“Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

  (Pro 27:9-16)

[Study Aired April 9, 2026]

Pro 27:9  Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
Pro 27:10  Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
Pro 27:11  My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
Pro 27:12  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Pro 27:13  Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Pro 27:14  He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
Pro 27:15  A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
Pro 27:16  Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

Christ is our friend,  our mighty counsellor (Isa 9:6, Joh 15:15-16) who provides hearty counsel if we are blessed to be given an hunger and thirst for it in this age (Mat 5:6, Joh 6:35).

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

That counsel when received of our Father in heaven will make our hearts burn within us, with gratefulness and joy knowing what a privilege we’ve been given to hear His voice (Mat 13:16-17, Rev 16:15, Luk 12:37, Rev 22:7). It is those who read, hear and keep the sayings of the prophecy who Christ identifies as being blessed as these verses below demonstrate (Rev 1:3).

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Luk 12:37  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

As discussed last week, God will reward those who diligently seek him (Heb 11:6), and if we are blessed to continue in the truth, it will set us free (Joh 8:31-32) and provide us the ability to set others free with the spiritual words of life that can quicken us and in due time cause others’ hearts to burn with the joy of knowing our Lord and God’s plan of salvation (1Ti 4:16, 1Jn 4:6, Joh 6:63, Heb 4:2, 1Jn 5:4).

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (1Ti 4:16).

Heb 4:2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (Rom 10:17).

(Eph 2:8) reminds us that we are truly at God’s mercy as we receive this gift of salvation, and the world will one day understand (Luk 17:10) that is applicable to those few who God has ordained to be a kind of first fruits who will be scarcely saved (1Pe 4:18), enduring to the end by being granted to have hearts that “… burn within us, while he talk[s] with us by the way, and while he open[s] to us the scriptures” (1Pe 4:18, Mat 24:13).

Pro 27:9  Ointment^H8081 and perfume^H7004 rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

Christ in us is that ointment and perfume that rejoices the heart (Isa 10:27, 1Jn 2:27), as every joint supplies in love to the edifying and building up of the body of Christ (Eph 4:16). With Christ’s life in us, and via the pruning and purging of sin in our lives, a zealousness and sweetness is formed, the fruit of His righteousness that provides hearty counsel. This “friend” is our hope of glory within, Jesus Christ, who we are to each other “by hearty counsel”(Act 22:8).

Exo 31:11  And the anointing oil^H8081, and sweet incense^H7004 for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.

Isa 10:27  And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

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.

Act 22:8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Pro 27:10  Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

On a practical human level this proverb reminds us to value faithful friends and dependable neighbors, especially in times of need. Spiritually, however, it points us to Jesus Christ, our eternal Friend and our hope of glory within (Col 1:27), who never abandons us (1Ti 6:7-8, Heb 13:5-6).

1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

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.
Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

(being prepared spiritually is typified by the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who as a result of that spiritual preparedness had the boldness needed in the day of adversity to stand (Pro 24:10), having done all (Dan 6:13, Dan 3:16-18))

Pro 27:11  My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

If we cleave unto Christ and resist the devil he will flee from us (Jas 4:7, Joh 6:44) and we will be given to wisely answer or not answer those who reproach us in this life (Pro 26:4-5, Luk 12:11-12). Satan is the ultimate accuser of the brethren, and the one who continues to reproach the body of Christ (Rev 12:10) that we can overcome through Christ, quenching every fiery dart that is thrown by the devil (Eph 6:16).

Luk 12:11  And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
Luk 12:12  For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Lord willing, we are being prepared and overcoming that wicked one (Eph 6:13), and if God will permit (Heb 6:3) that is exactly what will happen due to the wisdom of Christ, and the faith, and strength that He can give us to make us more than conquerors through him (Rom 8:37-39).

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.

Christ has prophesied that the elect will be made ready as the wise virgins, “My son, be wise, and make my heart glad”, and the unwise will be overtaken by the reproach of the devil that will corrode the love of many and cause iniquity to abound (Mat 24:48-51, Mat 24:12). This is all “according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will”, and so we are warned to not be highminded of this victory of salvation that God has promised His children at the expense of the world’s unbelief (Eph 1:11, Rom 8:28, Rom 11:18-22).

Mat 24:48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Mat 24:49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants,[Mat 24:12] and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Mat 24:50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. [which is “to eat and drink with the drunken”]

Rom 11:18  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.(1Jn 5:4) Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Pro 27:12  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

We’ve just discussed the evil that Christ prophesied is going to abound at the end of this age, and the solution to overcoming is to hide ourselves in Christ (Heb 10:25).  “The simple pass on” implies that the mind of Christ is not present in this person, and as a result they will forsake the body and will be punished by being saved yet so as by fire in the lake of fire (1Co 3:14-15).

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Pro 27:13  Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

If someone is taking responsibility for a stranger’s debt or getting involved with a risky person, don’t trust them blindly—make sure there’s some guarantee or security so you don’t end up losing out. That’s the practical physical meaning of this proverb.

The spiritual lesson is that we all end up ‘losing out’ at first, in Babylon, as per God’s design when we invest in her garment wholeheartedly without considering how this leaven of the pharisees is going to affect us. It is Christ alone who can become the pledge for us, as we are dragged out of Babylon and brought into remembrance of all the false doctrines that reside in her that we now have to overcome the rest of our lives.

We take her gold and silver, the words of God wrapped around the idol of our hearts, and if God is working with us in this age He will purify those words and set us free from the past harlotries that had us in bondage (Joh 17:17,Pro 7:7-12).

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Pro 7:7  And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
Pro 7:8  Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
Pro 7:9  In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
Pro 7:10  And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
Pro 7:11  (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
Pro 7:12  Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) [Lev 19:29 – The Glebe]

Pro 27:14  He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

The friend we bless early in the morning with a loud voice is a parable relating to our relationship with Christ who we want to be our friend early in the morning, from our first coming to know of Him in Babylon. The problem is, we are cursed because that is all we want to know, Christ crucified for us on a cross for our sins (1Co 2:2, 1Co 3:1), not yet identifying our need to be crucified with Him in these early morning stages of our walk in the Lord (Col 1:24).

1Co 2:2  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Pro 27:15  A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
Pro 27:16  Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

These verses describe the church as a contentious (argumentative) woman (1Co 3:2-6) who is yet carnal and likened unto a continual dropping in a very  rainy day, which means we have many words at this time, ever searching but not mature enough to rightly divide the word and come to the knowledge of the truth (Heb 5:13-14).

1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
1Co 3:5  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

We hide the truth in this immature state and “the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.” refers to how, although we are heirs with the unction given to us (1Jn 2:20) having His holy spirit, “the ointment of his right hand”, and being sealed with the holy spirit of promise (Eph 1:13), however because we are yet carnal (Gal 4:1-7), that ointment on our right hand, “bewrayeth” or discloses our immaturity.

Gal 4:1  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

In conclusion, these proverbs reveal that the “ointment and perfume” which rejoices the heart is Christ in us our hope of glory (Col 1:27). Through Him, we are being fashioned as God’s workmanship, growing and maturing into stedfast, unmoveable, servants of the living God (1Co 15:58).

1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Though we begin in weakness and partial understanding, God is faithful to complete His work in us through the pruning, purging, and much tribulation we must go through in order to endure unto the end, with the faith of Christ (Act 14:22, Heb 12:2-4, Mat 24:13).

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Nothing can separate us from His love (Rom 8:35-37), expressed by His giving us the power to “drink indeed of my cup” (Heb 12:6-7, Mat 20:23), and as we abide in Him and receive His hearty counsel, we are not only finding liberty (Act 5:32, Heb 5:7-8, Eph 5:30, 2Co 3:17), but are also being prepared to set the world free, as saviours that will come up on mount Zion (Oba 1:21).

Act 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;(1Jn 4:17)

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

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

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

“Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked” – Part 1

(Pro 24:1-18)

[Study Aired January 8, 2026]

Why would we fret because of evil men, and why would we be envious of them? This entire chapter of Proverbs 24 gives us the answer to these questions, and will put us in remembrance of Christ who is building His temple, His body, the church (Psa 127:1), so that we can be strong against all the wiles of the devil (Eph 6:10-11) at the end of this age, our age, so that having done all we will be able to stand (Eph 6:12-19,  Mat 20:22-23, Mar 14:24-25).

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 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.
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Eph 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Mat 20:22  But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mat 20:23  And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

Mar 14:24  And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
Mar 14:25  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. (Col 1:27, Luk 17:21)

Pro 24:1  Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Pro 24:2  For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

What an apt description of humanity throughout history, right from the get-go. We have learned of war, “studieth destruction”, and have waxed worse and worse, the sins of the Amorites being fulfilled “in the fourth generation”, the fourth symbolizing the whole of humanity that will come to this understanding of the warring nature of the beast we are (Gen 15:16, Ecc 3:18).

Our lips talk of mischief and witness against us for years until the day of evil that God created is revealed and we come into judgement which has begun on the house of God (Pro 16:4, 1Pe 4:17).

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

We are told to not be envious against evil men, because before judgement comes upon us that is exactly what we do; we are envious of their supposed wealth and we want to surround ourselves around those who are doing well in the earth (Psa 73:1-3).

Psa 73:1  A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel (Gal 6:16), even to such as are of a clean heart (Joh 1:47).
Psa 73:2  But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
Psa 73:3  For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

All of this changes when we begin to be shown the man of perdition within our own hearts (2Th 2:2-4), who is being destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our heavens that are being cleansed so that we no longer “study destruction”, or “speak with lips of mischief”, no longer savouring the things of this world (Psa 73:3-9), but are blessed to have minds that are set on the things that are above and not on the earth (Col 3:2, Eph 5:2).

2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.(Mat 24:26-27 the brightness is lightning that represents God’s judgements in our heavens)
2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
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.

Psa 73:3  For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (the one who prospers in the earth is the man of perdition who must be destroyed)
Psa 73:4  For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
Psa 73:5  They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
Psa 73:6  Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
Psa 73:7  Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Psa 73:8  They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
Psa 73:9  They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Eph 5:2  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling
savour.

Pro 24:3  Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
Pro 24:4  And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Remember those chambers of (Mat 24:26-27). There is a positive and negative ‘chamber’, and it is Christ who positively fills the chambers of our hearts and minds with all precious and pleasant riches, revealing exceeding great and precious promises (2Pe 1:4) which tell us that he who is our wisdom (1Co 1:30) is going to build the temple that we are, and by understanding establish it (Psa 127:1, Joh 2:19).

Mat 24:26  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
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.

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Pro 24:5  A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Pro 24:7  Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

We can’t open our mouths in the gate where we should be going to receive the counsel that we need (“the gate” is the place where the rulers of the city sit in judgment), but when the fit man Jesus Christ (Lev 16:21) lays hold of the scapegoat that we are, we take on a new strength, that being the life of Christ within us who is our sufficiency in this life (2Co 3:5): “A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength”.

If we are being led by the spirit of God (Rom 8:14-15) we will be seeking out wise counsel, and that is where we will find liberty, and safety (2Co 3:17).

That is the wisdom that is too high for our foolish flesh that cannot open our foolish mouth in the gate to speak nor to even seek out that wise counsel, which we must partake of in this life in order to overcome and endure to the end (Psa 73:22, Jer 5:4).

Psa 73:22  So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

Jer 5:4  Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.

There are many verses with the word “counsel” in them, and those words are spirit and they are profitable (Joh 6:63).

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

Pro 12:15  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Pro 15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

Pro 19:20  Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Pro 19:21  There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

Pro 20:18  Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

Pro 21:30  There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

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

Pro 27:9  Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

Pro 24:8  He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
Pro 24:9  The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

These verses continue to demonstrate the fruits of one who does not understand nor receive counsel and is what produces thoughts of foolishness, which is sin. We end up being scorners who look down on the body of Christ, ‘going it alone’ and thinking that his relationship with Christ is solely between him and Christ, becoming an “abomination to men” because of this stubborn and self-righteous approach that Saul in us naturally takes, not seeking counsel, or obeying what God tells us to do (1Sa 15:22-23).

