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Do you recognize false divination in the world today? By the end of this study, you will know exactly what it is, and why it is here with us still to this day.


Deception: False Divination Soothsaying


 "Then the LORD said unto me, the prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, [divination 7081 qecem ( oracle: KJV-- (reward of) divination, divine sentence, witchcraft.]
and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart." Jer 14:14



Satans practice of "divination" or "soothsaying"  is a counterfeit of our Lords true prophecy and divine superiority.  This practice of "soothsaying", or "divination" [spoken of in the Word of God, II Kings 23:24, Micah 3:7, Isaiah 8:19,] carry forth to this day.  As it was, so it is today:

Ezek 21:21
21 For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: [7081  qecem (keh'-sem);from 7080; a lot: also divination (including its fee), oracle: KJV-- (reward of) divination, divine sentence, witchcraft.] he made his arrows [archer, wound, dart, thunderbolt] bright, he consulted with images [teraphim - prediction], he looked in the liver.

What exactly is a "Soothsayer"?  [Websters]

Soothsayer one who pretends to prognosticate [foreshow, foretell signs and symptoms] future events. Baalam is so called (Josh. 13:22; Heb. kosem, a "diviner," as rendered 1 Sam. 6:2; rendered "prudent," Isa. 3:2). In Isa. 2:6 and Micah 5:12 (Heb. yonenim, i.e., "diviners of the clouds") the word is used of the Chaldean diviners who studied the clouds. In Dan. 2:27; 5:7 the word is the rendering of the Chaldee gazrin, i.e., "deciders" or "determiners", here applied to Chaldean astrologers, "who, by casting nativities from the place of the stars at one's birth, and by various arts of computing and divining, foretold the fortunes and destinies of individuals.", Gesenius, Lex. Heb.

What exactly is the full account of "divination" practices?

A look at the definintion of divination in the Websters Dictionary will tell you just how large this practice has become:

The following terms, expressive of different forms of divination, have been collected from various sources: [highlighted words are for emphasis] Look at the vastness of these things:


Biliomancy; by ghosts, Psychomancy; by crystal gazing, Crystallomancy; by shadows or manes, Sciomancy; by appearances in the air, Aeromancy, Chaomancy; by the stars at birth, Genethliacs; by meteors, Meteoromancy; by winds, Austromancy; by sacrificial appearances, Aruspicy (or Haruspicy), Hieromancy, Hieroscopy; by the entrails of animals sacrificed, Extispicy, Hieromancy; by the entrails of a human sacrifice, Anthropomancy; by the entrails of fishes, Ichthyomancy; by sacrificial fire, Pyromancy; by red-hot iron, Sideromancy; by smoke from the altar, Capnomancy; by mice, Myomancy; by birds, Orniscopy, Ornithomancy; by a cock picking up grains, Alectryomancy (or Alectoromancy); by fishes, Ophiomancy; by herbs, Botanomancy; by water, Hydromancy; by fountains, Pegomancy; by a wand, Rhabdomancy; by dough of cakes, Crithomancy; by meal, Aleuromancy, Alphitomancy; by salt, Halomancy; by dice, Cleromancy; by arrows, Belomancy; by a balanced hatchet, Axinomancy; by a balanced sieve, Coscinomancy; by a suspended ring, Dactyliomancy; by dots made at random on paper, Geomancy; by precious stones, Lithomancy; by pebbles, Pessomancy; by pebbles drawn from a heap, Psephomancy; by mirrors, Catoptromancy; by writings in ashes, Tephramancy; by dreams, Oneiromancy; by the hand, Palmistry, Chiromancy; by nails reflecting the sun's rays, Onychomancy; by finger rings, Dactylomancy; by numbers, Arithmancy; by drawing lots, Sortilege; by passages in books, Stichomancy; by the letters forming the name of the person, Onomancy, Nomancy; by the features, Anthroposcopy; by the mode of laughing, Geloscopy; by ventriloquism, Gastromancy; by walking in a circle, Gyromancy; by dropping melted wax into water, Ceromancy; by currents, Bletonism; by the color and peculiarities of wine, Oenomancy.



This IS the mode of operation of satan.  If we look to the Word we can read what our Father has to say about these practices of witchcraft:

Gal 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest (outward), which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Before moving on this study I want to point out that  those who are Christ's are free from the bondage of the flesh, the condition being repentence upon our savior, Yeshua Messiah.  We are no longer walking in the outward man/woman but the inward man/woman.  This is what is written to the carnal man, in the next few verses in Gal 5:24 -

Gal 5:24-26
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Eph 2:2
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
The Lord makes all things of heaven and earth by himself.  Those who attempt to lift themselves up as a being equal to His wisdom, and are disobedient to His voice, are brought low by His Hand, in fact, they will cease to exist [brought to nought].

Isa 44:24-25
24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
25 That frustrateth [bring to nought ] the tokens [226  'owth (oth);mark, miracle, (en-) sign, token] of the liars, and maketh diviners mad [1984  halal (haw-lal'); a primitive root; (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), FOOL (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feignself) mad (against), give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine.] that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

God even allows the soothsayers to 'shine'.  We know satan is an angel of light who comes transformed [3345  metaschematizo (met-askh-ay-mat-id'-zo); from 3326 and a derivative of 4976; to transfigure or disguise] as an angel of light and will be a false prophet celebrated in glory, [marriage] to FOOL the whole world, even the elect if it were possible. 

