Sola Scriptura-5

Unfortunately, the Protestant Reformation was founded by men who had spent their whole lives being educated and working for the Church of Rome. Therefore, their concerns were primarily focused on indulgences and other abuses by the Church. None of them totally separated themselves from the traditions of men and doctrines of demons implanted into the Church of Rome. Today we will discover yet another idolatrous practice that has been institutionalized throughout the world, which is Easter.

Is Jesus the Easter Lamb of God or the Passover Lamb of God? The first Passover is recorded in Exodus 12 and it is included in God’s Appointed Times in DT 13 and is part of the feast of Unleavened Bread.

Deuteronomy 16:1  "Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night. 

God declared the very day to remember this inaugural event that established the Passover and prepared everyone for when Jesus would become the Lamb of God.

16:2  "You shall sacrifice the Passover to the LORD your God from the flock and the herd, in the place where the LORD chooses to establish His name. 16:3  "You shall not eat leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat with it unleavened bread, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), so that you may remember all the days of your life the day when you came out of the land of Egypt. 

The Passover meal is prepared on the Day of Preparation and eaten after sundown, which is the beginning of the Sabbath day celebration of Unleavened Bread.

16:4  "For seven days no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory, and none of the flesh which you sacrifice on the evening of the first day shall remain overnight until morning. 

16:5  "You are not allowed to sacrifice the Passover in any of your towns which the LORD your God is giving you;  16:6  but at the place where the LORD your God chooses to establish His name, you shall sacrifice the Passover in the evening at sunset, at the time that you came out of Egypt. 

16:7  "You shall cook and eat it in the place which the LORD your God chooses. In the morning you are to return to your tents. 16:8  "Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD your God; you shall do no work on it.

Clearly there are more than 52 Sabbaths in a year, as all of these seven appointed times begins and ends with a holy day of rest or Sabbath. As with your own birthdays, these events fall on different days of the week each year, so some will begin on the regular Sabbath.

John 1:29  The next day he (John the Baptist) *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 

So how did the Passover Lamb of God become the Easter Lamb of God? We will discuss that next Saturday/Sabbath.

Sola Scriptura-4

Sorry for the delay, but my service I use for my blog was down for a few days. It just came back today. We will now continue in our search for the true ‘Sola Scriptura’.

We must now contend with another idolatrous practice that has permeated the Catholic Church and then the ‘Protestant’ church for centuries. This is how did the Sabbath be replaced by Sunday as our ‘day’ of worship? We need only to go to the Council of Laodecia in 363 AD. The Church of Rome has already established itself as the head of all the other churches established in the Roman empire. Here is what became law in 363 AD.

Canon 29: Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday, but shall work on that day; but the Lord’s day they shall especially honour, and, as being Christians, shall if possible, do no work on that day. If, however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ.

Who makes these changes? What can we know about this person or entity?

Daniel 7:23  "Thus he said: 'The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. 

7:24  'As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. 

7:25  'He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.

This is our first reference to the coming anti-Christ. Of course, Jesus warned us as well.

Matthew 24:4  And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. 24:5  "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. 

Matthew 24:9  "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.  24:10  "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.  24:11  "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 24:12  "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

False teachers, false Christs, and the anti-Christ will lead many astray. It will come in stages as false teachers will gradually change God’s doctrine to the traditions of men and demonic doctrines. The Sabbath was merely one of the first to be changed. God does not change nor does His Word.

There are 116 verses in the Bible that mention the Sabbath. It is the longest of the 10 commandments. Jesus and all the apostles kept the Sabbath.

Jesus kept the Sabbath

Luke 13:10  And He (Jesus) was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

Paul kept the Sabbath.

Acts 18:1  After these things he (Paul) left Athens and went to Corinth. 18:2  And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, 18:3  and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers. 

18:4  And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

Neither Paul or any other apostle began to worship on Sunday after Jesus ascended into Heaven. It was the Roman Church in partnership with the Roman Empire that wanted everyone to honor the venerable Sun God on his day known as Sunday.

More on Saturday

Sola Scriptura-3

Why we believe that Jesus/ birth should be recognized and honored has a long history. But, just the name should cause all true believers to take a closer look. ‘Christ Mas’ indicates a direct linkage to the Church of Rome and their 1500-1600 exclusive control of the ‘church’ and the Scriptures.

We will eventually cover the reality of the ‘catholic mass’ but for today we must continue on the idolatry of Christmas.

Jeremiah 10:1  Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 10:2  Thus says the LORD, "Do not learn the way of the nations, And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens Although the nations are terrified by them; 

10:3  For the customs of the peoples are delusion; Because it is wood cut from the forest, The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. 10:4  "They decorate it with silver and with gold; They fasten it with nails and with hammers So that it will not totter.

This sounds like what the world recognizes as a ‘Christ Mas’ tree. What does this tree have to do with the birth of Jesus Christ?

‘Christ Mas’ is a holiday that the whole world celebrates. Pagans, atheists, Hindus, Jews et. all exchange gifts, decorate, buy presents, and plan parties all around this day.

How much of the ‘christian’ efforts and time is spent in worshiping Jesus versus all the other ‘holy day’ time consuming events and efforts. Songs, movies, stories permeate every air wave from November thru December. They totally drown out any religious efforts to ‘reclaim’ this day. Even in churches we have Santa’s visits. Take a hard look at the time you have spent on these worldly activities versus singing a few hymns in church followed by a short sermon on Luke 1.

These verses in Jeremiah, God warns us of to not learn the ways of the nations. He also has warned us repeatedly not to worship Him as the pagans worship their gods.

Deuteronomy 12:29  "When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, 12:30  beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?' 12:31  "You shall not behave thus toward the LORD your God, for every abominable act which the LORD hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. 12:32  "Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it. 

Ignorance of the law will not keep you from being declared guilty in any U.S. court. Neither will it keep you from God’s righteous judgment.

More next Saturday.

Sola Scriptura-2

We will bring some very uncomfortable truths to light in this study. Most of what churches teach today is truly not biblically correct, but it has been passed down for centuries. First, we must call out the moss gross violations. This brings into question what most would quickly describe as some of most sacred celebrations. We will start with Christmas.

When did Christmas begin to be honored and celebrated? It was not with the church fathers or the early church. It began in the 3rd/4th centuries when the fledgling Church of Rome designated the 25th day of December as the date of the birth of Jesus. But is that correct? Have we ever told by God to celebrate His birth? If this was so important, wouldn’t God’s Word make it very clear and unmistakable?

Who was born at the time of the winter solstice? Actually two sons of the sun gods, Mithras and Tammuz. From these two sons came a plethora of sun gods and idolatry. The ‘halos’ over most of the old masterpieces is actually the acknowledgement of sun worship. There are no ‘halos’ mentioned in the Bible.

