Lam 3:1-66  Part 3, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Psa 22:1)

[Study Aired August 26, 2023]

It is normal for the unspiritual mind to view the Book of Lamentations as only relevant to unbelievers and believers who have turned away, most eminently old Israel. However, for the Lord’s dragging us to see that we are the Beast, the man of perdition, we would remain dead in those strong delusions. In deep gratitude for His spirit of truth, the only form of righteously “looking back” is not in regret for the destruction of Sodom within, but fearing its embrace.

We can genuinely thank David, among many others, for going before us to have the Lord’s spiritual sword never leaving our house within. David’s adulterous adventure with Bathsheba, and her apparent weakness to resist his lust, typifies the camp of Israel which abides with us. There is no account given of Bathsheba crying out in resistance to David’s attention, and I’d find it hard to believe that his relative integrity would result in rape. Regardless, according to Deuteronomy 22, particularly verse 25, King David set the path of the Lord’s spiritual sword never to depart our house.

Deu 22:25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel [Bathsheba] in the field [a place away from observance or hidden among the populace], and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:
Deu 22:26 But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:

From that account, David’s ‘forcing’ Bathsheba appears psychologically passive since death was proclaimed upon his house and not her.

David represents the Lord’s Elect, who are grateful for the sword never leaving their house within until all spiritually evil children are slain. Bathsheba represents adultery with our near kin, our Gentile Christian brothers and sisters who, like Bathsheba with apparent passivity, equivocate spousal allegiance. Our Lord will not suffer our intrigue for another Jesus, furthermore from another woman and her husband’s sacrifice resulting in a relatively innocent child sharing pitiless judgment in death for our sin (David’s bastard child).

In 2 Samuel 11:5, Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, positively represents Christ, wittingly sent by decree of the Father to die at the forefront of our spiritual battles for our adulterous sins in bed with Babylon.

2Sa 11:14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 
2Sa 11:15 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.

Psa 22:1 To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth [ah-yeh’-leth] Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 
Psa 22:2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 
Psa 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Psa 22:4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
Psa 22:5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

Chapter three of Lamentations is a variation of the same lamentable pattern depicting our journey in sin to becoming Christ. The overview presents the first twenty verses as definitive ‘lamentations’ of our wretched flesh born in sin, and the remainder of the Book is our wry hope (1Pe 4:18) in Christ and His account of why He temporarily chastises us. With that summary, we will launch directly into the hopefully relatively easy decrypting of our Lord’s word without first unnecessarily reading the entire sixty-six verses.

Great Is Your Faithfulness [is the KJV outcome of the chapter]

The following twenty verses identify a particular “he” who is our enemy, as portrayed in Part 1 of this study. That personage is Christ, yet, as we know, that “he” is negatively likewise us, ‘who is the man’ as Nathan told King David upon the earthquake of David seeing himself as the chief of sinners. Most remarkably, we all equate individually as ‘that man of sin’. The first verse speaks personally to us as Christ within judging ourselves and subsequently reflects upon who initiates the chastisement. As we look behind ourselves, these verses starkly relate to our brother Job’s experiences, who typifies us. Every ‘enemy’ mentioned in this Book is within and not some other evil person imagined more evil than ourselves. 

Lam 3:1 I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. 

Thankfully, the Elect of God are given to receive the rod of judgment today in preparation for the First Resurrection, and not the Resurrection to Judgment.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Lam 3:2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
Lam 3:3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
Lam 3:4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
Lam 3:5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
Lam 3:6 He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.

We know that everywhere in scripture, darkness comes before light, directly corresponding to the same experience every human will endure. The “he” is Christ who gives us to come out of the ‘abussos‘, the deep, the bottomless pit represented by the ocean of directionless humanity.

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth [directly corresponding to man] was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep [H8415 – 1. deep, depths, deep places, abyss, the deep, sea]. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Rev 13:1 And I [John; and we upon looking back on our life] stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Our Lord gradually builds us up for destruction by the coming blinding light of His word. We see the seemingly endless destruction of our flesh everywhere in scripture to this day and to the First Resurrection when the downpayment of that ‘blinding light’ will manifest fully in our bodies as we instantly become as our Husband is.

