This is a message orginally given in early 2021 but updated in June, 2025. Yet the themes and implications of 2021 events remain even today. I am going to skip some of the recent history today for brevity but the text still contains the historical narrative.
Prayers: Noah Yeley orphange, Exodus primary school, Simitei primary school, Pastors in churches in Kakamega County to unite.
==> DARNEL IN THE WHEAT:
Various topics of how peole can get off course.
Matt 13:24-26 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.
zizanion: a kind of darnel, resembling wheat except the grains are black
It should be obvious that anything black is not wheat. At best it is false and at worst it is dark and sinister. This grows alongside the wheat and is hard to seperate. That is how it is in the church these days. We get ministries or beliefs that resemble the real thing but are distinctly a different color or nature. They might even taste the same and in appearance resemble the real thing but are not. This is the false church, pretenting to be the body of Christ.
Psalm 133:1 A Song of Ascents (maala), of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ascents (maʿălâ) has in it the idea of going up but is the ascent or incline itself. It has also been translated as steps or degrees. Aliyah is what we normally hear regarding Jews returing to Israel. It is also the act of going up to read the Torah. Moses was called to go up to the top of the mountain and the children of Israel were called up to go up from Egypt (ălâ). One is the type of path or course of action, the other is the act of going up. One difference is maala is a noun and aliyah a verb. Let’s just say they are related but different. This is like darnel and wheat: related but different.
Another ascent of David is in Psalm 122:1. I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the LORD. Maybe that is why Aliyah seems to end in God’s abbreviated name ‘Yah’ for we are ascending into God’s presence. Is it just coincidence that the hebrew word for sin, falsehood, treachery is ma’al? Is there something we should know about slight differences between ascending to the presence of the Lord and steps or degrees that can bring us into sin, falsehoods, transgression, and tresspass?
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Prov. 14:12).
I am not trying to say that David’s Song of Ascents is wrong or harmful. Just saying the road you follow can be righteous or lead you into sin. Jim Jones seemed like a very righteous man, preaching the word of God strongly but in the end his road led to death. It only takes a small deviation to get on the wrong road!
==> POLITICS: Ay Vey! Luke 23:12 Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.
Luke 23:14 Pilot said “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him
Did Trump incite the people to violence January 6th (2021)? Maybe. What about today? Is he wrongly steering America into a middle east war? Politics quickly divides so best to not focus on it amongst believers!
1 Th. 5:22 abstain from every appearance of evil .. vs. 21 tells us to examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good
Politics is a slippery slope. Sometimes is is good, sometimes it is bad. King Herod is a nice biblical example. He wanted to keep the peace. Somehow the idea of what truth represents eluded him (John 18:38).
==> Black Lives Matter (BLM):
Do Black Lives Matter? Absolutely!Also white lives, hispanic lives, chinese lives, and actually all lives. Can we erase all of the wrongs done in history? Not likely. We can move forward, however.
BLM had its roots in 2012 when Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by a 28 year old Hispanic American. More recently we all remember the travesty relating to the death of George Floyd. BLM’s primary aim is to eliminate police brutality and racially motivated violence against all black people.
Racism in any form is not good. In some ways the Jews have it wrong. While antisemitism is racism, the Jews have and still do consider themselves superior to gentiles in the manner of not associating with unclean people. That is why the Holy Spirit had to convice Peter to go into the house of Cornelius the Centurian.
How about lives of the unborn?
We read about how God makes us in our mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:13-15:: For You formed my inward parts; you wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.
My frame (bones) was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth
Abortion can not only stop a child from birthing but also affect the plans he has for us:: Jer. 29:11:: I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope
Many moves of God can get aborted by us. His destiny for us might never get fulfilled if we abort or if we get onto the wrong path.
==> MONEY: Something that divides us is economic status and love of money.
1 Tim 6:10:: For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Having money is not evil. We must be good stewards of what the Lord provides for us. Let’s look at some new covenant verses related to money.