From Mithras, comes the sun worship of Mithrasism. According to Wikipedia, it is a pagan religion of sun worship.

“Mithras refers to a Persian sun god whose worship evolved into Mithraism, a secretive mystery religion popular in the Roman Empire from the 1st to the 4th century CE. Followers met in underground temples called mithraea and progressed through a seven-tiered initiation system. The central image of the cult depicts Mithras slaying a bull (tauroctony), a scene whose exact meaning is debated but linked to themes of sacrifice and the triumph of light over darkness. The cult declined with the rise of Christianity and was suppressed by the late 4th century CE.”

Tammuz was the son of Nimrod and Semiramus. This combines both sun worship and fertility worship. What does the Bible say of such worship?

Ezekiel 8:1  It came about in the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell on me there. 8:2  Then I looked, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of a man; from His loins and downward there was the appearance of fire, and from His loins and upward the appearance of brightness, like the appearance of glowing metal. 8:3  He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located. 8:4  And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the appearance which I saw in the plain. 

8:5  Then He said to me, "Son of man, raise your eyes now toward the north." So I raised my eyes toward the north, and behold, to the north of the altar gate was this idol of jealousy at the entrance. 8:6  And He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations which the house of Israel are committing here, so that I would be far from My sanctuary? But yet you will see still greater abominations." 

Eze 8:7  Then He brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. 8:8  He said to me, "Son of man, now dig through the wall." So I dug through the wall, and behold, an entrance. 8:9  And He said to me, "Go in and see the wicked abominations that they are committing here." 

8:10  So I entered and looked, and behold, every form of creeping things and beasts and detestable things, with all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. 8:11  Standing in front of them were seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them, each man with his censer in his hand and the fragrance of the cloud of incense rising. 

Eze 8:12  Then He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.'" 

8:13  And He said to me, "Yet you will see still greater abominations which they are committing." 

8:14  Then He brought me to the entrance of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and behold, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. 8:15  He said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? Yet you will see still greater abominations than these." 

8:16  Then He brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house. And behold, at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were prostrating themselves eastward toward the sun. 8:17  He said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they have committed here, that they have filled the land with violence and provoked Me repeatedly? For behold, they are putting the twig to their nose. 

8:18  "Therefore, I indeed will deal in wrath. My eye will have no pity nor will I spare; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, yet I will not listen to them." 

It this single passage we find worship of Tammuz and the sun. How did such idolatry find its way into God’s people?

Jeremiah called out similar idolatry.

Jermiah 7:17  "Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 7:18  "The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods in order to spite Me. 

Jeremiah 44:15  Then all the men who were aware that their wives were burning sacrifices to other gods, along with all the women who were standing by, as a large assembly, including all the people who were living in Pathros in the land of Egypt, responded to Jeremiah, saying, 44:16  "As for the message that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we are not going to listen to you! 

44:17  "But rather we will certainly carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, by burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings and our princes did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had plenty of food and were well off and saw no misfortune. 44:18  "But since we stopped burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have met our end by the sword and by famine." 44:19  "And," said the women, "when we were burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and were pouring out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands that we made for her sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?" 

They attributed God’s goodness to an idol and their misfortune to God. They totally ignored Jeremiah’s warnings from God and boldly declared they would continue to worship idols. What blind persistence when confronted by God’s displeasure as revealed by Jeremiah.

What does all of this tells?

1. Traditions are stronger than doctrine

2. People will falsely attribute ‘good’ fortune to idols

3. People would easily follow the world if it makes them feel good about themselves

4. People in the world worship the things of the world

Paul had to speak out about this in his letter to the Romans.

Romans 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 1:19  because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 1:20  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 

1:21  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 1:22  Professing to be wise, they became fools, 1:23  and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 

1:24  Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 1:25  For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 

Two thousand year old traditions don’t become holy from their continued promotion. God still opposes idolatry and sin.

More next Saturday.

Sola Scriptura-1

Pastors declare that they believe and proclaim Sola Scriptura every Sunday around the world. But, is this true? Unfortunately it is not. While more and more pastors are finally waking up to proclaim the true Biblical Truth, most continue to teach what they have been taught and experienced in their lives. Let us start with a passage that most of us have never heard anyone proclaimed or explained.

Matthew 5:17  "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 5:18  "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

This is in the important teaching of the Sermon on the Mount. This is not only one of the first of Jesus’ teachings, it is the longest recorded teaching. It’s importance is not in question, but why are these verses basically skipped?

What does it mean? It means what it says!

Luke 16:17  "But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail. 

Galatians_3:10  For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM."

James_2:10  For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

Romans 2:23  You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?

There are many more passages which confirm our need to obey the Law, not so we can earn salvation but to confirm our salvation thru obedience. Why would God negate His Law? God doesn’t change nor does His requirements for us to obey His Law.

John 14:15  "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 

Many people will openly confirm that they love the LORD. But, do they know what that requires of them? Most do not and find ways to interpret the Law that fits their worldly lifestyles. Most of the ‘church’s’ problems in this area can be traced back to the ‘Reformation’.

We will continue our study next Saturday.

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-40

This will be our last study on this important biblical analysis of the serious problems with fathers not really spending enough truly quality time with their sons. This is as true today as it was in the lives of these Kings. As has been clearly shown, God has commanded all fathers to train their sons in the truth contained in God’s Word. When this is not done, ungodly sons are the unfortunate result.

There are three prominent Kings of Judah that did right before the LORD until the nation was carried away into Babylon captivity around 597 BC. The ten northern tribes named Israel and then Samaria never had one godly King.

The last three prominent godly Kings of Judah were Uzziah, Hezekiah, and Josiah.

2 Chronicles 26:1  And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah. 26:2  He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers. 26:3  Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem. 26:4  He did right in the sight of the LORD according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 

Uzziah was the exception as he passed on the Kingdom to his son Jotham.

2 Chronicles 27:1  Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. Ch 27:2  He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; however he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people continued acting corruptly,

Unfortunately this was short-lived.

2 Chronicles 28:1  Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do right in the sight of the LORD as David his father had done. 28:2  But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also made molten images for the Baals.

The next godly king of note was Hezekiah.

2 Kings 18:1  Now it came about in the third year of Hoshea, the son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah became king. 18:2  He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. 18:3  He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done. 18:4  He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan. 18:5  He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him. 18:6  For he clung to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses. 

He was an exceptional servant of God, yet his son was one of the most evil sons in Judah’s history.

2 Kings 21:1  Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzibah. 21:2  He did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD dispossessed before the sons of Israel. Ki 21:3  For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 21:4  He built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, "In Jerusalem I will put My name." 21:5  For he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 21:6  He made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and used divination, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD provoking Him to anger. Ki 21:7  Then he set the carved image of Asherah that he had made, in the house of which the LORD said to David and to his son Solomon, "In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever. 