The “gall” that is bile, stomach acid, responds to our adrenalin that results from fear. Our judgment manifests in spiritually broken bones, and skin and flesh all seem consumed by fire, adding to our initial bewilderment while coming out of the darkness of the abussos.

Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? [Greek: abussos] (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 

The ‘abussos‘ is the realm of the dead. Descending into the abussos is the same as bringing Christ again from the dead. The people in the millennium are spiritually dead while they are physically alive. Christ entered the realm of the dead the moment He emptied Himself of His divinity and came into His physical mother, Mary’s womb, to be offered as the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Christ refers to all men living without knowing Himself or His Father as the walking dead: 

Mat 8:21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 
Mat 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

From the outset, we are hedged in by the depths of the abussos of Babylon until we cry out, acknowledging our hopeless and lamentable condition. In His good timing, often decades later, He answers our prayers. Even after coming into and living His truth, we are assaulted by our lusts of the eyes and flesh, and worse, hold fast to our self-righteousness.

Lam 3:7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. 
Lam 3:8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. 
Lam 3:9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked. 
Lam 3:10 He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places. 
Lam 3:11 He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
Lam 3:12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. 
Lam 3:13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins [H3629 – 1. kidneys a. of physical organ (lit.) b. of seat of emotion and affection]. 

The severing of our reins is the destruction of the ureteral tubes from our kidneys to the bladder. Mild pain, fever and infection to severe loss of kidney function causes death. Spiritually, our blood that gives life becomes overloaded with doctrinal toxins, and we figuratively die and are delivered from the Syrians within, as seen in 2 Kings 13 and highlighted in verse 17.

2Ki 13:17 And he said [Elisha to Joah, King of Israel], Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow [H2686 – divide] of the LORD’S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.

Lam 3:14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day 
Lam 3:15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. 
Lam 3:16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
Lam 3:17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
Lam 3:18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: 
Lam 3:19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 
Lam 3:20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

Such is our devastation when comparing our alleged righteousness to our Lord’s; we are made as chaff and dust and blown away in the summer breeze.

Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. 
Ecc 9:3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 

Even the babe in Christ profoundly equates with the deepest sighs of mourning in the first twenty verses. Upon looking behind, he and the maturing Christs see the milk of the all-too-common repeated pattern of our journey depicted in Lamentations. Our short-term pain is quickly overtaken by unspeakable joy when we acknowledge our sins and look to our inheritance in Christ. 

Lam 3:21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
Lam 3:22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lam 3:23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 
Lam 3:24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 
Lam 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 
Lam 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

We must wait in the fullness of time the Lord ordains for each of us for His specific purpose for the trials tailored for our endurance in chastisements and symbolised by seven x ten.

Jer 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jer 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Lam 3:27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 

Most parents find that timeless dictum dismissed by their children as their kids set about reproving, regrettably, what their parents had learned from their parents. Each child in his time can’t wait to buck the yoke of righteous guidance and, to varying degrees, experience wastage of his guidance upon riotous living and repeat the Book of Lamentations. Each Elect of God, in his own time and order, quietly reflects his past and gives God glory for the good and evil. He fills up behind the same afflictions as Christ, only in reproach.

Lam 3:28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. 
Lam 3:29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. 
Lam 3:30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. 
Lam 3:31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever: 
Lam 3:32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. 
Lam 3:33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
Lam 3:34 To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth, 
Lam 3:35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High, 
Lam 3:36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not. 
Lam 3:37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? [We did in Babylon]
Lam 3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? [Isa 45:7]
Lam 3:39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? [Isa 40:27-31]
Lam 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. [Psa 139:23]
Lam 3:41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. [Deu 4:29, Jer 29:13]
Lam 3:42 We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned. [Isa 1:18]
Lam 3:43 Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
Lam 3:44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through. [Isa 54:6-8]
Lam 3:45 Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.

It is appropriate to correlate these surrounding verses with 1 Corinthian 4:7-16. At its conclusion, can we, with good conscience, boldly say, as Paul, “be imitators of me?”

1Co 4:7 For who makes you to differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
1Co 4:8 Already you are full! Already you are rich! You have reigned as kings without us! And oh that indeed you did reign, that we also might reign with you. 
1Co 4:9 For I think that God has set forth us last, the apostles, as it were appointed to death; for we have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men.
1Co 4:10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honorable, but we are despised. 
1Co 4:11 Even until this present hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no certain dwelling place. 
1Co 4:12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; 
1Co 4:13 being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. 
1Co 4:14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.
1Co 4:15 For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for I have begotten you in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
1Co 4:16 Therefore I beseech you, be imitators of me.