1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity (Eze 33:13) and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Pro 24:10  If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
Pro 24:11  If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
Pro 24:12  If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

God sees all of mankind’s strength as being small, “thy strength is small”, because we all initially trust in our own arm and not that of the Lord, until the trials start to come that humble our flesh (2Co 1:9). All men’s hearts will faint in the day of adversity, starting with the elect who, out of that adversity, will cry out unto God and will be heard (Act 9:4-5).

2Co 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Initially we can’t help others, because we are yet carnal babes in Christ, and so it is written “thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain” [not able to help those who are dying daily (1Co 15:31), being drawn to death, and ready to be slain].

Our works are being tried at this time, and at first we do say, “If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not [pleading ignorance is no excuse in a court of law]; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?”. However, if God is working with us in this age, we will come to know that we are His workmanship going unto perfection because of His mercy shown to his children in this age, “as a man spareth his own son that serveth him” (1Co 3:9-15, Heb 6:1-6, Mal 4:2-3, Mal 3:16-18).

1Co 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
1Co 3:10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. [shall not he render to every man according to his works?]
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.
Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Mal 4:3  And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Mal 3:17  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Mal 3:18  Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Pro 24:13  My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
Pro 24:14  So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

The honey is likened unto God’s word that is sweet in the mouth and bitter in the belly, and if God will permit we will be granted the strength needed via the bread of life (Psa 104:15) to endure that bitterness that represents the seven last plagues that must be poured out upon us in order to go unto maturity in Christ (Rev 15:8).

Keeping the knowledge and wisdom of God, abiding in the truth, will set us free (Joh 8:32) and “there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off”(Pro 23:17-19).

Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Pro 23:17  Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
Pro 23:18  For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
Pro 23:19  Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

Pro 24:15  Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
Pro 24:16  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Pro 24:17  Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
Pro 24:18  Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

There are two main admonitions in these verses for us. One is speaking to our younger less mature stage in Christ when we blindly lay wait against our older more mature members in Christ, “Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief”(Rom 14:1-4).

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

The second admonition is speaking of our not despising those who are less mature, but bearing their infirmity all our life as Christ has done with us, and is doing, “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him”(Rom 15:1).

Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Rom 15:1  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Rom 15:2  Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
Rom 15:3  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Rom 15:5  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

Next week, Lord willing, we will pick up where we left off, (Pro 24:19-34), as we continue to see why we should not fret because of evil and lawless men, with a strong emphasis on this part of the proverb that says, “Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked”.

Do not be beset by the sin within you that is being destroyed by Christ (Heb 12:1-2), and do not be discouraged or dismayed at a world that is failing and promised to come to the brink of destruction, not just physically, which could happen at any given moment in this nuclear age, but especially spiritually, all for our sakes to remind us that God is judging the nations within us and giving us victory over them through that judgment (Mat 24:6-9).

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

The world has already been ‘spiritually cursed’ (Mal 3:9)and is reaching that zenith of sin by God’s counsel and design, called the sins of the Amorites that must be fulfilled initially in us, and then, Lord willing, as the elect we will go through a lifetime of much tribulation in order to overcome this world of sin within, and be made ready for our Lord’s return (Act 14:22) that will come at the appointed time.

Lord help us to remain faithful watchmen to the very end (Luk 21:36, Mat 24:13).

Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility” Part 2(Pro 15:16-24)

(Aired on July 3, 2025)

Pro 15:16  Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Pro 15:17  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
Pro 15:18  A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Pro 15:19  The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
Pro 15:20  A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
Pro 15:21  Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
Pro 15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
>Pro 15:23  A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
Pro 15:24  The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

The bible has a lot to say about being content (Php 4:11-13), and the process of judgement that God puts us through in this life (1Ti 6:17) makes it possible for the elect to achieve that blessed place of being content (1Ti 6:6-8).

Php 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned (Tit 2:12-13), in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content (This verse 2Co 1:9 is what gives (Pro 3:5-8) its power so we can be content).
Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.(Php 2:12-13)

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.

1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

When our attention is on seeking the kingdom of God first and His righteousness as we “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”, forgetting what is behind us (Php 3:14), we learn that the “all things” that are accomplished by Christ (Php 4:13) is the paramount way by which we are going to go from being the rich young ruler who had great wealth, wealth that represents those who will say ‘haven’t we done many wonderful works’ in the second resurrection. That wealth also represents our former self-righteous conversation (Eph 2:1-3), as opposed to the prodigal son who sees the need now and the blessing to be judged of the Lord in this life. The impoverished actions of squandering our inheritance, is only the beginning of tribulation for this prodigal son who represents the elect of God (1Pe 4:17, Luk 15:14-15). The prodigal who squanders his inheritance is just another way of showing us how we think we are that rich young ruler in Babylon, and yet don’t understand that we are wretched (Rom 7:24), miserable (Rev 3:17), poor (Jas 2:5), and blind (Isa 42:19,  Joh 9:41) until the Lord starts to judge the manchild who is raised in heavenly places for that reason (Rev 12:5, Eph 2:6).

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Luk 15:14  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
Luk 15:15  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

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

Christ gives us the power to accomplish the “all things” that God’s spirit makes possible for us to fulfill in this life (1Co 13:7).

1Co 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Our goal then as the body of Christ is to be found at Christ’s return understanding that we are wretched, miserable, poor and blind,(Luk 17:10) as we are brought to see that as a marred vessel we have a continual need for our hope of glory within us, Jesus Christ,  to work within us day by day, moment by moment, so we can die to self and become more than conquerors through Him, through the faith of Christ by which we can do “all things” (Php 3:9-11).

Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. (Php 2:12-13)

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ (Php 4:13), the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Heb 11:26-27)
Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

God has given the body of Christ exceedingly great and precious promises that, when understood with the mind of Christ, we truly have nothing to fear, if we fear God and trust Him for all our needs, as we seek the kingdom of God first and His righteousness (Pro 19:23, Mat 6:33, Col 3:23, Gen 2:15). The Lord is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him, and so our labours are not in vain in Him (Php 2:12-13), and those labours in each of the elect’s lives have been ordained from the foundation of the world (Eph 2:10).

Pro 15:16  Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

This opening proverb says everything we need to know regarding the right relationship we should have with our Father (Luk 12:5) even as we commit our ways unto Him while pursuing paths of righteousness for His name sake, which paths include our jobs, our relationships in the world, which are all for our sakes (2Co 4:15) so that we can obtain great spiritual treasure that brings with it no burden, no trouble, no sorrow (Pro 10:22).

Luk 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

When we are seeking the kingdom of God first and His righteousness, we are being blessed with a hunger and thirst that comes from God (Mat 5:6), which drags us to the same right conclusion every time, that “Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith”.

Pro 15:17  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

This next proverb is a reminder of how blessed we are in the body of Christ to have the true riches of God’s word in our lives, unadulterated and all profitable (2Ti 3:16) as a result of the mind of Christ that gives us the ability to see the need for the sum of God’s word (Mat 4:4), as we compare spirit with spirit using the physical (1Co 2:12-14).

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Herbs represent the little that God’s elect have that is more valuable with an obedient spirit to God’s commandments (Mat 25:23), than the stalled ox in Babylon that is stalled because of the hatred that we once demonstrated toward God by not keeping his commandments, while we were saying ‘Lord, Lord’ and not doing the things that He commands us (1Jn 5:2). When we are obedient to the commandments of God we grow in our apprehension of His word and become partakers of the ox which represents the more mature discerning of God’s word that comes about as a result of the increase that He gives us (Heb 5:13-14, 1Co 3:6-7).

Mat 25:23  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Pro 15:18  A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

That wrathful man is the first man Adam within us that we need to rule over by God’s grace and the faith of Christ (Eph 2:8-9) that gives us the power to appease situations where strife exists (Rev 11:3). Stressful situations try and test us in that regard, and we are bound to fall seven times as God’s children as we learn that it is only by God’s mercy that we can eventually bring all our thoughts into subjection unto Christ and in so doing we end up ruling over the cities that make up the nations within us where God does cause evil and conflict (Pro 16:32-33, Amo 3:6).

Pro 16:32  He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Pro 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Amo 3:6  Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

Pro 15:19  The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

Our carnal man within us does not labour in the word of God and examine ourselves whether we be in the faith or not, but if we would be blessed to judge ourselves (Rom 2:4) we will not be judged in the lake of fire (1Co 11:31, 2Co 13:5).

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

A slothful man is likened unto a hedge of thorns, which represents false doctrines (Gen 3:18) which blind us from seeing the path to life that Christ makes plain for His children to see “but the way of the righteous is made plain” (Joh 16:13). It is also interesting to note that ‘made plain’ is Strong number H5549 and is also translated as ‘to cast up a highway’, ‘to lift up’ (and is being used with the Qal stem in this case).

H5549 sâlal  saw-lal’  A primitive root; to mound up (especially a turnpike); figuratively to exalt; reflexively to oppose (as by a dam): – cast up, exalt (self), extol, make plain, raise up.

BDB Definition:

1. to lift up, cast up, exalt
2. (Qal)
3. to cast up a highway
4. to cast up a way
5. to lift up (of song)
6. (Pilpel) to exalt, esteem highly, prize
7. (Hithpoel) to exalt oneself

We are called to resist those thorns and briers unto the shedding of blood, symbolized by the crown of thorns that Christ had put on him. This tells us that with the mind of Christ we can resist the devil and all his fiery darts can be quenched (Heb 12:4, Eph 6:16) with the strength of Christ working all things in our heaven and earth that He has complete power over (Mat 28:18).

Gen 3:18  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Pro 15:20  A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

Christ is our wisdom and until His words abide within us we are the foolish man that despises his mother who represents the church, the body of Christ (Col 1:24).

We can only be accepted through Christ who was and is and will be the wise son who makes His father glad, “A wise son maketh a glad father” (Mat 3:17).

Mat 3:17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Pro 15:21  Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

When we are destitute of the mind of Christ we cannot help but be drawn toward the folly of this world that satisfies our yet carnal state. However, a man who is being judged of the Lord in this age is a man of understanding who now walks uprightly, coming out of the world, touching not the unclean thing, and is being received of God through Christ (Eph 1:6, 2Co 6:17-18).

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Pro 15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

The holy spirit has inspired these verses that discuss the wisdom of counsel (Pro 11:14, Pro 15:22, Pro 24:6) which is a means to an end for the body of Christ as we navigate through this life via the strength that God provides through each joint that supplies in love (Eph 4:16), which is what is needed to keep the body spiritually healthy. It is with the body of Christ that we are to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God (1Pe 5:6), submitting to one another as unto Christ (Eph 5:21-22), and in doing this we will be lifted up in due season and become more than conquerors through Christ and His body.

Pro 1:25  But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

Pro 1:30  They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Pro 8:14  Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

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

Pro 15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

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

Pro 15:23  A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

Not just any words bring us joy, but the joy of our salvation (Psa 51:12), which results in our knowing God and Christ (Joh 17:3), and having the words of eternal life in our hearts and minds (Joh 6:68). At that day (Joh 14:20) because we have been blessed to keep the words of God and continue to abide in them, we become confident and assured that the Father and the Son have made their abode in us making it possible for us to provide spiritual meat in due season (Joh 8:31-32, Mat 24:45-46). That is the good that God gives to those who He is dragging to His Son in this age (Joh 6:44). God’s elect are not just blessed to stumble unto the word of God, but are keeping the sayings of the prophecy (Rev 1:3) that crushes our old man and makes us ready to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection (Mat 21:44, Luk 13:4-5).

Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Luk 13:4  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
Luk 13:5  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Pro 15:24  The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell^{H7585 = sheol} beneath.

The way of life is Christ (Joh 14:16) and he is our wisdom (1Co 1:30), and it is through him that we can overcome the grave as He is the power of the resurrection (Php 3:10, Joh 11:25-26). Even now as we die daily we are being raised in heavenly places (Eph 2:6) to the glory and honour of God “until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Eph 1:14). All of this is promised to the body of Christ, and we are also reminded of the way by which we will obtain these promises, which is through “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility”.