How is this possible as he underminded everything his father had done?

We now come to the last good king, Josiah.

2 Kings 22:1  Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 22:2  He did right in the sight of the LORD and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left. 

22:8  Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it. 22:9  Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought back word to the king and said, "Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD." 22:10  Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king. 22:11  When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. 

It is always God’s Word that makes the difference in the lives of kings and servants. What did he do next?

23:1  Then the king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. 23:2  The king went up to the house of the LORD and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. 

23:3  The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant. 

23:4  Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second order and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel. 

23:5  He did away with the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah and in the surrounding area of Jerusalem, also those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and to the moon and to the constellations and to all the host of heaven. 

23:6  He brought out the Asherah from the house of the LORD outside Jerusalem to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and ground it to dust, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people. 23:7  He also broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes which were in the house of the LORD, where the women were weaving hangings for the Asherah. 23:8  Then he brought all the priests from the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba; and he broke down the high places of the gates which were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on one's left at the city gate. 23:9  Nevertheless the priests of the high places did not go up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers. 23:10  He also defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter pass through the fire for Molech. 23:11  He did away with the horses which the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entrance of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the official, which was in the precincts; and he burned the chariots of the sun with fire. 23:12  The altars which were on the roof, the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, the king broke down; and he smashed them there and threw their dust into the brook Kidron. 23:13  The high places which were before Jerusalem, which were on the right of the mount of destruction which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the sons of Ammon, the king defiled. 23:14  He broke in pieces the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherim and filled their places with human bones. 23:15  Furthermore, the altar that was at Bethel and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, had made, even that altar and the high place he broke down. Then he demolished its stones, ground them to dust, and burned the Asherah.

The nation was full of all sorts of idolatry, evil practices, sexual worship, and child sacrifices. The Temple was full of idols! The high priest had never read the Law!

What have we learned?

1. Kings have responsibility to raise their sons.

2. Kings needed to marry godly wives.

3. We are only one generation away from idolatry.

4. Satan will bring his evil idolatry right into God’s Temple in God’s Holy City.

We need to be aware of this in our own lives, as Satan has never given up on destroying anything that brings worship to God.

Next Saturday we begin our study on Sola Scripture.

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-39

Sorry for last week. It was a very trying day and took all my time to resolve.

What was the legacy of Solomon? Sadly he ended doing evil.

1 Kings 11:4  For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 11:5  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites. 11:6  Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not follow the LORD fully, as David his father had done. 

11:7  Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon. 11:8  Thus also he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods

After being given wisdom, wealth, and being made King of Israel, he left God to follow the gods of his foreign wives.

11:9  Now the LORD was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 11:10  and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not observe what the LORD had commanded. 

11:11  So the LORD said to Solomon, "Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.  11:12  "Nevertheless I will not do it in your days for the sake of your father David, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 11:13  "However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen." 

Disobeying God’s clear commands has terrible and sometimes eternal consequences. God’s promise to David will be honored but the kingdom is being torn into two. This will permanently alter the nation of God and worship of God.

11:28  Now the man Jeroboam was a valiant warrior, and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious, he appointed him over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph. 11:29  It came about at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had clothed himself with a new cloak; and both of them were alone in the field. 

11:30  Then Ahijah took hold of the new cloak which was on him and tore it into twelve pieces. 11:31  He said to Jeroboam, "Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes 11:32  (but he will have one tribe, for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel), 11:33  because they have forsaken Me, and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the sons of Ammon; and they have not walked in My ways, doing what is right in My sight and observing My statutes and My ordinances, as his father David did. 

What a list of idols and abominations before the LORD! How could Solomon who had been given so much and started so well end to badly?

11:34  'Nevertheless I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of My servant David whom I chose, who observed My commandments and My statutes; 11:35  but I will take the kingdom from his son's hand and give it to you, even ten tribes. 11:36  'But to his son I will give one tribe, that My servant David may have a lamp always before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen for Myself to put My name. 

God gives the ten northern tribes to Jeroboam. What will he do?

11:37  'I will take you, and you shall reign over whatever you desire, and you shall be king over Israel. 11:38  'Then it will be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by observing My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you. 11:39  'Thus I will afflict the descendants of David for this, but not always.'" 11:40  Solomon sought therefore to put Jeroboam to death; but Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt to Shishak king of Egypt, and he was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. 

Jeroboam is warned just as Solomon had been warned. Of course Solomon tried to kill him as he had killed those who challenged him. How did Solomon’s sins almost permanently cause Israel to forsake God?

Nehemiah 13:26  "Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin.

Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. This is after the return of the remnant from captivity to Babylon! Yet Solomon’s legacy of foreign wives lived on.

What or which of your legacies will live on through your family? God will no be mocked and He rightfully expects and commmands to be obeyed.

More next Saturday.

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-38

It would appear that Kings do not make good fathers. Are their jobs or careers so important that they don’t have any time for being the spiritual head of their homes? The principal teacher should be the father with the help of the mother.

Deuteronomy 4:9  "Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons. 

4:10  "Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, 'Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.'

We are all prone to forget things. Interesting that many fathers know more about their top sports figures than what they need to teach their children. God wants everyone to remember Him and to fear Him all of their lives.

Deuteronomy 6:6  "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 6:7  "You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 6:8  "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 6:9  "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 

Some of this is figurative in actuality but the emphasis can not be ignored. Teach diligently, teach regularly, and teach correctly. This includes to teach thru your own example as well.

Deuteronomy 11:21  …so that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth. 

While this is a good promise, the best promise is eternal life for being an obedient servant to our LORD. So these verses are all in Deuteronomy and therefore should be known by all the Kings. Actually these should be also have been taught by the priests to all the people.

Proverbs 1:8  Hear, my son, your father's instruction And do not forsake your mother's teaching;

This clearly indicates the importance of both parents. They need to be ‘on the same page’. When studying these passages on Godly kings we must come to the conclusion that neither really taught their children well. Of course, it was further influenced by ungodly mothers, as the Kings married ungodly women. The Bible calls this unequally yoked.

2 Corinthians 6:14  Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 

This verse can be used for marriages and any other earthly partnerships or relationships.

1 Corinthians 15:33  Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals.

We are all vulnerable to being corrupted by this darkened, evil, demonically controlled world we now find ourselves in. Let us not be deceived!!!

More next Saturday.

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-37

Over the course of this study, we have seen some very disturbing trends or patterns. Since none of us have ever been a king and most probably will never be a king, we can’t really understand the role, responsibilities, and temptations that may be part of this position. What we can know is that God doesn’t grant a myriad of exceptions to kings in regards to His laws and commandments.