Lam 3:46 All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. 
Lam 3:47 Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction. 
Lam 3:48 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. 
Lam 3:49 Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission, 
Lam 3:50 Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven. 
Lam 3:51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city. 
Lam 3:52 Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause. 
Lam 3:53 They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me. 
Lam 3:54 Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off. 
Lam 3:55 I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. 
Lam 3:56 Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. 
Lam 3:57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not. 
Lam 3:58 O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life. 
Lam 3:59 O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause. 
Lam 3:60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me. 
Lam 3:61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;
Lam 3:62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.
Lam 3:63 Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick [song].
Lam 3:64 Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands. 
Lam 3:65 Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
Lam 3:66 Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.

Those verses can leave us quivering for His dreadfulness. His curse is our flesh existing, sullying the purity of the Godhead’s spiritual realm whereby it needed laws of control (Gal 3:10-14). In effect and like manner, our Lord is righteously kicking against the annoying pricks our flesh inflicts on him (Acts 9:4-6 – Saul confronted by the Lord).

Jer 15:5 For who shall have pity on you, O Jerusalem? Or who shall weep over you? Or who shall turn aside to ask your welfare? 
Jer 15:6 You have forsaken Me, says Jehovah; you have gone backward; therefore I will stretch out My hand against you, and destroy you; I am weary with repenting.

The Lord’s expression that He is weary with repenting is that He has created Beasts that are diametrically opposed to Him, highlighting His earnest desire to finish His work, to “come quickly” and relieve us (and Himself) of our suffering flesh.

Psa 6:2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 
Psa 6:3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? 
Psa 6:4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. 

For those who sigh and groan for ‘how long, oh lord…’ – likewise is our Lord mourning that He has to keep forgiving our endemically sinful hearts, and our continually going to Him for forgiveness.  It is the nature of being born sin from our mother’s womb. Our inherent nature is to indulge the temptation to indulge in innocuous things that can become sin and, most damningly, be tempted to partake of nocuous (unlawful) acts.

Our Lord’s repenting is a lamentation for having evil flesh existing in His eternal spiritual realm, an annoying kicking against us, yet a necessary and temporary wart on His very Body! (1Co 12:27, Eph 5:30)

Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth [in us] and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 
Gen 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Gen 6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 
Gen 6:8 But Noah [the saving Christs’, His Body] found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 
2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Lam 3:66 Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.

With those understandings, we are grateful for our Lord’s persecution and destruction of our flesh, the earth under His heavens, to become one spirit in Him.

Isa 41:10 Do not fear; for I am with you; be not dismayed; for I am your God. I will make you strong; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness. 

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

[Study Aired June 3, 2021]

These verses we’ll look at describe the inspired plan of action (Amo 3:7) that Nathan the prophet shared with Bathsheba in order to preserve the lineage of king David. It was all of the Lord that Adonijah, who represents our old man, wanted to exalt himself in the manner he did, as he attempted to sway the masses into believing he was the rightful heir to the throne (2Th 2:4, Dan 11:36). This approach is brightly contrasted with the humility demonstrated through both Nathan and Bathsheba toward king David, seen in how they approached before his presence; and all of these events were written for our sakes upon whom the ends of the ages are come (1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11).

Amo 3:7  Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Dan 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

The sins of the Amorites are being fulfilled in this earth in this age both inwardly and outwardly (2Ti 3:13, Gen 15:16), and we will see this pattern of self-exaltation in the world just like Adonijah who became more bold and self-exalted in the earth. This spirit will persist until the outward return of Christ (2Ti 3:1-8). As God’s elect fill up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ in our flesh for His body’s sake which is the church, we will be able to then circumvent all such uprisings, especially within ourselves, to the glory of God (Col 1:24, Heb 12:15, Act 20:28). Ultimately, God is not preserving our flesh but our spirits through His power, as He has determined from the foundation of the world that the bride will be made ready, and not a hair of our head will be hurt (Rev 19:7, Luk 21:18).

