Wormwood - a bitter, aromatic plant of the Old World, used as a vermifuge (serving to expel worms or other animal parasites from the intestines, as a medicine) and a tonic, and as an ingredient in absinthe (a green, bitter, licorice flavored liqueur).Really, this blog should be a forum where people with a lot more knowledge than me just write in with what they know. Thanks for all the great input, everyone!
Although the word wormwood appears several times in the Old Testament, translated from the Hebrew term לענה (la'anah, which means "curse" in Arabic and Hebrew), its only clear reference as a named entity occurs in the New Testament, in the Book of Revelation: "The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter."
I think that this might be an analogy reference in translation from Hebrew (term לענה) to Greek (ἀψίνθιον apsinthion) to English (Wormwood) and the term in the Book of Revelation might be better translated as “bitter curse”.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
WORMWOOD AS A BITTER CURSE
This comment on a previous post in from Bro. B of Texas:
I think that information fits the symbolism well - that Wormwood would be the tonic to rid the world of the parasites that live off its resources without contributing to its integrity. The bitter cure. I like it.
ReplyDeleteWormwood
ReplyDelete'And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.'
Who fell from Heaven? Who was the "light bearer", an angel of once great authority, who would appear as a burning lamp falling from glory? Who drew a third part of the heavens with him? Who is the most bitter of God's children? Who makes the children of God bitter to become just like him when they partake of his vile rebellion?
Generally, after a person becomes rejected, they become bitter and UNFORGIVING. The opposite of bitterness is forgiveness.
Forgiveness is the most important thing that God has taught us about DELIVERANCE!
Interestingly enough, the "test" to uncover adultery (Numbers 5:11-31) is the administration of bitter water -- wormwood.
In ancient Hebrew times, in "Bishop's Court" so to speak, water with dust from the temple floor in it was given to the accused man and woman for the test. The Lord's power caused the water to search out their innocence or guilt. If guilty, these effects were said to be seen almost immediately.
"Her face turned pale immediately, her eyes bolted out, and she was filled with veins, her body swelled, and they called out, Cast her out, cast her out, that she may not defile the court!" AND..........
that as the waters searched her, so they searched him (the adulterer), because it is said twice, "shall enter, shall enter"; and that the same effects appeared in him as in her, but in neither, unless the husband was innocent; for if he was not pure from the same sin himself, the waters would not search his wife.
The Redeemer of the World, is the Groom and HE IS PERFECTLY PURE AND INNOCENT AND HAS REMAINED FAITHFUL TO HIS BRIDE.
This bitter curse, this test to make known between WHOM we give our allegiance is coming. And it shall be most BITTER and OBVIOUS to those who have been UNFAITHFUL to the TRUE GROOM AND KING!
Being an herbalist, I know Wormwood is a powerful parasite remover/cleanser. It is also extremely antibiotic and healing. Bitter herbs restore vitality and health when used properly. Wormwood should only be used by a MASTER as it can be poisonous.
Now, if the woman was found innocent when the waters searched her, she was then blessed of the Lord.......
Ver. 28. And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean, &c.] If she is not guilty of adultery, but pure from that sin:
then she shall be free; from the effects of the bitter water; they shall have no such influence upon her, but she shall be as soured and healthful as ever; nay, the Jewish writers say more so, that if she had any sickness or disease upon her she would now be freed from it {n}; the Targum of Jonathan has it, her splendour shall shine, the brightness and beauty of her countenance:
and shall conceive seed; a man child, as the same Targum; and the Jewish writers say, if she was barren before, now she would be fruitful; but no more is meant by it than that her husband should receive her gladly, and she should live comfortably with him hereafter, and the blessing of God would be upon her, which would still be a confirmation of her chastity. .
Ver. 29. This is the law of jealousies,
Which was appointed by God to deter wives from adultery, and preserve the people of Israel, the worshippers of him, from having a spurious brood among them; and to keep husbands from being cruel to their wives they might be jealous of, and to protect virtue and innocence, and to detect lewdness committed in the most secret manner; whereby God gave proof of his omniscience, that He had knowledge of the most private acts of uncleanness, and was the avenger of all such.