Amnon

 

    Amnon is amnôn in Hebrew.  It means "faithful".  In Greek it is Ámmōn or Hámmōn.  In Latin it is Amon.  The English language adopted Amnon from the Hebrew word just changing it a little.

    Amnon is the first son of king David.  His mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel.   He was born in Hebron.  He had a half sister named Tamar that he was desperately obsessed with, so much that he thought he was in love.  She was a virgin and out of his reach.  

    However, his crafty friend came up with a plan that would put her alone in his immediate proximity.  The plan worked to perfection, but to Tamar's demise.  She was innocent and naive.  She never thought she would have to worry about a brother (even a half brother).  She should have been safe, but instead Amnon raped her.

    Tamar tried to get him to let her go.  She plead that David would allow them to marry which would be better than this.  He ignored her and raped her.  After he violated her, he hated her.  He forcibly had her removed disgraced.  She mourned harshly for what was rakishly taken from her. 

    Tamar's full brother, Absalom took her in and protected her for the rest of her life.  However, the one moment of time destroyed David's family in many layers that revealed itself years later.  Mostly because of how David handled the situation.  He was a great king, but only an average father.  David pretended like nothing happened, so there were no consequences.  Absalom loved his sister the way a brother should love a sister, so he hated Amnon.  

    Two years after Amnon raped Tamar, Absalom had him killed.  David never saw it coming.  He thought that Absalom had moved on, but he had not.  David gave Absalom the ability to be so close to his brother to kill him because they never worked out what happened to Tamar or dealt judgment for a horrendous crime like rape.  This got David's attention.  

    David allowed his daughter to be treated less than nothing.  He mourned his eldest son who would have become king and led the nation is his selfish way.  He lost the respect and love of Absalom for not protecting Tamar.  It tore their family apart.  After three years, David wanted Absalom back.  He may have come back, but the damage had already been done.

2 Samuel 3:2-5 & 2 Samuel 13

Amen

 

    Amen is a Hebrew word that means "so be it", "verily", or "truly".  It is an expression used for agreement, confirmation or desire.  It is the same word in Aramaic, but has a stronger meaning: "it is so" or "this is so".  It pertains to faith or being trustworthy.  In Greek amen is amḗn (ἀμήν).  In Latin and English it is still Amen.  It is one of the few words that never changed much if at all over time.

    The Levites were the spiritual people of the Hebrew nation.  They yelled out a few curses.  All the curses enforced by God are listed.  Anyone who carves or cast idols.  Anyone who dishonors their parents.  To steal or move property markers.  Anyone who leads the blind astray.  To deny justice to foreigners, orphans, or widows will be cursed for their cruelty.  Sexual violations with family, in-laws, or animals are detestable to God.   Anyone who attacks another person in secret.  To accept payment and kill an innocent is evil.  Anyone who does not obey the terms of God's rules are cursed.  The nation listening agreed and cried out Amen after each curse was announced.

    God promised David faithfully to give him and his family unfailing love.  However, God's unfailing love may look different from the human perspective.  That is why it requires faith.  When you feel disgraced, don't blame God.  Do not blame or insult other people to feel better.  When you are mocked, look inward, look at who is attacking, and look to God for answers.  Then praise God forever.  Amen.

    An angel told John to write a letter to the church of Laodicea.  It was from the one who is Amen: the faithful and true witness.  He witnessed the beginning of God's new creation.  It was a letter of declaration of good and bad deeds of the church.

    The Bible ends with this amen:  Jesus is the faithful witness of all things.  He declared that he would be coming soon.  The things is his soon does not look like our soon, but he has not forgotten us.  He is still coming.  May the grace of Jesus be with God's holy people as we wait.

Deuteronomy 27:14-26, Psalm 89:49-52, Revelations 3:14, & 22:20-21

Ambush

 

    Ambush is a surprise attack on an enemy from a concealed position.  The person (people) that ambush have an advantage over the attacked.  In Hebrew it is laarov (לֶאֱרוֹב) which means "a place of lying-in-wait".  In Aramaic it is ma'ărāḇ which means a "lurking-place".  In Greek it is enédra (ενέδρα).  In Latin it is insidiae.  

    English gets the word ambush from the Middle English word enbuschen which originated from the Anglo-French word embuscher.  The earliest time the word ambush was used was by William Claxton in 1489.