Pro 11:13-16 “The righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner” Part I

[Study Aired March 6, 2025]

In this section of Proverbs chapter 11 we’ll look at the following verses (Pro 11:13-16) with the final verse in mind throughout, that states God shall recompense the righteous in the earth, much more the wicked and the sinner (Pro 11:31).

Inwardly the deceitful and desperately wicked heart of man, of all men (Jer 17:9), will not inherit the kingdom of heaven (1Co 15:50), which is another way of saying nothing that defiles the kingdom of God will enter into its gates of (Rev 21:27).

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

Right now if God is judging us (1Pe 4:17), then we are a blessed people above all of God’s creation, and that judgement and the suffering that it brings upon the body of Christ is a manifest token of His workmanship that God’s people are in this age (2Th 1:4-6, Php 1:28-29, Eph 2:10).

2Th 1:4  So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 
2Th 1:5  Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 
2Th 1:6  Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 

Php 1:28  And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 
Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

All of God’s word is “given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2Ti 3:16), as those words sharpen us (Pro 27:17) with the present truths that we hold fast to, and are established in (1Th 5:21, 2Pe 1:12).

1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 

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 in the present truth. 

Speaking of sharpening, I’ve been learning how to use a straight blade to shave, and the sharpening process takes a lot of time and proper technique against a specific honed glass stone. The blade has to go through many passes against this specially designed stone in order to become sharp enough to cut facial hair. Accomplishing the razor sharp results I’m looking for is an ongoing work in progress that has not yet been realized yet as it turns out to be something that requires a lot more time and skill to attain then I expected.

Whether I end up succeeding at this physical challenge or not the Lord knows, and it reminds me of these verses “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind [my old razor], and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Php 3:13-14).

The good news is that although salvation is something that is scarcely obtained by God’s design as we grow spiritually sharper in the Lord (1Pe 4:18, 2Pe 3:18), we are also blessed to know that it will all be accomplished by the faith of Christ alone (1Jn 5:4, Rom 3:27), who is the stone that God has placed in our lives as our hope of glory (Col 1:27). If we truly love the brotherhood and have become fellow servants who sharpen each other in this life, then that which He has begun will be finished in each of our lives in this manner, “from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love”(ESV) (Php 2:12-13, Php 1:6, Eph 4:15-16).

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

This simple analogy of sharpening a blade against glass reminds us that God’s elect are represented by what we read in these verses (Rev 21:21-27) that include reference to “transparent glass”. All of these qualities of the temple described in (Rev 21:21-27) describe what it takes for God’s people to be “meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work“(2Ti 2:20-21). The work of witnessing during the thousand year reign (Rev 20:6) and the work of judging all of humanity who will come up in the great white throne judgement are all made possible by Christ the chief corner stone who prepared the bride for the service she was called unto (1Pe 2:6). That service cannot be accomplished unless we become like the stone, Jesus Christ (1Jn 4:17), that God will use with Christ as our head to be saviours to this world (Oba 1:21).

2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 
2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work (Rev 19:7).

Pro 24:27  Prepare thy work without [Heb 13:13], and make it fit for thyself in the field;[Mat 13:38, Joh 17:16] and afterwards build thine house.[Isa 9:7] 

Luk 9:62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. [It takes the strength of the fit man to accomplish God’s work within the scapegoat in this age (Lev 16:10-11, Lev 16:21)]

Luk 14:34  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 
Luk 14:35  It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.[It takes the strength of the fit man to accomplish God’s work within the scapegoat in this age which entails the living sacrifices that we are to God, being salted with fiery trials (Lev 16:10-11, Lev 16:21, Mat 5:13, 1Pe 4:12, Mar 9:49)] 

Lev 16:10  But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. 
Lev 16:11  And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: 

Lev 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

Mat 5:13  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 

Mar 9:49  For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice [Rom 12:1] shall be salted with salt. 

These verses in the book of Revelation (Rev 21:21-27) represent a time when the elect are ruling and reigning over the kingdoms of this world (Rev 11:15) as they are “recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner“, having been judged in this age, and by God’s grace, overcome our corrupt flesh that cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

The world will be learning of His righteousness with His judgements in the earth (Isa 26:9), executed by the elect (1Pe 4:17), who were made ready at this time, to be the saviours who come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau (Oba 1:21, Jer 23:5, Rev 11:15). “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth“, has an inward application for God’s people today who have this earnest relationship (Rom 8:19) unfolding by the grace through faith process we’ve been called unto (Eph 2:8), and a dispensational fulfillment that is expressed perfectly in these verses (Rev 21:21-27)

Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

Rev 21:21  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl:

[Unity is being expressed in this section of the first verse, that has been completely formed in Christ’s body through judgment, resulting in the fulfillment of this verse (2Co 11:3) that speaks to the goal of unity that we are striving toward in the body of Christ today (Php 2:2)]

Rev 21:21  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city [the church]was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 
Rev 21:22  And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

[no more earnest relationship, but the fulness of this verse (Joh 14:20) now being experienced as spirit beings in God’s glorious service]

Rev 21:23  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it:[no need for the church to know Christ the sun of righteousness after the flesh for God’s elect at this point, no need for the process that the moon typifies for God’s elect (2Co 5:16)] for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 
Rev 21:24  And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth [Rev 11:15, Rev 17:14, Rev 19:16] do bring their glory and honour into it. 
Rev 21:25  And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 
Rev 21:26  And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it [God’s elect have been made ready and are represented by “the glory and honour of the nations” God having given them the power to rule over, and overcome the nations within us in this life]. 
Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth [Gen 3:24], neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

Pro 11:13  A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. 

Pro 11:13 He who goes about as a defamer reveals secret deliberation, Yet one faithful of spirit covers a confidential matter.”[CLV]

Today’s world is full of talebearers which were prophesied to be (2Ti 3:2-7), and the Lord is showing us what is within ourselves except for the grace of God that changes our talebearing hearts into one “that is of a faithful spirit [that] concealeth the matter”. We are extending that mercy toward each other today as the body of Christ showing pity and kindness to one another even as Christ had toward us (Jas 5:11, 1Pe 3:8, Mat 18:32-33)

Jas 5:11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 

1Pe 3:8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 

Mat 18:32  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 
Mat 18:33  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 

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

Here we have a multitude of verses with the word ‘counsel’ in them that will help us understand why “safety” is associated with counsel.

Pro 1:25  But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 

Pro 1:30  They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 

Pro 8:14  Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. [Christ who is our mighty counsel, and our wisdom (Isa 9:6)]

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

Pro 12:15  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. 

Pro 15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. [1Pe 5:10]

Pro 19:20  Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 

Pro 19:21  There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. [Eph 6:13]

Pro 20:5  Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. (Gen 24:63-64, Luk 21:36)

Pro 20:18  Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. 

Pro 21:30  There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.(Rom 8:31) 

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

Pro 27:9  Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel. 

Pro 11:15  He that is surety^H6148 for a stranger^H2114 shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship^H8628 is sure. 

The opposite of seeking wise counsel, and finding saftety in the multitude of counselors that we’ve just looked at, is what happens to us when we are “surety for a stranger“, key word “a stranger^H8628“.

H2114 zûr zoor
A primitive root; to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be a foreigner, strange, profane; specifically (active participle) to commit adultery: – (come from) another (man, place), fanner, go away, (e-) strange (-r, thing, woman).

God is not saying that we can’t learn from those in the world whose actions are commendable like the unjust steward who teaches us a great physical lesson that has a spiritual application to God’s elect, a lesson that tells us to forgive everyone including yourself, the debt that you owe, and be willing to take a loss, losing an eye, or a hand so you don’t lose out on being in the first resurrection (Luk 16:8, Mat 5:29). Christ is telling us to get rid of our own righteousness, our own perceptions and natural self-willed tendency, of which we can do with the life of Christ in us, as our hope of glory, of obedience (Mat 26:39, Php 3:9, Php 2:12-13).

Luk 16:8  And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. 

Mat 5:29  And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 
Mat 5:30  And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 

Safety is in the multitude of counselors and so that same mindset should be applied to how we approach the financial matters of our life, being careful not to put ourselves in a position where we become a slave to creditors. These verses are very instructive for us as to how we ought to be using the riches of this world that God gives us (Pro 22:6-9 , 1Jn 3:17-18), and how we must be careful to not become the borrower who is servant to the lender (Pro 22:6-9).

Pro 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 
Pro 22:7  The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 
Pro 22:8  He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. 
Pro 22:9  He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

1Jn 3:17  But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 
1Jn 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 

No one does this perfectly at first, but by God’s mercy and grace we will get better at it and the Lord will provide for those who are blessed to learn to trust him in this life whether we have a little or a lot (Php 4:11-13). We can always ask God for wisdom and He will provide abundantly for us in whatever challenges we are facing, financially and most importantly spiritually so that we are not being held in bondage to past mistakes (Jas 1:5-8).

Php 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 
Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

Pro 11:16  A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. 

The gracious woman represents the bride of Christ who is blessed in this age to positively lay-up spiritual store against the day of wrath by not despising God’s goodness that leads to repentance, making us zealous toward the Lord (Rom 2:4-5, 2Co 7:11). Christ is the fit man, or the strong man in our lives who makes it possible for us to “retain riches”.

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 
Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

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. 

In conclusion:

This “gracious woman” who retains honour is the church, and the strong who retain riches are the elect who are doing this through Christ who is able “also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Php 4:13, Heb 10:25).

It is the church of the firstborn who are the first to trust God until our last breath (Heb 12:23, Eph 1:12) as we come to know by God’s grace that we are the unprofitable servants who have done that which was expected of them through Christ (Luk 17:10, Php 2:12-13), and as such will experience the fulfillment of these words, “Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner” in that blessed and holy first resurrection (1Co 15:52, Rev 20:6).

[Study Aired June 12, 2022

Jer 42:1  Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,
Jer 42:2  And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)
Jer 42:3  That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.
Jer 42:4  Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.
Jer 42:5  Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.
Jer 42:6  Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.
Jer 42:7  And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.
Jer 42:8  Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,
Jer 42:9  And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him;
Jer 42:10  If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.
Jer 42:11  Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.
Jer 42:12  And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.
Jer 42:13  But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,
Jer 42:14  Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:
Jer 42:15  And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;
Jer 42:16  Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.
Jer 42:17  So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.
Jer 42:18  For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.
Jer 42:19  The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.
Jer 42:20  For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it.
Jer 42:21  And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you.
Jer 42:22  Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.

This chapter of Jeremiah demonstrates how we can and do fall when we think we are standing in the Lord while being disobedient to His commandments:

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

All those who refused to go forth and place themselves under the yoke of the princes of Babylon felt they had overcome the enemy, and that God was on their side even as they refused His counsel. Johanan, the son of Kereah, was just such a person, and when He rescued those who had been carried away as captives to Amon, his self-righteousness and iniquity become even greater, as we will learn for our own admonition:

Jer 42:1  Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,
Jer 42:2  And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)
Jer 42:3  That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.
Jer 42:4  Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass,that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.
Jer 42:5  Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.
Jer 42:6  Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.

Being informed later in this chapter that after seeking the Lord’s counsel through the Lord’s certified, proven prophet, “all the people” reject that counsel and declare that Jeremiah is not the Lord’s prophet, brings these verses of Ezekiel to mind:

Eze 14:1  Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
Eze 14:2  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

These two stories, first in Jeremiah 42 and then here in Ezekiel 14, happened to these two prophets of God, and they are written for our admonition:

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

It is the Lord who “makes us to err from His ways and hardens our hearts from His fear”, yet every time He does so, it makes the words “Wherefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” come alive. When the Lord does that, it strengthens “the fear of God” within those who are given to benefit from reading these stories and receiving the admonition they give us.

Isa 63:17  O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

It should be clear that a “hardened heart” is the same as being made to err from the Lord’s ways as the story of Pharaoh demonstrates:

Exo 4:21  And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

Paul contrasts a hardened heart with the Lord’s mercy:

Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

The Lord has mercy on whom He will, and whom He will He hardens. Our own will has nothing to do with what He is doing except that our will is turned by the Lord where He wants it to go. He causes us to either receive His mercy or be given a hardened heart:

Pro 21:1  The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

When God hardens our hearts, He does so before we come to His prophet or His Words to enquire of Him. In other words, we come to Him, His Word, and the leaders, elders and counselors He has placed in His body, with our minds already made up, and with no regard at all for the words of the Lord through His leaders, elders, and counselors.