1 Cor 1:27
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound [dishonor] the things which are mighty;

What is the method of a soothsayer?

1. Methods of Soothsaying:

The forms of soothsaying mentioned in this catalogue are as follows: "One that practiceth augury (prediction)" (me`onen) is of uncertain etymology, but the tabbins connect it with `ayin, "an eye"; literally therefore one who ogles, or who bewitches with the evil eye.  

Definition of the Word "ogle" : From a Dutch word corresponding to G. ["a]ugeln to ogle, fr. auge eye; cf. D. ooglonken to ogle, OD. oogen to cast sheep's eyes upon, ooge eye. See EYE.  To view or look at with side glances, as in fondness, or with a design to attract notice.  An amorous side glance or look. look at with amorous [affectionate, inclined to love] intentions.

Conclusion of the definition of "soothsayer":   "An enchanter" (menachesh), sometimes supposed to be a snakecharmer, is probably one who fascinates like a snake; in other words a mesmerist or hypnotist. The word occurs in connection with Joseph's divining-cup, and such cups were employed both in Babylon and Egypt, and their use was akin to the more modern crystal-gazing, the hypnotic state being induced by prolonged staring, as in the fascination ascribed to serpents. On this account, snakes were sometimes figured upon such cups.

Can understanding divination and soothsaying help prepare us for spiritual battle?  We can explore the meaning of the words of the tactics used by satan and his evil spirit which is even in the world today.
 

For instance, being hypnotized is to "have your attention fixated as though by a spell".   Spellbound means to " bind or hold by, or as if by, a spell or charm; to fascinate, esp. by eloquence of speech, as in a political campaign".  

Other words to help understand what it is to be hypnotized:  

Transfixed: To fix, fasten.  To pierce through, as with a pointed weapon; to impale; as, to transfix one with a dart.  

Mesmerize: To bring into a state of mesmeric sleep.  

Charm:  A word or combination of words sung or spoken in the practice of magic; a magical combination of words, characters, etc.; an incantation;. That which exerts an irresistible power to please and attract; that which fascinates; any alluring quality.
 

Those who do not have the seal of God, [ Rev 9:4,  And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.] satan will speak to eloquently, using his charmming words, seducing with a combination of alluring qualities, and the power to transfix.   Those spellbound will fall into a memsmeric sleep.   His words spiritually impaling his listeners to death.  His eyes will posses this ability also, he will 'ogle' or 'bewitch with an evil eye'.
 
His words are written of and are a warning to us: [first a word translation on the word "flatteries"]:

flatteries:
2519 chalaqlaqqah (khal-ak-lak-kaw'by reduplication from 2505;
properly, something very smooth; i.e. a
treacherous spot; figuratively, blandishment:
KJV-- flattery, slippery.

Primitive Root of flatteries:
2505 chalaq (khaw-lak' primitive root; to be smooth (figuratively);
by implication (as smooth stones were used for lots) to apportion or
separate: -deal, distribute, divide, flatter, give, (have, im-) part (-ner),
take away a portion, receive, separateself, (be) smooth (-er).

Dan 11:21
21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

Dan 11:32
32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

Dan 11:34
34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.

It is written that he is wiser than Daniel:

Ezek 28:33 Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:

And it is written that we are wiser than he, our enemy.

Ps 119:98
98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

What we are asked to do for those who are lost in the darkness of satan's counterfeit divination:

Acts 28:16
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

The Lord will confound [2617 kataischuno (kat-ahee-skhoo'-no); from 2596 and 153; to shame down, i.e. disgrace or (by implication) put to the blush: KJV-- confound, dishonour, (be a-, make a-) shame (-d).] the soothsayers, and the diviners, and they will be ashamed for what they have done, being cut off:

Micah 5:12-13
 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:
Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.

Witchcraft:
3785 kesheph (keh'-shef);
from 3784; magic:
KJV-- sorcery, witchcraft.

3784 kashaph (kaw-shaf') rimitive root; properly, to whisper a
spell,i.e. to inchant or practise magic:
KJV-- sorcerer, (use) witch (-craft).

Soothsayers
6049 `anan (aw-nan') rimitive root; to cover; used only as a
denominative from 6051, to cloud over; figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. practise magic:
KJV-- X bring, enchanter, Meonemin, observe (-r of) times, soothsayer, sorcerer.

Micah 3:6-7
6 Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.
7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

Diviners
7080 qacam (kaw-sam' primitive root; properly, to distribute, i.e.
determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to divine:
KJV-- divine (-r, -ation), prudent, soothsayer, use [divination].

I hope this study helped you recognize false divination and soothsaying around you in the world today. We as Christian's can change where we go with this knowledge.


All Scripture for this study was taken from the King James Bible. Word studies were done with the Strong's Concordance. The author is "Shamrock", and the study can be shared freely, (excluding placing this on the web anywhere) only if used in it's entirety, and provided the original author's name is intact, (i.e. , no new author's name is added, and the study remains unaltered). Questions? Email Shamrock, at Shamrock@theseason.org.