1 Kings 6:1  Now it came about in the four hundred and eightieth year after the sons of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. 6:2  As for the house which King Solomon built for the LORD, its length was sixty cubits and its width twenty cubits and its height thirty cubits. 6:3  The porch in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits in length, corresponding to the width of the house, and its depth along the front of the house was ten cubits.

As you may remember, David could not build the Temple but this was given to Solomon to build. You can tell a lot about a man when you look at what he does for himself, what he buys for himself, and the house he builds for himself.

God had provided all the detail for His house to be built. Since God is our true King, what kind of house should Solomon build?

6:37  In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid, in the month of Ziv. 6:38  In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished throughout all its parts and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it. 

This was a long and difficult task to complete. Gold, bronze, silver, cedar, et all were used. It must have been magnificent!

7:1  Now Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. 7:2  He built the house of the forest of Lebanon; its length was 100 cubits and its width 50 cubits and its height 30 cubits, on four rows of cedar pillars with cedar beams on the pillars. 7:3  It was paneled with cedar above the side chambers which were on the 45 pillars, 15 in each row.

Now Solomon devoted himself to his throne and palace! It was twice as big and took twice as long to build than God’s Temple! What are we to learn?

First, we often think of ourselves first when spending our time and money.

Second, with all the praise from visitors comes pride and a sense of self-worth.

Third, Solomon had all the money any one would ever need. So his temple needed to be in line with his wealth, status, and reputation.

Fourth, how are we like Solomon? Houses in the US are getting larger and larger every year. Who really needs 5000, 10, 000 or larger homes? The average home size in 1950 was a tiny 983 square feet. By 2020, it has grown to 2333 square feet. Vacations, cars, clothes, investments take a lot of time and money to pursue.

Since all we have is a gift from God, how are we using His gifts. We should all take seriously how we use our gifts, time, and money. We can’t condemn Solomon without first looking inward.

More next Saturday.

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-36

It is appropriate to once again remind ourselves what God commanded of any king who would sit on the throne in Jerusalem.

Deuteronomy 17:14  "When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, 'I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,' 17:15  you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses, one from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman. 

The very first command was to only appoint kings from within the nation of Israel. That would included men from any of the ten tribes. Curiously, while we can understand this it did not guarantee that the king would be godly.

17:16  "Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the LORD has said to you, 'You shall never again return that way.' 

This begins the list of things that will turn a man’s heart away from God. Pride, importance, and self-righteousness from these possessions never helped Solomon.

17:17  "He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself. 

Solomon never obeyed this very clear warning!

17:18  "Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 17:19  "It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, 17:20  that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel. 

There is no record of any king doing this. If any did, it was not recorded. David’s numerous declarations of his love for God’s word may be an indication that he may have done this.

1 Kings 4:20  Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance; they were eating and drinking and rejoicing. 4:21  Now Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. 4:22  Solomon's provision for one day was thirty kors of fine flour and sixty kors of meal, 4:23  ten fat oxen, twenty pasture-fed oxen, a hundred sheep besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl. 4:24  For he had dominion over everything west of the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings west of the River; and he had peace on all sides around about him. 4:25  So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 

Already, we read about how God protected Solomon and the nation. He was widely known and respected.

1Ki 4:26  Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. 

Another violation! How long does this go on before it changes his attitude toward God"?

1Ki 4:27  Those deputies provided for King Solomon and all who came to King Solomon's table, each in his month; they left nothing lacking. 4:28  They also brought barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds to the place where it should be, each according to his charge. 

4:29  Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore. 4:30  Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. 4:31  For he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was known in all the surrounding nations. 4:32  He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005.  4:33  He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows on the wall; he spoke also of animals and birds and creeping things and fish. 4:34  Men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom. 

This is perhaps the greatest gift for God to give to anyone, but also the one that is the most dangerous. Remember, Satan’s fall was due to his pride in all God had given him. It is hard to listen to the all the praise of men and not become prideful. We all need to be wary of the praise of men.

More next Saturday.

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-35

Solomon was now firmly established as king. There were no more ‘threats’ to his reign or were there? Maybe Solomon took his eyes off of the Lord and the real threats were inside his heart and kingdom.

1 Kings 3:1  Then Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her to the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem. 

Not a good start, in fact, a sinful start. As we have studied previously, God forbade the Israelites from marrying outside of the nation. But, his first recorded marriage was to Pharaoh’s daughter. This will not lead to righteousness.

3:2  The people were still sacrificing on the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days. 3:3  Now Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 3:4  The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 

Here is an important contradiction. Solomon loved the LORD but still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. High places are never considered as good.

3:5  In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, "Ask what you wish me to give you." 3:6  Then Solomon said, "You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 3:7  "Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 3:8  "Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. 3:9  "So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" 

This prayer is a good example to all of us. He recognizes his humble position. He wants to be able to judge between good and evil. He wants God to give him the wisdom and perseverance to judge and rule.

3:10  It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 3:11  God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 3:12  behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. 3:13  "I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. 

Solomon was given gifts that were never given in such a manner as this. How would he use these gifts? Would such gifts slowly contribute to his moving away from the LORD? But, the LORD always puts conditions on all to whom He gives His gifts.

3:14  "If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days." 3:15  Then Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and made peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants. 

If you walk, if you keep. This is as true for us as it was for Solomon. Unfortunately, theses gifts gradually changed Solomon and lead to his to disobeying the LORD and to do evil. Paul warns us about this happening to us.

Philippians 2:12  So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 2:13  for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 

2 Timothy 2:20  Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.  2:21  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 2:22  Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 

1Timothy 6:11  But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 

1 John 2:15  Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 2:17  The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 

More next Saturday

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-34

It is truly difficult to believe just how hard it is to find godly sons among all the ‘godly’ fathers in the Bible. You can find one son out of many at times, but generally only one! Why is this prevalent? What are the root causes? Not all are visible but some of the underlying causes are able to be discerned.

1 Kings 2:1  As David's time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2:2  "I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man. 2:3  "Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, 2:4  so that the LORD may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.' 

David’s parting words were very appropriate and important.

Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn.

Clearly, this was not only true for David and Solomon, but also for all of us.

2:5  "Now you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed; he also shed the blood of war in peace. And he put the blood of war on his belt about his waist, and on his sandals on his feet.  "So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to Sheol in peace. 

Why did David not deal with Joab himself? Was he afraid of Joab? Was it Joab’s long service and devotion that made David wait until his death to assign this task to his son? His first act was to kill Joab! What a way to begin to reign!

2:7  "But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table; for they assisted me when I fled from Absalom your brother. 

Here we are once again reminded that David fled from Absalom, who was intent on killing him. Joab was responsible for the death of Absalom.

