1Timothy, chapter 6, comments

 

1Timothy 6:1 ¶  Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 2  And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. 3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

 

Under the yoke indicates slavery not mere hired servanthood. Slavery was and is a commonplace condition throughout history and in all regions of the earth. It has been credibly noted that there are more slaves in the world today than there have ever been in history. A slave has little or no bodily or economic autonomy and is under the control of a master who owns them. In Ancient Rome a slave might work as a doctor or as a common farm laborer and were often made that way by being prisoners of war, criminals, or even, in some cases, selling themselves into slavery to receive some financial stability and safety. However, it was unlikely that the color of your skin in Ancient Rome determined your slave status or called your freedom into question as it was in America before the Civil War although slaves in America, it has been determined by credible historians, were typically better fed and clothed than European or Northern American laborers of the time who thought of themselves as free. The most impartial source for this I’ve found is Without Consent or Contract: The Rise and Fall of American Slavery by economic historian, the late Robert William Fogel.

 

I have read that Samore Toure, called by some historians “The Napoleon of Africa,” sold himself into slavery at the age of 12 to an Arab merchant to get an education and to be able to eat regularly.

 

I would also remind you that some people in American History regarded working for others in any capacity for an hourly wage to be “wage-slavery”. This is not to glorify slavery. It is a deplorable condition and racial slavery is a crime against humanity. But slavery simply is, then and now.

 

The slave or servant or employee, whichever you would like this to show as an example, was to represent God to their master. They were especially not to be contemptuous of their masters who were brothers or sisters in the faith. Paul also wrote this;

 

Colossians 3:22  Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

 

He admonished masters as well, though.

 

Colossians 4:1 ¶  Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

 

And even established the doctrine that the Christian servant of the Christian master was also his brother in Christ and both were brothers and sons in Christ to Paul.

 

Philemon 1 ¶  Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, 2  And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: 3  Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4  I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5  Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6  That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7  For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

 

    8 ¶  Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, 9  Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10  I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11  Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12  Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: 13  Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 14  But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. 15  For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 16  Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? 17  If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. 18  If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; 19  I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. 20  Yea, brother, let me

have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. 21  Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. 22  But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. 23  There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; 24  Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. 25  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

«Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.»

 

Christianity was not trying to overthrow the established political order, was not a secular revolution in that regard, but sought something more deeper spiritually and more permanent in eternity when all human institutions had been erased by Christ. Paul rejected those who would preach rebellion just for the sake of it. This has prompted many today to say that Christianity justified slavery which is nonsense. God does not create civilization or culture. He modifies what man has created to bring it closer to His perfect will. Slavery is a permanent social and economic condition of mankind and will probably never be eradicated completely until Christ returns. In fact, it is growing in numbers. The Christian servant was to use their position to lead other servants and their masters to the Lord, not seek to be relieved of their own burden. The Christian master was to treat the Christian servant as a brother in Christ.

 

1Corinthians 7:20  Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. 21  Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22  For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23  Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

 

This is difficult for us today to accept living in a country where slavery by name is banned by law but where slavery in practice still goes on while we pretend an air of superiority over cultures that have no such restrictions.

 

Paul has laid out quite a few doctrines here in this letter for the Christian’s sake, particularly for someone leading a church body. He goes on to condemn those who would go against the doctrines he has set forth. Paul suggests that the people who would deny the doctrines he has laid out would be motivated by money, greed, the love of money. Peter warns about those who had that as their motivation.

 

2Peter 2:1 ¶  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

 

    3 ¶  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

 

America has had its share of preachers who used the church they led as a moneymaking enterprise. One famous old-time preacher said that if something didn’t make sense you could be sure there was a buck in it.

 

 

 

1Timothy 6:6 ¶  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 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.

 

Godliness with contentment is indeed a great return on your investment in Christ if I can make a parallel with the financial world. We start with no physical possessions and end up the same way. “You can’t take it with you,” is a common saying and you literally can’t. We should be happy if we have enough, enough to eat and clothes on our back.