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 
2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Ti 3:8  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready [by overcoming through Christ all that we just read in 2Timothy 3:1-8)].

Luk 21:18  But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

When God humbles us through our trials and much tribulation in this life, along with afflictions that we bear in our bodies, it is for the express purpose of getting our flesh out of the way so that we can be among those who are the first to trust God unto the saving of our souls (Eph 1:12-13, Heb 3:14, Heb 7:25, Heb 10:39, 1Pe 1:9). It is in this humbled and broken state of mind that God causes for His people (Isa 66:2) to experience His power resting upon us, which is how the gates of hell will not prevail against our stance in the Lord, who is our defence as we go forward not shunning to declare “all the counsel of God” (Mat 24:14, Act 20:27).

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world [1Jn 2:16] for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved [Php 4:13].
Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Act 20:27  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

At this section of the study we will see God’s servant, Nathan the prophet, who we know we are to look to as an example of “suffering affliction, and of patience” (Jas 5:10), doing exactly what the Lord would have him do as he brings to the attention of Bathsheba, who represents the church, the inspired actions they must take (1Th 5:20-23) in order to stay the hand of Satan who is represented by Adonijah.

Jas 5:10  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 
1Th 5:20  Despise not prophesyings.
1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1Th 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil. 
1Th 5:23  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is through the brightness of Christ’s coming via His word sent forth from God’s servant that this destruction will occur (2Th 2:8). This story is a type and shadow event of how God works in the body of Christ today to preserve the spiritual seed of Christ through right judgment in the midst of our earth that will edify, exhort and comfort us  (Mat 24:27,  Gal 3:16, Isa 26:9, 1Co 14:3).

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

Mat 24:27  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Gal 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth [Jer 22:29], the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. 

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to  edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

We must transition from being the foolish virgin to being the wise virgin who watches and prays so we can hear the word of the Lord which tells us, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mat 26:41, Jer 22:29) God has assured the bride of Christ that regardless of grievous wolves who will be as ravening beasts trying to enter into the body, those plans, just as Adonijah’s were, will not prevail against Christ’s body (Act 20:29, Mat 7:15) because “the word of God is not bound” and the gates of hell will not prevail against it, and where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty (2Co 3:17). “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets”, and those secrets are the great and precious promises which have been given to the body of Christ to fill us with hope at this very moment (2Ti 2:9-10, Mat 16:18, 2Pe 1:4).

2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2Ti 2:9  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even  unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
2Ti 2:10  Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

1Ki 1:13  Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? 
1Ki 1:14  Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words. 

Nathan is telling Bathsheba “go and get thee in unto king David“, and his testimony to her is a shadow of the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophesy (Rev 19:10). We are being shown a parable here where Bathsheba, who is a type of the church, is able to be comforted by Nathan, who represents the spirit of God (Joh 16:13) which gives us the ability to come boldly before the throne of God to “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). God’s mercy and grace are found in this time of need when the kingdom of God, or the lineage that would lead to the King of that kingdom, is being physically restored by the spirit of God coming via the words of the prophet which gave Bathsheba the boldness she needed to come before the throne of King David to state her case.

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 

Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Bathsheba has come to save her life and the life of her son Solomon (a type of our spiritual salvation through Christ – 1Ki 1:13) by putting the king in remembrance of this oath that represents the promise of God’s elect ruling and reigning under Christ. She is instructed to ask “Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly  Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?” To further show us this was a witness from God, this is what is to happen next: “Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words“. The dream is one (Gen 41:26), and the confirmation is important as it tells us that these things are being established by God (Rom 13:1, 2Pe 1:12, Dan 4:17) and was not a power grab, as was the case with Adonijah whose only witness was against himself. Adonijah^H138 whose name means “my Lord is Jehovah” was not established in the truth, typifying Babylon in us before we are called out of her and given new raiment and food that represent His righteousness (Isa 4:1, Gen 43:34).

God is establishing His righteousness in us through wise counsel, and that counsel which we receive today and share with one another is given to us so we can wholly give ourselves to these things, so that we can be established in Christ (1Ti 4:15-16), which is what the Lord is doing with each of his children.

1Ti 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them [Joh 8:31-32]: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 

Rom 13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 

2Pe 1:12  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established^G4741 in the present truth.

