Psalm 58, as in the days of King David, so it is today 515-1 - 12 - 3

Our God Who Judges the Earth Judges the Judges. Today we have a warrior of the type of Jehu fighting to overcome the scheming not only of the left but also the RINOs and the Elite.

Psalm 58:1-2, “1 Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? 2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.”

Daily falsehoods are made against those attempting to bring positive change to our country. Also, calls are made to violence with the result of domestic terrorists. Surely judgment will fall on these reprobates’ judges (politicians).

Psalm 58:3, “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.”

Even more condemning is Isaiah 48:8, “Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb. “ 

Psalm 58:4-5, “4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; 5 Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.”

James 3:8, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly (unrestrained) evil, full of deadly poison.“ Again falsehoods come naturally to the unrighteous.

Psalm 58:6-9, “6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions (H3715), O LORD. 7 Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces. 8 As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun. 9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.” 

H3715, a village (as covered in by walls); also a young lion (perhaps as covered with a mane): - (young) lion, village. Break their teeth, destroy them?

To melt away is to disappear, be cast away, refuse, reject, also, is reprobate, utterly, vile person. Sudden death, die prematurely and never see the sun.

Arrows cut in pieces, possibly “blunt and harmless,” [Bible Believer’s Commentary]

Psalm 58:10-11, “10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. 11 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.”

Needs no further comment, however, similar to Psalm 68:23, “That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.” A foretelling of the fate of Jezebel in 2 Kings?

Come quickly Lord Jesus.

Psalm 55, an imprecatory prayer? 515-1 - 11 - 4

Full disclosure, normally I don’t feel this anger, this need for imprecatory prayer, nevertheless, given the events of little more than a month:

Nov. 5, 2017 a shooter was stopped by an armed civilian after killing 26 in a Texas church. His goal was to kill all 50 plus church members.

About a week earlier eight people were killed when a suspect said to have yelled "Allahu Akbar" ran over them with a rental truck in New York.

Oct. 1, 2017 58 people killed and more than 500 wounded during outdoor music festival on the Las Vegas Strip.

CM didn’t classify Psalm 55 as an imprecatory prayer, however, there are reference to it as such. IMO, verses 15 and 23 fit the bill.

What is imprecatory prayer?

Answer: First of all, let’s define imprecatory prayer. To imprecate means “to invoke evil upon or curse” one’s enemies. King David, the psalmist most associated with imprecatory verses such as Psalm 55:15, 69:28, and 109:8, often used phrases like, “may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them” (Psalm 35:6) and “O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD!” (Psalm 58:6).

[https://www.gotquestions.org/imprecatory-prayer.html]

Psalm 55:15, “Let death seize (H3451) upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.”

H3451, desolation: let death seize, to lie waste

Psalm 55:23, “But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction (H7845): bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half (H2673) their days; but I will trust in thee.” 

Destruction, H7845, from H7743; a pit, a trap, corruption, destruction, ditch, grave, pit. H7845, A primitive root; to sink, literally or figuratively: bow down, incline, humble.

Half, H2673, to cut or split in two; to halve: - divide, live out half, reach to the midst, part.

Devin Patrick Kelley, the church shooter was only 26, not even half a normal life-time. The truck driver survived and asked for an ISIS flag while in Bellevue Hospital. The Las Vegas shooter is dead either by suicide or “suicide by cop.”

Evil is becoming increasingly pervasive as members of the left and the Soros, Clinton, and Obama minions such as Antifa continue to fester like an inflamed boil after the election of Donald Trump as POTUS.

Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” 

I’m still praying that the election of Donald Trump as POTUS will reverse the downward spiral of our country. Although Obama accelerated the decline, we started downhill when God was thrown out of schools and more than 50 million unborn babies were sacrificed on the altar of convenience. More time is needed to bring many more into the Kingdom.

Psalm 39, a rather depressing Psalm - 515-1 - 8 - 3

Psalm 39:1, “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.”

