Bible Lens—November 21–27, 2016
Subject: Ancient and Modern Necromancy, alias Mesmerism and Hypnotism, Denounced
Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Exploring Bible Verses
An exploration of Bible citations from the Christian Science Quarterly® Bible Lessons
“. . . a lesson on which the prosperity of Christian Science largely depends."—Mary Baker Eddy
from the Responsive Reading
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
The Latin term lucifer means “light bearing.” The Hebrew equivalent (heylel) originally referred to the “day star” (likely Venus) worshipped by ancient Canaanites. In this verse, the prophet is seen to be predicting the downfall of Israel’s enemy, the king of Babylon.
Christian tradition later adopted Lucifer as a name for personified evil. But the designation “son of the morning” or “morning star” was uplifted to apply to Christ Jesus (see Revelation 22:16).
from Section 1
2 | Zephaniah 3:14
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
About fifty years before the exile in Babylon, the prophet Zephaniah was called to deliver a message of judgment against Judah. This short book focuses almost entirely on reproving Judah’s injustice and corruption. In his third chapter, however, Zephaniah speaks of a faithful remnant (see verses 12 and 13), and the remaining verses ring with hope.
from Section 2
6 | Genesis 49:17
Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
The “adder in the path” is a venomous horned snake known as a cerastes, which buries itself in sand and attacks travellers in its path. The tribe of Dan became known for similar craftiness and aggression in its quest for land (see citation 8, Judges 18).
8 | Judges 18:26–28
And the children of Dan went their way: …and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire. And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man.
The “children of Dan” had been apportioned an inheritance in Canaan along with the other eleven tribes of Israel (see Joshua 19:40). But Dan had not been able to secure that land. So the tribe chose the defenseless city of Laish for its new location, attacking it mercilessly and renaming it Dan (see Judges 18:29).
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
The pitfalls of sloth is a recurrent theme in the book of Proverbs, appearing in three different places in the book. Chapter 24:30–34 concludes with the very wording about sleep and slumber used here. The third poem about laziness is found in Proverbs 26:13–16.
from Section 3
12 | Matthew 4:1
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Jesus’ stand against the temptations of the devil (also chronicled in Mark 1:12, 13 and Luke 4:1–13) follows immediately after his baptism by John. He answers each temptation with scriptural authority, citing Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:16, and a paraphrase of 6:13.
The terms devil and Satan are used frequently throughout Scripture. Devil (Greek, diabolos) means false accuser or slanderer. Satan is the name given to an adversary, especially the enemy of Christ (see verse 10) .
from Section 4
14 | Luke 4:33
And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil.
The Greek word for devil in this verse (daimonion) is used to designate what was thought to be an evil spirit or messenger of Satan. People believed that these spirits, or demons, could possess or inhabit people. Unclean meant foul or impure.
Jesus’ dominion over demons was a hallmark of his ministry. He told his detractors, “If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you” (Matthew 12:28). When he sent his disciples out to heal, one of his charges was, “Cast out devils” (Matthew 10:8). And the seventy he sent reported, “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” (Luke 10:17).
From the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
Good is divinely natural. Evil is unnatural; it has no origin in the nature of God, and He is the Father of all.
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 288
from Section 5
17 | Acts 13:1, 2
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; … As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
At this time, Barnabas was the better known of these two men. Their work together began in Antioch, considered the third most important city of the Roman Empire (after Rome and Alexandria). It was there that “the disciples were called Christians first” (Acts 11:26).
Paul appears to have gained substantial prominence at Antioch—Acts 13:13 refers to “Paul and his company,” and mention of “Paul and Barnabas” largely replaces “Barnabas and Saul” from that time on. Soon thereafter, except in recounting his conversion experience (see Acts 22), Paul drops the use of his former name of Saul.
To learn more about the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons, go to biblelesson.com.
Related Healing Ideas
Christ nullifies the necromancy of today
By Sharon Slaton Howell
From the July 1996 issue of The Christian Science Journal
Power belongs to God alone. It does not belong to evil, not ever. And when you and I are convinced of this unchangeable fact, we are able to resist aggressive mental interference, which would otherwise temporarily obscure our responsibility as followers of Christ Jesus to destroy the supposed activity of evil.
In whatever form intrusive suggestions come to us, they cause us to feel cut off from God’s love and support. They lead us to think and behave in a manner contrary to God’s commands and direction. What’s worse, they may argue that we don’t care.
The fact that hidden mental evil claims to have power and needs to be dealt with was not news to Jesus. In our Master’s time, necromancy was the name for it. Today the terms are mesmerism, hypnotism, and occultism. But whatever term we use to describe potentially harmful influences, it is both important and reassuring to learn that Jesus knew how to overcome evil.
Christian Science shows us how to do this. Its teachings reveal the valuable truth that it is at the door of our own thinking where every harmful suggestion has to be dealt with. And scientific communion with the Father, through which we recognize that our true selfhood, and that of our fellowman, is spiritual, invulnerable, enables us to keep the door of our mental home closed to evil influences.
Feelings of uneasiness, irritation, confusion, discouragement, are readily disposed of by vigorous, fearless affirmations of God’s all-power and ever-presence. Persistence in such prayer leads to a realization of the power of God and His Christ over whatever is anti-Christian. We feel God’s nearness, His allness, which is inevitable since good is real and evil is unreal—without exception.
The influence of the Christ is not mysterious. It is the healing, saving activity of the one God. This holy force is pure, open, clean, and especially accessible to the trusting, innocent, childlike state of thought Jesus so admired and required of his followers. This ever-present influence always uplifts, clarifies, simplifies, sets free. It never confuses, abuses, or deprives us of our God-given right to think and act in concert with Mind’s direction.
In this regard, Mary Baker Eddy writes: “There is no door through which evil can enter, and no space for evil to fill in a mind filled with goodness. Good thoughts are an impervious armor; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort. And not only yourselves are safe, but all whom your thoughts rest upon are thereby benefited” (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 210).
The New Testament says that Jesus selected seventy people whom he taught and sent into certain cities with instructions to “heal the sick” and to say to the inhabitants, “The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” The record states, “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” (Luke 10:9, 17–19).
“The devils” are still subject to God’s power. Spiritually awake and working, you and I can prove that Christ nullifies the necromancy of today.
This article has been shortened to fit this page. To read the entire article, go to
jsh.christianscience.com/christ-nullifies-the-necromancy-of-today.
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