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Fire
M any primitive legends treat of the origin and use of fire. Fire itself was worshipped by many peoples of antiquity. The Assyrians, Chal deans, and Phoenicians, to mention only a few, practiced fire-worship. To this day fire-worship is a main feature of Hinduism, and it is well known that it is the chief factor in the religion of Zoroastrianism. When we come to the references to fire in the Bible, the passages are too numerous to mention exhaustive ly. All the references, however, fall into two categories, those which re late to a literal use of the word and those which convey a figurative sense. Both Hebrew and Greek have more than one word for fire, but the com mon Hebrew word is ’esh and the common Greek word is pur. Among the first type of references we find fire was used in the arts (Gen. 4:22), in preparing food (Ex. 16:23; Isa. 44:16), for warmth (Jer. 36:22; Acts 28:2), in refining metals. From this last use is derived the thought of purification and cleansing of character as in Malachi 3:2 and Mark 9:49, also Zechariah 13:9 and 1 Corinthians 3:13. The offerings to the Lord were made by fire. (See Gen. 8:20,21; Ex. 40:29; and Lev. 1:9 among many.) Continual fire was to be kept on the altar of burnt-offering for the sacri fices (Lev. 6:13). 2 Maccabees 1:19- 22 in the Apocrypha gives us a legendary account of how the sacred fire was hidden in a dry well at the fall of the city of Jerusalem (586 B.C.), only to be discovered by Ne- hemiah after the exile. 2 Maccabees 10:3 claims the later rekindling by the Maccabees was done by striking stones into flame. Fire attended the consecration of the priests to their work (Lev. 9:24), and it marked the conclusion of the dedication of the temple of Solomon (2 Chron. 7:1). When we come to the figurative
or symbolical use of fire in the Scrip tures, we are overwhelmed with an abundance of material. Fire was present at theophanies or appearances of Deity (Gen. 15:17; Ex. 3:2). It was a symbol of God’s protecting presence (Ex. 13:22; Psa. 78:14); of His glory (Ex. 24:17; Dan. 7:9); of His holiness (Isa. 6:4; Heb. 12:29); and of His wrath against sin (Deut. 4:24; Amos 5:6). Fire is a symbol of the Holy Spirit (Mt. 3:11; Lk. 3:16; Acts 2:3). It is a symbol of the resurrected and glorified Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:14). The Word of God in its power is symbolized by fire (Jer. 5:14; 23:29). The punishment of the wicked is linked with fire. (Note Jer. 51:58; Mt. 5:22, especially the eternal fire of Mt. 18:8; Jude 7; and the lake of fire in Rev. 19:20.) As we have already seen, primi tive peoples considered fire as super natural and divine. Molech, a fire- god, and other gods were worshipped by the Canaanites and their neigh bors. Worshippers of Molech burnt their children in the fire as part of their worship. (See 2 Ki. 16:3; 21:6; Jer. 7:31; and Ez. 16:20,21.) In an evil connotation fire is em ployed of the tongue in its influence for evil (Jas. 3:5,6). The prophet Hosea paints a painfully vivid pic ture of evil desire in the hearts of the princes of Israel (7:6). The Apostle Paul, in his Spirit-directed master piece on the subject of marriage, likens desire to fire (1 Cor. 7:9). We conclude our study with just one glimpse at the Book of Revela tion. There we find fire symbolizes heaven’s purity and glory (Rev. 15:2, 21:22,23). Sin will be past and all will be pure as with the purity of fire. Thank God, He will purge out all sin and iniquity and unrighteous ness. May we permit Him to do this increasingly in our lives throughout this earthly pilgrimage. END.
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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