Tongue, H3956, skipping eating and licking, From H3960, to wag the tongue, that is, to calumniate (make false and defamatory statements about); accuse, slander.

James, the brother of Jesus was vocal in his opinion of the tongue. James 3:5-6, “5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”

Psalm 39:2, “I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.” Through his severe trials King David was determined not to rebel or complain against the Lord around unbelievers; to be a stumbling block.

Psalm 39:3, “My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,” Perhaps King David was finally overcome with indignation at his suffering so when alone he shared a questioning prayer with the Lord.

Psalm 39:4-6 "LORD, how long is this nightmare going to last? Tell me how much time I have left, and when it is going to run out. At best the span of my life is only about the width of my palm; compared to Your eternity, my lifetime isn't worth mentioning. All of us humans are as unsubstantial as a vapor. We go through life like phantoms. We rush around in frenzied activity—but what does it all amount to after all? We spend our lives scrimping and saving, and leave it all behind to be enjoyed by ingrates or fools or strangers!”

[Believer’s Bible Commentary]

King David finally ended this depressing Psalm; Psalm 39:12-13, “12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.”

King David referred to the brevity of his earthly life, that he was a sojourner passing through. He was beseeching the Lord to recover his strength before he departed his earthly walk.

Psalm 27:1, “A Psalm of David. - 515-1 - 6 - 6

Psalm 27:1, “A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Light not darkness, salvation through grace and the strength of the rock of our salvation, very blessed am I.

Light, H216, From H215; illumination, happiness, bright, clear. H215, A primitive root; to make luminous (literally and metaphorically): break of day, glorious, kindle, set on fire, shine.

Genesis 1:3-4, “3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.“

And the opposite of light, darkness: H2822, the dark; literally darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness, night, obscurity

Salvation: H3468, liberty, deliverance, prosperity: - safety, salvation, saving.

Act 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” 

We are justification by grace, Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Strength: H4581, a fortified place; figuratively a defense, rock, stronghold.

Throughout both the Old and New Testaments the rock and/ or stone is used a type of the Messiah. All through The Book of Psalms King David referred to God as the rock of salvation, refuge. Jesus is our rock of salvation, our propitiation before our righteous God, our refuge.

Isaiah 28:16, “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”

Precious: H3368, valuable, brightness, clear, costly, excellent, reputation.

The precious corner stone is picked up again in 1 Peter 2:6, “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, Precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.”

As an aside, shortly after Donald Trump became POTUS I wrote, IMO, the Obama administration was a long eight years for most conservatives and especially for BACs to witness the denigration of morals in an age where many conformed to Isaiah 5:20, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

David's Song of Deliverance 2 Samuel 22 510-2 - 16 - 3

David's Song of Deliverance

2 Samuel 22:1, “And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:”

“22:1-51 With the words of this song David praises the LORD for deliverance from his enemies and for the innumerable blessings which had been showered upon him. It was probably penned after David had firmly established himself on the throne. Saul was dead, the kingdom was united under his leadership, and Israel's foes were beaten back.

[Believer’s Bible Commentary]

2 Samuel 22:2, “And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;”

Rock, fortress, deliverer, Messianic terms.

2 Samuel 22:22, "For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly (H7561) departed from my God."

Psalm 18:21, "For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed (H7561) from my God."

Wickedly, H7561, Strong's, A primitive root; to be (causatively do or declare) wrong; by implication to disturb, violate: - condemn, make trouble, vex, be (commit, deal, depart, do) wicked (-ly, -ness).

Departed, H7561,Strong's, A primitive root; to be (causatively do or declare) wrong; by implication to disturb, violate: - condemn, make trouble, vex, be (commit, deal, depart, do) wicked (-ly, -ness).

In my opinion, the operative words are "wickedly" and “departed” and infer intent. King David had no such intention and “kept the ways of the Lord.” 2 Samuel 22:21, “The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.”