    God helped Israel defeat Ai by having Joshua set up an ambush.  God ordered Joshua not to be afraid. or discouraged, but go attack.  All the land was promised to them.  Ai would be destroyed like Jericho, but this time they were allowed to keep the plunder and livestock.  

    The ambush was set behind the town.  Joshua's warriors went out during the night to find their hiding place.  A few allowed themselves to be seen in the morning light, so that when Ai warriors gave chase the hidden ones were able to attack the city easily.  They did as God ordered and were victorious.

    Israel set another ambush, but this time it was at Gibeah.  For three days they fought.  The third day, Benjamin drew their warriors away from the city.  Israel had been losing, so Gibeah thought it would be an easy slaughter and it did appear that way.  Many died, but their sacrifice gave the others motivation to stop holding back.

Joshua 8:1-8 & Judges 20:29-31

Ambition

 

    Ambition is a strong desire that can be either godly or selfish.  It depends on the motivation.  Coffee is just a gift from God that helps you focus on ambition.  You put God and coffee together and you have a powerful force to get you going.  That is why I like starting my morning, especially this time of year, with a hot cup of coffee in one hand and the Bible in the other.

    Ambition in Hebrew is sheme'apatanut (שְׁאַפתָנוּת).  In Aramaic it is yomra which comes from the Latin word ambitiō which means to go around or about.  In Greek it is filodoxía (φιλοδοξία).  The English word Ambition originated from the Latin word ambīre.  It started being used in 1601 by Anthony Copley.  As you can see words change and evolve over time.  That is why makin sure you do not put the wrong word in when translating the Bible is so important.   It takes ambition to take that challenge on.

    When we follow the desires of the world we are following our sinful nature.  It always leads to sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, addiction, wild lifestyle, and other sinful strongholds.  Living apart from God only drives you further away from Him.  It is better to give Him your ambition to shape and help make happen in a way that honors Him.  Stop working for the flesh and start placing your ambitions toward the eternal.

    When you are being an ambassador for Jesus, there is no room for jealousy or rivalry.  Everyone's journey looks different.  Comparing will only destroy healthy ambition and lead to self-destructive behavior.  Instead, preach about Jesus with pure motives: love for Jesus.  Selfish ambition is not sincere and only make the chains of sin more painful.  No matter what though, Jesus' message will get through.  The Holy Spirit will help deliver the message that leads to deliverance.

    It is known that you are wise and understand God's ways by how you live: honorably, doing good works, and humble.  If you display bitter envy and jealousy, then your reveal the selfish ambition in your heart.  Don't try to cover the truth through boasting or lying.  Selfish ambition will never reveal God's wisdom.  It is of this world fed by unspiritual or demonic things.  Where you find selfish ambition, you find disorder and evil.  You will never find Jesus that way.  Godly ambition gives way to gentleness and wisdom.  It gives you purity, peace, mercy, and good fruit or righteousness without pretense.  

Galatians 5:19-21, Philippians 1:15-19, & James 3:13-18

Ambassador

 

    An ambassador is a representative of a king or government.  It is also a term for Christians who go out to spread the gospel because Jesus is king of the world.  An ambassador is an official envoy, a diplomat representing their authority as if the person was there.

    In Hebrew the word ambassador is shagrir (שַׁגְרִיר).  In Aramaic it is yzgdwt.  In Greek it is presveftís (πρεσβευτής).  In Latin it is legatus.  In English it originated from the Middle English word ambassatour that came from the Anglo-French ambassateur.  That derived from the Italian word ambasciatore.

    Christians becoming ambassadors for God's Word is a gift.  You have reconciled with God, so now you need to reach out to other people where they can reconcile with God on His terms.  The story of Jesus is a wonderful message of reconciliation.  As ambassadors God is appealing to non-Christians through Christians for them to come back to Him.  Jesus, who never sinned, died for all sin, so that all people can be made right with God through faith in Jesus.