Luke 10:7:: The Lord sends out 70 people to prepare the way for him Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house.
Labor, even spiritual labor is something that must be rewarded in this lifetime. Apostle Paul had a good perspective on stewardship and money.
Acts 20:33-35:: (In Ephesus he speaks to the elders) I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive
In the church we have elders who get honored. It does not say with money but that is certainly one way.
1 Tim 5:17-18:: The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.
Following is a prophetic word from God and his Word.
Come my people, enjoy the lake which refreshes. You shall enjoy the waters thereof, for that is a good and pleasing thing. What? Either that or the lake that burns with fire. This is not a pleasing thing.
There are all sorts of lakes in the world. A lake is a body of water which gathers streams and runoff or possibly comes from underground springs. A fresh water lake is pleasing and useful. A stale or polluted lake is of no benefit. And a lake of fire is harmful. Likewise, a lake of fire gathers fire from runoff and streams of fire and fire from beneath.
You may go thru firery trials of all sorts upon this Earth. Best to go thru firery trials now than to end up in the firery trials of hell. For God tests each person’s intent and issues of the heart. The word of God … is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12). Some hearts are soft and malleable, others are hard and stoney.
For the soft and maleable hearts, God molds their hearts so as to produce more fruit. There is no bleeding from open sores and the blood that pumps thru their veins gives life and love and longevity. Give and it shall be given unto you: love, patience, perseverence, and many opportunities to further the gospel and reach more people. You see, my son, giving is key to having a heart of compassion. Still waters are best. But running waters also cleanse the heart from all evil. Rushing, turbulent waters are of no use. As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul pants for thee… (Ps. 42:1).
For the hard and stony hearts, God reserves judgement and a certain amount of indignation and strife. For you see, strife breeds strive and contention breeds contention. Give and it shall be given unto you, even the bad and evil works that way but we want to give what is positive and godly.
God says ‘there is never enough strife and contention to quell the evil within your hearts’. Only love can quell the buring desires of strive and contention. Love covers over (hide or veil) a multitude of sins (1 Pet. 4:8). But love only covers over sins, it does not get at the root of an evil heart. Peter was referring here to fervent agape love, self-sacrificing love. Sacrifice, which is born of love, is what gets to the roots of sin. And the harder and the more arduous the sacrifice, the deeper you can dig at those roots.
==> Sacrifices in the law, writings, and new covenant
The bible talks about sacrifices in the books of Leviticus and Hebrews. It is interesting to see that Lev. 4:2 says ‘If a person sins unintentionally against any of the commandments of the LORD in anything which ought not to be done, and does any of them’ then the priests offers a bull for a sin offering. In Lev. 6 intentional sins (trespasses) which are actually against your neighbor require a return of the thing illicitly gotten plus a 20% surcharge. Heb. 10:26 says ‘if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins’. This is not to say we cannot receive forgiveness for past sins (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9, Heb. 8:12). … repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out … … if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness … … for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more …
The last statement was borrowed from Jer. 31 which speaks of the new covenant.
Technically any sacrifice which costs you nothing is no sacrifice at all. Covering over sin by itself never gets to the root of the problem. Atonement is another word which literally means reparation for an offense or injury. Just as Nehemiah oversaw the rebuilding of the walls in Jerusalem we many times have to repair the breach in our own walls. In Judiasm there is a high day called the day of atonement which is where the high priest makes a sacrifice for the whole nation. Hebrews 7:27 says Christ made an atoment for our sins ‘for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself’. He was our substitute as a sin offering:
Heb. 10:4-7 (Ps. 40:6-8):: For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. (My ears You have opened)
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure (did not require).