G4741  
στηρίζω  
stērizō  
stay-rid’-zo 
From a presumed derivative of G2476 (like G4731); to set fast, that is,
(literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm: – fix, (e-) stablish, stedfastly set, strengthen.

Dan 4:17  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

It was God’s decree or intention from the foundation of the world to show all of mankind, all of the living starting with God’s first fruits who are alive in Christ (Rom 8:9, Gal 2:20) and dead to sin (Rom 6:11) “that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (1Co 1:26). It is only when we are truly alive in Christ as “the living” (Gal 2:20) that we can be blessed to see this order of salvation which starts with the first fruits (1Co 15:23) and has its consummation in the great white throne judgment where Christ will put all things under God so that He may be all in all (1Co 15:28).

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

As we will see with these confirming verses, God is going to establish^G4741 His purposes in the earth and “no flesh will glory in his presence” (1Co 1:29-31)

1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence. 
1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 
1Co 1:31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

establish G4741 Rom 16:25; 1Th 3:2; 1Th 3:13; 2Th 2:17; 2Th 3:3; Jam 5:8; 1Pe 5:10

1Ki 1:15  And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king. 
1Ki 1:16  And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

Notice there is a chamber, a room, a separation from us and our Lord. In other words, because we see through a glass darkly (our flesh), when we approach Christ (1Co 13:12), we are commanded to come boldly through this weak veil of flesh to obtain grace in time of need (Heb 4:16). We ought to let our words be few before one who is “very old“, a symbol, in the positive sense, of being very wise (Ecc 5:2). David, in type and shadow, already knows in his heart what is needed as he will eventually attest, just as Christ knows what we need before we ask Him (Mat 6:8). What is most instructive for us is the manner in which Bathsheba approaches the king in order to sort out this controversy with Adonijah. She is met with “Abishag the Shunammite” who is ministering “unto the king” and this does not threaten Bathsheba, but rather she, as a type of a mature member of the body of Christ, humbles herself in the presence of “the king” and “did obeisance unto the king“. After she humbled herself she was exalted by the only one who can exalt us, our Lord, typified by David, who says “What wouldest thou?” That comment is a very parallel thought to what the two witnesses heard “Come up hither” after their dead bodies lay in the street of Jerusalem for three days and a half (Mat 6:33-34, Jas 4:2-3, Rev 11:11-12).

Ecc 5:2  Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Jas 4:2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Jas 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Rev 11:11  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 
Rev 11:12  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

1Ki 1:17  And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.
1Ki 1:18  And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:

Bathsheba had confidence that this was not going to be a fruitless endeavour, seeing the issue at hand was not that David would have ever approved of anything that Adonijah was doing, but simply that “my lord the king, thou knowest it not” was something that had to be addressed. This plea to king David was also accompanied with the words “thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne“, which is a shadow of these promises in John (Joh 10:28, Joh 18:9):

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Joh 18:9  That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

Bathsheba knew that David was now a man of his word having seen him be crushed to powder vis-a-vis the circumstances with their infant son dying. Nathan the prophet was in the midst of that event as well, and again was used to bring witness to the reality of what God was doing in David’s life, which is a parable of our own lives in Christ. This parable once again is something that reveals to us how our adulterous relationship with Babylon will bring forth no children or doctrine, but regardless of our past indiscretions, if we are God’s elect, nothing shall separate us from the love of God (2Sa 12:15-20, Rom 8:35-39).

2Sa 12:14  Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child [the doctrine] also that is born unto thee shall surely die [God’s sword was going to destroy in type and shadow all adulterous doctrine represented by this child – it is significant that no name is ever given of this child (2Sa 12:10)].
2Sa 12:15  And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
2Sa 12:16  David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth [type and shadow of this verse (Gen 17:18)].
2Sa 12:17  And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
2Sa 12:18  And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died [a type of this event of cleansing (Lev 14:6-7)]. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? 
2Sa 12:19  But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead [David’s heightened perception is a type of our being spiritually awake and alert after the death of those things that were false in our heavens]: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
2Sa 12:20  Then David arose from the earth [Act 9:8, Joh 9:41], and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, [His doctrine, his hope was now in the living word of God in type and shadow] and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped [Joh 4:23]: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