2:8  "Behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera the Benjamite, of Bahurim; now it was he who cursed me with a violent curse on the day I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD, saying, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.' 

2:9  "Now therefore, do not let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you will bring his gray hair down to Sheol with blood." 

Another killing left for Solomon to accomplish. Of all the many elements of being king, David mentions only three.

2:10  Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. 2:11  The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years he reigned in Hebron and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem. 2:12  And Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.

How well did Solomon obey all his father shared with him and commanded of him?

1 Kings 2:13  Now Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, "Do you come peacefully?" And he said, "Peacefully." 2:14  Then he said, "I have something to say to you." And she said, "Speak." 2:15  So he said, "You know that the kingdom was mine and that all Israel expected me to be king; however, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the LORD. 2:16  "Now I am making one request of you; do not refuse me." And she said to him, "Speak." 2:17  Then he said, "Please speak to Solomon the king, for he will not refuse you, that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife." 2:18  Bathsheba said, "Very well; I will speak to the king for you." 

Adonijah went to Solomon’s mother to request a favor of Solomon. Why? What was the significance of his request and did he not understand the risk? Of did he think that Bathsheba would protect him? Apparently Bathsheba did not recognize any danger in the request.

2:19  So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king arose to meet her, bowed before her, and sat on his throne; then he had a throne set for the king's mother, and she sat on his right. 2:20  Then she said, "I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me." And the king said to her, "Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you." 2:21  So she said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as a wife." 

2:22  King Solomon answered and said to his mother, "And why are you asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him also the kingdom—for he is my older brother—even for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah!" 2:23  Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, "May God do so to me and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.  2:24  "Now therefore, as the LORD lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of David my father and who has made me a house as He promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death today." 

What a response from Solomon! He was now going to kill his half-brother Adonijah! What was the problem? One possible answer would be that since Abishag had been used by the king, she represented David’s kingdom, a position of honor, and a possible pathway to challenging Solomon.

2:25  So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him so that he died. 2:26  Then to Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go to Anathoth to your own field, for you deserve to die; but I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and because you were afflicted in everything with which my father was afflicted." 2:27  So Solomon dismissed Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD, which He had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh. 

Killing Adonijah and banishing Abiathar, who sided with Adonijah, effectively quelled any further attempts to overthrow him.

2:28  Now the news came to Joab, for Joab had followed Adonijah, although he had not followed Absalom. And Joab fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. 2:29  It was told King Solomon that Joab had fled to the tent of the LORD, and behold, he is beside the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go, fall upon him." 2:30  So Benaiah came to the tent of the LORD and said to him, "Thus the king has said, 'Come out.'" But he said, "No, for I will die here." And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, "Thus spoke Joab, and thus he answered me." 2:31  The king said to him, "Do as he has spoken and fall upon him and bury him, that you may remove from me and from my father's house the blood which Joab shed without cause. 2:32  "The LORD will return his blood on his own head, because he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he and killed them with the sword, while my father David did not know it: Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. 2:33  "So shall their blood return on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever; but to David and his descendants and his house and his throne, may there be peace from the LORD forever." 2:34  Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and fell upon him and put him to death, and he was buried at his own house in the wilderness. 

Joab, while serving David for many years, was a man used to power and killing. He took the ‘law’ into his own hands and had killed his competition.

2:35  The king appointed Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in his place, and the king appointed Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar. 2:36  Now the king sent and called for Shimei and said to him, "Build for yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, and do not go out from there to any place. 2:37  "For on the day you go out and cross over the brook Kidron, you will know for certain that you shall surely die; your blood shall be on your own head." 2:38  Shimei then said to the king, "The word is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do." So Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days. 2:39  But it came about at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, "Behold, your servants are in Gath." 2:40  Then Shimei arose and saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to Achish to look for his servants. And Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath. 2:41  It was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and had returned. 2:42  So the king sent and called for Shimei and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by the LORD and solemnly warn you, saying, 'You will know for certain that on the day you depart and go anywhere, you shall surely die'? And you said to me, 'The word which I have heard is good.' 

In this situation, Shimei had agreed and given his word to Solomon. He had been warned and he still left. When you give your word to the ‘King’, you know the consequences of departing from it.

2:43  "Why then have you not kept the oath of the LORD, and the command which I have laid on you?" 2:44  The king also said to Shimei, "You know all the evil which you acknowledge in your heart, which you did to my father David; therefore the LORD shall return your evil on your own head. 2:45  "But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever." 2:46  So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and fell upon him so that he died. Thus the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon. 

Solomon had now completed the three tasks given to him by his father David on his ‘deathbed’! Blood shed was the answer to two men who had been singled out by David. Adonijah was killed as a potential threat to Solomon’s kingdom. Of course, it was God who put Solomon on the throne and who would protect him. We don’t see any evidence that Solomon sought the Lord before he carried out his father’s wishes.

More next Saturday.

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-33

Sorry for this delay, we were out of town and my car broke down on the way home. We did not get home until after 10 pm.

We left with another son trying to take the throne from David, who is now 70 years old and weakening.

1Kings 1:28  Then King David said, "Call Bathsheba to me." And she came into the king's presence and stood before the king. 1:29  The king vowed and said, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 

1:30  surely as I vowed to you by the LORD the God of Israel, saying, 'Your son Solomon shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place'; I will indeed do so this day." 1:31  Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, and prostrated herself before the king and said, "May my lord King David live forever." 

It is a little strange that of all his wives and of all his sons, that David would make this promise to Bathsheba. Remember that she was the wife of Uriah, whom David had killed in battle.

1:32  Then King David said, "Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada." And they came into the king's presence. 1:33  The king said to them, "Take with you the servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. 1:34  "Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, and blow the trumpet and say, 'Long live King Solomon!' 1:35  "Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne and be king in my place; for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah." 1:36  Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, "Amen! Thus may the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say. 1:37  "As the LORD has been with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David!" 

David still had enough strength and presence of mind to prepare the way for Solomon to be king in his place. The other oddity was that normally, the king died before his son ascended to the throne. But, David was encouraged to act quickly as Adonijah was make his move in this apparent vacuum of David’s age and health

1:38  So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. 1:39  Zadok the priest then took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, "Long live King Solomon!" 1:40  All the people went up after him, and the people were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth shook at their noise. 

So not everyone in Jerusalem knew of Adonijah’s plans as they celebrated King Solomon.

1:41  Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet he said, "Why is the city making such an uproar?" 1:42  While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. Then Adonijah said, "Come in, for you are a valiant man and bring good news." 1:43  But Jonathan replied to Adonijah, "No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king. 1:44  "The king has also sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites; and they have made him ride on the king's mule. 1:45  "Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon, and they have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise which you have heard. 1:46  "Besides, Solomon has even taken his seat on the throne of the kingdom. 1:47  "Moreover, the king's servants came to bless our lord King David, saying, 'May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name and his throne greater than your throne!' And the king bowed himself on the bed. 1:48  "The king has also said thus, 'Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has granted one to sit on my throne today while my own eyes see it.'" 