God rewarded king David greatly even with his many flaws. When he sinned as with Bathsheba David repented and was forgiven but there often were consequences. David praised the Lord from the time he was a youth until he breathed his last.

"Faith comes through God's Word and through praise. Faith grows as you praise the lord."

[Wesley L. Duewel]

As an aside, through my many wanderings through reference material I found the following to be more descriptive:

Wickedly, H7561, A verb meaning to be in the wrong, to be guilty, to be wicked, to do wickedly, to condemn. In the simple stem, this verb means to be or to become guilty, to act wickedly. When God's people confessed that they acted wickedly, then the Lord forgave them (1Ki_8:47; Ecc_7:17; Dan_9:15); to depart from the Lord is an act of wickedness (2Sa_22:22; Psa_18:21 [22]).

In the causative stem, the word carries the idea of condemning others or doing wickedness; the people confessed that they had done wickedness (Neh_9:33; Psa_106:6; Dan_12:10). The verb also means to condemn. God declares who is guilty in cases of illegal possession (Exo_22:9 [8]; Deu_25:1); when a moral or ethical offense has occurred, the Lord will judge in order to declare the guilty (1Ki_8:32; Job_9:20).

[Word Study]

King David returned to Israel not as a Conquering Hero but seeking the consent of the people and the nation's tribal leadership. 510-2 - 15 - 3

After the death and defeat of Absalom King David was humble enough to return to Israel not as a Conquering Hero but seeking the consent of the people and the nation's tribal leadership.

There had long been a hostility between the house of Saul and the House of David, the tribes of Benjamin and Judah. One of the Benjamites, Sheba, fomented a rebellion against David and led some of the Israelites to abandon the king. The rebellion was put down.

Israel was in a turmoil with the people quarreling among themselves. The self-appointed ruler Absalom, was dead. King David, who had saved them from the Philistines, was in exile so a movement thus began to restore David to his throne. Now at home the remnants of Absalom’s army was in quandary. The man they had rallied behind was dead. Many were questioning why the elders not bringing the King David.

When David heard that the ten tribes of Israel were talking about restoring him to the throne, he sent two priests to the elders of Judah, asking why they, of his tribe of Judah, were the last to bring him back as king. The elders had supported Absalom during in the rebellion, so likely some resentment as well as fear existed.

Lots of politics ensued. Perhaps out of political correctness and partly because Joab had killed Absalom David removed Joab as commander in chief and appointed Amasa to take Joab’s place. Amasa was a nephew of David but had only recently supported Absalom. This was rather like the king punished loyalty and rewarded rebellion, however, these moves won over the men of Judah over to David's side.

Shimei and Ziba proved to be politically expedience and helped David in his return. Recall that Shimei had cursed David previously and Ziba had slandered Mephibosheth. David promised Shimei amnesty but later ordered Solomon to with him.

The slandered Mephibosheth also came to meet the king. He had been truly loyal to the king but the crippled Mephibosheth was unable to accompanying the king into exile. David rather unfairly ruled that Ziba and Mephibosheth should divide the land between them that had been unfairly given to the lying Ziba.

Finally, a great procession had formed with all the people of Judah and half the men of the other tribes to bring the king back to Jerusalem.

As an aside, part of regaining his claim to the throne was in recovering King David’s harem. These women had been compromised by David's son Absalom and as a result were treated somewhat like wards of the state and pensioned as widows.

King David's Sin of Taking a Census 510-2 - 16 - 6

The taking of a national census is appropriate when God orders it. The operative word is that God ordered it, two examples include:

"Exodus 30:11-16. The Redemption Money (30:11-16)

God ordered every male Israelite twenty years old and above to pay half a shekel as a ransom for himself. This payment, the same for rich and poor, was levied whenever there was a census and was used to finance the service of the tabernacle. It guaranteed protection against plague (v. 12). At the outset it was used to make silver sockets to support the boards of the tabernacle. Silver speaks of redemption, which is the foundation of our faith. Redemption is needed by all and is available to all on the same terms.

Numbers 1:2, 3 The people of Israel were soon to begin their journey from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land. It was essential that they be arranged as orderly marching armies, and for this purpose God commanded that a census should be taken. The census would include all men twenty years old and above—all who were able to go to war."

[Believer's Bible Commentary]

King David was not without fault and committed sins both of the flash and pride. The sin of pride in taking a census was not without consequences for his people. David’s immediate purpose likely was to assess his military strength, also, one of pride. The census suggested that King David was relying more on military capabilities than on God’s power. Not only was David taking pride in the numbers, he was trusting numbers instead of trusting God.

After the census was finished, King David was convicted of his sin and he cried out to God for forgiveness. God sent the prophet Gad to him, offering any one of three punishments:

1. Seven years of famine in the land

2. Three months of pursuit by his enemies

3. Three days of pestilence or plague.

King David chose the third punishment so as "to fall into the hand of the LORD, and not into man's."

Earlier examples of men of God having faith in His provision include:

Judges 7:5-6, "5 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink." 6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water."

God reduced Gideon’s force to 300 men. Gideon had faith and the victory was his.

In 1 Samuel 14 Jonathan slipped away with his Armor bearer to attack the Philistines. Jonathan had faith in God to provide a great victory. 1 Samuel 14:6, "And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few."

Jonathan’s action resulted in a great victory. Meanwhile his father, King Saul, made a foolish vow that almost cost Jonathan his life. No good deed ever goes unpunished? However, King Saul’s men protected Jonathan.

King David and his son Absalom and the Throne 510-2 - 15 - 1

How very painful it must have been for King David to engage his son Absalom in a battle for the throne of Israel. I would imagine that he would be very conflicted as the king loved his son and had full knowledge that he, King David, had caused the dysfunctionality in his family by his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah.

2 Samuel 12:9-10, "9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife."

And the sword never departed from King David’s house. Incest, murder, power struggle, fratricide and more. Earlier there was a strained relationship between King David and his son Abalone due to the seemingly indifference of King David to the rape and rejection of Abalone's sister Tamar by her half-brother Amnon. It was two years before Abalone avenged his sister by orchestrating the murder of Amnon. Abalone fled only to return to court later. Abalone plotted with the grandfather of Bathsheba to capture the throne from his father. A dysfunctional family, absolutely.

Just as King David had to flee from King Saul, he felt the need to flee his son Absalom rather than exposing Jerusalem to a Siege as well as he was not certain how firmly entrenched were the loyalties of his people. That said, all the time that King Saul sought to kill David, David would not touch the anointed of God. Absalom felt no such restriction.

Abalone even took his father's concubines in a very public manner to give credence to his claim to the throne. Given all the outrageous actions of Abalone King David still mourned for his son. David's extreme bereavement for Abalone had a decremental effect on his men and the Israeli.

King David finally took back the personae of King. He had to win back nation’s tribal leadership and fend off other challenges to his throne such as from Saul’s descendants

In comparing and contrasting the character and conduct of King David with that of his Hittite commander, Uriah, King David is the failure 510-2 - 12 - 1

In making a comparison between Uriah and King David my first thought is power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. King David was and is a man after God's heart who sinned greatly and repented, nevertheless, his sins came at a great cost. Uriah was a military man who was loyal to and a role model for his fellow soldiers.

After being an exemplary military leader King David made a major mistake by staying home and letting others fight his battles including Uriah, one of his mighty men and husband to Bathsheba.

The eye is the portal used by Satan to tempt mankind. 2 Samuel 11:2, “And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.” The rest is history with Bathsheba seemingly being a willing partner in their adultery.

