Steven Garofalo
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WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?
By Steven Garofalo, February 19, 2024 (Copyright 2024)
February 19, 2024

“What Do You Think About This?” 2 Samuel 8 records the expansion of David’s kingdom under the blessings of God. The Philistines seem to have migrated from the Aegean Islands and Asia Minor to the eastern Mediterranean region around 1200 B.C. And where did they settle? On the coastal plain of Israel. There, the Philistines developed a relatively advanced culture and a powerful army. The philistines were a major threat to Israel during the reigns of Saul and David (5:17; 1 Sam. 13:5).

In light of this background, David took by force a city or place calledMetheg-Amman” which probably refers to “GATH” (1 Chronicles 18:1) which was a key Philistine city that David captured and controlled. 2 Samuel 8:2 sets the setting and provides us context for today’s lesson, saying this:

“After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.”

We know three things here.

  1. That David was in God’s will.
  2. That David defeated the Philistines and subdued them.
  3. That David took Metheg-Amman out of the hands of the Philistines.

SO WHAT! Well, this leads to our question for the day which is “WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS” in light of verse 2 which says this:

And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.”

In verse two, we read about David seemingly killing some Moabites sparing others? I want to challenge you to THINK about that and come to your own conclusion as to if that was good, bad, right or wrong in light of God’s Word first and in application to what is gong on in our modern age.

WHO WERE THE MOABITES

This is an important clarification to make as the Moabites were descendants of the incestuous relationship between Lot and his older daughter (Genesis 19:36, 37). But did it mandate their being put to death? These people occupied the land opposite Judah, east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. This verse may indicate that David spared the young Moabites (whose heights was “A LINE” and executed the adults (whose height was two lines). In any event, the survivors became vassals to Israel (2 Kings 1:1).

I want to focus your attention on what took place here in that David spared the young Moabites (whose heights were equal to that of one measuring line) and executed the adults (whose heights were equal to two lines). This would eliminate men of fighting age to come back on David and his men. Or, it may mean that one out of three Reiss of soldiers would be randomly spared. The former is most likely the case.

In light of WHAT” took place and “HOW” it took place is what I want to challenge you to process for today. I think it safe to say that David was taking the land God promised to Israel, so perhaps, you might focus on “HOW” David selected those who would LIVE and those who would BE PUT TO DEATH. I’m’ not making a case either way. I simply want you to think about if it was ethical to put some of the Moabites to death in the first place outside of an active war. Again, I am not saying right or wrong-I’m challenging you to come to your own conclusion in light of imperfect biblical characters living out a perfect biblical story we call the Bible.

Most  importantly, what does that tell us about today’s world chaos regarding migrants, wars, out of control crime and the like. I will provide you my thought in applicaiton to current events in that I believe the Christian community in American and the West (Europe) in general has grown very soft on biblical truths. We allow lawlessness men and women to commit unfettered crime and immoral behavior to flourish. Then there is this thing called "migration" which is illegal lutside of U.S. law. Not to make a political stand-but illegal immigration is just that “ILLEGAL”. These folks are coming here illegally and law makers are forcing the tax paying public to pay for it out of debt. Is that legal, moral, right or biblically right? Again, I will leave that to you to decide. Then there is the War in Ukraine, which biblically speaking could have easily been diverted had the 1991 written agreement between the USA and USSR been respected stipulating that the 13 NATO nation coalition not advance to any other countries east towards Russia. President Clinton, a very immoral president was the first to break the agreement. Does God honor a broken covenant (a recent episode)?

I'm very pro-American, but I am also pro-Bible above pro-American exceptionalism. Christianity is not a Western or American formed religion, God chose the Middle-East for His chosen setting to bring Jesus Christ into the world. Please read the Word for yourself and then apply those principles to your own life and that of our nation and the world at large. I think your mind and biblical understanding of God’s truth might just surprise you. And then wrestle with the question as to "WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS". And that is how you "Reason For Truth". Steven

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DO PETS GO TO HEAVEN?

When I was in seminary, the question was raised as to if pets or animals in general go to heaven. Our professor, Dr. Norman Geisler said this: “Jesus Christ came to earth and died on the Cross for the human race, not animals.” I was working out at the gym one day when one of the regulars, who had just moved to Charlotte, NC from California told me that one of her beloved dogs died; and would that dog go to heaven. I have her the same answer. But, was that the whole story? That’s what we are going to look at today.

In a peace by Michael Housman, Founder of GotQuestions.Org, Housman wrote that “The BIble does not give any explicit teaching on whether pets or animals in general have souls, or spirits, or whether pets and other animals will be in heaven.

His answer was short but the animals not having souls maybe up for debate.

We can use general biblical principles to develop some clarity on the subject though Housman wrote. The Bible states that both man (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 1:30; 6:17; 7:15 and 22) have the “BREATH OF LIFE” that is, both man and animals are living beings. Furthermore, the primary difference between human beings and animals is that humanity is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), while animals are not.

Being made in the image and likeness of God means that human beings are like God in some ways; they are capable of spirituality; they have a mind, emotion, and “will”; and part of their “being” continues after death.

If pets and other animals do have a “soul” (or spirit or immaterial aspect), it must therefore be of a different and lesser “quality”. This difference possibly means that pets and other animal “souls”  do not continue in existence after death.