Having their hearts hardened to all these commandments and admonitions means nothing to these remnant Jews of this chapter:

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

Pro 15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

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

When the Lord gives us just such a hardened heart, this is how He will answer us:

Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
Eze 14:5  That I may take the house of Israel [the “harlot” of Isaiah 1:21 and the “whore” of Revelation 17:1] in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.
Eze 14:6  Therefore say unto the house of Israel [the harlot], Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
Eze 14:7  For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:
Eze 14:8  And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

As the Lord would have it, that is exactly what is taking place within the hearts and minds of this Jewish remnant:

Jer 42:7  And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.
Jer 42:8  Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,
weight: 400;”>Jer 42:9  And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him;
Jer 42:10  If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.

We see the Lord repenting several times in scripture:

Gen 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, 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.

Jdg 2:18  And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

1Sa 15:10  Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
1Sa 15:11  It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

2Sa 24:16  And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

The sum of God’s word reveals that “He is not a man that He should repent” as the holy spirit informs us in the same 15^th chapter of 1 Samuel. We are told, “It repented the Lord that [He] had set up Saul to be king.”

1Sa 15:28  And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
1Sa 15:29  And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

The vast weight of the Words of God reveal that He knows the beginning from the end…

Isa 46:10  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

…because He IS the beginning and the end.

Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning, and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Rev 22:13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

The Lord tells us that His understanding is infinite:

Psa 147:5  Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

If indeed the Lord is the beginning and the end and His understanding is infinite, then there is nothing He does not know – past, present, or future:

Isa 46:10  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Nevertheless, there is one more principle which characterizes the Words of God. That principle is that there are qualifying statements which must always be accepted. If the Lord tells us anything and then makes a qualifying statement, then we must accept that qualifier.

For example, the Lord told Abraham to sacrifice His only son, but then He told Him not to do so:

Gen 22:2  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Later the Lord qualified that commandment:

Gen 22:9  And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
Gen 22:10  And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
Gen 22:11  And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here  am I.
Gen 22:12  And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

Verse 12 qualifies verse 2, and Abraham did not slay his only son, even though the Lord had told him to do so at first.

Another example of how this principle works is how Pharaoh in Genesis gave all power over all Egypt to Joseph with one qualifying statement:

Gen 41:40  Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
Gen 41:41  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

The words “only in the throne will I be greater than thou” qualify the extent of Joseph’s power over Egypt.

Another example of this principle is the anti-type of this story here in Genesis. Joseph, in this account of how he is made the ruler over all Egypt, typifies how God has given Christ all power in heaven and in earth:

Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

However, the scriptures qualify the extent of Christ’s power:

1Co 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he [the Father] is excepted, which did put all things under him.
1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

This statement speaks to the time of the destruction of “the last enemy… death”, and we are told that at that time “the Son also Himself [shall] be subject unto Him [the Father] who did put all things under [the Son].”

Just as an aside, that statement nullifies the false doctrine of a trinity of three equal parts of the Godhead.

Our point in all of this is that God is not a man that He should repent, and all those statements telling us that He did repent of making man, of chastening His people during the dispensation of the various judges, and of setting up Saul to be king over Israel, etc. are all being used in what is called an ‘anthropopathic’ (human feeling) manner. How else can He convey how His nature is so very opposed to the nature of His very own creatures? How else can He make us this offer?

Jer 42:10  If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.

The Lord really is all knowing, He is all powerful, and He is omnipresent. He is everywhere at the same time because:

Col 1:16   …by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Therefore, when our Lord tells us…

Jer 42:11  Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.
Jer 42:12  And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.

…we need to believe that He who has “all power in heaven and in earth” is very much able to make good on His word and to cause even our enemies to be at peace with us:

Pro 16:7  When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

When our ‘ways’, our customs and traditions included, as we will see in this story, do not “please the Lord” the very opposite it true, and our own wickedness reproves us:

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

At this point all we know about these Jews is that they did not put their necks under the yoke of the princes of Babylon. Other than that, we have not yet been explicitly told what ‘ways’ of these remnant Jews so displeased the Lord. We don’t yet know what it is they were still doing which separates them from their own God and drives them to go into the land of Egypt.

Jer 42:13  But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,
Jer 42:14  Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:
Jer 42:15  And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;
Jer 42:16  Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.
Jer 42:17  So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.
Jer 42:18  For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.
Jer 42:19  The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.

The reason we want to go into Egypt is that we feel safe and at home there. The Truth is that Israel never really wanted to leave Egypt, and after they left they wanted to go back there and serve again as slaves to the Egyptians:

Num 14:2  And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
Num 14:3  And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
Num 14:4  And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

Hundreds of years later, the Lord’s people were of the same mind and refused His counsel from His prophet:

Jer 42:20  For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it.
Jer 42:21  And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you.
Jer 42:22  Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.

In the Old Testament the Lord spoke through His patriarchs, and His prophets, and He certified His prophets by demonstrating for the whole world that those through whom He spoke were indeed speaking for Him in this manner:

Deu 13:1  If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
Deu 13:2  And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Deu 13:3  Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deu 13:4  Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
Deu 13:5  And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

These verses inform us that there will be false prophets whose prophecies will come to pass and then those same false prophets will encourage us to be disobedient to the Lord’s commandments. In such circumstances we are told that the Lord made the prophecy to come to pass “for the Lord your God proves you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Nevertheless, His true prophets are made known by the accuracy of their prophecies in conjunction with their dedication to obeying His commandments, as we are told in:

Deu 18:20  But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Deu 18:21  And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
Deu 18:22  When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Hananiah prophesied falsely in the name of the Lord that Judah’s captivity would only last two years after which King Jehoiachin would return with all the vessels of the house of the Lord. In boldly making this false prophesy, Hananiah was labeling the Lord’s true prophet a liar for saying the captivity would last seventy years and Jehoiachin would never return to Jerusalem.

Jeremiah also prophesied that Hananiah would die that same year, and in just a few months Hananiah was dead. Here are both prophecies:

Jer 28:1  And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month,  that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which  was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
Jer 28:2  Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Jer 28:3  Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD’S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:
Jer 28:4  And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

Those are the words of a false prophet with no proof of his standing with the Lord. On the other hand, here are the words of the Lord’s already proven prophet:

Jer 28:15  Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
Jer 28:16  Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.
Jer 28:17  So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

From “the fourth month” to “the same year in the seventh month” is at the very most three months, signifying the time needed to complete the judgment of Hananiah the false prophet.

Here’s a link to the study on The Number Three

In the Old Testament the Lord proved to the world who it was who spoke for Him by bringing their prophecies to pass and by the miracles He gave His prophets the power to perform.

In this dispensation of the New Testament church, God shows the world who are His spokespersons by making known their love of God, which means that He makes known those who tremble at His words, are obedient to His word, and follow in His steps:

The power to perform miracles, without being obedient to God and trembling at His words and walking in Christ’s footsteps, will be used by the beast to deceive the multitudes:

Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:13  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

This beast which comes up out of the earth with two horns like a lamb but speaking as a lion, appears as an angel of light, but for those who know the voice of the True Shepherd, this beast speaks as a dragon. His doctrine is not the doctrine of Christ.

In contrast, here is how we discern those who are Christ’s True spokesmen:

1Th 5:12  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1Th 5:13  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
1Th 5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
1Th 5:15  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
1Th 5:16  Rejoice evermore.

The Lord’s true shepherds of His sheep will be found doing all those things. They will be found admonishing you and warning the unruly, and at the same time telling you to “Rejoice evermore”. The Lord’s true shepherds will be comforting the feeble minded, supporting the weak and being patient with everyone, never returning evil for evil.

Those who speak as a dragon do not appear as a dragon, and they do not sound like a dragon. Instead, they speak “smooth things”, and “they appear as an angel of light”:

Isa 30:10  Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Here we have those who “have two horns like a Lamb, but [they] speak as a dragon.” The great red dragon does not prophesy right things; things like the judgments of God. Those who ‘speak as a dragon’ speak with a forked tongue, no doubt condemning sins which are common to all men while at the same time “speaking smooth things and prophesying deceits”. Some go as far as to tell you that Christ wants you to live a life of “coffee and doughnuts” and where the scriptures teach “whose end shall be according to their works” those who ‘speak smooth things… as a dragon’ will twist Paul’s words which inform us that our salvation has nothing to do with our works into saying that salvation has nothing to do with works of any kind.

Here is the Truth about the doctrine of the apostle Paul concerning our salvation and how it is achieved:

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of [our own] works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God  hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

How can any man, who is speaking for Christ, admonish a brother and warn the unruly if he is teaching a doctrine of ‘no works’ and speaks only “smooth words” about coffee and doughnuts?  The Lord Himself tells us what to look for in those through whom He is speaking:

Isa 66:1  Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD:  but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Isa 66:3  He that killeth an ox [without verse 2] is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
Isa 66:4  I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
Isa 66:5  Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

In our next study we will be shown what plagued the Lord’s people throughout their entire history, and we will see that it does so to the church of Christ to this very day.

Jdg 20:1-24 Judah Shall go up First Against Gibeah

Jdg 20:1  Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh. 
Jdg 20:2  And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword. 
Jdg 20:3  (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness? 
Jdg 20:4  And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. 
Jdg 20:5  And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead. 
Jdg 20:6  And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel. 
Jdg 20:7  Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel. 
Jdg 20:8  And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house. 
Jdg 20:9  But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it; 
Jdg 20:10  And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel. 
Jdg 20:11  So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man. 
Jdg 20:12  And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you? 
Jdg 20:13  Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel: 
Jdg 20:14  But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. 
Jdg 20:15  And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men. 
Jdg 20:16  Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss. 
Jdg 20:17  And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.
Jdg 20:18  And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.
Jdg 20:19  And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.
Jdg 20:20  And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.
Jdg 20:21  And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.
Jdg 20:22  And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.
Jdg 20:23  (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)
Jdg 20:24  And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

This Chapter is the continuation of the previous Chapter dealing with the death of the concubine of the Levite and the consequences of the actions of the Benjamites in Gibeah in the death of the concubine. This scenario is the raising of the storm by the Lord which brings us to our wits’ end, and God finally comes to our aid to lead us to our safe haven.

Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Today’s study focuses on the struggles within that we go through when we are being judged.

Jdg 20:1  Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.
Jdg 20:2  And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.

All the Israelites gathered at a place called Mizpah to deliberate on what needed to be done with their fleshly brother Benjamin’s crime against the Levite. Mizpah means watchtower. It is at the watchtower that we come to see what God is telling us all along – that is, the flesh must be destroyed.

Hab 2:1  I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
Hab 2:4  Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Hab 2:5  Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

The description here in Habakkuk 2:4 and 5 refers to our old man as he lifts himself up. Our time at the watchtower is therefore a time in our walk with Christ that our Lord gets our attention to let us know who we really are and His intent in destroying the flesh within. The four hundred thousand footmen here signify the whole of the human race getting the attention of the Lord as to who we really are, but each in his own order.

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Jdg 20:3  (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?
Jdg 20:4  And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
Jdg 20:5  And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.
Jdg 20:6  And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.
Jdg 20:7  Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.

The narration here is to let us know our struggle against sin within. Nowhere in the scriptures are we required to give reasons as to why we sin. However, the word of God enjoins us to give account for our sins. At a certain point of our walk with Christ, we come to see our struggle with sins just like Paul saw as follows:

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

It is when every elect come to see his or her spiritual poverty due to our sins that we all declare with one mind this war against our old man represented here by the men of Gibeah.

Jdg 20:8  And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house.
Jdg 20:9  But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it;
Jdg 20:10  And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.

This declaration of war within our members is when we come to see the following:

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

In verse 10 of Judges 20, multiples of ten men are taken from every tribe in Israel to fetch victuals for this war within. The number ten means the fullness of the flesh. Those selected to fetch victuals are the elect of every generation who come to see their spiritual poverty as their eyes begin to open and they hear. This opening of our eyes and ears is the same as going to fetch victuals or making provisions to wage a good warfare.

