Plugging into the Power of Palm Sunday
April 3, 2023
Biblically Editing our thoughts on the term Easter
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let
us put on the armour of light. Romans 13:12
As I was personally pondering about Passion week, the observances from my religious past and
traditions related to Easter influenced this week’s blog entry. Now before I continue, I would
like you to know that this piece of clay finds its preferable to point us to Resurrection Sunday as
opposed to Easter Sunday. Because of some Christ centered research, I discovered that the
term Easter is another name for Astarte.
The ancient deities of the pagans had many monikers. Astarte was a Phoenician deity, and she
also appears on Assyrian monuments uncovered by Layard in excavations at Nineveh as Ishtar.
Both Astarte and Ishtar were pronounced "Easter." Bel (referred to in the Old Testament) also
was called Molech. Astarte is also identified as a cohort/companion of Molech.
Sir Austen Henry Layard, (born March 5, 1817, Paris and died July 5, 1894, London), was an
English archaeologist whose excavations significantly add to our knowledge of the ancient
civilizations of Mesopotamia.
According to the word of God Molech was an ancient god worshiped by the people adjacent to
ancient Israel during the Old Testament periods. The first citation of this Canaanite deity is in
Leviticus 18:21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither
shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
The worship of Molech undoubtedly included ceremonial child sacrifice, which in the eyes of
our Holy God is an abominable act and absolutely prohibited for His people. This evil practice
was indeed a sin unto death.
Leviticus 20:2 Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of
Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall
surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.
However, this forthright and formidable warning from the Lord did not stop the practice of
Molech worship among the Israelites. Even King Solomon who prayed for wisdom before
ascending to the throne participated in this evil exercise when he embraced the rituals of his
many wives.
1 Kings 11:7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in
the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
In my BC days (before Christ was Lord of my life) and before he blessed me with His Grace with
a B.A. (Born again) Easter was an event for fashion-fun-and food. And elevation and celebration
of our RISEN LORD was tied to the backseat of tradition. I never personally consider the
connection of Easter with Astarte and Molech.
As a child as well as in my pre-adolescent years Easter celebrations was enriched by exciting
activities such as Easter Egg Hunts, Easter Pageants, and performances i.e., recitations and
plays. And come Easter Sunday everyone embraced the moment with their Easter attire.
An Easter Congregation show cased a montage accentuated attire of all ages. Little girls in their
pastel and brilliant colors with vintage lace socks in patent leather shoes, ribbons in their
combination hairstyle of straighten and Shirly temple curls. As I recall my sister’s hair on their
heads transformed from plats and ponytails to a production and presentation! My brother and I
exchanged our Sunday go the meeting clothes to our Easter suits accompanied by new shoes
and a haircut. The adult men in the church were dapper and the women adorned themselves in
exuberant and elegant dresses topped off with big and bodacious bonnets.
As bone-fide believers and faithful followers of Jesus Christ we must purpose to turn this
Holiday into a Holy day! By His power in our heads and hearts we can replace these ritualistic
relishes with reverence of his Death and rejoicing in his resurrection.
When we engage in an exercise of exalting the Lord’s selflessness and supreme sacrifice, we will
put off the works of darkness (blindness and self-worship) and put on the armor of light that
the world desperately needs to see us in.
Not a Sermon But a Thought
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR