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→Old Testament: Urim and Thummim
<span class="plainlinks">Many verses throughout the Bible assume a degree of technology and technique: that is, the existence of tools and the processes for their manufacture and use. Common examples include [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=iron iron], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=bronze bronze], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=gold gold], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=silver silver], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=refine refine], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=metal metal], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=tool tool], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=instrument instrument], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=wheel wheel], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=cook cook], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=wine wine], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=craft craft], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=build build], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=cloth cloth], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=city city], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=shield shield], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=helmet helmet], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=armor armor], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=arrow arrow], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=sword sword], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=weapon weapon] [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=spear spear], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=chariot chariot], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=boat boat], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=ship ship], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=door door], [http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=chains chains]. Each of these imply that people created technologies to augment their abilities, to control the environment, to improve their lives, to communicate, etc.</span>
==Old Testament==
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Verse
| Although the "skilled workmen" are to do the work, their wisdom comes from God.
| The work is to be done by skilled craftsmen. This implies dedication, training and care.
|-
| [[Exodus 28:30]]
| Aaron wears the Urim and the Thummim in his breastpiece
| The Urim and Thummim are an early example of decision-making via technology (the first Decision Support System?). An example of their use is in [[1 Samuel 14:41]] -- apparently a lot-casting mechanism. Also mentioned in 6 other places in the Old Testament.
|-
| [[Exodus 31:1]] - [[Exodus 31:11]]
| Note the sandwich here: God's design of the Tabernacle, the people's failure, restitution, and then God's will is realised and the Tabernacle built.
|-
| [[Exodus 35:10]] - [[Exodus 35:29]]
|
| Not just a trained few, but ''all who were willing'' are invited to help in the construction. Each brings their own resources and skills.
|-
| [[Exodus 35:30]] - [[Exodus 35:35]]
| Re-affirmation of the chief craftsmen.
| Similar to [[Exodus 31:1]] - [[Exodus 31:11]], but extends their mandate to teaching others.
| [[Jeremiah 2:13]]
| Israel has forsaken God, the spring of living water, in favour of their own broken cistern.
| In this modern world, we often think that our technological creations are making a perfect life for us. But in reality, we accept something far inferior to the abundant life that God intended ([[John 10:10]]).
|-
| [[Jeremiah 6:27]] - [[Jeremiah 6:30]]
| God uses Israel (or is it Jeremiah?) to 'test the metal' of other nationshis people
|
|-
| [[Daniel 5]]
| King Belshazzar is drinking wine and praising "the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone" when suddenly a disembodied hand writes a message on the wall.
| Belshazzar is criticized criticised for placing himself (and his faith in gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone) above God. As in Chapter 2, the power of this comparison in underpinned by an implication that what God can do is superior to anything achievable by human fabrication.
The human-made ship takes Jonah away, but the God-made fish brings him back. I wonder how many people have been drawn away from God by technology -- perhaps a belief that technology makes God an unnecessary assumption, or perhaps just being side-tracked by an attraction to technology (addition to Internet gaming?) -- and I wonder how many are brought towards God by the majesty of God's creation?
|-
| [[Malachi 3:2]] - [[Malachi 3:3]]| God is a refiner's fire
|
==New Testament==
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Verse
| If you put your hand to the plough, don't look back.
See also [[Luke 14:28]] - [[Luke 14:30]] about the need to plan before building a tower.
| DonWhat's wrong with looking back? It makes it impossible to plough a straight furrow. So don't start working for God if you aren't committed re going to be distracted with other concerns rather than concentrating on the long haulgoal.
|-
| [[Luke 12:16]] - [[Luke 12:21]]
| [[Ephesians 2:20]]
| Christ Jesus himself is the chief cornerstone in whom the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
| Who is the builder? See [[Hebrews 3:4]].
Compare with [[1 Peter 2:4]] -- we, like Christ, are living stones, and we are being built into a spiritual house.
|-
|-
| [[Hebrews 3:4]]
| "God is the builder of everything"
|
|
|-
| [[Revelation 1:12]]
| Seven golden lampstands represent the 7 churches
|
|-
| [[Revelation 3:18]]
| God recommends that the Laodiceans buy salve to put on their eyes
|
|-
| [[Revelation 5:7]] - [[Revelation 5:8]]
| Throne, scrolls, harps, bowls of incense
| Evidence of technology in heaven?
|-
| [[Revelation 6:1]] - [[Revelation 6:5]]
| Horse riders carry a bow, a sword and a pair of scales
|
|-
| [[Revelation 8]]
| Seven angels each sound a trumpet
|
|-
| [[Revelation 9:2]]
| "like the smoke from a gigantic furnace"
|
|-
| [[Revelation 11:1]]
| A measuring rod
|
|-
| [[Revelation 14:14]] - [[Revelation 14:19]]| One "like the son of man" and an angel wield a sharp sickle
|
|-
| [[Revelation 18:11]] - [[Revelation 18:13]]| Merchants try unsuccessfully to sell precious metals, silk, linen, etc
|
|-
| [[Revelation 18:21]] - [[Revelation 18:23]]| When Babylon is thrown down, there will be no more sound from musical instruments in her, nor tradesmen, mills or lighted lamps.
|
|-
| [[Revelation 21]] (see also [[Revelation 3:12]])| The Holy City -- the city of God, the new Jerusalem -- comes down out of heaven. It is huge and shines with God's glory. High walls. Twelve gates. Streets of gold like transparent glass.| Cities are not necessarily an evil created by humans: the history of creation will end with a city of God's creation.
|}