Pregnancy resulted; what webs we weave when first we seek to deceive. King David called Uriah home thinking Uriah would spend time with the pregnant Bathsheba. However, while the King enjoyed his magnificent Palace, Uriah slept in the courtyard with his comrades. The next night King David plied him with wine and again attempted to get Uriah to go home to his wife. Uriah had great loyalty and empathy for his fellow soldiers again camped with them.

To save Bathsheba King David orchestrated the death of Uriah. 2 Samuel 14-15, "14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die."

God was displeased with King David, 2 Samuel 12:10, "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife."

King David repented and was forgiven by God, nevertheless, actions have consequences. The first child of King David and Bathsheba died and his family was very dysfunctional.

King David and Bathsheba had more children and two were in the line of Jesus. Joseph, the legal father of Jesus descended from Solomon and Mary, the biological mother of Jesus descended from Nathan.

Scriptures from the New Testament, that confirm the validity of the eternal “throne of David” 510-2 - 10 - 2

There are scriptures in both the Old and New Testament confirming the validity about the eternal “throne of David.”

Psalm 110:1, “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” From the Old Testament is confirmed in the New Testament.

Matthew 22:44, “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

Mark 12:36, “For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD (Jehovah) said to my Lord (Adoni), Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.” Here the claim is that The Messiah would be both Man and God. As David's Son, He would be human. As David's Lord, He would be divine.

“David spoke of the coming Messiah as his Lord. How could this be? How could the Messiah be David's Son and his Lord at the same time? To us the answer is clear. The Messiah would be both Man and God. As David's Son, He would be human. As David's Lord, He would be divine.”

[Believer’s Bible Commentary]

Mark 12:37, “David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.” Here the common people “heard Him gladly.” Likely they did not really understand what Jesus said but were willing to accept Him as the son of David. As for the Pharisees and scribes, they understood only too well!

Again, in Matthew. Matthew 22:41-45, “41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?”

With this Jesus pretty much shut the Pharisees down. Matthew 22:46, “And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.”

Romans 1:3-4, “3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”

I selected the “Footstool” verses as Jesus presented an argument the elite could not answer without supporting His claim to the Throne of David. The temple leadership rejected Jesus, nevertheless, many of the common people accepted and followed Jesus.

Paul was unique as knew the risen Jesus and was likely schooled by Jesus for three years in Arabia.

Life lessons learned from the death of Uzzah 510-2 - 10 - 5

Exodus 25:12-15, “12 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. 13 And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. 15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it."

Wagons and oxen were given to the sons of according to their service with one exception, Numbers 7:9, “But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.”

King David and Uzzah disrespected God’s command by mishandling the Ark. God dictated that the ark was to be carried via two poles so there would be no touching of the ark. However, 2 Samuel 6:3, “And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.”

Had the ark been carried as directed by God there would not have been the need to keep the ark from falling. The ox shook the cart and Uzzah attempted to steady the ark. 2 Samuel 6:7, “And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.” Uzzah not only had placed the ark on a cart, he touched it, both actions in direct disobedience to God's command.

2 Samuel 6:9” And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?” So King David offloaded the ark to the “house of Obededom the Gittite” for three months.

Lesson learned, 1 Chronicles 15:2, “Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him forever.”

Earlier the Philistines learned that there is a price to be paid for disrespecting the ark of God. The Philistines had captured the ark, 1 Samuel 6:6, “And the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months.”

During those seven months, the ark was passed from one city to another during which time the anger of God was manifest. 

First “Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord.” And “there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.” Add to that, the people suffered with emerods.

Finally, the Philistines wanted to return the ark and included a trespass offering of “five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.”

Life lessons learned from the death of Uzzah, take God at His Word and don’t attempt workarounds. Uzzah ignored God’s Word and tried an easier way of transporting the ark. He paid with his life.

King David was popular with his people for many reasons 510-2 - 9 - 2

King David was popular with his people due to his early bravery, his servant’s attitude, his loyalty to King Saul and his many victories in battle.