Nathan’s plan was carried off swiftly and effectively. There was no room for doubt. Solomon was now king and Adonijah was defeated on the 5 yard line.

1:49  Then all the guests of Adonijah were terrified; and they arose and each went on his way. 1:50  And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, and he arose, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 1:51  Now it was told Solomon, saying, "Behold, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, for behold, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.'" 1:52  Solomon said, "If he is a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he will die."  1:53  So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and prostrated himself before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house." 

Just like with Joab, Adonijah feared for his life and ran to the Temple hoping that this would keep Solomon from killing him. Solomon made a promise to spare his life on one condition. He must give up his wicked plans to take the throne.

What have we learned so far?

David’s sons all wanted the throne.

It would appear that none of them really knew of his plan for Solomon.

Solomon held in his hand the life of his brother Adonijah.

The three older brothers are all dead. Only Solomon and Adonijah are left.

Even though David had other sons, they are not really mentioned as being in line for being king. Quite possibly because they were younger.

More next Saturay.

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-32

King David only had 4 sons that were really mentioned in the Scriptures. He had many more sons, but these four were the only ones highlighted. It would appear that they all had different mothers and all tried to become king. Only Solomon would finally ascend to the throne. We have one more son before Solomon to study.

1 Kings 1:1  Now King David was old, advanced in age; and they covered him with clothes, but he could not keep warm. 1:2  So his servants said to him, "Let them seek a young virgin for my lord the king, and let her attend the king and become his nurse; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm." 1:3  So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 1:4  The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king's nurse and served him, but the king did not cohabit with her. 

David was now approaching the age of 70 and was getting weaker by the day. He could no longer feel warm, which many aging people also attest. So what should they do? He has multiple wives and concubines, but none would do? So his servants search for a beautiful girl! If he only needed warmth, why did she have to be beautiful? This unique relationship was never consummated with sex.

1:5  Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him. 1:6  His father had never crossed him at any time by asking, "Why have you done so?" And he was also a very handsome man, and he was born after Absalom. 

We now meet Adonijah. David apparently was not a father who criticized his sons or even disciplined them. He never condemned Ammon, who raped Tamar. He never condemned Absalom who killed Ammon. He wept for Abaslom who tried to kill him.

1:7  He had conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and following Adonijah they helped him. 1:8  But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah. 1:9  Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants. 1:10  But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, and Solomon his brother. 

He learned from his now dead older brothers. David was getting too old to notice or stop him. He planned this very carefully. He tried to get this all orchestrated before anyone could stop him.

1:11  Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, "Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it? 1:12  "So now come, please let me give you counsel and save your life and the life of your son Solomon. 1:13  "Go at once to King David and say to him, 'Have you not, my lord, O king, sworn to your maidservant, saying, "Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?' 1:14  "Behold, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words." 

If you remember that Nathan was also the prophet that confronted David with his sin of killing Uriah. Now he sets an alternate plan in place using Bathsheba!

1Ki 1:15  So Bathsheba went in to the king in the bedroom. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king. 1:16  Then Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king. And the king said, "What do you wish?" 1:17  She said to him, "My lord, you swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God, saying, 'Surely your son Solomon shall be king after me and he shall sit on my throne.' 1:18  "Now, behold, Adonijah is king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know it. 1:19  "He has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king and Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. 1:20  "As for you now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 1:21  "Otherwise it will come about, as soon as my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered offenders." 

Kings will not risk having anyone who can displace him; Even if it is a brother. She begins in reminding David of his plans and promises. Then she gives him the bad news in regards to Adonijah.

1Ki 1:22  Behold, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. 1:23  They told the king, saying, "Here is Nathan the prophet." And when he came in before the king, he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. 1:24  Then Nathan said, "My lord the king, have you said, 'Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne'? 1:25  "For he has gone down today and has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king's sons and the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest, and behold, they are eating and drinking before him; and they say, 'Long live King Adonijah!' 1:26  "But me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and your servant Solomon, he has not invited. 

Nathan arrives on cue and challenges David to act quickly and decisively. There is no time to waste.

1:27  "Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?" 

Nathan and Bathsheba knew the answer to this question, but continued in their veiled plea for David to act quickly. Why did they have to create this plan if they really believed that God had already ordained Solomon as the next King?

Could we fall into this same type of trap? We often state that we believe God is sovereign over the affairs of men, but sometimes we get impatient or overly concerned about other possible unfavorable outcomes.

More next Saturday.

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-31

While we continue with the sad reality of David and his sons, we must not forget all those who lived before him. We did not study the sons of Adam, Noah, or Abraham to name just a few. There is a vacuum of any good examples of godly fathers having godly sons. Oh they can have one godly son, but all have an ungodly son as well. What came next to the story of David’s sons?

2 Samuel 19:1  Then it was told Joab, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourns for Absalom." 19:2  The victory that day was turned to mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day, "The king is grieved for his son." 19:3  So the people went by stealth into the city that day, as people who are humiliated steal away when they flee in battle. 19:4  The king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!" 

This may be difficult for any of us to truly understand. How can David mourn for Absalom who was going to kill him? How could he put the death of this evil son above the lives of those who fought for him? How could he forsake thanking them? Instead of rejoicing in restoring David, they felt ashamed and forgotten.

19:5  Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, "Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 19:6  by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have shown today that princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. 19:7  "Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, surely not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.

Joab was not an empathetic man, but a warrior and killer of men. He did not think twice of killing Absalom, who was in reality the leader of a revolt against David. We would not necessarily go to him for advice, but in this example he was right.

19:8  So the king arose and sat in the gate. When they told all the people, saying, "Behold, the king is sitting in the gate," then all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled, each to his tent. 19:9  All the people were quarreling throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. 19:10  "However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now then, why are you silent about bringing the king back?" 

There is an honor and duty for someone to escort the king back to Jerusalem. There are two factions, Judah the tribe from which David belongs, and the northern tribes which eventually became known as Samaria.

19:11  Then King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, 'Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the word of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house? 19:12  'You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?' 

David chose Judah to accompany him back to Jerusalem. With that he did not choose Israel of the northern tribes.

19:13  "Say to Amasa, 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.'" 19:14  Thus he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, "Return, you and all your servants." 19:15  The king then returned and came as far as the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal in order to go to meet the king, to bring the king across the Jordan. 

So David is saved. He is returning to his throne in Jerusalem. He is accompanied by the men of Judah. David hinted that Joab would soon be replaced by Amasa. Joab was now both a liability, due to his part in the death of Uriah, and an ‘enemy’ for killing Absalom.