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume (scroll) of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’” (and your Torah is within my heart – literally inner parts)
Just like the abyss of Romans 10:7 is equated with the depths of the sea in Deut. 30:13 there is also hidden meaning here when the author of Hebrews equates ‘a body prepared for me’ with ‘ears you have opened’. Our physical bodies are only a shell for the real you dwelling within. Your inner parts, or heart, is what matters. When the Lord opens our ears to understanding then we know our purpose, even our destinies. Our bodies serve our inward parts.
Apostle Paul said in 1 Cor. 9:27 ‘I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified’.
Gr hypōpiazō (hoop-o-pee-ad’-zo) literally means to beat your body into subjection.
Throughout church history groups have sought to beat their bodies into subjection with such extreme measures as self-flagellation. During the black plague participants thought this was a way of cleansing the bodies of all sin so as to receive healing for as Peter said ‘he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin’ (1 Pet. 4:1). While I would not advocate self torture as a method to cease from sin there are less severe methods to train the body such as fasting, penance, kingdom work, and time. Yeshua himself had his spiritual ears opened and realized his body was only a means to provide the sacrifice. Death of any kind is the ultimate sacrifice, much less a cruel and agonizing death. In Psalm 40 we hear David’s cry: to do your will and to follow your teachings (Torah). Psalm 119 says ‘thy word have I hidden in mine heart that I might not sin against you’.
==> We need to get at our roots of depravity to be cleansed.
The root of bitterness is one main root. If you have been offended by others and there never seems to be an apology or turning around (repentance) it can fester in open wounds and leave your with sores and even cancer. Sometimes the person who has wronged you has moved away or you have lost contact with them or they are dead so there is no simple way to seek or receive reconcilliation. Try to seek reconcilliation, even an internal release, for you own sakes, not only for their sakes. Pouring on the salve of the oil of gilead can help here. The oil is also the oil of gladness. For if they offened you or hurt you, remember Yeshua was also hurt and offended and he forgave them also. This root says I don’t love them but that is not how we are to be. To get rid of this root requires sacrifice.
The bible says that fresh and bitter water do not mix. James 3:11 says ‘Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?’ If this were true they would mix at the source. The answer to the question is a no. For if they mixed at the source the we would have semi-bitter water instead. Semi-bitter water is like lukewarm water, which is useless. Bitterness pollutes, fresh water refreshes, but semi-bitter waters make a mess. For we have no idea what to do with the water: throw it away or receive it.
The root of rejection is another main root. This root says I am not loved. Remember Yeshua was also despised and rejected, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Is. 53:3). He came to his own but they rejected him (John 1:11). Yeshua was the one to come, the Son of Man and the Holy One of Israel. There is no other, he was also the Prophet. There are no others. There are many prophets in the world today and throughout history. But Yeshua was the prophet to come (John 6:14) and even speaks about the consummation after resurrection from the dead. You too can feel rejection, it is easy to do, especially in ministry. Family can also reject you.
Self-rejection is a close cousin to rejection by others. This root says I don’t love myself. When we reject the notion that we are being perfected we reject the work of Christ in our lives and in our hearts. Matt. 5:48 tells us to be perfect, as our heavenly father is. This is not the notion that we never make mistakes. In 1 John 1:8 it says ‘if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us’. What we are is a work in progress so when we reject his love for us, we reject his gift, the gift of God’s One and Only Begotten Son. For you are all sons and daughters of Christ through his life and devotion and sacrifice. Also, when we reject our destiny and the things which God made us to be we are following a form of self-rejection. Seek that which is above and you shall find your purpose in life.
There are also other roots which feed our main root. Love of money is also called the root of all kinds of evil … but
==> The main root is self
When we are self-seeking, prideful, and egotistical this is fed by our three roots: bitterness, rejection, and self-rejection. For bitterness, rejection, and self-rejection all feed this main root called self. For when we focus on self we loose sight of the great comission which causes us to sacrifice for others. Remember, sacrifice is the key to digging deep and removing bad roots. Love covers over a multitude of sins but when we sacrifice and suffer for our faith we have ceased from sin (1 Pet. 4:1).
