Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet Outreach

When the Rocks Cry Out

Archaeology has played a key role in affirming the veracity of the Old Testament.

FAITH AND ARCHAEOLOGY
And he [Yahushua] answered and said unto them, “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” [Luke 19:40]

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Bible faced an onslaught of attacks from many sources. The greatest were coming from — sad to say — Bible scholars themselves, who argued we couldn’t trust the Bible and its historical accounts. Interestingly enough, when these attacks were at their strongest, archaeologists began making startling discoveries and, bit by bit, challenges to the Bible were being answered.

Over the years various archaeological discoveries — such as the Rosetta Stone and the Behistun inscription — have done much to help confirm the Bible record. However, we mustn’t base our faith in archaeology because, like all disciplines, it’s still a human endeavor. People have to interpret the evidence, and so a subjective element always arises. What happens when someone makes a find that some scholars interpret as contradicting the Bible’s account? Is our faith then shattered? Though it’s nice when archaeological interpretation fit what we believe, our faith must rest — not on on rocks and inscriptions — but on the promises of YHWH.

EXAMPLES OF PROPHECIES CONFIRMED
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. [2 Peter 1:19]

The Bible is well supplied with prophecies, many of which are fulfilled. From our standpoint, it’s exciting to look back and see how archaeology shows the prophecies fulfilled as Scripture said they would be. Here are a few examples:

Nahum 3:2-7 describes the capital of Assyria, Nineveh, as being in ruins and its people slaughtered; the book of Nahum was penned around 640 BC. Through the combined forces of the Medes and the Babylonians, the city was destroyed in 612 BC. The palaces were burned, its temples were broken down, and its strong fortifications were demolished.

Genesis 15:20, Joshua 1:4 and 2 Chronicles 1:17 are a few verses out of dozens that mention the Hittite nation. Although cited frequently in the Old Testament, nothing was known about them from secular records — that is, until the late 19th century. The resurrection of Hittite history, culture, religion and language is one of the sagas of modern archaeology. The Hittites once ruled the greater part of Asia Minor, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River.

Isaiah 20:1 speaks of Sargon, the king of Assyria. For years, it was claimed there was no such king — and thus, the Bible wasn’t trustworthy. But in the 1840s, when Assyriology was in its infancy, Biblical archaeology gained one of its first triumphs because the name Sargon was uncovered in a palace statue and inscription which spoke at length about this king.

In the flood of light thrown by archaeology upon ancient civilizations, the Old Testament stands forth not only as historically reliable but also as unique in scope and power in comparison with the best products of the ancient world.