David has been greatly humbled through this trial, and now he is in “his own house” and asking for bread which is symbolic of how, after we have been crushed through the trials God brings our way, we then hunger and thirst and become zealous because of the bread that God gives us after we have been afflicted and come to our senses leading us to our “own house” which is our Father’s house (2Co 7:11, Luk 15:17-19)]

2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Luk 15:17  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s “own house” have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luk 15:18  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luk 15:19  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets”, and as we have seen in this section of the book of Kings, when God has purposed something, as He has all things according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11), the end result of those who are called, chosen and faithful is that we will know “that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). This story of how Solomon’s and the subsequent lineage of King David which would be preserved by grace through the faith of Christ is what this story in Kings is encouraging us, as the elect, to see (Joh 15:16, Rev 20:6).

Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/the-book-of-kings-1ki-110-12-the-lord-liveth-that-hath-redeemed-my-soul-out-of-all-distress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-book-of-kings-1ki-110-12-the-lord-liveth-that-hath-redeemed-my-soul-out-of-all-distress Thu, 27 May 2021 23:26:16 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=23620

1Ki 1:10-12  “The LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress”

(Safety within the counsel of God’s kingdom)

[Study Aired May 27, 2021]

1Ki 1:10  But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. 
1Ki 1:11  Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? 
1Ki 1:12  Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

This section of 1st Kings shows God’s elect, through the type and shadow experiences within King David’s kingdom, how God ministers or redeems our souls out of all distress through the multitude of counsellors whom He causes to bring safely to His kingdom within us (Luk 17:21), which counsel preserves us unto the saving of our souls. We are those vessels God uses for each other so that the gates of hell won’t prevail against us (Mat 16:18), and each joint has a part in that preservation process to which we have been called in this age as His elect remnant (Mat 9:17, Gen 32:30, Heb 10:39, 2Co 3:18, 1Co 13:12, Eph 4:16, Rom 11:5).

Mat 9:17  Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are  preserved. [Psa 119:160 (CLV), Joh 6:68, 1Co 12:12, Rom 12:5]

Gen 32:30  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel^H6439: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same

2Co 3:18 Now we all, with uncovered face, mirroring the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into the same (CLV)

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

H6439 penû’êl  penı̂y’êl  pen-oo-ale’, pen-ee-ale’
From H6437 and H410; face of God; Penuel or Peniel, a place East of Jordan; also (as Penuel) the name of two Israelites: – Peniel, Penuel.

Interesting to note: the pineal gland and the pituitary gland are found in the middle of the brain and are very protected as such. The similarity of the word peniel and penial are not what is in view here but rather the fact that God’s elect are protected and at the center of God’s plan of the salvation of all that comes about as a result of the spiritual growth growth He grants through the church, just as in the physical realm the pineal and pituitary glands afford.

Gen 32:30  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel^H6439: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

The brain is comprised of two distinct hemispheres connected by fibers. The pineal gland is located in the middle of the brain, in between the two hemispheres. The pineal gland contains mainly pinealocytes, which are cells that produce the hormone melatonin; and glial cells, which are a particular type of brain cells that support neurons (the cells that transmit information to other cells). [Pineal gland calcification and Defective Sense of Direction]

Of people with impaired pineal glands found that damage to this gland is associated with declines in the sense of direction. This suggests that the pineal gland may play a largely unrecognized role in spatial navigation. [Some verses to consider: Jer 18:4, Pro 14:12, Rom 8:9, Rom 8:14-15]

The pituitary gland is a gland that protrudes from a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is linked to a wide range of hormonal functions, including growth and thyroid function.

(Taken from this medical journal: Medical News Today/articles/319882)

Spiritually, God’s elect are protected as we are being dragged or directed to Christ and face Him (Joh 6:44, Luk 22:31) face to face as we go from glory to glory so we can grow through an increase that comes from God Who abides in us through Christ (1Co 3:6, Joh 14:20, Col 1:27).

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; [pineal gland typical of this] but God gave the increase  [pituitary typical of this].

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: [Rom 8:9]

The pituitary gland is therefore situated where it is to teach us this lesson in the physical realm, which reveals the spiritual reality (Rom 1:20) of where growth originates and how it is we are blessed when we are facing our Judge, who is in the north, and we then mature and grow in this life (Eph 2:6, Rev 4:6, 1Pe 4:17, Eze 26:7, Jer 50:9, Isa 26:9).