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. You say, how is God angry. Yeshua is my friend, my buddy. For he will even join me in hell and bring cool drink to quench my dry and parched throat. Will he? Or will he turn up the heat of the fires 7 times more intense? Nobody knows who the son is except the Father (Matt. 11:27). So beware of your disposition towards God for by grace are we saved (Eph. 2:8), that is unmerited favor.
Rejoice! For today is the day of salvation, the wells of grace still flow. And you can find forgiveness and grace in the hands of Yeshua as you seek his face and work with him.
==> Lakes burning with fire
The lake that burns with fire was created for Satan and his allies, but in particular for fallen angels. Yeshua said, I see Satan fall like fire (lightning) from heaven (Luke 10:18) and with him 1/3 of the angels (Rev. 12:4). The lake which burns with fire is a reference (remembrance) of the judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah. For if the king (Bera of Sodom and Birsh) was friendly to Abraham, what happened in that village by the time Lot and his family lived there? The people there had gone from serving the living God to serving Satan. This is how society degerates and sometimes very quickly. Tendencies and beliefs are first established and when acted upon causes the downfall and denigration of society rather quickly.
Holiness unto the Lord is your only response. We need to remember the Torah, various laws, and the great comission. Yeshua recounted to the Pharisees of his day the two greatest commandments: To love the Lord your God with all of the heart, and soul, and life and To love your fellow man as yourself. For the great comission and also the great commandment. To go out into the world and proclaim the love of God in Christ and to tell everyone how great a sacrifice he has done and to not neglect this sacrifice.
The sources of fire for the lake of fire are all around. The center of the Earth is sometimes referred to as the fires of hell. The lower regions of God’s creation are probably more descriptive of the fires below but sheol and the pit are other descriptions. Fires bubble up from below and create streams of fire. This is the visible manifestation of fires below upon the surface of the Earth. Fire when kept below the surface at best makes the Earth warm but once it erupts it destroys. There is a literal hell and lake of fire but we are talking metaphorically in terms of the effects it brings upon people’s lives. Bitterness, rejection, self-rejection and all forms of self promotion must be conquered.
Visibly fires from below outwardly create torment, fear, and anxiety. All works of the flesh are outward manifestations of internal evil. But the root of all sorts of visible fire in people’s lives are pride, selfishness, and ego. We see outwardly what one is burying deep within the soul.
Metaphorically, the fires from within are strive and contention and rebellion in our hearts. Those fully exposed may not be physically dead but are dead unto Christ and useless. Dross settles to the bottom. Fires which erupt from below are the physical manifestations of the evil within one’s heart: wars, strife, murder and other works of the flesh showing up all around those with evil within.
Fire from above relate to those that ally with the powers of the prince of the air. They bring down fires to the Earth and manifest firery rein (vs. rain) upon the Earth. This rain is many times visable within evil and ungodly leaders and those who take charge to boss people around using ungodly methods. Hitler, and Moussilini, and Ghengas Khan, and Stalin are a few examples here.
In the natural asteroids, metorites, and things falling through the atmosphere burn and create streams when falling in sufficient quantities. The rain from these cataclysmic disturbances will make mankind seek shelter underground or cry out to the Lord to stop. Runoff is when the sky drops fire like at Sodom and Gomorrah and streams form in the plains. Evil also tends to stream and gather into rivers and lakes.
You should be like that tree planted by rivers of water (Ps. 1:3), spreading out roots in fertile soil (Jer. 17:8) and manifesting outwardly what the tree produces. If you are planted in good soil and your roots are good then you will produce good fruit (Jer. 24). Remember that in the days of Jeremiah the Lord sent away the ones producing good figs from Israel and left the ones who produce bad figs to remain in the land. Ezekial, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshiach and Abendego were the good fruit people. Remember that sometimes God wants to get you out of a bad situation so pulling you out of your comfort zone, your community, or even your country is the best thing. It may not be the popular thing to do but it is best for you even when you cannot clearly see the outcomes. You should not want to remain when judgement comes. Cleansing of the soul is a necessary first step!
