(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better)
Focus:
Who — or what — was Asherah?
Intro:
Today’s focus question is just a historical nugget…you’ve often heard the term “Asherah” or “Asherah pole” in the Old Testament because, well, it shows up 40 or so times. So later we’ll answer the question as to just what that is.
But our NT segment today is one of those little one-chapter books, written by Paul to one person, Philemon, asking him to take back his escaped slave in an unexpected, and decidedly Christ-like, way.
New covenant:
Passage: Philemon
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 46
Words: ~926
What’s interesting is that this book does something that many NT books do, as Dr. John Sailhamer puts it, it “speaks directly to an issue that lies not too far beneath the surface throughout the NT — i.e., the effect of the gospel on the existing social structures of the ancient world.”(1) Paul elsewhere speaks against slave traders, so we know he doesn’t endorse the practice, but as you’ve heard me say here often, Jesus said his kingdom isn’t of this world, and in the NT we never see overthrow of the government, even an unjust government, as the means by which change occurs. Here me correctly here: I’m not saying we don’t work to be good citizens, work to change laws, call out injustice, etc., but I mention it because it’s in stark contrast to what you see some people advocating for today.
Old covenant:
Passage: 2 Kings 13
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 78
Words: ~2469
Asherah pole. One common feature of Canaanite worship and of syncretistic Israelite worship on “high places” and in city shrines is the erection of Asherah poles. There is some uncertainty about whether these were simply wooden poles, erected to symbolize trees and perhaps containing a carved image of the fertility goddess, or whether they were part of a sacred grove…
As the consort of El, Asherah was a popular goddess whose worship is mentioned in Ugaritic texts (1600–1200 b.c.). The Asherah cult continued to be prominent in Phoenicia in the first millennium b.c., when it presumably was introduced into Israel during the dynasty of Omri and Ahab. Her prominent appearance in the biblical narrative indicates that her cult was a major rival to Yahweh worship… (2)
Wisdom:
Passage: Psalm 47
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 9
Words: ~148
Passage: Proverbs 10:14-11:11
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 29
Words: ~461
The bottom line:
Yesterday’s highest pursuit was truth; today’s is too often freedom — not necessarily in a good way. But what does our closing Proverb say?
You’ll just have to listen.
Love you!
Roger
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) Here’s where I’d cite the source, the NIV Bible Study Commentary because I’m anal about doing so. But as much as I love the Sailhamer, I despise the fact that Zondervan doesn’t let you copy/paste a quote (which, on the Kindle, then auto-copies the citation as well, saving you a bunch of time). Shame on you Zondervan for a decidedly antiquated decision.
(2) Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, electronic ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 2 Ki 13:6.
EXTRA: Here’s a good article about how to reconcile with another Christian based on Philemon.