2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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TO BOW OR NOT TO BOW
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Esther 3:2
Romans 13:7
"Thou shalt not bow down thyself
to them, nor serve them..."
TO BOW OR NOT TO BOW
By virtue of Haman’s new top rank and elevated position above all princes in the kingdom, all the king’s subjects "bowed and reverenced Haman" (Esther 3:2). This was commanded by the king. Bowing and reverencing would mean to bow down, even to prostrate oneself, in respect before a monarch or superior. But Mordecai absolutely refused to do so. Some contend that Mordecai would not do so because of the Second Commandment. It would be bowing and worshipping someone other than God. The word "reverence" is used for both bowing in honour and respect as well as bowing in worship of God. The usage here is the former. Moreover, the supreme king would likely not command others to bow to Haman as a god, and nothing Haman said in Esther 3:8 would indicate he was to be treated as a god. But whatever his reason, Mordecai’s refusal to bow would kick off a chain of events.
Should Christians bow? It is clear from the Second Commandment (Exod 20:5) that the believer should never bow to worship any man or any thing as God. The Hebrew word for "reverence" is used in the following: Ruth bowed in gratefulness and to honour Boaz (Ruth 2:10), David bowed to Saul as his lord and king (1 Sam 24:8), and Bathsheba bowed to king David as Israel’s king (1 Kings 1:16). It is not wrong to bow in honour and respect to a living person. God tells us to honour authorities (1 Pet 2:17). The Japanese bow as a greeting and sign of respect as well for example. It is not wrong for Christians to bow in respect to authority. The key is what the bowing gesture is understood, or meant, to be. The Apostle Peter refused to allow any to bow to him in worship (Acts 10:25-26). If it was worship or religious in nature, then the Christian is forbidden to bow. But the Christian must not bow to pictures of the dead or bow to a deceased in the coffin even if it was not about worshipping the dead. To do so is to infer that the dead can receive respect as if they were present and alive. For this reason, the believer should never bow to an inanimate object too.
THOUGHT: Do I understand when I can or cannot bow?
PRAYER: Lord, I must always bow to and worship Thee alone.
Posted in Adult RPG
Esther 3:2
Romans 13:7
"Thou shalt not bow down thyself
to them, nor serve them..."
TO BOW OR NOT TO BOW
By virtue of Haman’s new top rank and elevated position above all princes in the kingdom, all the king’s subjects "bowed and reverenced Haman" (Esther 3:2). This was commanded by the king. Bowing and reverencing would mean to bow down, even to prostrate oneself, in respect before a monarch or superior. But Mordecai absolutely refused to do so. Some contend that Mordecai would not do so because of the Second Commandment. It would be bowing and worshipping someone other than God. The word "reverence" is used for both bowing in honour and respect as well as bowing in worship of God. The usage here is the former. Moreover, the supreme king would likely not command others to bow to Haman as a god, and nothing Haman said in Esther 3:8 would indicate he was to be treated as a god. But whatever his reason, Mordecai’s refusal to bow would kick off a chain of events.
Should Christians bow? It is clear from the Second Commandment (Exod 20:5) that the believer should never bow to worship any man or any thing as God. The Hebrew word for "reverence" is used in the following: Ruth bowed in gratefulness and to honour Boaz (Ruth 2:10), David bowed to Saul as his lord and king (1 Sam 24:8), and Bathsheba bowed to king David as Israel’s king (1 Kings 1:16). It is not wrong to bow in honour and respect to a living person. God tells us to honour authorities (1 Pet 2:17). The Japanese bow as a greeting and sign of respect as well for example. It is not wrong for Christians to bow in respect to authority. The key is what the bowing gesture is understood, or meant, to be. The Apostle Peter refused to allow any to bow to him in worship (Acts 10:25-26). If it was worship or religious in nature, then the Christian is forbidden to bow. But the Christian must not bow to pictures of the dead or bow to a deceased in the coffin even if it was not about worshipping the dead. To do so is to infer that the dead can receive respect as if they were present and alive. For this reason, the believer should never bow to an inanimate object too.
THOUGHT: Do I understand when I can or cannot bow?
PRAYER: Lord, I must always bow to and worship Thee alone.
Posted in Adult RPG