oil to light the menorah in their sacred temples, and to anoint their priests and kings.
Saul was the very first king anointed in this fashion, by the hand of Samuel the prophet.
Against the Giant:
Pg. 34
Samuel’s eyes opened, and they were smiling as he said, “We are alone, but God is our witness in the heavens. What I do now I do between me and thee, and the One who has chosen thee. Kneel.”
Saul obeyed. The dirt was hard beneath his knees. Samuel took the gilded ram’s horn from his girdle and touched it to Saul’s head. Saul smelled the fresh, rich scent of olive oil mingled with spices and felt its cool warmth upon his head.
Samuel took his face in his hands, kissed both of his cheeks and said, “This because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over His inheritance.”
Saul could not speak. His eyes searched Samuel’s face. He could not have explained it if he had been asked to, but his heart was swelling inside his chest, and tears filled his eyes and ran down his cheeks.
Samuel’s hands rested softly on his head. It felt like a benediction to their visit.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Honor Killings
It’s ironic that it happened in a place called Surprise, Arizona. On Oct. 20th, a 20-year-old Muslim woman was intentionally run over by her father for living with her boyfriend rather than her Iraqi husband. She died a few days later.
Surprise.
But it isn’t the first time something like this has happened. In July 2008, Sandela Kanwal wanted a divorce from her husband. Her father refused to let her, and finally he strangled her for her continued pleas.
They are calling them “honor killings,” the Islamic killers justify their act by claiming their rights to protect the honor of their family.
Supna Zaidi, writing for Islamist-Watch, explained it this way: “An honor killing is defined as the murder of a girl or woman who has allegedly committed an act that has shamed and embarrassed her family. For the family to show its community that it has reasserted control, the woman is killed. Thus, ‘harm to reputation’ is a partial or complete defense to murder.”
Zaidi reiterates that there is no passage in the Koran that discusses or justifies honor killings. (http://www.islamist-watch.org/928/does-islam-justify-honor-killings)
Other Islamic authorities make it very clear they do not condone such killings.
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
“There is no such concept in Islam that is called ‘honor killing’. . . .[Islam] does not allow people to take the law in their own hands and administer justice, because doing so will be leading to chaos and lawlessness.”
Kutty goes on to say that for any killings to take place under the approval of Islam, there must be a “binding verdict issued by an authoritative law court.”
In both of the above stated cases, the killers acted without the sanction of the law, religious or otherwise.
Muslims are not the only ones who have such concepts woven through their religion. The concept of killing a child for disrespect or disobedience is older than the Bible. Middle Eastern countries share similar aspects in their culture, the same way Western cultures share many of the same customs, and this was even more true anciently, though the different religious laws delineate one nation from another.
The Ten Commandments state clearly to “honor thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12).
Further instruction was given to ancient Israelites in the Law of Moses that children who cursed their father or mother should be put to death (Lev) 20:9. More specifically, girls still living under the protection of their fathers could not make promises, even to the Lord, without the approval of their fathers (Num. 30:3-5). Once she was married, a husband had the right to dissolve her vows since he was now her protector and provider.
Under the Law of Moses, a child who disobeyed or disrespected his parents could be brought before the elders. If the parents testified against him, the child would be stoned to death (Deut 21:18-21).
One similarity in both religions, as Kutty made very clear, is that to kill without a legal verdict in a court of law, leads to "chaos and lawlessness." It was true then. It remains true today.
David lived in such a culture, where respect for parents was second only to respect for God. We don’t know what all of David’s family relations were like, but I imagine when Saul was anointed to be king over Israel, it made quite a stir in the minds of the young men of Israel. Perhaps one of David’s brothers might have defied their father (Abba) in his desire to follow King Saul.
Against The Giant pg. 84-85
“What is it you’re saying to me, Shammah?” Abba’s voice was not loud, but there was strength beneath it like the rock foundation under the house.
“The tribes are gathering now at Gilgal,” Shammah said, “ to renew the kingdom and proclaim Saul king the way it should have been done the first time. I will be going to Gilgal. Saul is my king now, and I will follow him.”
Abba lifted his head. David didn’t breathe. There had never been a reason for Abba to invoke the law on his children, the law that said a wayward son or daughter could be turned over to the community and killed if the parent testified of their disrespect.
Links:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gQrGM_fwG1lNOCSlxPkDk0BtmJxg
http://www.islamist-watch.org/928/does-islam-justify-honor-killings
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503543392
Surprise.
But it isn’t the first time something like this has happened. In July 2008, Sandela Kanwal wanted a divorce from her husband. Her father refused to let her, and finally he strangled her for her continued pleas.
They are calling them “honor killings,” the Islamic killers justify their act by claiming their rights to protect the honor of their family.
Supna Zaidi, writing for Islamist-Watch, explained it this way: “An honor killing is defined as the murder of a girl or woman who has allegedly committed an act that has shamed and embarrassed her family. For the family to show its community that it has reasserted control, the woman is killed. Thus, ‘harm to reputation’ is a partial or complete defense to murder.”
Zaidi reiterates that there is no passage in the Koran that discusses or justifies honor killings. (http://www.islamist-watch.org/928/does-islam-justify-honor-killings)
Other Islamic authorities make it very clear they do not condone such killings.
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
“There is no such concept in Islam that is called ‘honor killing’. . . .[Islam] does not allow people to take the law in their own hands and administer justice, because doing so will be leading to chaos and lawlessness.”
Kutty goes on to say that for any killings to take place under the approval of Islam, there must be a “binding verdict issued by an authoritative law court.”
In both of the above stated cases, the killers acted without the sanction of the law, religious or otherwise.
Muslims are not the only ones who have such concepts woven through their religion. The concept of killing a child for disrespect or disobedience is older than the Bible. Middle Eastern countries share similar aspects in their culture, the same way Western cultures share many of the same customs, and this was even more true anciently, though the different religious laws delineate one nation from another.
The Ten Commandments state clearly to “honor thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12).
Further instruction was given to ancient Israelites in the Law of Moses that children who cursed their father or mother should be put to death (Lev) 20:9. More specifically, girls still living under the protection of their fathers could not make promises, even to the Lord, without the approval of their fathers (Num. 30:3-5). Once she was married, a husband had the right to dissolve her vows since he was now her protector and provider.
Under the Law of Moses, a child who disobeyed or disrespected his parents could be brought before the elders. If the parents testified against him, the child would be stoned to death (Deut 21:18-21).
One similarity in both religions, as Kutty made very clear, is that to kill without a legal verdict in a court of law, leads to "chaos and lawlessness." It was true then. It remains true today.
David lived in such a culture, where respect for parents was second only to respect for God. We don’t know what all of David’s family relations were like, but I imagine when Saul was anointed to be king over Israel, it made quite a stir in the minds of the young men of Israel. Perhaps one of David’s brothers might have defied their father (Abba) in his desire to follow King Saul.
Against The Giant pg. 84-85
“What is it you’re saying to me, Shammah?” Abba’s voice was not loud, but there was strength beneath it like the rock foundation under the house.
“The tribes are gathering now at Gilgal,” Shammah said, “ to renew the kingdom and proclaim Saul king the way it should have been done the first time. I will be going to Gilgal. Saul is my king now, and I will follow him.”
Abba lifted his head. David didn’t breathe. There had never been a reason for Abba to invoke the law on his children, the law that said a wayward son or daughter could be turned over to the community and killed if the parent testified of their disrespect.
Links:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gQrGM_fwG1lNOCSlxPkDk0BtmJxg
http://www.islamist-watch.org/928/does-islam-justify-honor-killings
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503543392
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