This is meant to be a concluding message on our relationship with God, albeit there might be more under a slightly different title in the future. In this I will explore the theme of Rods & Staffs, David’s mighty men for today, and an Unwise Census and Deliverance thru Sacrifice.
— Rods, staffs, and implications for the future
Yet there is a time when Yeshua is on the throne that he will rule with a rod of iron.
Rev. 2:27:: He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ [Ps. 2:9]— as I also have received from My Father;
In Ps. 2:9 rod is šēḇeṭ which has been translated by bible scholars and many different ways: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe
Ps. 23:4:: Your rod (šēḇeṭ = rod,staff,sceptre) and Your staff (mašʿēnâ = support or staff), they comfort me.
Is this the same staff that David had in his hand when he confronted Goliath? Apparently not!
1 Sam. 17:40:: (David) took his staff (maqqēl) in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand.
Goliath called David’s staff (maqqēl) a stick for it was nothing to him. One article I found suggested the staff was no ordinary support or rod. According to this author the staff was part of a staff sling. A different kind of sling that uses a staff to throw rocks. In this case rocks could be as big as your fist.
This is not even the rod that Moses used during the time of Pharoah: Ex. 14:16:: (to Moses) lift up your rod (maṭṭê), and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it See also Ex. 4:2, 17:5,9
Moses’ matte was a rod of authority. It was what was used before Pharoah to consume the rod’s of the magicians. Moses also had a matte when he stood on the hill as Israel fought Amalek at Rephidim.
So David probably had a shephard’s rod. One used for herding sheep. I don’t want make too much of rods and staffs other than to point out they have different meanings and purposes. Some are for shepharding, some for defense, and some for commanding authority.
— David’s Mighty Men (2 Sam. 23:8-39)
For all of the mighty deeds that Joab did while serving under King David it is a bit strange that he is not listed amongs the mighty men of David. He was David’s commander for taking the city of Jebus.
1 Chr. 11:6:: David said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief.
Abishi and Asahel, Joab’s brothers were among the mighty men. Joab was rash and at times did not listen to the king. He killed Abner (2 Sam. 3:27), Saul’s commander and also Amasa (2 Sam. 20:9-10). Both men were military leaders but regarded as competition by Joab and probably in his mind expendable. Joab also does not spare Absalom’s life, despite the king calling for him to be dealt with kindly. Absalom was the epitomy of a prodigal son, one who never came home, one who never repented.
A lesson from Joab’s life is that despite being very powerful he was not completely trusted. David at times needed his skill and support but inwardly was grieved over things like Absalom’s death which Joab initiated and then scolded David over his lamentations (2 Sam. 19:5-7). It is also apparent that top generals like Joab commanded too much power. Abner, Ishbosheth’s general was what maintained the young ruler but he abandoned Isbosheth, coming over to David’s side and that greatly weakend the house of Saul. We even hear about pagan kings like Achish who had to bow to the rule of the military princes. That is one reason in many countries top power is handled by the civilian authorities.
Joab caused so many issues for David that after his death David ordered Joab’s execution (1 Ki. 2:6). For Joab killed both Abner and Amasa during peacetime (vs. 5).
Many of David’s mighty men were known for their exploits. There might have been 37 in total but maybe not serving at the same time. Josheb-basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah are spoken of highly in this chapter. In some manuscripts Abishi is said to be over another group of three. All were mighty men of valor and did great exploits.
The mighty men were very loyal to David. We need people of such loyalty to support us. Loyalty means not stabbing us in the back when they think it is their right to go outside of agreed-to actions (like what Joab did). Loyalty means doing what is right as our representative even when we are not around.
