From ‘Such A Great Salvation’, pg32.
“In Canaanite theology (and agriculture) the fertility of the land depended upon the sexual relationship between Baal and his consort. The revival of nature was due to sexual intercourse between Baal and his partner. But the Canaanite faithful didn’t simply sit back and say, “Let Baal do it.” There was no “let-go-and-let-Baal” thinking among them. Instead their watchword was: Serve Baal with gladness, all ye glands. Hence the Canaanites practiced “sacred” prostitution as a part of their worship.”
Later in the paragraph Davis notes: “Here, incidentally, is the great divide between paganism and biblical faith; in paganism the gods must be coerced rather than trusted; see Matthew 6:7-8.”
It’s a shame many contemporary ‘evangelical’ teachers don’t understand that distinction.
I can’t think of any other commentaries that evoke so much genuine laughter while dealing so faithfully with the deep seriousness of the biblical texts.
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