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.

Jdg 20:11  So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.
Jdg 20:12  And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?
Jdg 20:13  Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:
Jdg 20:14  But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

This fight against the enemies within is not won by easy surrender. Victory only comes through the defeating of our enemies or our flesh. It does not come through the willing cooperation of our flesh.  In other words, these works of our flesh must be totally annihilated before victory is won.

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

Jdg 20:15  And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men. 
Jdg 20:16  Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.

As indicated earlier, on a positive note, the tribe of Benjamin is another symbol of God’s elect as demonstrated by the fact that Benjamin was given food five times more than his brothers and was loved dearly by his father Jacob – more than his other brothers except Joseph.

Gen 43:34  And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

It is we the Benjamites, or God’s elect, whose sins have reached the heavens and we are being judged in this life.

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?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Among the Benjamites, a key characteristic is that seven hundred of them were left-handed. Two places in the Book of Judges (Judges 3:15 and Judges 20:16) succinctly note the extraordinary left-handed abilities of the tribe of Benjamin. This characteristic of the tribe of Benjamin is significant and symbolic. We can understand what the left hand stands for in Genesis 48:18 where Jacob was blessing the children of Joseph but chose to place his left hand on the older and the right hand on the younger grandson. What Joseph said there was very insightful.

Gen 48:17  And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.
Gen 48:18  And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

What these verses mean is that the right hand corresponds to being first born and therefore being privileged with the birthright or double portion. The flip side of this is that the left hand represents those without the birthright. So the seven hundred Benjamites being left-handed means that they were not called and chosen to lead Israel, but God chooses the stupid things of this world to confound the wise. In our case, we were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel (Because we were “left-handed” and therefore do not have any birthright), but by the grace of God, we who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ!!

Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

A key feature of the left-handed Benjamites was that they can sling stones at a hair’s breadth.

Jdg 20:16  Among all this people (the Benjamites) there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.

The seven hundred left-handed Benjamites represent the elect in every generation. The stone we are slinging is Christ, who is the word of God, and by this we are able to subdue the enemies within as stated in Zechariah 9:15. To sling stones at hair’s breadth means to be able to handle the word of God such that one can divide the soul and the spirit and of the joints and marrow, and be able to discern the thoughts and intents of one’s heart. That is the weapon we need to defeat the enemies within.

Zec 9:15  The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Jdg 20:17  And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.
Jdg 20:18  And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.
Jdg 20:19  And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.

The four hundred thousand men of Israel can also represent the whole of the people of the earth who God uses as His sword to judge His elect.

Psa 17:13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

This war within, must be fought and won according to God’s principles. The principle here is that in this fight against the old man or flesh, Judah must go up first to start the fight. The question is, “What is the significance of Judah going up to engage the enemy?” In order to understand the significance, let’s look at the following story of the birth of Jacob’s children:

Gen 29:31  And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Gen 29:32  And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
Gen 29:33  And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
Gen 29:34  And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
Gen 29:35  And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

Leah felt that her husband Jacob (here representing Christ) would love her for what she was doing – giving Jacob sons. In verse 35, she came to the painful realization that it was not what she does that pleases the Master, and therefore she ceased from her own strivings (stop bearing children) and decided to focus on what God does. That is what brings praise, and that is the meaning of the name Judah. So what wins the war is not what we can do but what God does through us as we appreciate His works in every aspect of our lives through the ceasing of our own strivings!!

Heb 4:6  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
Heb 4:7  Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Heb 4:8  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Jdg 20:20  And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.
Jdg 20:21  And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.

On the first day of the battle, twenty-two thousand men of Israel fell. The number twenty and two thousand signifies all our fears as we come to the new Jerusalem. These fears must be destroyed within us by the word of God.

Jdg 7:3  Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

As the word of God says, perfect love drives out fear because fear hath to do with torment which does not auger well if we want to establish a meaningful relationship with Christ. That is why all our fears must be destroyed first.

1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

The number twenty and two thousand can also denote all we think we can offer God, as demonstrated by Solomon’s offering of twenty and two thousand oxen for sacrifice. What we think we can offer must also be destroyed in this relationship so that we come to know that Jesus is our offering and sacrifice. As long as we are in Him, we are offering Christ as our sacrifice.

2Ch 7:5  And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

Gen 22:7  And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
Gen 22:8  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Jdg 20:22  And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.
Jdg 20:23  (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)
Jdg 20:24  And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

This struggle against the flesh is for a lifetime. Losing a war today does not mean that we have lost the battle. Currently, we all are going through all kinds of trials and temptations.  We may be losing some ground, but we have not lost the fight!! God is encouraging us, just like He encouraged the Israelites to come up against the enemies within even in the face of defeat. Our situation is not unique. David and his men who gathered unto him were in great distress after losing their possessions at Ziklag. Nevertheless, the Lord urged them to continue to engage the enemies as they were destined to recover all they had lost. Just like David and his men who represent the elect, God is urging us on to continue irrespective of what ground we have lost. Victory is surely on the horizon.

1Sa 30:1  And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
1Sa 30:2  And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
1Sa 30:3  So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
1Sa 30:4  Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
1Sa 30:5  And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
1Sa 30:6  And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
1Sa 30:7  And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
1Sa 30:8  And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

Let us take hold of the strength of the Lord in this fight of our lives as He admonishes us as follows:

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Heb 12:12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb 12:13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

1Ki 2:19-27 “In all These Things we are More than Conquerors Through Him that Loved us”

[Study Aired July 22, 2021]

1Ki 2:19  Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.
1Ki 2:20  Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay. 
1Ki 2:21  And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.
1Ki 2:22  And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
1Ki 2:23  Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.
1Ki 2:24  Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.
1Ki 2:25  And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
1Ki 2:26  And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.
1Ki 2:27  So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

This opening verse of our study in Kings: “Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand” parallels with these verses in the new covenant which explain what it means for God’s elect, the bride of Christ, to be seated in heavenly places “on his right hand” where we find favour with the King of Kings who is meeting us, and attentively listening to us (Psa 34:17, Psa 34:7, Mat 5:3) and making a way for all things to work together for good for those who love him and who are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28). This was being reflected in type and shadow with Bathsheba, who represents the church through whom Christ is working in order to have Solomon’s kingdom established greatly, whose kingdom represents Christ our wisdom within, our hope of glory within, the kingdom of God within (1Co 1:30-31, Col 1:27, Luk 17:21).

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.

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:

Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Favour is the same as finding grace, or charis, which is His favour upon us, favour that is expressed by being received through Christ who is working in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure (Php 2:12-13). His good pleasure is that we would cease from sinning (1Pe 4:1-2) knowing that we will, after we learn to forsake ungodliness and worldly lust (Tit 2:11-12), which can only happen through the fiery trials of this life that are used for the purpose of bringing us unto perfection, which will come in the first resurrection (Luk 13:32).

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Tit 2:11  For the grace^G5485 of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

G5485 chari  khar’-ece
From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): – acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s,-worthy).

God’s will, or living the rest of our lives “to the will of God“, is discovered in us by coming out of the world within us, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life God gives us the power to overcome through Christ. Coming out of ‘her my people’, or coming out of the world, is typified by the steps God inspired Bathsheba to take to address the carnal concerns of Adonijah who represents our old man who needs to be torn down and destroyed through Christ so our obedience can be fulfilled (1Jn 2:16-17, Rom 8:35-37, 2Co 10:5-6).

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

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 [1Pe 4:1-2]; 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.

2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

We are encouraged and admonished to live and die for Christ (Rom 14:8) and not to live to the flesh (Rom 8:9). We are to consider ourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ (Rom 6:11-14) knowing that when God opens our eyes to the truth, it will quicken us in this age and set us free, if we are granted to continue in it and be led by it (Joh 6:63-64, Joh 8:31-32, Rom 8:14-16).

Rom 14:8  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s [God’s workmanship is dying daily and is alive in Christ, and we are decreasing and He is increasing through that process (Eph 2:8-10, Joh 3:30)].

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

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 [1Jn 4:17]. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his  purpose.

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

It is by going through the fiery trials of this life (1Pe 4:12) that we will bear witness that we are His children. God’s spirit will purify the elect in this age as we learn that “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us“, all these things meaning all our trials, all our tribulation, all our crying out to our Abba, Father, who hears us because we fear Him (Heb 5:7-8)

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

1Ki 2:19  Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.

This opening verse expresses the language of Christ’s intimate walk with those who are having God’s kingdom established greatly within them. Solomon bowing himself to Bathsheba reminds us of the imagery of Christ bowing and washing the feet of His disciples, His church (Joh 13:4-5). Christ is now seated on the right hand of God (Heb 10:11-12, Act 7:55, Col 3:1) and God has caused us to be seated in heavenly places with Christ (Eph 2:4-6), which is what this imagery is reminding us: “and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand“.

Christ’s elect, typified by Bathsheba, will go to Solomon who typifies Christ “to speak to him for Adonijah“(who typifies our sinful old man). Bathsheba going to king Solomon typifies our going to Christ to confess our faults (1Jn2:1), our carnal reasoning and weakness typified by Adonijah’s persistent carnal requests to want his flesh to rule and reign as opposed to the rightful heir, king Solomon, who represents our hope of glory, Jesus Christ, ruling within our heavens. Bathsheba can’t help but hear the request of the older brother Adonijah (1Ch 3:1-4), and yet because God is showing mercy to her as a type of the church, she goes unto her youngest son (1Ch 3:5) (the younger who will rule the older  – Rom 9:12) to obtain grace in time of need (Gal 5:17, Heb 4:16). It is interesting to note that both Adonijah and Solomon were listed as being the fourth son of David – Adonijah in Hebron (4th of 6 sons born there) and Solomon in Jerusalem (4th of 9 sons born there – 1Ch 3:1-9).

1Jn 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Rom 9:12  It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

Gal 5:17  For the flesh [Adonijah] lusteth against the Spirit [Solomon], and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

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 [as Bathsheba was doing].

How Christ receives us when we confess our faults should be the way we receive each other, and Solomon typifies that (Psa 51:1-14) spirit as he desires to clear up this matter for Bathsheba, revealed in these words: “And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand“. This imagery brings to mind the foot washing and the need for us to cover each others’ sins which can only be done through God’s goodness and power, “his right hand“, that leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4), and also by His softening of our hearts so we forgive “even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph 4:32).

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.
Psa 51:2  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:3  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is  ever before me.
Psa 51:4  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done  this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest [Rom 2:4].
Psa 51:5  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psa 51:6  Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom [Col 3:3].
Psa 51:7  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psa 51:8  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones  which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Psa 51:9  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psa 51:13  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Psa 51:14  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

[none of these underlined statements can happen unless “the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand“]

God is exalted in this process of sanctification (Joh 17:17) which process has its beginning typified in the events of Luke 24:30-32, where Christ meets us on the road to Emmaus, meeting us where we are in our understanding and bowing himself unto us to wash our feet and to share in the breaking of bread (1Co 10:16): “And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne“. This meeting is typical of the foot washing which is done from a holy place from above “on his throne” signifying the cleansing we receive from God from above. The answer of the tongue and the preparation of the heart of Bathsheba is of the Lord, typified by Solomon who “caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand” (Pro 16:1). If we are blessed to sit at His right hand today in this age in earnest it will be for the express purpose of having Him sanctify us with His word and cleanse us from all unrighteousness through the blood of Christ (Heb 9:13-15).

Luk 24:30  And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
Luk 24:31  And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
Luk 24:32  And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

Heb 9:13  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God [“And their eyes were opened“]?
Heb 9:15  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

1Ki 2:20  Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.
1Ki 2:21  And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

A little leaven leavens the whole lump (Gal 5:9-10) just as this “one small petition” asked of Solomon would have done had he been trying to appease the flesh of men and not be obedient unto God (1Sa 15:22-23).

Gal 5:9  A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
Gal 5:10  I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from  being king.