Another factor to consider regarding whether pets will be in heaven is that animals are a port of God’s creative process in Genesis. God created the animals and said they were good (Genesis 1:25). Therefore, there is no reason why there could not be pets and animals on the NEW EARTH as described in (Revelation 21:1). 

In the end, there will most definitely be animals during the millennial kingdom (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25). It is impossible to say definitely whether some animals of these animals might be the pets we had here on earth. We do know that God is just and that when we get to heaven, we will find ourselves in complete agreement with His decision on this issue, whatever that turns out to be.

So, there you have it. I think that’s the best answer on the subject in all honest. Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to our channel and check out StevenGarofalo.Com for exclusive content and early release of our two weekly podcast.

Until next time, I’m your host Steven Garofalo, and this is your reason for truth for today.

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AN ETHICAL ECONOMY IS GOOD FOR ALL
By Steven Garofalo, May 2, 2025

WHAT MAKES A GOOD ECONOMY

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Today, I am going to show you through Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 that vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, will devour one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Let’s get started.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor is an interesting subject in light of wealth, corruption, and the human heart. This subject effects many things, including what makes a good economy. 

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, verses eight to nine, Solomon says the following:

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9
“8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

COMMENTARY: There are two things king Solomon is saying here within the theme of the vanity of WEALTH and HONOR. Wealth and honor are two different things, as one can have wealth with or without honor or honor with or without wealth. That being said, let’s look at verses 8 and 9 independently to see the simple message God provides us today through Solomon.

BREAK DOWN
Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY & WEALTH
 “8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them." 

COMMENTARY: Verse 8 clearly illustrates that there is a corruption at every level of government, with higher level oppressors plundering the equally oppressive lower-level magistrates. This perhaps explains the st state of America and the world. With blackmail running. Rampant and the public sector unchecked, they have been robbing the everyday citizen of their hard earned money. As a result, the system became insulated and division between the haves and have nots became more defined. When the high level government officials rob and abuse those below them, someone above that person robs and abuses the higher level person himself.

In America, where we print money out of thin air for the world, in this short period of history, there is little need to plunder those under one authority because there is so much to steal that those in authority can simply pay them off or blackmail them; whichever is most convenient. Either way, Solomon makes abundantly clear that when there is nobody minding the ship, evil perpetuates to the point of overtaking the government in whole. As a result, we end up with a 2024 government, riddles with corruption, immorality, blackmail, lawlessness, and all other things evil due to the lack of God-ness which equates to “goodness”. 

Economically speaking, when this happens to a country, its own economy begins to decline into debt due to their insatiable desire and emotional need for more money and resources. When resources are stripped and money is squandered, the elite few are smart enough to collect those resources and money and we end up with a U.S. Stock Market where only 5% holds up to 80%  of the entire market wealth. 

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?
The answer and solution is to keep to return to the system we created in the first place which is free market capitalism that allows those who desire to work hard, to have a fair chance at success, making money and turning a fair profit. This is called “honor for everyone”.

HONOR FOR EVERYONE
"9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

CONCLUSION:

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, devours one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Solomon (Qohelet) considered goverment to be frustrating becuase it was a necessary evil, something deply flawed but indespsnsible. On the one hand people sould "not be shocked" when they see OPPRESSION and injustice in a governmental province (v.8). After all, bloated government bureaucracy tends to frustrate justice (v.8b). On the other hand, government has it advantages (v.9). Many hold to the belief that this verse continues the negeative assessment of government. Others see this passage better understood more positively since it fits with Qohelet's normal pattern of "on the one hand, on the other.." way of teaching. 

Even a corrupt government is better than anarchy, which devastates a country, it's culture and in Solomon's time, an agrarian economy that would lead to starvation. Keeping to God's ways is the only solution to man's sinful nature; especially in governmental rule. In the end, a king who devotes himself to developing the resources of the land ushers in a systems that brings the opportunity for profit to all, not just the corrupt few.

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SOLA SCRIPTURA
A Protestant & Catholic View Comparison

I grew up Catholic and now go to a Protestant or non-Catholic church in Charlotte, NC. Michael Houdmann, Founder and CEO of GotQuestions.Org writes that a major difference between the two boils down to believing in the Bible alone as God's word verses believing that God's word plus man's input as the divine inspired word of God.

WHAT DO PROTESTANTS BELIEVE?

A major difference is the issue of sufficiency and authority of Scripture. While Protestants believe that the Bible alone is the source of God's special revelation to mankind, it also speaks to everything we need to understand as necessary for our salvation from sin.

Protestants view the Bible as the STANDARD for Christian morality and ethics which governs our behavior. This is called sola scripture and is one of the five Solas in Christianity. (Solas meaning "alone" in Latin. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes clear that "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV).

WHAT DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE?

Catholics do not believe in sola scriptura hence do not believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. They see both the Bible and sacred Roman Catholic tradition as equally authoritative and binding on the Christian. While not all Catholics hold to doctrines such as purgatory, praying to the saints, worship or veneration of Mary, etc., the Catholic doctrine hold to them even though they have little or no mention or basis in the Bible. In truth, these doctrines are based on Roman Catholic traditions based on the Catholic Church's insistence that the Bible and tradition are equal in authority. The problem with this is that it undermines the sufficiency, authority, and completeness of the Bible. The view of Scripture is at the root of many, if not all, of the differences between Catholics and Protestants.

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