 

Matthew 6:25 ¶  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

 

Certainly, Jesus was speaking to His disciples, many of whom would follow Him to a cross. But the principle of not having anxiety and worry over our needs is very important for the Christian today. We need to learn to be content with what we have and trust God for what we need while we work as hard as necessary for it.

 

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

But it is a common American state of mind to desire to be wealthy, to covet riches. In fact, being ambitious is lauded in our culture as being a sign of character if it is accompanied by some reasonable form of honesty although the outlaw who gains fame and fortune is secretly and openly honored in  our hearts.

 

But God told His people.

 

Proverbs 23:4  Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

 

While prudent behavior, hard work, and minding your own business both literally and figuratively is recommended in God’s word we must guard against the love of money, greed.

 

Luke 16:13  No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [personification of money and the economic system as a god of sorts].

 

Any dreams of wealth and power a man or woman has is not of God. We literally can drown ourselves and our families, particularly our children, in destruction and perdition with the foolish and hurtful lusts created by a hunger for more than we need and not depending on God for our sustenance.

 

The love of money isn’t the cause here of every evil. Your desire to gossip or cheat on your spouse probably has nothing to do with your sense of greed. But the use of all in the Bible can be without distinction or without exception and here the first meaning seems to be apparent. There is no sin that cannot be prompted and promoted by an ungodly love of acquiring money. It can be the root source of every sin you can imagine. As Dr. Ruckman once said, “if something doesn’t make sense, there’s a buck in it.”

 

Many wealthy people have family problems you’ve never imagined and I’ve known a few whose children were bored, angry, self-centered, incompetent, and led pointless, self-absorbed lives. Money was always a key factor, too much of it, no respect for it ultimately, and letting it be a burden to happiness rather than an instrument of in several situations I grew up around. And it didn’t have to be great wealth either. Just a good upper middle class striving could produce virtually all the pain we used to see on TV shows like ‘Dallas’ and ‘Dynasty’ or modern shows that aren’t even mentionable in a Christian venue.

 

Paul warns Timothy not just to turn from but to flee these things with incredibly great advice for how we as Christians should live, something I’ve failed miserably at in my life. The following should be up somewhere on the walls of your house or on your computer to remind you every day of what is best, what God wants from you and for you.

 

11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 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.

 

1Timothy 6:13 ¶  I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14  That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16  Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready todistribute, willing to communicate; 19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 20  O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21  Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. «The first letter to Timothy was written from Laodicea, which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.»

 

Paul gives Timothy his orders before God who created all living things, made alive being what quickeneth means and before Jesus Christ whose testimony in front of the Roman governor, Pilate, was pure and true. Read the descriptions, especially in the Gospel of John, of Christ’s response to Pilate.

 

Luke 23:3  And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

 

John 19:11  Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

 

See one of Paul’s goals here as repeated elsewhere regarding the church presenting it spotless to Christ at His return.

 

2Corinthians 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

 

 Paul then describes Christ’s authority and power and His revealing to all at the end of human history.

 

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

 

Revelation 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.

 

Finally, Paul wants Timothy to warn those in his care who have money to not be trusting in their riches but only in God understanding everything comes from Him. Laying up their treasures in Heaven, not on Earth.

 

Matthew 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

 

He calls on them to good works. You can read Romans, chapter 12 to see Paul’s admonitions to the Christians at Rome.

 

Matthew 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

To lay hold on eternal life can mean to realize it, to secure the understanding of it like what he says in Philippians.

 

Philippians 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Everyone is going to be resurrected. He’s not talking about ATTAINING something that everyone is going to attain. He didn’t say EARN either. He wants to ATTAIN UNTO, to arrive at something, like wisdom. Go further. Paul doesn’t understand why he was saved. He doesn’t understand but he hopes to understand.