Solomon typifies what our loving Father in heaven always wants for us, and that is to give us the desires of our heart (Psa 37:4-6), if those desires are in accord with His will (1Jn 5:14-15). So there is no commanding God for anything just as there was no commanding of Solomon of anything (Isa 45:11), if it is not in accord with God’s will. Bathsheba making this request on behalf of Adonijah was just that, a request and not a demand, and her asking was done in a spirit of meekness without being presumptuous as Adonijah, who represents our flesh, was doing all the while (Psa 19:13).

Psa 37:4  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psa 37:5  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psa 37:6  And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

Isa 45:11  Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Psa 19:13  Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins [self willed, self righteous, iniquity], let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression [Php 3:9].

1Ki 2:22  And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

Solomon knows that Bathsheba is doing what she was asked to do of Adonijah, who is her stepson whose mother is Haggith (2Sa 3:1-4). Abraham’s desire to see Ishmael ‘live before thee’ in Genesis 17:18, tells us why Bathsheba in like manner is respectfully asking the king this request of Adonijah, not aware of his hidden agenda that Solomon is going to make clear to her. It is in the larger context of these events unfolding that she is reminded by Solomon what Adonijah’s evil surmisings are leading up to (2Co 11:13-15), and no one is exempt from the king’s gaze that is going to scatter all these characters to the wind “ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah” (Pro 20:8, Mat 6:22).

Gen 17:18  And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Pro 20:8  A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

Mat 6:22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

The elder brother (Adonijah) represents the first man Adam who will not reign (Rom 9:12) but rather will be destroyed. Just as there was a war between the house of Saul [our flesh] and the house of David [Christ in us, our hope of glory] and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker, as we are told in 2Samuel 3:1. What we are being shown in these verses tonight is that the first man Adam will be destroyed. In typical language, the first Adam is also “Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah” who represent our religious beast that has seven heads and ten horns (Rev 13:1). Joab is the son of Zeruiah and has this family name that means “balm”, but he does not have the stay of bread or the stay of water that represents the truth of God (Isa 3:1, Isa 4:1, Jer 46:11) as was expounded upon in previous studies with this book of Kings.

Rom 9:12  It was said unto her, The elder (Adonijah) shall serve the younger (Solomon).

Rev 13:1  And I 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.

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.

Jer 46:11  Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.

These are the names of blasphemy: “Abiathar^H54 the priest, and for Joab^H3097 the son of Zeruiah^H6870“, because they only name God without the spirit of God, and therefore they blaspheme God by taking his name in vain. It is therefore a negative example of balm as well.

H54‘ebyâthâr
eb-yaw-thawr’
Contracted from H1 and H3498; father of abundance (that is, liberal); Ebjathar, an Israelite: – Abiathar.

H3097 yô’âb
yo-awb’
From H3068 and H1; Jehovah-fathered; Joab, the name of three Israelites: – Joab.

H6870tserûyâh
tser-oo-yaw’
Feminine participle passive from the same as H6875;  wounded; Tserujah, an Israelitess: – Zeruiah.
H6875 tserı̂y  tsŏrı̂y tser-ee’, tsor-ee’
From an unused root meaning to crack (as by pressure), hence to leak; distillation, that is, balsam: – balm.

1Ki 2:23  Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.

Solomon ‘sware by the Lord’ that Adonijah has “spoken this word against his own life” and he is so sure of this that he says “do so to me, and more also if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life“.  Part of the lesson is that our own iniquities will chasten us in this life (Jer 2:19) and Solomon saying “do so to me, and more also if…” is something that won’t entirely happen to Solomon who typifies God’s elect. On the other hand Adonijah is being spoken of as being killed in this part of the sentence “do so to me“,  and the “and more also” part of that statement is typical of having to endure the second resurrection lake of fire judgment as opposed to being in the “better resurrection” which comes about by our being judged in this age (Luk 12:5, Heb 11:35).

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Luk 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Heb 11:35  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

1Ki 2:24  Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.

The decree of the king for Adonijah’s death is spoken of in terms of absolute certainty reminding us that it is God who has established these unfolding circumstances that were declared with the judgment of Solomon who typifies God’s elect who are coming to see more and more how our own sinful nature must be put to death as we come to acknowledge that it can only be accomplished by “the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father“.

By Solomon taking these predestined actions, God’s elect are learning that the promise of making him “an house” will be fulfilled at the expense of the gates of hell being destroyed or not prevailing (Mat 16:17). That house typifies the body of Christ, the temple of God which we are (1Co 3:16). “Adonijah shall be put to death this day” is the day of the Lord that is also represented by the destruction of physical temple (Mar 13:2).

Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it
unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Mar 13:2  And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

1Ki 2:25  And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.

Solomon sends Benaiah the son of Jehoiada to slay Adonijah. Solomon represents Christ, and Jehoaida represents the elect who are sent to destroy the old man (Joh 20:21, Mat 10:34). In this case, one has to tear down before they build, or a seed must die in order for fruit to be brought forth (Joh 12:24), so the one whose name means “Jah has built” is showing us that God’s kingdom will be built by destroying the old and establishing the new through Christ (2Co 5:17).

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace  be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Mat 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword [Heb 4:12, Rev 1:16, Jer 5:14, 1Jn 4:17].

Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

H1141benâyâh  benâyâhû
ben-aw-yaw’, ben-aw-yaw’-hoo
From H1129 and H3050; Jah has built; Benajah, the name of twelve Israelites: – Benaiah.

1Ki 2:26  And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.

What must die in us is “Abiathar the priest” by going to “Anathoth, unto thine own fields“, which was symbolic language showing us that Abiathar, who was once faithful to David (1Sa 22:20-23) but rebelled with Adonijah (1Ki 1:7), was commanded of Solomon to “get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields“. The fields represent his going back into the world (Mat 13:38, 1Co 15:32), and seeing Abiathar go to Anathoth really was another step in greatly establishing Solomon’s kingdom, which steps represent our maturing in the Lord that happens when we no longer ask amiss to consume things upon our own lusts as the Lord gives us power to put to death the beast within us that has two horns like a lamb but speaks as a dragon (1Ki 3:9, Rev 13:11).

1Ki 3:9  Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

H6068‛ănâthôth
Anathoth = “answers to prayer”

1) son of Becher and grandson of Benjamin (noun proper masculine)
2) one of the heads of the people who signed the covenant with Nehemiah (noun proper masculine)
3) a city of Benjamin allotted to the priest; located approximately 3 miles (5 kilometers) from Jerusalem; birthplace of the prophet Jeremiah (noun proper locative)

We all lose our first love and go back into the world, but these events of Abiathar represent the latter religious beast that must be put to death at an appointed time (Rev 13:11). This death that is going to happen to Abiathar is symbolic of going back into the world like Demas, who loved this present world, and departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, and Titus unto Dalmatia, who represent the dead who now must bury their own dead in their spiritually dead state (2Ti 4:10, Luk 9:60, Luk 2:49).

Luk 9:60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Luk 2:49  And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

God’s severity and goodness is being shown in these verses in regard to Abiathar’s death (Rom 11:22) demonstrating how others are sacrificed for God’s elect, people who were appointed to not endure until the end as was being typified by Abiathar. While he was “before David my father” who represents Christ, Solomon declared “I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted“. Bearing the ark is another way of saying ‘doing service unto the elect’ who are represented by that ark (Heb 13:10, Heb 9:4). This priest at his appointed time was helping bear the ark “before David my father“, who represents Christ, and Abiathar was “afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted“. God has determined from the foundation of the world who He is going to show mercy to first and is calling us to see that those who were “afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted” represent those who “as concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes” (Rom 11:28-32). Solomon’s statement of the timing of the death of Abiathar being withheld until later is a shadow of how “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations [God’s elect], and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” [Abiathar in type] (2Pe 2:9).

1Ki 2:27  So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

It is Christ who thrusts out the false prophet from our heavens as we look well to ourselves and to the flock (Act 20:28) that we “might fulfill the word of the LORD” (Eph 3:10). What we speak as the bride of Christ is always done in a place  “concerning the house of Eli^H5941 in Shiloh^H7887“, where we are raised in heavenly places or ascend through Christ into a place of rest where we can cast all our cares upon Him and become more than conquerors through Him (Eph 2:6, Heb 4:9, Rom 8:37).

1Sa 2:27  And there came a man of God unto Eli [in Shiloh where Eli and his sons were priests of the the Lord (1Sa 1:3, 1Sa 1:24)], and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?
1Sa 2:31  Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.
1Sa 14:3  And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.
1Sa 22:20  And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. [Abiathar was apparently a great-great-grandson of Eli.]

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

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

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

H5941
Eli
BDB Definition: Eli = “ascension”
1) descendant of Aaron through Ithamar and high priest and judge of Israel when Samuel entered service as a child

H7887 Shiloh
BDB Definition: Shiloh = “place of rest”

1) a city in Ephraim and temporary home of the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle, the place where Samuel grew up.

Conclusion:

Bathsheba represents the meek who will inherit the earth and will rule and reign under Christ (Mat 5:5).

If we are going to rule under Christ, we need to have a humble and contrite heart created in us, typified by this story where Bathsheba’s careful and humble approach while talking with king Solomon preserved the lineage of David’s line as God had intended (Ecc 5:1-2).

Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Ecc 5:1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
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.

We need to be given the faith from God to identify those parts of Babylon still within us out of which we are commanded to come (2Co 6:17) in order to become as a woman who is meek and of great price (Pro 30:20, 1Pe 3:4-5).

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Pro 30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
1Pe 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

When we don’t walk circumspectly, we rush to judgment and don’t understand what the will of God is (Eph 5:15-17). We assume things should be a certain way, and we don’t seek a multitude of counsel where there is safety (Pro 11:14), resulting in our not doing things decently and in order (1Co 14:40). All these qualities are in our first man Adam typified by the negative example of Adonijah as opposed to the very respectful and meek approach of Bathsheba.

Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

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

1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

The churches of this world are likened to a harlot for that reason, commanding God (Isa 45:11), with her own traditions, the traditions of men which are all vanity and formed out of the fertile imagination of our corrupt hearts that naturally take His gold and wrap it around the idol of our hearts (Mat 15:9, Eze 14:3-4). It is in all the fiery (1Pe 4:12) experiences of the elect’s life, the much tribulation (Act 14:22), the many afflictions (Psa 34:19), the persecution (2Ti 3:12), that God has written in our books that we will be blessed to overcome and ‘come out her my people’ as we learn that “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom 8:37).

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).

1Kg 1:1-9  “The LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress”

[Study Aired May 20, 2021]

1Ki 1:1  Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat. 
1Ki 1:2  Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. 
1Ki 1:3  So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 
1Ki 1:4  And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not. 
1Ki 1:5  Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 
1Ki 1:6  And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom. 
1Ki 1:7  And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
1Ki 1:8  But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah. 
1Ki 1:9  And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants: 

The title in this first chapter of Kings is taken from the words of King David in 1Kings 1:29, which preceded the declaration from him that Solomon would reign after him, and it reminds us that in order for us to reign over our flesh, enduring to the end (Mat 24:13), we must serve “the God of all comfort” who will redeem our “soul out of all distress” (2Co 1:3).

2Co 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2Co 1:5  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

King David was shown great mercy from God being delivered from “all distress” as he typifies the elect (Rom 11:31-32), whereas we will see no such mercy being extended to Adonijah, who represents our fleshly carnal mind that must be recognized for what it is and then destroyed.

Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

This opening story in the book of Kings sets the stage for how God will comfort us through this life of much tribulation (Act 14:22) so we can enter “by the door into the sheepfold” and not come in “some other way” (Joh 10:1-2).

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Joh 10:1  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Joh 10:2  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

1Ki 1:1  Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
1Ki 1:2  Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.
1Ki 1:3  So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
1Ki 1:4  And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

The symbolism of not getting any heat in our bodies is written here for Christ’s body as an admonition to remember that two are better than one (Ecc 4:9-12) and that there is safety in the multitude of counsellors (Pro 11:14). We come together often to receive and give encouragement to one another which is what King David needed (Heb 10:25).

