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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
The Testimony of an Ancient Tunnel
The water was cold and the tunnel was small; so small that I walked for almost half of the way, hunched over and with shoulders touching each side of the tunnel wall. The tunnel traversed from left to right for over 580 yards until I once again saw the precious light of day. It was a walk through history that has been forever imprinted upon my mind.
Dug nearly 2700 years ago, Hezekiah's tunnel still carries water from the Gihon Spring, located in the Kidron Valley, just east of the ancient city of David, to the well-known Pool of Siloam. The tunnel is an ancient landmark and testimonial to a long-ago king of the nation of Judah.
In the eighth century before Christ, neighboring countries were threatening the borders of the once-united Israel and Judah. Judah, under the capable leadership of Hezekiah, built a reservoir and tunnel to bring water inside the walls of its capital city Jerusalem (2 Kings 2:20; 2 Chron. 32:3-4, 30). This tunnel ensured a constant supply of water for the city's inhabitants during any possible lengthy siege of an opposing army. The planning and preparation paid off when in the late eighth century B.C. the Assyrian monarch Sennacherib, moving through and conquering most of Palestine, encircled Jerusalem, caging it like a bird. However, Sennacherib failed to conquer Jerusalem or weaken its inhabitants, in part because they had a flourishing water supply and could remain indefinitely within the city walls. Jerusalem and the nation of Judah were ultimately spared, while their northern brothers Israel were taken captive.
The testimony of the ancient tunnel is one more proof of the Bible's accuracy and validity. It demonstrates that the events and people of the Bible were real and credible. Not only does the tunnel exist, just like 2 Kings reveals, but the Bible accurately pinpoints its location as well. Second Chronicles 32:30 cites the flow of the water from east to west and places its pooling area west of the city of David. Archaeologists have excavated a part of the ancient city of David and its remnants and have placed its southern tip between the Gihon Spring and the Pool of Siloam. The pooling area would have been inside the wall of the city for easy access by the Jerusalem citizens. Today that pool still exists as it did in both Hezekiah's reign and during the Lord's public ministry. Once again, the Bible's accuracy continues to be upheld. It is not only accurate in its general stories, but gives us detailed and specific information which can be verified even 2700 years later.
For more information regarding Hezekiah’s Tunnel and other articles relating to Biblical Archaeology, go to
http://www.christiancourier.com/archives/tunnel.htm.
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Where Does it Say Not To?
Christianity is the only religion authorized by God (John 14:6). It consists of practices God authorizes (Colossians 3:17). Thus, Jesus' disciples must have Biblical authority for all they do in religion (Matthew 21:23-25). A Bible passage, either generic or specific in its teaching, under girds each item of their worship and work (John 4:24; Matthew 28:20). All innovations that add to God's Word are to be resisted by those who seek to follow Christ.
Protestants justly abhor the accretions of Catholicism: icons, rosary beads, saintly relics and the sacred crucifix. Even so, brethren rightly reject the missionary societies, junior churches, holy days, women preachers and instrumental music characteristic of that denomination we know as the Christian Church. However, the common rebuttal offered in defense of these and a thousand other innovations is, "But where does the Bible say not to do these things?"
Alongside her vain additions, Digression cries, "Where does it say not to?" Throughout Scripture, however, emphasis is given to responding to God only as He has ordained and commanded. Such passages voice heaven's negative regarding human innovations. Because many want to know where the Bible says "not to," we offer a dozen references that say, in effect, just that.
- Deuteronomy 4:2 - "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." Should anyone desire to append God's Word, Moses' language specifically says he is "not to."
- Proverbs 30:5-6 - "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar."
- Matthew 15:9 - "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Thus, Jesus implies we are "not to" practice them.
- I Corinthians 4:6 (ASV) - "Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written." Yes, those who have advanced past New Testament practice must learn "not to" do so.
- Acts 15:24 - "Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:" Where there is no supporting command, a thing is "not to" be done.
- 2 Corinthians 5:7 - "For we walk by faith, not by sight." Faith comes by hearing God's Word (Romans 10:17). Thus, we should walk by what we hear from God's Word. If a practice cannot be found in the Word of God, we are not guided by faith to do it. Therefore, it ought "not to" be done.
- 2 Timothy 1:13 (ASV) - "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard of me." If it does not fit the pattern of New Testament language, we are "not to" maintain it.
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." If it is not in scripture, then it is not a good work and we are "not to" do it.
- Hebrews 7:14 - "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood." To justify an action concerning which God "spake nothing" is tantamount to changing His law and abolishing His regulations. Christ abolished the law of Moses (Ephesians 2:15), but we are "not to" replace
Christ's law!
- 2 John 9 (ASV) - "Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God." This means we are "not to" go ahead and try what the Lord has failed to authorize.
- Jude 3 (ASV): "Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints." If it had not arrived on the religious scene by the first century we are "not to" argue for it.
- Revelation 22:18 - "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." From the front (Deut. 4:2), middle (Proverbs 30:6), and back (Revelation 22:18), the Bible warns us "not to" add to it!
N. B. Hardeman once ended a sermon with these choice words. "Here we are, and here is the Bible. You come and watch us in our worship of God and in our work for Him, and if you find us doing anything in the work or worship of the church for which we cannot give a 'Thus saith the Lord,' we pledge you that we will quit it. On the other hand, if there is anything you think we ought to be doing, if you read it to us from the word of the Lord, we will begin it."
If you are not practicing this scriptural plea, you should be. God expects all of us to respect His bindings and “loosings”, His authorizations and implicit prohibitions. If it's not in the Bible then God, at least twelve times, has said "not to" do it.
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