 

Psalm 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

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

 

Paul then recaps some of his earlier warnings to Timothy making mention of false science, which in his day would have referred to the many Gnostic cults that with ridiculous arguments and endless genealogies would oppose Christ much like militant atheists today spouting atheistic determinism under the guise of the noble calling of science. I refer you to the renowned geneticist who insists that since there are too many mutations that would have to occur between apes and men that he believes that mankind resulted from random matings between pigs and chimps. This is allowed and not mocked because it is all in the name of atheistic science. (see macroevolution.net). And sadly, this is even apparent among those of the community of faith. Finally, the letter finishes with the postscript that Paul wrote this letter in Laodicea.

 

Colossians 4:16  And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

 

So, the first letter to Timothy ends.

 

Bible Study with Fred: Proverbs 15:21-22; Foolishness is a joy to people...

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2Samuel, chapter 15, comments

 

2Samuel 15:1 ¶  And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2  And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 3  And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 4  Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! 5  And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. 6  And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

 

Absalom begins his campaign to overthrow his father’s rule over Israel. First, he gathers a small paramilitary force to him which gives him some muscle like the notorious brownshirts in Hitler’s early days in Germany. He then tries to usurp his father’s authority by making decisions in the gate which is where the king would sit to judge affairs.

 

Genesis 19:1 ¶  And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

 

Lot sat in the gate indicating that he had become a judge in Sodom to judge disputes and help manage the city’s affairs. Sitting in the gate as a position of judgment is defined in the Bible. It was a place to meet with the elders of a city.

 

Deuteronomy 21:19  Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

 

It was a place of the king’s authority.

 

2Samuel 19:8  Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

 

1Kings 22:10  And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

 

He puts himself up as a sort of advocate for those who claim to not be represented before the king. In this Absalom made himself out to look like the people’s savior. Anyone who had a beef with the established authority of King David and in fact, many people, began to look to Absalom for justice, which authority he was stealing from his father. As I have noted before in reference to talking about Christ the son of a king came in the name of the king and had, in effect, the authority of the king. Absalom is a sort of perversion of this as he comes in the authority of the king but without the king’s consent or permission and in fact is like Satan rather than Christ acting in opposition to God setting himself in God’s place over mankind as the “god of this world”. See Lucifer in Isaiah 14 and the reference to the god of this world in 2Corinthians 4:4.

 

2Samuel 15:7 ¶  And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron. 8  For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD. 9  And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. 10  But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. 11  And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. 12  And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

 

Here is the reference that makes us realize we sometimes can have the wrong narrative and timeline in our heads when reading the Bible narrative.

 

2Samuel 3:3  And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

 

Absalom is born from Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur of which David had made a great slaughter.

 

1Samuel 27:8 ¶  And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt. 9  And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.

 

That slaughter played its part in the bitter fruit that Absalom bore forty years later. So, the narrative is not about Absalom undercutting his father’s authority for 40 years but is about something happening as a result, a justification, and as a consequence of something that happened 40 years ago.

 

As we can see in this passage Absalom has made his alliances and allegiances and brought his traitors into his fold and now he has enough support, it appears, to overthrow King David, his father.

 

2Samuel 15:13 ¶  And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. 14  And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. 15  And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. 16  And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. 17  And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. 18  And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19  Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. 20  Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee. 21  And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be. 22  And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. 23  And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

 

David is now made aware of his son’s treason. It is interesting to note how out of touch leaders can be with regard to the feelings of their people. His intention is to flee with the loyal members of his administration from Jerusalem. He left ten women, concubines, to maintain his household. This shows that he fully expected to return. They got to safety, part way away from the city before resting. Various units of loyal Philistine mercenaries refuse to leave him as they are very devoted to the king’s person, these Pelethites, Cherethites, and warriors of the Philistine city of Gath, called Gitites. This heroic war leader had gathered to himself even those who would have been his enemies had it not been for his charismatic personality and personal courage.

 

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

 

They passed over the brook Kidron at the lowest point in David’s reign as Jesus passed over that same brook to go to the garden where He was arrested. See John 18:1.