Spiritually, loyalty means taking initiative but only within the bounds of what is appropriate. If you want to do exploits and serve our master and king wisely, first seek his counsel and then acquire his heart. Since David’s heart was after that of God’s we need to stay this course and do what is right in God’s eyes. Murder has its consequences, whether physical or with our words and actions. Remember we represent the King of Glory so we must represent him properly and not go off half-cocked doing our own thing, assuming are actions are approved.
— The Unwise Census and the Deliverance Thru Sacrifice
One example of sowing into what was happening was in the case of David as an older man. He, against prudent advice of Joab and the commanders of the army, counted the fighting men of Israel. One would think this is ok since Moses had counted the fighting men over 20 in the days of taking Canaan (Num. 1 & 26). But we read in 2 Sam. 24:10 is that David’s heart condemned him. Here we hear from Gad, David’s seer (prophet).
The obvious question here is why this census was wrong and the ones that Moses commanded were ok…….
Joab did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s word was abominable to Joab (1 Chr. 21:6). The tribe of Levi included the priests and levites. Counting them as part of Irael’s fighting force was not good. They were not to serve as combatants. So despite Joab’s questionable actions at times he often advised the king wisely.
Num. 1:47:: Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor take a census of them among the children of Israel. For sure the Levites were to care for the tabernacle of the Testimony.
Yet we see in the census of chapter 26 Levi was counted in the census of fighting men soon before going into Canaan. It could be that the Levites sang and played musical instruments going into battle at the time of going into Canaan. Verse 62 also indicates the Levites were counted seperately.
Num. 26:62: those who were numbered of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and above; for they were not numbered among the other children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given to them among the children of Israel.
Why Joab got upset about counting Benjamin is also debatable. When Joseph ordered his brother Benjamin to Egypt his brothers were fearful for Israel because they already thought they had lost Joseph. We also know King Saul was a Benjamite and it seems King David was wanting to protect the House of Saul, at least some of them.
We are told in 1 Chr. 21:7 ‘God was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Israel’ but we are never told the exact reason why God was dipleased. Verse 1 here says ‘Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel’. The reason is probably something to do with a character flaw in David. He might have become proud or even fearful. Rebellion in his own house might have caused uncertainty (fear) about the future. The bottom line is we do not know for certain why David’s order to take a census of fighting men was wrong. For this he gets three choices for his punishment.
Gad the seer comes to see King David and speaks to him: 2 Sam. 24:13:: Shall seven[three in Septuigint and 1 Chr. 21:12] years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ plague in your land?
The translation of 3 years, 3 months, and 3 days makes the most sense here. David opted for the plague because he said ‘let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man’. With this response only fleeing before your enemies would be removed since three years of famine could also be construed as ‘from the LORD’. Years of famine would ultimately be a huge cost so I can understand why David opted for the quick punishment (also maybe because of a recent famine: 2 Sam. 21:1). Still, 70k dead is a lot of people for his sin. Sometimes being a leader takes a huge toll on the people because of sins or miscalculations of leadership. This is a hard thing to bear for leaders!
It is also interesting to see that the hand of the angel of destruction never went against Jerusalem. This gave David a time of pause and reflection to see what his response should be.
I have to wonder what kind of plague would destroy 70k people in only three days.
2 Sam. 24:15-16:: the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from the morning till the appointed time. From Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men of the people died. When the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.
The hebrew word deḇer means pestilence or plague. It can also mean murrain, cattle disease, cattle-plague. Murrain is an infectious disease, especially babesiosis. Babesiosis is a disease you get from the bite of a tick infected with the parasite Babesia. It’s symptoms sound like that of malaria which is normally caught by an infected mosquito. So the plague could have been the result of bites by ticks or mosquitos but probably in this case a plague transmuted from cattle to people, like what seems to be the case from bird flu.