Ecc 4:9  Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Ecc 4:10  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Ecc 4:11  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
Ecc 4:12  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

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

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

A young virgin then is “sought for my lord the king” who represents the bride of Christ who is likened unto a spiritual virgin (Rev 14:4) who has the power to be a joint that supplies true spiritual heat (Eph 4:16).

Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

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

Garments represent the grace and faith that God gives those with whom he is working with in this age (Gen 45:22). This story of “Abishag“^H49 is about the love that we have toward each other as we learn to bear each other’s burdens in flesh that is unable to inherit the kingdom of God.

Gen 45:22  To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.

Her name means “my father is a wanderer”, and in the positive this means that her father is Christ who was a sojourner, a wanderer (Mat 8:20-22) who would be used to clothe us with His righteousness (Joh 18:36, 2Co 5:21). Being “stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat” tells us just that; that our own works will not produce spiritual heat, but when God shows mercy to us by giving us the power to lay down our lives for each other (Joh 15:12-13), then we receive this comfort the Lord gives to redeem “my soul out of all distress”.

Mat 8:20  And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
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.

Joh 18:36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Joh 15:12  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Joh 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

“Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin” is another way of saying “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled” (Luk 14:23). The qualities which God will mature in those who are dragged or compelled to come to Christ (Joh 6:44) are described for us as such: “Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand^H5975 before the king, and let her cherish^H5532 him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat“. We receive spiritual heat from one another when we remain chaste in this world (Jas 1:27), and “stand^H5975 before the king” (Joh 8:31). Lying in “thy bosom” is also typical of the elects’ love for Christ and each other and is symbolic of how we take each other under our wing if we are His (Joh 13:23, Mat 23:37, Exo 25:20).

“And let her stand”^H5975 ‛âmad  aw-mad’  A primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literally and figuratively, intransitively and transitively): – abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be [over], place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, + serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.

Joh 13:23  Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Mat 23:37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Exo 25:20  And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.

“So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag^H49 a Shunammite^H7767, and brought her to the king” reminds us that God has sought the few out of the world (Mat 22:14). Those few represent “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” which is who “Abishag a Shunammite” typifies.

On the negative side, this first name also reminds us that we are ever searching and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth because of the deception in our hearts caused by the devil. This also is “Abishag^H49 my father is a wanderer” (2Co 4:4) who goes to and fro throughout all the earth as our first father who causes us to wander (Job 1:7) until we are delivered from him and given a “double resting place, “Shunammite“^H7767 or double portion, which is what we inherit in Christ as first fruits who rest in the Lord (Mat 10:6, Heb 4:11-13).

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few  are chosen.

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Job 1:7  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Mat 10:6  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

The damsel’s comeliness is a shadow of the beauty of Christ within those who are being made to be vessels of honour (2Ti 2:21-25, Isa 52:7). Those who have God’s spirit in them have this treasure in earthen vessels (2Co 4:7), and as such are this damsel, or the church, or body of Christ (Col 1:24), that is “very fair“. We are passing from death to life because of God’s spirit and can now cherish “the king” and “minister to him” without having to know him after the flesh (2Co 5:16): “but the king knew her not“.

2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
2Ti 2:22  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2Ti 2:23  But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
2Ti 2:24  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Isa 52:7  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

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.

1Ki 1:5  Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

Right after we learn of “Abishag a Shunammite“, God contrasts this damsel, who represents the body of Christ, with “Adonijah” who is a type of our carnal old man that constantly wants to exalt itself rather than dying daily as we keep under ourselves and bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (1Co 15:31, 1Co 9:27, 2Co 10:5).

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Preparing “him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him” is akin to doing your alms as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets (Mat 6:2).

Mat 6:2  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Chariots and horsemen represent our fleshly ruach, or strength, that blows those trumpets of Matthew 6:2. There is a form of power or godliness there (2Ti 3:5), but it passes; and the reward for all such vanity is received by those (and us in our time) who have the same mindset for this vain glory (1Jn 4:5). The “fifty men to run before him” represent a false witness of grace that is again founded in the strength of men in whom God has no pleasure (Psa 20:7, Psa 147:10).

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

1Jn 4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. [“They have their reward.”]

Psa 20:7  Some trust in chariots, and some in horses “chariots and horsemen“:  but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Psa 147:10  He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
Psa 147:11  The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him [Luk 12:5], in those that hope in his mercy.

Adonijah’s (H138) name means “my lord is Jehovah”, and that name turns out to be a witness against him in the end, seeing his lord proves to be his own belly, or earthly desires (Php 3:19). We also would be easily sifted like wheat (Luk 22:31) except for the grace and faith of Christ that causes us to overcome our self-righteous flesh that would naturally be among the many that say ‘lord, lord’, but don’t do the things that God asks (Mat 7:21-22). What good is our sacrifice of praise if it is not accompanied with obedience. This is what Samuel was inspired to ask Saul who represents our flesh (Heb 13:15, 1Sa 15:22-23).

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, [Adonijah’s (H138) name means “my lord is Jehovah”] shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven [Php 2:12-13].
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works [Isa 4:1]?

1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,  and to hearken than the fat of rams.
1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

1Ki 1:6  And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

Abdonijah represents us when we are of our father the devil (Joh 8:44) and our being influenced by whom we know biblically represents our carnal old man that must be put off (Eph 4:22-24, Eph 5:31).

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Eph 5:31  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife [Col 1:24], and they two shall be one flesh. [“The new man…created in righteousness and true holiness” God’s elect who are blessed to cleave to Christ in each other, which is how we cleave unto Christ our head (1Co 11:1)]

The devil gives power to the beast (where we start [Rev 13:4] and where we pray we will finish [Rev 14:4]), and Adonijah’s father’s (David) absence of influence toward his son is expressed this way: “his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, why hast thou done so?“, which is also said this way: “Now all his life his father had never gone against him or said to him, why have you done so?” (BBE). So, because of that lack of leadership from his father, his son was left to his own devices, which is what empowered him — or gave power to his beast — (Pro 29:15). There was no rod of rebuke for Adonijah who we learn was a good looking man, and as this story unfolds, we will see how he tries to charm his way into getting what he wanted in life, not fearing the king (Pro 31:30, Gal 3:28).

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Pro 29:15  The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Pro 31:30  Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.

Gal 3:28  There is no Jew or Greek, servant or free, male or female: because you are all one in Jesus Christ.

“Absalom“^H53: Absalom’s name means “my father is peace”, and he was physically born before Adonijah, a witness to this verse in Jeremiah 6:14 which speaks of peace when there really can be no peace when there is no correction and leadership from their Father, who we know to be receiving us (God’s remnant) through a chastening and scourging process that was not present in the life of Adonijah (Heb 12:6).

Jer 6:14  And they have made little of the wounds of my people, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. [ This chastening was not present in the life of Addonijah by his father.]

1Ki 1:7  And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
1Ki 1:8  But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

These next verses demonstrate the bad fruit that was produced in Adonijah’s life whose manipulative and charming spirit was going throughout life saying “lord, lord” while seeking advantage in the flesh with no regard to what God’s commands required. Now he is a full grown beast and ready to take on this conquest of exulting himself above the heavens (2Th 2:4, Isa 14:13) and whom he confers with in order to accomplish this task is a testimony of how the deceitful and desperately wicked heart in man operates without God’s correction in it.

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.

Isa 14:13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

Just like Rehoboam who sought the counsel of the younger men for advantage (1Ki 12:6-8), so Adonijah sought out those whom he knew would follow him and help him: “he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.“. Those whom he did not seek out were: “Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, [these] were not with Adonijah.“

So Adonijah picked out a few he knew would follow him but steered away from the safety that would have been found in the multitude of counsellors, the “counsel of the old men”, represented by Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men, which belonged to David (to Christ, in other words).

1Ki 12:6  And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
1Ki 12:7  And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
1Ki 12:8  But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:

1Ki 1:9  And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants:

Adonijah’s conferring with those of his choosing (1Ki 1:7) was also an action accompanied by this good guy (I speak as a fool) who was going to slay “sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants“.

These events parallel very well with the story of king Saul. This is the same story but in a different age where God took the kingdom away from Saul who had that same spirit of Adonijah, that is like all flesh which is always seeking the upper seat and looking to be ‘fast friends’ with anyone that would support him in his perverse endeavour (1Sa 15:3-19, Luk 23:12).

1Sa 15:3  Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

1Sa 15:9  But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
1Sa 15:10  Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
1Sa 15:11  It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
1Sa 15:12  And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
1Sa 15:13  And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. “and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants” [1Ki 1:9]
1Sa 15:14  And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
1Sa 15:15  And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people [Gen 3:12] spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
1Sa 15:16  Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
1Sa 15:17  And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? [Mat 23:12]
1Sa 15:18  And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
1Sa 15:19  Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil [Pro 23:5], and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
1Sa 15:20  And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites [Joh 8:44, Psa 140:11].
1Sa 15:21  But the people [Gen 3:13] took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Next week, Lord willing, we’ll see once again just how the Lord works all things according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11), and in doing so puts down the rebellion in the land that represents for us the demise of the man of perdition within our own heavens, whose destruction will result in our being found with His righteousness and not our own (Php 3:9), as the true King, Jesus Christ, is being established (Psa 140:11-13) to reign and rule in our hearts and minds (Joh 3:30) in our age today.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Psa 140:11  Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
Psa 140:12  I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.[“cause of the afflicted” (Act 14:22, 2Co 12:9-10, Jas 2:5)]
Psa 140:13  Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

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Isa 55:7-13 My Thoughts Are Not Your Thoughts

[Study Aired March 8, 2020]

Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isa 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isa 55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

As we learned in our last study, the Lord’s sovereignty in no way inhibits His right or His ability to admonish us. The exact opposite is the case. Being completely sovereign He has the power and He has every right to make us “marred in [His] hand (Jer 18:4), make us to err from His ways (Isa 63:17), and then admonish us to forsake our sins, which is exactly how our study today begins:

Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah was very familiar with the already existing scriptures. Isaiah knew how the wicked became wicked, and this admonition to the wicked to ‘forsake his way’ simply confirms the Truth of this verse:

Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Isaiah obviously knew and understood the Truth of this verse of scripture:

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.

At the time of David and King Saul, the Lord’s use of evil to accomplish His purposes was apparently common knowledge. No one at that time appears to have given the devil credit for anything that happened. Look at how King Saul’s servants talk of his bouts of depression:

1Sa 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
1Sa 16:15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
1Sa 16:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

The New Testament writers knew this truth and taught it in all their writings. Paul speaks of God’s sovereignty as clearly as Isaiah speaks of it. Both acknowledge that mankind’s natural, carnal, rebellious mind just naturally rejects and hates the Truth that the Lord is “working all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph 1:11).

Rom 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Rom 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Rom 9:9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
Rom 9:10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
Rom 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;
Rom 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Rom 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Rom 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

We all just naturally insist that our salvation hinges only on our ‘free will’ choices. We actually think that if we are nice enough to accept the sacrifice of Christ’s death for our sins, then the Lord is obligated to save us. On the other hand, if we reject Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, then we tell ourselves that it is our own choice to reject Christ that makes God have to torment us for all eternity. That is how we convince ourselves that the only thing which saves us from eternal death or eternal hell fire, is again, our own free will, and God is simply forced to deal with what we decide to do.

To be told that our fate was determined by God, that every day of our lives were “written in His book before there were any of them”, is simply repulsive to our vain, puffed up, self-willed, rebellious, carnal mind. But let’s look again at the Truth of the scriptures instead of simply accepting the lies of society and the doctrines of the world-wide ‘great harlot’ who rules over the kings of the earth:

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.

Rom 9:11 for the children being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works [our will – vs 16], but of him that calleth,

Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Lest we miss the point, Paul is inspired to tell us plainly:

Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but [our salvation is] of God that hath mercy.

The Lord knows quite well that He has made us in this marred, rebellious condition, so He simply informs those He gives to receive His mind:

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

My own carnal mind tells me that if I were God I could do a much better job of saving mankind than God is doing. My presumptuous beast tells me that God Himself could and would have done much better if He had simply made mankind a perfected spirit from the beginning. My carnal mind sees no need at all for a very messy, bloody and painful cross of Christ to cover all the perversions and sins of corruptible flesh and blood. My plan for mankind would skip all the corruption and suffering and the accompanying shame and misery, and I would have made us all loving and obedient perfected spirits from the very beginning.