As a lad, David had a servant’s humble attitude and didn't consider above himself being a shepherd. A thousand years later a humble Jesus would step out of His glory, Philippians 2:6-7, "6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"

Early on David exhibited great bravery as he protected his herd of sheep from both a lion and a bear. While David was still a boy the Philistines gathered their armies to battle against King Saul and his army. The giant Goliath taunted King Saul with a one-on-one challenge against him. King Saul stayed with his men and the stalemate continues for an extended time. Then enter David.

David had been sent to carry food to his brothers and said this about Goliath’s challenge. 1 Samuel 17:26, “And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:36, “Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.”

David met Goliath armed only with a sling and five stones and The Whole Armor of God. David was so confident in his victory through God, he was prepared to battle Goliath and Goliath’s four brothers who also were giants.

King Saul had lost the favor of God and was rather unbalanced and David often play his harp and sang to him to soothe him. As David became more popular with the people, King Saul was jealous of David and sought to kill him. Nevertheless, David was always loyal to King Saul as God’s anointed.

Later as King, David was an outstanding warrior with a very loyal following of his mighty men. David was in fellowship with God and as such enjoyed one victory after another. 
Sadly, King David had two major failings. The first being the sin of the flesh. In addition to the taking of many wives was his adultery with Bathsheba and arranging the murder of her husband. The second failing by King David committed the sin of pride by initiating a census.

David repented of his sins and was forgiven by God and was still a man after God’s heart. Nevertheless, there was a price to be paid. 70,000 died because of the census and David’s house was dysfunctional with incest and his sons rebelling against him.

Regardless of his shortcomings, King David is considered the greatest King of Israel until the reign of King Jesus.

How do our “fears of men” bring snares into our lives? 510-1 - 7 - 7

“The fear of man brings a snare,” and David almost snared himself right in enemy territory!  David had to pretend to be out of his mind before he could escape.”

[The Books of 1^st and 2^nd Samuel by Chuck Missler]

1 Samuel 21:10, “And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.” 

The man who was to be the greatest king second only to Jesus debased himself through fear. First in fear of King Saul, David had sought refuge with the Philistine king Achish of Gath. The people of Gath knew of the praise David had received, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” David went from the frying pan into the fire of the camp of the enemies of Israel. In fear he played a madman.

"Oh! What A Tangled Web We Weave When First We Practice To Deceive"

[Sir Walter Scott]

1 Samuel 21:13, “And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.”

 “1 Samuel 21:10-15 Then David left Israel and fled to the city of Gath, Goliath's hometown. Here he, the anointed king of Israel, sought refuge among the enemies of God's people. When the Philistines became suspicious of him, he was forced to act the madman to save his life. De Rothschild notes that David knew well "that the insane were held inviolable, as smitten but protected by the Deity." And so the psalmist of Israel stood drooling in his beard as he scribbled on the doors of the gate. Because of the callousness of God's people and David's own lapse of faith, he was reduced to this disgraceful behavior.”

[Believer’s Bible Commentary]

Playing the madman worked. King Achish let David go and he escaped to the cave of Adullam. David composed Psalm 34 there, Psalm 34:20-22, “20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. 22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.”

Verse 20 is Messianic; the bones of Jesus were not broken while hanging on the cross. 

The fear of man really doesn’t cause a snare in my life. I place my life in God’s hands, nevertheless, I listen to that small still voice. I have two inexpensive homes in Arizona. I winter in a cozy RV park and summer way off the power grid in the higher elevations of northeastern Arizona. For the last few years I’ve felt a push to live year-round at my summer home and I’ve become a bit of a prepper. It’s not fear so much as an awareness of world events. Our power grid could be taken down by an EMP. As for my solar array, batteries, and electronics hard to say if they would survive. I know that I’ll be where I’m supposed to be all in God’s timing.

How does God reveal his wrath against sin? 507 - 4 - 5

King David may have been a man after God’s own heart, however he sinned and was punished. King David arranged a murder so he could marry the pregnant Bathsheba. Not only did their child conceived through adultery die, God passed a judgment on the house of David. 2 Samual 12:10, “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.”