    When you pray, pray in the Spirit.  Pray over every occasion.  Be alert and persistent in your prayers for your fellow believers.  Pray for the right words when you speak to non-believers.  Pray for boldness.  You are God's ambassador.  It is important that you pray, so that you represent Him well.  When you follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, then you may just reveal secrets of God that will grab their attention.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Ephesians 6:18-20

Amazed

 

    Amazed is mental state of stupefaction, bewilderment, or consternation.  It includes a range of emotions like astonishment, awe, or being overwhelmed.  Amazed in Hebrew is mufotea (מוּפתָע).  In Aramaic it is tmh or temhā which translates to amazement or wonder.  To be amazed in Greek is ékthamvos (έκθαμβος).  In Latin it is stupet.  We get amazed from the old English word āmasian which means to confuse, stun, or astonish.  It was first recorded in the 12th century.

    Jesus got into a boat and started across the lake with his disciples.  He was tired because he was human, so he went below to sleep for a little while.  The lake was so big that it worked like the ocean, so when a storm came it threated to sink the boat.  Jesus slept, but everyone else panicked.  

    His disciples woke him in their panic declaring that they would all drown.  Jesus responded why are you afraid?  Basically he was asking them where their faith was.  Then Jesus rebuked the storm and the water and wind went calm.  His disciples were amazed for nature obeyed Jesus.  You can know who Jesus is and still not have faith.  You can have faith, but it is not always strong.  Just remember Jesus is there waiting.

    Jesus was rejected in his home town.  He told his disciples that it had been prophesied that it would happen that way.  A prophet is never honored in his hometown, among relative, or family.  Unbelief can stop miracles.  Accept a person's decision.  Never stop praying for them, but stop trying to concert them.  Instead focus on those that want to have a relationship with Jesus.  Help the sick and with healing.  Unbelief is amazing in a way that it is hard to phantom if you are believer, but it is ultimately their choice.

    Jesus said to the faithless and corrupt, how much longer must I put up with you.  It took a tole on Jesus dealing with people that should know the truth, but reject him.  A demon possessed boy flayed before Jesus as the demon knocked him around causing convulsions.   Jesus rebuked the demon healing the boy where he could go back to his father.  Everyone who saw was amazed by the display of God's power in Jesus.  It is a shame that it takes big acts to get people to notice.

    When the Holy Spirit came, he enabled Jesus' apostles to start speaking in tongues and perform miracles.  It was amazing.  The people who knew who they were were amazed by the transformation.  They were perplexed by what they saw and heard wondering what it all meant.  What is amazing today is that people do not expect transformation from new believers.  It should be expected, not a random thing.

Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 6:4-6, Luke 9:41-43, & Act 2:7-12

Amaziah

 

    Amaziah means "the strength of the Lord". Strengthened by Yahweh", or "Yahweh is mighty".  Amaziah in Hebrew is Ămaṣyāhū (אֲמַצְיָהוּ,).  In Greek it is Amasias (Αμασίας).  In Latin it is Amasias.  We got the name Amaziah in English by using the Latin, Greek, and Anglo-Saxon languages creating the Old English word in 400AD.  

    Amaziah was a popular name at one point in history.  In the Bible the most famous Amaziah was the ninth king of Judah.  He became king at 25 after his father Joash died.  He reigned 29 years.  He was considered a righteous king that followed the Mosaic law.  However, he did not give his whole heart to God like his ancestor, David.  He allowed pagan shrines to remain and did not stop his people from sacrificing to them.  

    Amaziah did lead his army and killed 10,000 Edomites and captured another 10,000 to throw off the top of a cliff to be torn apart by the rocks below.  He had hired some troops to help and when he sent them home, they pillaged several towns on the way killing 3,000 people and taking away a lot of wealth.

    Instead of giving God the glory for his victory, Amaziah chose to take the enemies idols and begin to worship them.  This made God angry.  He would not listen to God's prophet who tried to warn him of his foolish behavior.  

    Amaziah went on to challenge the King of Israel (Jehoash).  Jehoash tried to be reasonable, but Amaziah would not listen.  They drew their armies at the battle lines. It was an embarrassing defeat for Amaziah.  Amaziah was captured and taken to Jerusalem to see 600 ft of their wall destroyed and have his wealth carried off.  

    King Amaziah lived another 15 years after that humiliation.  He turned from God and his life along with his kingdom suffered for it.  He was finally assassinated and returned home to Jerusalem to be buried.  He chose pride, unwilling to listen, and independence over a relationship with God.  It cost him relationships, wealth, comfort, respect, and eventually his life.

2 Kings 14:1-4 & 2 Chronicles 25:11-27