In biblical contexts, the term "observers" often refers to individuals who engage in practices or hold beliefs that are contrary to the teachings of the Bible, particularly those related to divination, astrology, or other forms of occultism. The Bible consistently warns against such practices, emphasizing the importance of relying on God rather than seeking knowledge or guidance from forbidden sources.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament contains several admonitions against the practices associated with observers. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , the Israelites are explicitly warned: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you."

The term "observer of times" is used in some translations to describe those who engage in astrology or similar practices. Leviticus 19:26 states, "You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery." This prohibition underscores the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty and wisdom rather than seeking insight from the created order or supernatural entities.

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets also spoke against the practices of observers. Isaiah 47:13-14 addresses Babylon, a nation known for its reliance on astrology and other forms of divination: "You are wearied by your many counselors; let them stand up now and save you—those who divide the heavens and gaze at the stars, who predict by new moons what will happen to you. Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame."

This passage highlights the futility and danger of relying on observers for guidance, as their predictions and insights are ultimately powerless against the will of God.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not use the term "observers" explicitly, it continues to warn against similar practices. In Acts 19:19 , we see the response of new believers in Ephesus who had previously engaged in magical practices: "And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand drachmas."

This act of renunciation demonstrates the transformative power of the Gospel and the rejection of practices associated with observers. The early church recognized the incompatibility of such practices with the Christian faith.

Theological Implications

The consistent biblical warnings against observers and their practices underscore the importance of exclusive devotion to God. The Bible teaches that God alone is the source of true wisdom and guidance. In James 1:5 , believers are encouraged to seek wisdom from God: "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

The rejection of observers and their practices is rooted in the understanding that God is sovereign over all creation and that His revelation through Scripture is sufficient for guiding the lives of believers. Engaging in practices associated with observers is seen as a form of idolatry, as it places trust in created things rather than the Creator.

Reply to the Charge of "Galaticism. "
... Being, therefore, observers of "seasons" for these things, and of "days,
and months, and years," [1097] we Galaticize. Plainly we ...
/.../on fasting in opposition to the psychics/chapter xiv reply to the charge.htm

Biogenesis
... This announcement called into the field a phalanx of observers, and the highest
authorities in biological science engaged themselves afresh upon the problem. ...
/.../drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/biogenesis.htm

The Promises of the Law and the Gospel Reconciled.
... First, they recur to the legal promises which the Lord proclaimed to the observers
of the law, and they ask us whether we hold them to be null or effectual. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 17 the promises of.htm

Blasphemer, or --Who?
... Luke describes the composition of the unfriendly observers in this crowd with
more emphasis and minuteness than the other Evangelists do. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/blasphemer orwho.htm

Seances Historiques De Geneve --The National Church.
... dealt with, in the divine dispensations, as concerning a large one; but it does
not so force itself on the imagination and heart of the generality of observers ...
/.../seances historiques de genevethe national.htm

Evolution in General
... No one can say that this multitude of observers is not in earnest, nor their work
honest, nor their methods competent to the last powers of science. ...
/.../drummond/the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/i evolution in general.htm

Arguments of the Psychics, Drawn from the Law, the Gospel, the ...
... Thus, too, they affirm that we share with the Galatians the piercing rebuke (of
the apostle), as "observers of days, and of months, and of years." [1011 ...
/.../chapter ii arguments of the psychics.htm

The Daily Walk with Others (I. ).
... And the results of the observation may be most important, for good or for evil,
to the immediate observers; and they are pretty sure to reach many other people ...
/.../moule/to my younger brethren/chapter iv the daily walk.htm

Ancestry, Birth, Education, Environment: 1513(?)-1546
... This Henderson was one of the political observers who, before the Scottish Reformation,
hoped for a secure union between Scotland and England, in place of the ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter i ancestry birth education.htm

The Ascent of the Body
... A special class of observers has carefully watched these secret and amazing
metamorphoses, and so wonderful has been their success with mind and microscope ...
/.../drummond/the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter i the ascent of.htm

Observers (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Observers (5 Occurrences). ... Psalms 31:6 I have hated the
observers of lying vanities, And I toward Jehovah have been confident. (YLT). ...
/o/observers.htm - 7k

Observes (14 Occurrences)

/o/observes.htm - 10k

Clouds (99 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 18:14 for these nations whom thou art possessing, unto observers of
clouds, and unto diviners, do hearken; and thou -- not so hath Jehovah thy God ...
/c/clouds.htm - 35k

Observer (3 Occurrences)

/o/observer.htm - 8k

Interpreters (3 Occurrences)
... Let now the interpreters of the heavens, the observers of the stars, who predict
according to the new moons what shall come upon thee, stand up, and save thee. ...
/i/interpreters.htm - 7k

Moons (17 Occurrences)
... Let now the interpreters of the heavens, the observers of the stars, who predict
according to the new moons what shall come upon thee, stand up, and save thee. ...
/m/moons.htm - 12k

Predict (1 Occurrence)
... Let now the interpreters of the heavens, the observers of the stars, who predict
according to the new moons what shall come upon thee, stand up, and save thee. ...
/p/predict.htm - 7k

Possessing (18 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 18:14 for these nations whom thou art possessing, unto observers of
clouds, and unto diviners, do hearken; and thou -- not so hath Jehovah thy God ...
/p/possessing.htm - 12k

Sorcerers (8 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Micah 5:12 And have cut off sorcerers
out of thy hand, And observers of clouds thou hast none. (YLT). ...
/s/sorcerers.htm - 9k

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