2 Samual 24 tells of King David ordering a numbering of the people, a counting due to the pride of King David. King David was told he would be punished and given three choices. Seven years of famine, three months of fleeing before his enemies while they pursue him or three days of pestilence. King David selected pestilence resulting in the death of 70,000 men.

So, are there little sins, not so little sins and what is the unforgivable sin?

Mark 3:28-29, “28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:”

Here Temple leaders committed the unpardonable sin by accusing Jesus of casting out demons by demonic power when it was through the power of the Holy Spirit. This had the effect of calling the Holy Spirit a demon. Little sins and not so little sins and all kinds of sins can be forgiven but not the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, this is an eternal sin.

Not only did the Temple leaders blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, they brought about the crucifixion of Jesus. Matthew 24:2, “And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” Jesus left the temple, reminiscent of the hesitation of the Shekinah glory as it departed the temple in Ezekiel’s time. 38 years after the departure of Jesus from the temple His prophecy was fulfilled.

1 Corinthians 3:16. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” and 1 Corinthians 6:19, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” Homosexuality is a sin of commission against this temple and has resulted in Aids and the propensity to be a victim of violent crime.

God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah as punishment for the sin of homosexuality and its acceptance by the townspeople. A warning for America and the LGBT agenda?

As an aside, “The Bible defines sin as the breaking, or transgression, of God's law (1 John 3:4). It is also described as disobedience or rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 9:7), as well as independence from God. The original translation means "to miss the mark" of God's holy standard of righteousness.

Hamartiology is the branch of theology that deals with the study of sin. It investigates how sin originated, how it affects the human race, the different types and degrees of sin, and the results of sin.”

[http://christianity.about.com/od/glossary/f/whatissin.htm]

King David and Uzzah mishandled the Ark, fear of God? You bet! 505 - 2 - 4

2 Samuel 6:3, “And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.” This was in error as God dictated that the ark was to be carried via two poles so there would be no touching of the ark. In verse 6 we learn that the ox shook the ark and Uzzah attempted to steady it. 2 Samuel 6:7, “And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.”

2 Samuel 6:9” And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?” So King David offloaded the ark to the “house of Obededom the Gittite” for three months.

As an aside, there is a price to be paid for disrespecting the ark of God. 1 Samuel 4 shares that the Philistines captured the ark. 1 Samuel 4:21, "And she named the child Ichabod, saying, the glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband." Strong's H350 - there is no glory, that is, inglorious; Ikabod, a son of Phineas.

1 Samuel 6:6, “And the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months.” During those seven months the ark was passed from one city to another during which time the anger of God was manifest. First “Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord.” And “there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.” Add to that, the people suffered with emerods. Finally the Philistines wanted to return the ark and included a trespass offering of “five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.”

Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” To me this is not fear in the usual sense rather it is having a right relationship with God, of being absolutely in awe of God, holding him in complete respect and being obedient to His will.

There are many warnings of coming judgment in the Old Testament for disobedience. Warning passed on by Isaiah, Joel, Ezekiel, Job and others. Isaiah 2 speaks to judgment beginning in verse 1 with “a rod out of the stem of Jesse” and in verse 2 “knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” With thanks to Strong’s H3374, here fear is infinitive; morally reverence; dreadful, exceedingly, fearfulness.

There is still the possibility of redemption. 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Added later:

Uzzah not only had the ark placed on a cart, he touched it, both actions in direct disobedience to God's command. IMO, this has relevancy to our/ other countries' treatment (touching) of the State of Israel since her rebirth and before. The Gaza disengagement pushed by the US/ Hurricane Katrina is just one correlation. The sun now sets of the British Empire, In 1939, Great Britain reneged on the Balfour Declaration.

