From a holy heart comes holy actions and as a result of holy doings come holy feelings. Anything else is a counterfeit holiness.
Ecclesiastes declares the absolute vanity of all things under the sun. Biblical vanity does not refer to an excessive care on good looks. Biblical vanity is emptiness or worthlessness.
Almost 140 years before the southern kingdom of Judah went into Babylonian captivity, the northern kingdom of Israel was taken into Assyrian captivity. And, whereas the kingdom of Judah returned to the land, there is no corresponding record of the kingdom of Israel doing the same. This has led to much speculation on the present identity of the lost tribes of Israel, which make up ten of the twelve tribes of the ancient Hebrews.
There is a war that has been raging for thousands of years. You will not read about it in your local newspaper: CNN, ABC, and NBC will not be bringing the updates to your living room. The world tries to ignore it, but truly you are on one side or the other.
Was the kingdom offered to Israel? Ultimately, one’s answer to this question hinges upon how strictly he defines the word offer.
