Bible on Spirituality and the Occult
Hebrew Definitions within Spiritual Laws
Understanding the laws of spirituality and the occult according to the Bible in Leviticus chapter 19 may be better understood with modern English explanations. Some phrases in the English of the King James Version of the Bible may be outdated, or at least misunderstood. This Bible study takes the Hebrew from the original manuscripts and provides details of key phrases.
Before analyzing Leviticus chapter 19 and Hebrew definitions of spiritual laws, compare human spiritual experiences that are natural to those of the occult. Some people are more sensitive to the feelings of others and a level of communication occurs without a spoken word.
I for one have very often had thoughts that my wife immediately verbalized or answered precisely. We use 1/10th of the human brain, so this phenomenon is no longer a surprise after 20 years of marriage. Humans sensing the feelings of others is natural though perhaps difficult or impossible to explain.
Occult experiences are more often dealing with purposeful communication with the dead, and there is no shortage of talk shows that feature spiritual experts willing to demonstrate their psychic abilities. In truth, the Bible is very specific that we cannot speak with loved ones that have passed away, yet evil spirits can impersonate any voice, and will communicate to those open to their deception.
Supernatural evil spirits that are 1000's of years old have witnessed every moment in the life of that loved one they impersonate, so the accuracy of statements and the deception is very persuasive.
Hebrew Bible Translations to Modern English
Seeking answers from fortune tellers, psychics, or mediums crosses the line from natural to the occult, and the Bible warns about this. The following verses include clear explanations and meanings of phrases that could be misunderstood until you consider Hebrew Bible translations to modern English.
Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times. Leviticus 19:26 (KJV)
The word enchantment is from the Hebrew nachash (naw-KHASH) and the primitive root means to hiss or whisper a magic spell, or prognosticate. The phrase "observe times" is from the single Hebrew word anan (aw-NAN), also a primitive root, meaning "cover" or "cloud over", or act covertly to practice magic as a soothsayer or sorcerer.
Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. Leviticus 19:27 (KJV)
The phrase "round the corners of your heads" refers to a practice in ancient idolatry where priests shaved around their head leaving a tuft of hair on top. "Mar the corners of thy beard" refers to an Egyptian custom forbidding beards. Read Genesis 41:14 that documents Joseph being imprisoned and called before Pharaoh, and before they met he hastily "shaved himself and changed his rainment" to avoid criticism due to their custom.
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:28 (KJV)
The word cuttings is accurate and describes an idolatrous ritual of heathen worship, while the phrase "print any marks" is from two words in the Hebrew kethobeth (keth-O-beth) which means a mark branded in the skin, plus qaaqa (kah-ak-AH) for a mark made by incision. Keep in mind this point in time. These warnings describe customs of the heathens in the Promised Land which the Hebrews will not actually enter for another 40 years.
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:31 (KJV)
The Hebrew for the phrase "familiar spirits" is ob (OBE) for necromancers, or those who claim to communicate with the spirits of the dead. Wizards is translated from yiddeoniy (yid-deh-o-NEE), or knowing one, and more specifically a conjurer. This warning is repeated for emphasis in the very next chapter in Leviticus 20:6 and 20:27, yet this time the law is repeated with consequences.
And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Leviticus 20:6 (KJV)
A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. Leviticus 20:27 (KJV)
Advice for Christians Encountering the Occult
For Christian readers who feel modern mediums are harmless entertainment, consider the deception and evil nature of the true source, and then decide how some persons might be deceived. Two verses in Proverbs have advice about how to act when encountering occult practices.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Proverbs 4:14 (KJV)
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. Proverbs 4:15 (KJV)
The second verse is emphatic about the action to take when encountering evil and deception as described in Leviticus. Don't become invoved in the occult, avoid it, don't even pass nearby, but turn in the opposite direction. Satan intends to deceive, divide, and destroy as much of humanity as possible. Your loved ones are not lying in a grave waiting to communicate with you. As documented in Ecclesiastes 12:7, that verse explains what happens when we die stating "and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."
Article Source: www.ultimateriddles.com/leviticus-bible-lesson-05.html.
About the Author: Jim Degerstrom is an author who works in a faith based business offering custom website design and graphic art services, and documents Bible studies at his Ultimate Riddles Spiritual Journey website and blogs about spiritual growth on his Ultimate Riddles Spiritual Study blog from Kissimmee, Florida USA.
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