Who is the Prince in Ezekiel? Why can it not be the Messiah? 521-2 - 21 - 6

Who Is the “Prince”? CM discusses three possibilities, the Messiah, King David or of the line of King David.

I remember watching the Lone Ranger on TV and as he would ride off into the sunset the town’s people would say, “Who was that masked man?” It seems rather the same with the Prince of Ezekiel 44. Far better minds than mine seem to have drawn a blank.

Ezekiel 44:3, “It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.” [KJV] Here the prince is sitting in the presence of the Lord and is allowed to eat bread in his presence. The Prince had to enter by way of a gate other than the East gate, reserved for the Lord and the Shekinah glory.

So rather than saying who the Prince is, it’s easier to say who he is not. The Prince is not the Messiah. The Prince has no priestly right unlike our Messiah who is our high priest. The Prince offers a sin offering when we know that Jesus was the propitiation for sin. Again, the prince cannot enter through the East gate which is reserved for the Lord.

What of other versions of the Bible?

Ezekiel 44:3, "As for the ¹Prince, He will sit in it as a prince to eat food before Jehovah; He will enter through the porch of the gate and go out the same way." [Living Stream Ministry. Holy Bible Recovery Version]

LSM Footnote ¹, Ezekiel 44: 3 ¹ Prince, “The Prince here is Christ as the King in the coming millennial kingdom. The word in vv. 1-3 indicates that Christ and God have an equal position, for only Christ can enter in and go out by the gate through which God has passed. Thus, God and Christ have a special, holy portion among God’s people.”

Here we have Jehovah, Jesus and the Shekinah glory, the Trinity?

Ezekiel 44:3, “The Regent² Prince³ will be seated there, ⁴ as Regent Prince, and will dine in the LORD’s presence, entering through the portico of the gate and exiting through it also.” [International Standard Version ISV]

ISV Footnotes:

2 44: 3 The Heb. lacks Regent; and so through chapter 48

3 44: 3 I.e. a ruler who will govern with a king’s authority in the name of one holding higher supremacy; and so through chapter 48

4 44: 3 Lit. will sit in it

Here the prince is in a management position with authority.

Could the prince be King David? Unlikely as Ezekiel often referred to King David and would likely have used his name and title. As for the line of King David, blood curse on David’s son Solomon’s line. King David’s son Nathan’s line, well maybe, Jesus born to Mary, a direct descendant of Nathan.

2 Samuel 11: 2-4. the story of David shows “where sin begins? 503s - 8 - 4

While David was running for his life from King Saul he maintained a virtuous life and would not kill God’s anointed when he had the opportunity. Years and many battles later King David decided to stay home and leave the fighting to his men. David had time on his hands and “Idle hands do the devil’s work” as do the eyes.

The eye is the portal used by Satan to tempt mankind. 2 Samuel 11:2, “And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.”

I remember this scene from the decades old movie “David and Bathsheba” starring Gregory Peck and Susan Hayward. As I recall in the movie Bathsheba bore some responsibility for the affair as she bathe on the balcony where King David could look down on her.

2Sa 11:3, “And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”

King David couldn’t claim innocence as he knew that Bathsheba was married to one of his mighty men. This did not stop King David.

2Sa 11:4, “And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.”

King David and Bathsheba’s adultery bore fruit as Bathsheba became pregnant. Normally Bathsheba would have been stoned to death as an adulterous, however and as the well-known story goes, King David arranged the death of Uriah the Hittite and they were married.

Nathan the prophet told David a parable that concerned a rich man who took a poor man’s little ewe lamb, 2 Samuel 12:1-13. At first David was angry, 2 Samuel 12:5, “And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die.” Nathan told David he was the rich man in the parable moving David to say, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Yes indeed he sinned, 2 Samuel 12:14, “Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.”

King David repented and was forgiven by God. Although King David never lost the love of God, sin does not go unpunished by a righteous God. The first child of King David and Bathsheba died and his family was very dysfunctional.