Are David’s worries all gone? No, he will die with the many consequences of his poor decisions. Especially those with the raising or his not raising his sons.

More next Saturday.

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-30

We left Absalom’s failed plan to kill his father and take over as King of the nation. How will David deal with his evil, murderous son? Remember, 20,000 men died in his failed attempt.

2 Samuel 18:9  Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And his head caught fast in the oak, so he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. 18:10  When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak." 

18:11  Then Joab said to the man who had told him, "Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt." 

Joab was a man of war and death. He had no special regard for anyone, not even the son of David. Now in his defense, David appeared to not be thinking straight. How would any king handle or deal with a son focused on killing him and taking over his kingdom?

18:12  The man said to Joab, "Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 'Protect for me the young man Absalom!' 18:13  "Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof." 

This man spoke truth. He, as did all the others, knew what David had commanded. He also knew that if he had killed Absalom, Joab would not have protected him from the king’s wrath.

18:14  Then Joab said, "I will not waste time here with you." So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. 18:15  And ten young men who carried Joab's armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him. 

Joab’s life was ‘protected’ in the sense he had participated in Uriah’s death as the request of the king. David had no compassion on Uriah, who was innocent. Joab had no compassion on Absalom, who was guilty.

2Sa 18:16  Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people. 

18:17  They took Absalom and cast him into a deep pit in the forest and erected over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled, each to his tent. 18:18  Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a pillar which is in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to preserve my name." So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom's Monument to this day. 

Prideful Absalom was more interested in protecting his name than preserving his father’s life.

2Sa 18:19  Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Please let me run and bring the king news that the LORD has freed him from the hand of his enemies." 

18:20  But Joab said to him, "You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because the king's son is dead." 18:21  Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. 18:22  Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, "But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite." And Joab said, "Why would you run, my son, since you will have no reward for going?"  18:23  "But whatever happens," he said, "I will run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed up the Cushite. 

Apparently, it was an honor to deliver news to the king in regard to important matters, of which, this battle was one.

18:24  Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself. 18:25  The watchman called and told the king. And the king said, "If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth." And he came nearer and nearer. 18:26  Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, "Behold, another man running by himself." And the king said, "This one also is bringing good news." 18:27  The watchman said, "I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, "This is a good man and comes with good news." 

You could describe this as wishful thinking. What type of news would be good to David?

18:28  Ahimaaz called and said to the king, "All is well." And he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, "Blessed is the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king." 18:29  The king said, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was." 18:30  Then the king said, "Turn aside and stand here." So he turned aside and stood still. 

Of all the men who had fought. Of all the men who had died. David did not seem in the least interested. His one and only question is about the safety of Absalom!

2Sa 18:31  Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, "Let my lord the king receive good news, for the LORD has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you." 

18:32  Then the king said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And the Cushite answered, "Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!" 18:33  The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!" 

Again. what information did David seek? Only about the safety of Absalom! His response seems totally out of place to the events that had forced him to flee. What kind of emotional love for a son totally ignores his behavior toward his father? His lament almost came true, in that, if Absalom had succeeded, David would have died.

Many parents today have similar emotional attachments to children and permit them to run wild and ungodly. They make excuses, they deny personal responsibility, and oppose any punishment or condemnation.

Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. 

David failed to train up his first three sons, all who were killed by others.

More next Saturday.

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-29

David is fleeing for his life from his son Absalom. How could a son do this and how did David know he would do this?

2 Samuel 17:15  Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, "This is what Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have counseled. 17:16  "Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, 'Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, or else the king and all the people who are with him will be destroyed.'" 17:17  Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, and a maidservant would go and tell them, and they would go and tell King David, for they could not be seen entering the city. 17:18  But a lad did see them and told Absalom; so the two of them departed quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down into it. 17:19  And the woman took a covering and spread it over the well's mouth and scattered grain on it, so that nothing was known. 

David’s plan to leave Hushai behind to try and thwart Ahithophel’s council seems to have worked. But now they have to get word to David and his men. So the sons of the priests would be the go-betweens. But, even though they stayed outside of Jerusalem, they were spotted by someone who favored Absalom. He immediately sent out servants to stop them, ie kill them!

17:20  Then Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house and said, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" And the woman said to them, "They have crossed the brook of water." And when they searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 17:21  It came about after they had departed that they came up out of the well and went and told King David; and they said to David, "Arise and cross over the water quickly for thus Ahithophel has counseled against you." 

God’s sovereign control led them to a house favorable to David. A quick thinking woman covered them is a well and then scattered grain over it to conceal them. Then she sent Absalom’s servants in the wrong direction.

17:22  Then David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed the Jordan; and by dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan. 17:23  Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father. 

He suddenly knew that he was tricked and exposed. He would rather hang himself than face either King’s wrath.

17:24  Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 

17:25  Absalom set Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 17:26  And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead. 17:27  Now when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 17:28  brought beds, basins, pottery, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, parched seeds, 

17:29  honey, curds, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him, to eat; for they said, "The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness." 

It seems that alot of people knew where to find David to help him. But Absalom’s now has his army in close pursuit. David seems to be seriously outnumbered.

18:1  Then David numbered the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 18:2  David sent the people out, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, "I myself will surely go out with you also." 18:3  But the people said, "You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city." 18:4  Then the king said to them, "Whatever seems best to you I will do." So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. 

The loyal people amassed an army for David in short time. After all David is from Judah and the battle is the Lord’s

18:5  The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning Absalom. 

This is a most bizarre request! Absalom has amassed an army to kill him! Yet, he wants Absalom to remain unharmed and alive! Has David’s emotional love for Absalom clouded his thinking?

18:6  Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. 18:7  The people of Israel were defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. 18:8  For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. 

Absalom’s patient planning to take over his father’s throne has cost 20,000 men their lives! Bodies must have been laying everywhere! What will Absalom now do? What will David do? How does this slaughter end?

More next Saturday!

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-28

We left David fleeing Jerusalem for his life. Many accompanied him as he sought safety out in the wilderness. This is somewhat reminiscent of his fleeing from Saul some 35+ years earlier.

2 Samuel 16:15  Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16:16  Now it came about when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" 16:17  Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?" 16:18  Then Hushai said to Absalom, "No! For whom the LORD, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 16:19  "Besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so I will be in your presence." 

Absalom has now taken over in Jerusalem. All of his patient and lengthy planning has appeared to pay off. David’s trusted counselor, Hushai, has come to present himself to Absalom as a loyal aid to his cause.

16:20  Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your advice. What shall we do?" 16:21  Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened." 16:22  So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 16:23  The advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one inquired of the word of God; so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom. 

Apparently, Absalom’s rather indecent act was meant to show that he was now fully in charge. Notice no one sought to seek God’s advice so far in this sad story, including David.