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Rev 4:6  And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne [in the midst like the pituitary gland], and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. [God’s elect]

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Eze 26:7  For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon [come out of her my people through judgment], a king of kings, from the north, [Psa 17:13] with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.

Jer 50:9  For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against  Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain [Isa 55:10-11].

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

The safety that is found within the counsel of God’s kingdom is being formed within the body as we grow and mature as the body of Christ through that judgment which causes us to die daily and no longer be conformed to this world but rather transformed by the renewing of our minds (1Pe 4:17, 1Jn 4:17, Rom 12:1-2).

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

That is the life-long endeavor to which we have been called, and God promises to provide all the love and support we need in order to endure unto the end as His kind of first fruits which He has purposed to mature first in this age (Jas 1:18, 1Pe 2:9).

Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

1Ki 1:10  But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

When we look at the names of those with whom Adonijah would not confer, we get a sense of how he was truly being exalted in his own flesh and did not see the need to go to “Nathan^H5416 the prophet” whose name means “giver” and that word is taken from H5414 meaning “to give, to put, to set” also, “bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate.” These definitions tell us who Nathan was as a man of God who was not going to allow this self-exalted would-be king Adonijah – who represents our carnal flesh – to exalt himself (Mat 23:12, Pro 11:11, Pro 28:7).

Mat 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Pro 11:11  By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

Pro 28:7  Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

H5416nâthân naw-thawn’
From H5414; given; Nathan, the name of five Israelites: – Nathan.

H5414 nâthan naw-than’
A primitive root; to give, used with great latitude of application (put, make, etc.): – add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ([healed]), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit consider, count, + cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute do, X doubtless, X without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up). + sing, + slander, strike, [sub-] mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, X willingly, + withdraw, + would (to) God, yield.

Adonijah also did not call on “Benaiah^H1141, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not“.

Benaiah was one of David’s mighty warriors which in itself is a symbol of someone who is faith-filled and wanting to fight a good fight of faith, having no guile within him. Benaiah^H1141 means “Jehovah has built”. God has built this typical dedicated house (Psa 127:1) as opposed to Adonijah^H138 [“my lord is Jehovah”] whose name claims the name of Jehovah but denies Him in works (Isa 4:1).

Isa 4:1  And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

“The mighty men, and Solomon his brother” were the two other groups that “he called not“. As mentioned, Benaiah was one of those mighty men, along with another undetermined number of mighty men who are a shadow of the safety that we find in the multitude of wise counsellors, who are only seeking the will of God (Pro 11:14, Pro 24:6).

Pro 11:14  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Not seeking counsel from “Solomon^H8010 his brother” is the last straw in this breakdown and insurrection that was taking place in Israel, and rejecting the counsel of the king is a type of rejecting the counsel of Christ, Who is our wisdom (Job 12:13, 1Ki 4:29-30).

Job 12:13  With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

1Ki 4:29  And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
1Ki 4:30  And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

1Ki 1:11  Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

“Wherefore“, because of what Nathan knew Adonijah was doing, he “spake unto Bathsheba^H1339 the mother of Solomon“. Bathsheba, whose name means “daughter of an oath“, representing the body of Christ and the positive example of the oath or promise that there would be a remnant that would descend from line of David with Bathsheba and not from “Adonijah, the son of Haggith^H2294“.

Haggith – H2294 Feminine of H2291; festive; Chaggith, a wife of David: – Haggith.

H2291 From H2287; festive; Chaggi, an Israelite; also (patronymically) a Chaggite, or descendant of the same: – Haggi, Haggites.

H2287  BDB Definition: to hold a feast, hold a festival, make pilgrimage, keep a pilgrim-feast, celebrate, dance 1Sa 30:16, stagger  Psa 107:27

Bathseba – H1339 bath-shebabath-sheh’-bah
From H1323 and H7651 (in the sense of H7650); daughter of an oath; BathSheba, the mother of Solomon: – Bath-sheba.

The oath that Bathsheba’s name means is a type and shadow of the promise that there would be an elect seed which would become the true kings and priests to rule under Christ, typified by Solomon and the generations that would follow him (Rom 11:15, Mat 1:1, Mat 1:6, Mat 1:16-17).

Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Mat 1:1  The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Mat 1:6  And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;^H223 [Jehovah (Yahweh) is my light (flame)]

Mat 1:16  And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Mat 1:17  So all the generations from Abraham to David  are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

(Notice the number 3 that represents the process of spiritual completion, 1+4=5 meaning grace through faith and 6+3 for judgment, explaining what happens within those spiritual generations of Christ’s body 3X14=42).

It is very instructive to note that “Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon” with the intention of preserving that line towards kingship, which typifies the small remnant that is preserved through the ages to the glory of God (Mat 1:17), and it was Nathan the prophet who was also used by God to go to King David to once again preserve  in type and shadow the spiritual lineage of King David – by going to his brother and telling him his transgression between him and David alone (Mat 18:15, Gen 39:9, Mat 25:45, 2Sa 12:7, Psa 51:1). These actions are connected to that parable of the generations of Christ who are preserved through judgment.

2Sa 12:7  And Nathan said to David, Thou art  the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

Psa 51:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

We read that “Adonijah the son of Haggith^H2294 doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?“. This statement is a parable for our learning to remind us that this spirit called “Haggith^H2294, whose name means festive”, lies at the doors of our hearts and wants to ‘eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die’ (1Co 15:31-32). Then, “David our lord knoweth it not?” is a shadow of our negligence when we neglect so great a salvation by not stirring up God’s spirit within us through prayer (Heb 2:3), prayer that would keep us as alert watchmen at the door of God’s kingdom within us (Mat 26:41). We just can’t make war with the beast unless God sends Nathan the prophet who typifies God’s holy spirit that comes to us and leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4, Joh 8:36). Like king David, “old and  stricken in years” (of verse 1 from last week), we are not as the old man aware of all the goings on about us both within and outside our kingdom. However, by grace through faith (Eph 2:8, 1Jn 5:4), we can be more than conquerors through Christ (Rom 8:37) as we awaken to the reality of our calling (Mat 25:6-7, Rom 13:11) and realize the continual need to fight a good fight of faith (1Ti 6:12).

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
1Co 15:32  If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? [right now in earnest (Eph 2:6)] let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

Heb 2:3  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Mat 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Mat 25:6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps [Rom 13:11].

Rom 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses [Rev 3:11, Psa 146:3].

1Ki 1:12  Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

This last verse of our study is at the heart of the matter regarding what it means to find safety within the counsel of God’s kingdom, “that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon“. Christ is our life (Rom 14:8,  Gal 2:20) and the knowledge and wisdom He gives us through His body is to be greatly treasured and is not to be compared to anything we could desire on this earth seeing it is the words of eternal life (Pro 1:5, Php 4:6-7, Pro 1:23-31, Php 3:8)

Pro 1:5  A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Pro 1:23  Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you [Joh 10:27, Luk 12:32, 1Jn 4:4-6, Mat 13:9, Mat 13:16].
Pro 1:24  Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Pro 1:25  But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: [Rom 2:4]
Pro 1:26  I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Pro 1:27  When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Pro 1:28  Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me [Mat 25:11-13]:
Pro 1:29  For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD [Luk 12:5]:
Pro 1:30  They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof [Pro 6:23].
Pro 1:31  Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices [Php 3:9].

If we say, “We see” our sins will remain (Joh 9:41), but if we acknowledge that we don’t know as we should know (1Co 8:2) then we can thank God for taking the guile out of our hearts that would have us thinking we don’t continually need to have our every plan in this life committed unto our loving Father (1Pe 4:19, Php 4:6-7) Who only wants to direct us by still waters where we can grow and flourish in Christ (Psa 23:1-3).

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

1Co 8:2  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

If God will grant us such a humble and contrite heart as a gift from him (Isa 66:2), then we will be able to heed the admonition being given to us that says “Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon” (Joh 6:68).

We will be restored by those living waters He gives to those whom He is judging in this age and leading to repentance in order to make the bride ready (Rev 19:7, Php 2:12-13) at the expense of all who are not given the power to continue and endure until the end (typified by Adonijah and expressed in type and shadow in this parable in Matthew 25:8-10).

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at the order David establishes through the wise counsel which was given him through those whom the Lord brought to him and that he received with ears to hear (1Jn 4:6).

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