Vanity

II Kings 17:15 They rejected his statutes,

and his covenant that he made with their

fathers, and his testimonies which he

testified to them; and they followed

vanity, and became vain, and [went] after

the nations that were round about them,

concerning whom Yhwh had charged those who

they should not do like them.

A word search finds the word vanity 79
times. It's not one of the words used in
the Ten Commandments, but usually is used
to express a point in time that G-d's word
is rejected in favor of another doctrine.


In case you haven't noticed, we are living
in a country immersed in vanity. It's no
longer that we desire the pursuit of
happiness, it's now a mad dash to get in on
the latest vain pursuit. I think that
there is a difference between happiness and
vanity. Only three times is the word used
in the greek:

vanity: 3153
Mataiotes (mat-ah-yot'-ace)

1. what is devoid of truth and appropriateness
2. perverseness, depravity
3. frailty, want of vigour

Seems fitting. As I observe this tendency
it looks almost like an old film clip from
the Keystone Cops at times. The guy at the
front of the line has no idea where he is
going or what he is doing, just to stay
ahead of the guy behind him. Mostly, the
group is just struggling to keep up, trying
as they will to keep their place in line.
Yeah, that looks like modern life alot of
the time.


That's why it is a sad day for me to see
that William F. Buckley Jr. has passed on.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080228/ap_on_re_us/obit_buckley_25

In the past, I spent quite a few Sunday
afternoons watching Firing Line, the weekly
program hosted by Buckley. Whatever the
subject, Buckley seemed interested to gain
an insight into current events, that was
not, and likely never will be, part of the
info-tainment mass media, that's
preoccupied with advancing whatever the
agenda of the day is. Watch Oprah. No
need to gain insight into the topic de jour
tomorrow will bring another fantasy based
resolution to an equally compelling topic.
But it sure makes everyone feel better to
believe that life has such a simple minded
solution.


I suppose that's one reason why any serious
reference to scripture is not often part of
the 'answer'. It just doesn't always offer
a simple warm fuzzy sort of insight into
human nature and the problems that we
create for ourselves. Especially the parts
about the need to recognize the authority
of G-d. That seems to be too offensive to
some people. Hence, the Keystone Cop chase
goes on, same as it was over three thousand
years ago.


II Kings 17
1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah

began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in

Samaria over Israel, [and reigned] nine

years.

2 He did that which was evil in the sight

of Yhwh, yet not as the kings of Israel who

were before him.

3 Against him came up Shalmaneser king of

Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and

brought him tribute.

4 The king of Assyria found conspiracy in

Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So

king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to

the king of Assyria, as he had done year by

year: therefore the king of Assyria shut

him up, and bound him in prison.

5 Then the king of Assyria came up

throughout all the land, and went up to

Samaria, and besieged it three years.

6 In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of

Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel

away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah,

and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and

in the cities of the Medes.

7 It was so, because the children of Israel

had sinned against Yhwh their G-d, who

brought them up out of the land of Egypt

from under the hand of Pharaoh king of

Egypt, and had feared other gods,

8 and walked in the statutes of the

nations, whom Yhwh cast out from before the

children of Israel, and of the kings of

Israel, which they made.

9 The children of Israel did secretly

things that were not right against Yhwh

their G-d: and they built them high places

in all their cities, from the tower of the

watchmen to the fortified city;

10 and they set them up pillars and Asherim

on every high hill, and under every green

tree;

11 and there they burnt incense in all the

high places, as did the nations whom Yhwh

carried away before them; and they worked

wicked things to provoke Yahweh to anger;

12 and they served idols, whereof Yhwh had

said to them, You shall not do this thing.

13 Yet Yhwh testified to Israel, and to

Judah, by every prophet, and every seer,

saying, Turn you from your evil ways, and

keep my commandments and my statutes,

according to all the law which I commanded

your fathers, and which I sent to you by my

servants the prophets.

14 Notwithstanding, they would not hear,

but hardened their neck, like the neck of

their fathers, who didn`t believe in Yhwh

their G-d.


Jesus is the answer. Always was. Always
will be. Get on the bus.