17:1  Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight. 17:2  "I will come upon him while he is weary and exhausted and terrify him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then I will strike down the king alone, 

17:3  and I will bring back all the people to you. The return of everyone depends on the man you seek; then all the people will be at peace." 17:4  So the plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel. 

Ahithophel is not only a ‘wise’ counselor, he now wants to have the ‘honor’ of killing David himself. Everyone like his plan to go after David with 12,000 men and only kill David. As if those with David would not defend him to their death.

17:5  Then Absalom said, "Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say." 17:6  When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to him, "Ahithophel has spoken thus. Shall we carry out his plan? If not, you speak." 17:7  So Hushai said to Absalom, "This time the advice that Ahithophel has given is not good." 17:8  Moreover, Hushai said, "You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men and they are fierce, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father is an expert in warfare, and will not spend the night with the people. 17:9  "Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the caves or in another place; and it will be when he falls on them at the first attack, that whoever hears it will say, 'There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.' 

17:10  "And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will completely lose heart; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and those who are with him are valiant men. 17:11  "But I counsel that all Israel be surely gathered to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea in abundance, and that you personally go into battle. 

Amassing a large army takes some time. It sounds like overkill as David did not leave with an army. However, he would now have time to accumulate an army to defend himself.

17:12  "So we shall come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left. 17:13  "If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it into the valley until not even a small stone is found there." 17:14  Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel." For the LORD had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring calamity on Absalom. 

They all liked this plan better, as it may seem to be almost foolproof! They basically agreed that you would need an army to go after King David. His reputation as a man of war helped them choose the plan of Hushai.

What have we learned and where is this going?

1. Absalom is going to kill his father and make himself king.

2. Everyone seems to be okay with this.

3. David and his men understand this as well.

4. There is not one mention of anyone seeking the will of the LORD.

5. The odds seem to be in Absalom’s favor.

6. David is fleeing but he has not given up yet.

More next Saturday.

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-27

We left Absalom finally beginning to execute his plan to take the kingdom from his father David and make himself king. What a treacherous son!

2 Samuel 15:13  Then a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom." 15:14  David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise and let us flee, for otherwise none of us will escape from Absalom. Go in haste, or he will overtake us quickly and bring down calamity on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword." 

Why did David so quickly come to this decision? David was literally fleeing for his life from his favorite son! What did David not know about Absalom and what did he know?

15:15  Then the king's servants said to the king, "Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses." 15:16  So the king went out and all his household with him. But the king left ten concubines to keep the house. 15:17  The king went out and all the people with him, and they stopped at the last house. 

This was a very tragic and public retreat. Why did David not stay and fight?

15:18  Now all his servants passed on beside him, all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had come with him from Gath, passed on before the king. 15:19  Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why will you also go with us? Return and remain with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile; return to your own place. 15:20  "You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander with us, while I go where I will? Return and take back your brothers; mercy and truth be with you." 15:21  But Ittai answered the king and said, "As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be." 15:22  Therefore David said to Ittai, "Go and pass over." So Ittai the Gittite passed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 

Why were these ‘foreigners’ more loyal and devoted than the men from David’s own tribe? How could they so quickly turn from David to Absalom? Had David not known what Absalom had been doing? That seems hard to believe!

15:23  While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people passed over. The king also passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness. 15:24  Now behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar came up until all the people had finished passing from the city. 15:25  The king said to Zadok, "Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the LORD, then He will bring me back again and show me both it and His habitation. 15:26  "But if He should say thus, 'I have no delight in you,' behold, here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him." 15:27  The king said also to Zadok the priest, "Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace and your two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 15:28  "See, I am going to wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me." 15:29  Therefore Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and remained there. 

David was planning as he was quickly escaping. He wanted to know what was going on as he left so he had Zadok stay behind and essentially spy for him. This was all done for self-preservation.

15:30  And David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went, and his head was covered and he walked barefoot. Then all the people who were with him each covered his head and went up weeping as they went. 15:31  Now someone told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O LORD, I pray, make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness." 

One of David’s most trusted advisors joined up with Absalom! Absalom knew he needed help when he became king and he planned ahead.

15:32  It happened as David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, that behold, Hushai the Archite met him with his coat torn and dust on his head. 15:33  David said to him, "If you pass over with me, then you will be a burden to me. 15:34  "But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, 'I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so I will now be your servant,' then you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 15:35  "Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So it shall be that whatever you hear from the king's house, you shall report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 15:36  "Behold their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them you shall send me everything that you hear." 15:37  So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem. 

David’s other advisor followed him. But, David needed him to thwart the counsel for Abiathar and therefore asked Hushai to return and try to persuade Absalom to trust him instead of Abiathar.

What have we learned about David and his most beloved son Absalom?

1. David never demanded much accountability from any of his sons.

2. David knew immediately that Absalom would kill him to gain the kingdom.

3. David seemed to be totally oblivious to Absalom stealing the hearts of the people right under his nose.

4. David had separated himself from this son for years because he did not reprimand him for slaying Amnon. Yet he mourned to see him. This is hard to truly understand.

5. David’s love for Absalom was not returned by Absalom.

More next Saturday.

Godly fathers-ungodly sons-26

As we left our study last week, it would seem that Absalom and his father David had finally reconciled their differences and were restored. But, as we will soon discover, that is or was not the case.

2 Samuel 15:1  Now it came about after this that Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men as runners before him. 15:2  Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way to the gate; and when any man had a suit to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, "From what city are you?" And he would say, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel." 15:3  Then Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king." 15:4  Moreover, Absalom would say, "Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice." 

What is Absalom doing? He is acting like the judge of Israel or the King. He has fifty men along side his royal chariot. What a display of power and authority, all created solely by him. This is not orchestrated by David and it would seem that David did not know this or worse yet just did nothing about it.

15:5  And when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 15:6  In this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel. 

Absalom is playing the long game, just as he did in plotting the death of Amnon. He has no real competition and no rebuke from David. Publicly the nation began to see him as the next king. Trouble is coming.

15:7  Now it came about at the end of forty years that Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron. 15:8  "For your servant vowed a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, 'If the LORD shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.'" 15:9  The king said to him, "Go in peace." So he arose and went to Hebron. 

David is actually blessing Absalom in this deceitful endeavor. Absalom is doing all of this in plain sight, yet David has done nothing. or so it seems.

15:10  But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'" 

15:11  Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, who were invited and went innocently, and they did not know anything. 15:12  And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom. 

Absalom is setting his trap. Remember, David cried over not seeing Absalom and would seem wanted to or needed to believe the best about Absalom. He is gathering support for stealing the kingdom away from his father. Why can’t David or any of his advisors see this? Is Absalom so great a deceiver? Yes! His plans quickly become more sinister.

More next Saturday.