Divination, Wizards, Witches
Divination, Wizards, Soothsayer, soothsaying, Necromancer and Necromancy.
Divinations of all kinds being the offspring to those who are willing to believe these occult sciences with little or no evidence. It is nursed along by imposters, strengthened by superstitions, retained in the hands of priests and priestesses, magi, soothsayers, visionaries, priest of the oracles and false prophets.
The light of the Gospel has broken up and driven off much of this darkness. Yet it remains in the world of unbelievers, God haters, and those who have or are in a fatal slide from the true faith.
Divination: 4436. Greek is, puthon. It's an occult science. A Python (large snake.) In Greek mythology it is the name of a serpent or dragon slain by Apollo, then transferred to Apollo himself. Later spoken of diviners and soothsayers, held to be inspired of the Python Apollo. A god or spirit was supposed to be in them, and those who practiced this cult, supposedly spoke from their bellies without any motion of the lips.
Signs of divination used may be any of the following. The use of charms, spells verbally sung as part of a ritual. The use of words to obscure rather then illuminate. Words spoken having no concern for the suitableness of their meaning or relevance. There are incantations to heighten the emotions. And their use removes common reasoning from the speakers and hearers.
Septuagint for Hebrew, Lev.19:31, "Regard them not that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God."
1 Sam.28:3-7-8-9. "Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards out of the Land." --- "A woman (a witch) that had a familiar spirit," --- Saul said to the woman, "Divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee." In verse 10, Saul added to his sins by swearing to this witch by the name of the LORD that he would not punish her.
In N.T. Acts 16:16, "A certain damsel (a woman) possessed with a spirit of divination met us." She revealed future events to those who paid her.
The ancient Mesopotamians viewed gods and humans as sharing one world. The gods living among men. Those who practiced divination felt as if they were carrying out the will of the spirit gods.
There were/are many forms of divination. It was said that god's would speak to diviners in their dreams, or in the examination animal entrails, or by reading various writing in their many forms and shapes, Divination was an attempt to read, or reveal the future.
White witches, doing white magic, are believed to pursue certain aims that are considered beneficial such as diagnosing the cause of evil, then performing the appropriate rituals and incantations to heal or fight off the sick. In California over 2000 various sects or cults of witchcraft exist today.
If we were to say that a healing came from God, the healing would have had to be instant, complete, permanent, witnessed and testified to. Anything short of this is not from God but from other spirit creatures. Theses miracles are to glorify God, not to glorify the person claiming to have the power. If someone professes to be sent from God, and they fail even in part to fully heal, or the illness or disease returns, then that person has not been sent by God. They would be imposters, disciples of Satan.
"Incantations." The following definition comes from Webster's third New International dictionary and seven language dictionary.
"Incantation" concerning white witches, means, the use of spells, verbal charms spoken or sung as part of a ritual of magic. A use of words to obscure rather then illuminate. A formula of words chanted or recited in a magic ritual for their special formula without conscious concern as to their aptness or relevance to a particular situation. Incantation to heighten emotion, and perhaps to bypass reason.
Also as an expression of music or poetry designed to move rather than amuse or convince. It is done in repetition.
"Wizard," Hebrew is, "yidde oni," or one who knows. It can be a male or female magician or sorcerer; one acquainted with the secrets of the unseen (spirit) world, or an intimate acquaintance of soothsayers.
Lev.20:6:27, "The soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people."
Deut.18:10-11, "There shall not be found among you (anyone) that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
The Hebrew meaning of the word "charmer," is, To whisper, to whisper in the ear, to use enchantment. to hiss as a serpent, therefore whisper. To mutter, specially used of the incantations of sorcerers, uttered in a matter. To whisper among themselves, followed by against any one. As in prayers uttered in a low voice.
1 Sam.28:3:9, Is the story of the witch of Endor, Saul, and a dead Samuel being raised in the spirit.
2 K.21:6, Manasseh who, "made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger."
2 K. 23:24, "the workers with familiar spirits and the wizards, --- did Josiah put away."
2 Chro.33:6, Same as 2 K.21:6.
Isa.8:19, "When they shall say unto you, seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God?
"Peep," in the Hebrew means to, twitter, pip, or chirp as a bird. A whisper, a sigh.
"Mutter," in the Hebrew is, To murmur, to utter an inarticulate (not understandable) sound, to speak, to meditate, to mutter. To murmur, to growl, groaning and signing of man. To utter sound, to sing to celebrate. Those who mutter as in soothsayers, murmuring their songs; or those groaning, sighing.
Isa.19:3, "The spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards."
"Soothsayer, soothsaying." These are those who claim or thought to possess the power to foretell future events.
Josh.13:22, Speaks of Beor, the soothsayer.
Jer.27:9, "Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you."
Those who interpret dreams,
Dan.4:7, "Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chal-de-ans, and the soothsayers:" and reveal secrets
Dan.2:27, Daniel said to the king, "The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king." Implying could these men not interpret the kings dream.
Necromancer, Necromancy. Heb. is, Nek-ro-main-ser. This was a form of witchcraft, and was considered as one of the "black" or diabolical arts. Etymologically, the term signifies conversing with the dead for purposes of consultation or divination. The Mosaic law strictly and sternly forbid such practices. Deut.18:10-11. The most familiar story in the Scriptures is that of King Saul and the witch of Endor. 1 Sam.28:7-25.
These arts had appeared to be disappearing from many cultures. But today they have reappeared stronger than ever. They take on many faces, and in some cases infiltrated our churches.
These black magic arts have been practised to deceive those who are weak in the faith, or those who have no faith in Jesus Christ.
The superiority of the Scriptures to all these forms of magic, arts and superstitions is evidence of God's Divine inspiration. Those who practice or are influenced by these things would do well to consider God's warning against these practices.
Thank you,
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com