What interests me most on this plague it the hebrew word deḇer which has the same root word as dāḇar. Dāḇar means to speak or declare. This makes me think this terrible plague affected the centers of speech, either in the throat or within the brain itself. I’m sure some will question that conclusion. The bottom line is the plague was quite virulent and deadly. 70k dead in three days! This makes me think we have seen nothing like this in recent times and it makes COVID look like the common cold!
2 Sam. 24:24-25:: David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel.
Another question here is why the offering at the threshing floor of Araunah….
A threshing floor is where the grains are seperated, the wheat vs. the chaff. Matthew quotes this when it comes to Yeshua and the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is Yeshua who baptises us with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. – Matthew 3:12
This baptism referred to by Matthew removes our worthless parts. It cleanses us from chaff, that which cannot be used by the Lord. The purpose of King David was to build an altar and offer sacrifices unto the LORD. This is the same for us. We offer unto the Lord the sacrifice of our lives as he removes the fleshly chaff from our lives and consumes this with the fires of his holy presence. Fire is many times considered a cleansing agent. Those that come under persecution are cleansed by it. King David knew well what persecution was and also a family divided. His life had to be fully purged of evil, even the stain of trauma often left by rebellion, sedition, and unresolved feuds.
1 Pet. 4:12-13:: Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
We will look at the sad events of Amnon raping his half-sister Tamar and her brother Absalom planning a revenge. Amnon’s death leads to anarchy and rebellion in the house and eventual results in the death of Absalom.
— Sin in The House
Soon enough an issue arose in David’s house. One of David’s sons Amnon desired to sleep with his (half)sister Tamar. The thoughts kept persisting to the point where he sought counsel on how to have her. He gets her through a ruse, pretending to be sick and asking Tamar to come wait on him at his room.
— Amnon’s mother is Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimelech. This is D avid’s firstborn (2 Sam. 3:2). — Absalom’s (and Tamar’s) mother is Maacah daughter of Talmai, the king of Geshur. Absalom was David’s third child (2 Sam. 3:3). Maacah was won as a result of battle.
2 Sam. 13: 19-20:: Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly. Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
However, Absalom did not forget this thing and waited silently, patiently for two years. But secretly he hated his brother Amnon for what he did to his sister (2 Sam. 13:22).
Moses told the tribes of Gad and Reuben ‘if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure your sin will find you out’ (Num. 32:23). For these tribes wanted to settle in the lands east of the Jordan and not help their brothers take conquest of all the land of Israel. Obviously Amnon took conquest of his half sister but not in a good way. His sin was soon to be discovered even though Absalom kept quiet for a couple years. Eventually the consequences of sin catch up to us, even if we think we have escaped judgement.
Absalom flees to Geshur for three years after he has Amnon, his brother, murdered.
It is probable this is the same Jonadab who both counseled Amnon and then later King David. Jonadab counseled the king ‘for by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar’. (2 Sam. 13:32)
Know this, there are some people who like to stay close to power and will play both sides of the fence so as to curry favor. The sins of the father are passed upon the children unto the third and fourth generation so it does not really matter if this is the same Jonadab, the weasly people who hang around power will so so for their own avantage. Taking advice from these people is quite dangerous.
Incidently, a false report comes that all of David’s sons were killed (2 Sam. 13:30). This was simply not true. Confusion often comes with iniquity, as most Jewish commentators believe Jonadab was always scheming.
(Jonadab was probably son of Shimea or Shammah so really David’s nephew but some sources say one brother was unnamed, see 1 Sam 16:10 vs. 1 Chr. 2:13-15).
A main point is what was done in secret is proclaimed openly. The death of Amnon is finally announced by Jonadab as what had been determined all along (although David had likely heard the story already). Absalom murdering his brother is not unlike David murdering Uriah. Both were done in secret and both were premeditated. One point relates to repentance: David repented, Absalom did not. Nor do we ever hear of Amnon repenting for raping Tamar.
Absalom soon plans sedition and treachery against his father. For he had set himself up as a wise and just judge in Jerusalem and stole away the hearts of the men (2 Sam. 15:8).
