For Discussion: What Does a Meat Market in Biblical Times Look Like?

The scribes and Pharisees…love the…markets.
(Matt. 23:1-7)

A scripture this week found in the International Sunday School Curriculum speaks of the “market” or marketplace. The Bible markets were filled with daily activities. Here are some things that were done there:

Religious leaders loved to gather there
Selling of animals, foods, and spices
Bartering and trading
People often looked for work
Trials and hearings were held there
Legal transactions were made
Religious and political debates occurred there

Please click on the text below to VIEW and read more about marketplaces during Bible times.

http://bibleresources.americanbible.org/resource/at-the-market

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketplace

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The Changing Season!

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant
thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.
(Ecc. 11:7)

beach woman sunrise silhouette

Many of us enjoy seeing the last days of winter give over to the bright rays of the approaching spring sunshine. The degrees in the weather begin to climb and there is often anticipation in the air! Things become renewed and revived. All forms of life begin to emerge and grow because spring has come around again.

God has given the four seasons and we become accustomed to their changes, but God has other seasons as well. These seasons often do not normally coincide with the natural changes in the seasons that we are used to. These are the seasons in our lives. They are outlined in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and we need to learn them well! If we study them, we can better understand God’s plan and timing for our lives.

Through every season that God brings in our lives, there should be a systematic study and meditation on His word. Those who will commit to study will also be established like a tree. In contrast to a natural tree — whatever season we find ourselves in — our leaves will not die or even wither (Ps. 1:1-6). Unlike the reasonably predictable changes in the four natural seasons (Matt. 16:2-3, Gen. 8:22) — our fruit can suddenly become ripe at any time, even during times we do not anticipate. God suddenly uses us for His glory (II Tim. 2:21) during any given opportunity or season (Ps. 1:3)! We can be used by God during spring, summer, or fall. His plan for us is to still produce fruit even during the winter of our lives (Ps. 92:12-15, Ps. 71:18).

We are all familiar with the words of a famous song, “everything must change, nothing stays the same”. We should make as much preparation as we can for unexpected changes in seasons — whatever that season may bring.

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They that are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and green: To shew that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
(Ps 92:12-15 – ERV Version)

(Holy Spirit inspired. Not Ai generated.)

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Be Careful Following the Crowds!

Am I now trying to get people to think well of me?
Or do I want God to think well of me? Am I trying to
please people? If I were, I would not be serving Christ.
(Gal. 1:10 NIRV)

Jesus knew crowds! He had a perfect understanding of what is modernly called “Crowd Psychology” (John 2:23-25). Crowds seemingly know everything or know nothing. The crowds of Jesus’ day lauded Him as a great prophet who had come from God. Others claimed Him as the Son of David. Still others just figured He was John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah. (Then, we can’t forget others were there just for a good meal (St. John 6:24-26 )).

Jesus knew that He was rightfully due praise (Luke 19:37-42), but He was not influenced by crowds. As He entered Jerusalem, they exalted Him with shouts of ‘Hosanna’! So, they praised Him, but near the end of His life, crowds were influenced to send Jesus to His death by crucifixion (Mark 15:9-14)!

Jesus had His ministry among crowds, but on many occasions He would retire from the people to be alone with God. Many today are caught up in the opinions of what people say and what they think (Mark 11:29-33). But, there is a secret place — a place where God wants His servants to be — which is far from the opinions and crowds of people. We must also learn not to go to extremes to get people to think well of us by trying to impress them (Ga. 1:10). This is a distortion of what is true. The more we commune with God the less we are influenced by people’s censures of us (I Cor. 4:3-4).

It’s true that we need all kinds of people to interact with. It is also true that we need to find times to distance ourselves from people to know the mind and will of God. Crowds and groups of people will always be there; they are not going away, but how we view and interact with them is important. Let’s get away from trying to impress people and get on with the business of pleasing God!

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The Changing Season!

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant
thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.
(Ecc. 11:7)

beach woman sunrise silhouette

God has given the four seasons and we become accustom to their changes, but God has other seasons, as well. These seasons often do not normally coincide with the natural changes in the seasons that we are used to. These are the seasons in our lives. They are outlined in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and we need to learn them well! If we study them, we can better understand God’s plan and timing for our lives.

Through every season that God brings in our lives, there should be a systematic study and meditation on His word. Those who will commit to study will also be established like a tree. In contrast to a natural tree — whatever season we find ourselves in…our leaves will not die or even wither (Ps. 1:1-6). Unlike the reasonably predictable changes in the four natural seasons (Matt. 16:2-3, Gen. 8:22) — our fruit can suddenly become ripe at any time, even during times we do not anticipate. God suddenly uses us for His glory (II Tim. 2:21) during any given opportunity or season (Ps. 1:3)! We can be used by God during spring, summer, or fall. His plan for us is to still produce fruit even during the winter of our lives (Ps. 92:12-15, Ps. 71:18).