Yes, indeed, my flesh protests that if God is sovereignly making us to err from His ways, then why in the world is He complaining when we err from His ways? The holy spirit knew we would all pose that question:

Rom 9:19 Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not listening? Haven’t they simply done what he made them do?” (NLT)

This is the Biblical answer to that presumptuous and rebellious question which we all just naturally ask:

Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

That answer from our very Creator and Maker is not referring to some other ‘lump of clay’ which is not us. It is true that “none is able to withstand [God]”, as we are told in:

2Ch 20:6 And [King Jehoshaphat] said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

The Lord’s knowledge is vastly superior to that of my presumptuous carnal mind. He already knows that obedience and love are not qualities which can be appreciated and valued without first experiencing the fruits of evil and disobedience. It was in His wisdom that He created a tempter to cause us to want to disobey Him and to then reap the evil fruits of our disobedience.

That is what His Word does. It tells us who He is and what He is doing, and He never once places the responsibility for His creatures upon themselves or upon anyone else (Pro 16:4; Isa 45:7; Isa 63:17). The Lord simply speaks, and what He speaks is what happens.

Isa 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Words express thoughts, and God’s Word reveals that He thinks it is good for us to know the contrast between good and evil. Only in that way are we able to appreciate His mercies by which, and through which, He is in the process of redeeming every man who has ever lived and drawn breath. This is what He has sent His Word to accomplish within every man:

Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it. (CLV)

Here is another way of conveying this message to us:

Psa 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

If the Lord blinds our eyes from seeing the words “then”, and if He blinds us from seeing the order in which those words tell us that the “experience of evil” must precede His mercies and His deliverance which He brings to us only after we have first been brought to our “wits’ end”, then we are spiritually blind and unable to see that everything He does, He does “decently and in order… after the counsel of His own will:

1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

When we are unable to discern the order in which the Lord is working His work in our lives, then it follows that we will also be robbed of any appreciation for “the recompense of the reward, [and] the crown of life” which He promises those who overcome “in this present time”.

Luk 18:28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
Luk 18:29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,
Luk 18:30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world [Greek: aion, age] to come life everlasting.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are [Greek present, indicative tense] the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Tit 2:12 Teaching [Greek: paideuo, chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world [Greek: aion, age];

When we are unable to discern the order in which the spirit is working its work in our lives “in this present age”, then we will also fail to appreciate the many “great and precious promises” which He has pronounced to be bestowed only upon those “who first trusted in Christ”:

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

If the sovereign Lord has ordained that only “those who first trusted in [Him]” were to be “to the praise of His glory” [and] to the praise of the glory of His [chastening] grace, a thousand false prophets with a thousand false doctrines to the contrary will not deter Him, because “He does… what [He] desires”.

Job 23:13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Job 23:14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

These words are “great and precious promises” for the very reason that they are not common to all men. It is only those “who first trusted in Christ” who are given to be “to the praise of the glory of His [chastening] grace”:

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching [Greek: paideuo, chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [Greek: aion, age]

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
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.

These “great and precious promises” are not common to all men. They are given only to those who are “chastened to forsake ungodliness and worldly lusts… in this present age”. They are given only to those who first trusted in Christ and will be ‘to the praise of the glory of His grace’. The “great and precious promises are given only to those who dwell “without hurt… in the devouring fires [of] the lake of fire”:

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

‘He that walks righteously’ is not some man who is attempting to separate you from your hard-earned money through the fear of a literal “devouring fire [and literal] everlasting burnings”. Those who know that the fire of scripture is the Word of God are the few chosen in “this present time… this present age” to be “the manifest… sons of God… [who will] have no hurt” in the administration of the purifying ‘lake of fire [which] is the [ordinal] “second death”, which is the death of the carnal mind which is yet within the “great multitude which no man can number”:

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Dan 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Rev 7:9 After [the numbering of the 144,000] I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

It is only to “the righteous… they that have done good” that our next verse is addressed:

Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [Greek: krisis, judgment].

It is only the “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” who will “go out [of their graves] with joy, and be led forth with peace.” All others will “come forth… unto the resurrection of damnation” meaning ‘the resurrection of judgment’.

”The mountains and the hills” are the nations which will “flow unto… the mountain of the Lord’s house”:

Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

When the Lord sets His hand to draw even “His banished” (2Sa 14:14) to Himself, He will do so through those “who first trusted in Him”, just as His Father has used Christ to drag us unto Himself:

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

That is why we are called “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”:

Rev 14:4 These [144,000] are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

“Firstfruits” are called ‘first’ for the simple obvious reason that they are simply “first” and are not the only fruit of the Lord’s work. It is through these “firstfruits” that the Lord’s mercy and glory are made known to all the rest of mankind via the spiritual flames and “the devouring fire” which are His Words and His doctrines.

Jer 5:14 Wherefore [Because there are so many false prophets, verse 13] thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

In “the fulness of times” even “the god of this age” will be gathered together in Christ. But since we are “Jesus of Nazareth” (Act 22:8), and since we are “as He is… in this age”, it is through us that Christ will set His hand to “drag all men to [Himself]”:

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [Greek: helkuō, drag] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me [Shall be dragged to me].

Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will [through the ‘lake of fire’] draw [Greek: helkuō, drag] all men unto me.
Joh 12:33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world [Greek: aion, age].

This age is given over to “the god of this age”, and until “the age to come” [Luk 18:30] arrives, “the god of this age” has been given the hegemony over all men except for a very few chosen and elect who will “overcome the wicked one… in this present world… (age)” and will be given a crown of life and will not be hurt of the fires of the second death:

Luk 18:29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,
Luk 18:30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world [Greek: aion, age] to come life everlasting.

Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

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.

It is the lies and false doctrines of the god of this age in the mouths of his false prophets which are referred to as ‘thorns and briers’ in the last verse of this 55^th chapter of Isaiah.

Isa 55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

“The fir tree, and… the myrtle tree” which replace the “thorns… and… briers” signify the truths of the doctrines of Christ in the mouths of His faithful witnesses, replacing the thorns and briars of the false doctrines of the false prophets of “the god of this age”.

Eze 2:6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

We have now seen that our ways are not the Lord’s way and our thoughts are not His thoughts, and we have seen the scriptures which demonstrate what the meaning is of all the symbols found within these last 7 verses of Isaiah 55.

Now that we have been made aware of the blessings promised to “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”, I want to recap these verses from the perspective of the last verse of last week’s study. Our last study ended with an appeal from the Lord for us to, “seek [Him] while He may be found and call… upon Him while He is near.” We discussed in that study how Paul told the pagan Athenians that, outwardly and physically speaking, God is ‘not far from every one of us’ inasmuch as it is “in Him [that] we live and move and have our being” (Act 17:27-28). In Isaiah 55:6 He is speaking of how our sins and false doctrines constitute a great spiritual gulf which separates us as far from the Lord as the heavens are from the earth.

Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Both here in Isaiah and in the gospel of Luke the Lord informs us that a time is coming when the blessing of knowing Him spiritually will not be available, and He will not at that time be spiritually near to mankind:

Luk 16:26  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

“Us” in this parable is Christ and Lazarus as a type of those few who will be in that blessed and holy first resurrection (Rev 20:5). There are only two resurrections, and all men of all time are in one or the other of those two resurrections:

Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; [1] they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and [2] they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [Greek: krisis, judgment].

“You” in Luke 16:26 refers to all those who “shall come forth… unto the resurrection of [the great white throne] judgment”, over a thousand symbolic years after the “blessed and holy… first resurrection”.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
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.

Christ’s spirit is given only to those who are given the opportunity to “overcome the wicked one [in] this present time” as these verses demonstrate for us:

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

1Jn 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
1Jn 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye haven overcome the wicked one.

The exceeding great and precious promise of ruling with Christ during His thousand-year kingdom is reserved for a very select group who are referred to throughout scripture as ‘a remnant… [a] few chosen… in this present time” (Mat 12:32; Mar 10:30; Luk 18:30; Rom 8:18;).

Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world [Greek: aion, age] to come eternal life.

Heb 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world [Greek: aion, age] to come, whereof we speak.

“The age to come” as we were just told in Revelation 20:1-6 will be in subjection to those who are “kings and priests” who are granted to have a part in that “blessed and holy first resurrection”.

The Lord’s ‘firstfruit’ elect are typified by only eight out of the millions on this earth who were brought safely through the flood (2Pe 2:8) and by Caleb and Joshua, the only two of the whole nation of Israel which came up out of Egypt who were granted to enter into the promised land (Num 14:30). There were only three, Lot and his two daughters, who survived the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and all the cities of the plain (Gen 19:29). There were just the three hundred chosen out of the over thirty-two thousand who were called to fight with Gideon against the Midianite hordes (Jdg 7:7), and there are but a “few chosen” out of the “many… called”, but not chosen, not elect, of all the churches of the billions of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and all the other religions of this world.

As we have noted, those who will rule with Christ over the nations of this world in His thousand-year kingdom will have “overcome the wicked one… in this present time” because “this present time” is the only time ‘the wicked one’ will be available to be overcome. He and his entire kingdom of evil spirits will be imprisoned throughout the thousand-year kingdom. When the thousand years are finished only then, Satan will be released for “a little season” of world-wide rebellion after which ‘the wicked one’ and all his kingdom will be cast into the lake of fire to be purged and purified along with the “great multitude which no man can number” (Rev 7:9-17). There are but two resurrections, and those two resurrections are separated by that thousand-year reign of Christ and His Christ (Joh 5:28-29, Rev 20:1-6).

Verse 6 and 7 from last week have set the tone for the first verse of today’s study:

Isa 55:6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Isa 55:7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

A major portion of “[our] wicked way[s]” is that we just naturally contend with and condemn God for His ways.

Giving the last workers their wages first, and giving them just as much as those who worked all day, is not our way of doing things. The workers who worked all day and got paid last, murmur against the Lord’s ways and typify our own “old man” as well as all those who are not the “few chosen” of Matthew 20:16. Let’s look closely at that parable of the workers in the Lord’s vineyard:

Mat 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

“Those who first trusted in Christ” of Ephesians 1:12 equate with the laborers who are the last to be hired and were the first to be paid. Spiritually they typify us as the Lord’s “firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” (Rev 7:4 and 14:4).

It simply does not compute in our carnal minds why the Lord would choose those who did the least work to be rulers with Christ a thousand years, and then, using those same “firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” (Rev 14:4) who came into the Lord’s vineyard last, to be His instrument by which He will fill Him who fills the all in all.

Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

That simply is not how we would do things. The Lord has determined that “the last shall be first and the first last”, and He has determined that the laborers who were hired last will be the administrators of the lake of fire. He has determined the last will judge the first, and it is best for us that we get with His program.

None of that is our way of doing things, and that is why the Lord tells us:

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Job did not at the beginning of his time of trial understand why the Lord was dealing with him as He was, but Job did come to know this:

Job 23:13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Job 23:14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Job tells us that it is the Lord who performs what He has appointed for us. In other words, He performs His words and His works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:12-13). Let’s place those words from the New Testament beside these words here in the Old Testament:

Isa 55:10  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Our last two verses express what is the Lord’s will for those “who first trusted in Christ” (Eph 1:12):

Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

[Isa 44:23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.]

Isa 55:13  Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign thatshall not be cut off.

The reason the mountains and the hills break forth before us into singing and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands and the reason the thorn is replaced with fir trees and the briar with the myrtle tree is:

Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

That is the calling which the Lord has given to all those in whom “He will perform it” (Job 23:14), and I am persuaded that is the calling we are being given if He keeps us ‘faithful unto the end’ (Rev 17:14).

That concludes our study for today, and these are our verses for next week’s study:

Isa 56:1 Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
Isa 56:2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
Isa 56:3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
Isa 56:4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
Isa 56:5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
Isa 56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
Isa 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Isa 56:8 The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.