— The case that Amnon ‘putting away’ Tamar and Absolom lying with David’s wives
There is a fulfillment of Nathan the prophet here relating to adversaries being raised up from the house of David and lieng with his wives. The record of this happening is based upon David’s son Absalom lieing with David’s concubines.
2 Sam. 12:11:: Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
We could say that a concubine is not a wife but that is not how God views these relationships. Hagar was considered a wife.
Gen. 16:3:: Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.
Apostle Paul echo’d this belief when he told the Corinthians ‘do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh’. (1 Cor. 6:16).
Most young people do not realize how God views sexual intercourse. The oneness of uniting in copulation is as the joining a man to a woman. It does not matter if you have a piece of paper or went through a ceremony. You have united the relationship in marriage, maybe not holy matrimony, yet as a husband and wife.
The Torah spells out the consequences of a man lying with a virgin. If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife (Ex. 22:16).
I believe this includes the idea of even marying a woman who is a widow or divorces. The bottom line is if you (men) are going to have sex before marriage you should also be thinking of marrying that woman. This is not optimum but it often happens. What happened to Amnon after he enticed and raped Tamar? He then despised her! This was worse
2 Sam. 13:15-16:: Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone! So she said to him, “No, indeed! This evil of sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me.” But he would not listen to her.
For now he had uncovered her nakedness and had lied with her.
Lev. 18:9:: The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover.
In essence it was like putting away your wife for any uncleanness.
Free sex and marying multiple women is forbidden of elders and deacons in the church despite the patriarchs and kings of old having many wives. The point the apostle makes in 1 Corinthians is the mating of Christ with a harlot.
Going back to David and his ten concubines. In reality Nathan’s prophesy came true, it might not involved his 7 or so legitimate wives but in essence did come true in the sense of concubine wives. We read in:
2 Sam. 16:21-22:: Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
— Absalom’s Legacy
The situation between Absalom and his father got so bad that David and his servants had to flee Jerusalem. Eventually Absalom met his end at the hands of Joab and his men for the king could not kill his own son, as he could not kill the children of Saul.
the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom (2 Sam. 18:5). He loved his son, like the father of the prodigal son. But in this case his son never came to his senses and returned to his father. We have no record of him ever repenting for the rebellion against his father.
2 Sam. 18:14-15:: Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.
The idea of Joab’s words ‘I connot linger with you’ suggests his patience was up with this rebellious son. David was not going to take action against his rebellious son so Joab had to do it.
2 Sam. 18:18:: Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King’s Valley. For he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.
It is traditional to throw rocks at Absalom’s Monument unto this day. For he was a rebellious son and parents want to teach their children a lesson on what happens to rebellious children.
Absalom did have three sons and a daughter. 2 Sam. 14:27:: To Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.
Did all of his sons die? Were they not considered worthy of his kingdom? Were the sons illegitamite? He does have relations with his father’s concubines (2 Sam. 16:21) so they could have been children of promiscuity. Why did he name his daughter Tamar? She was beautiful like his sister Tamar.
Despite leaving children, Absalom left us another legacy. That of a rebellious and murderous son. I would be remiss to not compare Absalom to the parable of the prodigal son. One main difference is that the prodigal son got to the point of seeing his desperation and poverty. He repented and came back to his father. In the case of Absalom there was no repentance and no returning to his father. Yet we can see in the life of King David he never lost his love for Absalom. He would have gladly received back Absolom and showered gifts and affection upon him. It is a sad story of what can happen to the prodigals — they never return and die in their sins.
You do not want to be branded a prodigal and have people throw stones at a monument to your name. Return to your heavenly father and seek reconciliation with your brothers and sisters. Absalom’s murder of his brother Amnon is an example of those destined for eternal judgement.
Matt. 5:21-22:: You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause [Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17] shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
1 John 3:15:: Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
Don’t be like Absalom. He hated his brother and murdered him.