 

2Samuel 15:24 ¶  And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. 25  And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: 26  But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. 27  The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28  See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. 29  Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there. 30  And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

 

Zadok the priest and the Levites brought the Ark of the Covenant out of Jerusalem denying Absalom this most important symbol of God’s approval. We met Abiathar back in 1Samuel 22:20 when he escaped from Saul’s slaughter of the priests.

 

It was the Kohathite Levites’ responsibility to carry the Ark from place to place.

Numbers 3:29  The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. 30  And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31  And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.

 

Numbers 4:29  The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. 30  And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31  And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof. 15  And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

 

However, David wanted the Ark kept in its place as a sign to him that he would return. Remember General Douglas MacArthur said in World War Two as he retreated from the Philippines in the face of the brutal Japanese conquest, “I shall return,” which he did. This rallied the Filipinos to resist the Japanese. David also sent the priests back indicating his determination to return. This would be not government in exile but would be an active struggle to return rightful authority to Israel, of course, as David acknowledged, if God would give His blessing to David’s return.

 

David ascends the hill called Mount Olivet or the Mount of Olives mourning at Absalom’s rebellion. It plays a significant part in the end of history as per Zechariah 14:4 when Christ returns. Jesus sat on it when he talked about end times in Matthew 24. It is where He was arrested before His crucifixion as per Matthew 26:30 with the Garden of Gethsemane at the base of it. So, interestingly, God’s king ascends Mount Olivet in mourning, Christ speaks of the end of history from it, is arrested on it, and ascends from it, and will land on it.

 

2Samuel 15:31 ¶  And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. 32  And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: 33  Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: 34  But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. 35  And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36  Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok’s son, and Jonathan Abiathar’s son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear. 37  So Hushai David’s friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

 

Here a tactic is devised to confound the treasonous counsel of Ahithophel who, while being at one time a loyal help to David, has decided that Absalom is the safest bet for the future and the person to pitch his tent beside, in a manner of speaking.

 

1Chronicles 27:33  And Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion:

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Psalm 83 comments

 

Psalm 83:1 ¶  «A Song or Psalm of Asaph.» Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. 2  For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. 3  They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. 4  They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. 5  For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: 6  The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; 7  Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8  Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

 

Here is a heartfelt plea for God’s deliverance of Israel, beset all around, as it is today, by enemies who wish its destruction. The psalmist pleads for God to move as the enemies of Israel, God’s enemies have risen up and created a ruckus. They have used clever counsel against God’s people, hidden under His own protection. They want to eliminate Israel from the map and make them a forgotten figure of history. See Haman’s scheme.

 

Esther 3:8  And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. 9  If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.

 

They are confederate, allied, and all in agreement that Israel must be wiped off the face of the earth. Reasonably far away Assyria is willing to be in league with the children of Lot, the Moabites and the Ammonites, that seek Israel’s destruction.

 

Psalm 83:9 ¶  Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: 10  Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. 11  Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: 12  Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. 13  O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. 14  As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; 15  So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. 16  Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. 17  Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: 18  That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

 

The Psalmist now makes mention of events detailed in Judges. So, this Psalm is a plea for the destruction of Israel’s enemies, and God’s enemies. They surround Israel and threaten them on almost every side and the Psalmist wants them utterly destroyed. I would suggest to you that a Christian’s sentiment should be for salvation and a change of heart for our enemies who surround us. It is not easy to justify a Christian whose prayer is for death and Hell to reign down on those he or she opposes. We are to pray for our enemies. However, this is a national thing with Israel and nations in this world are either the bug or the windshield. A nation that cannot or will not defend itself cannot protect its citizens. Nation-states today are not Christian but they are entities that are entitled to defend themselves and their people from destruction. Be careful of the comparisons you make and pray for your enemies, that God would change their hearts and lead them to Christ.

 

Matthew 5:43 ¶  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46  For if ye love them which

love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

 

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Psalm 82 comments: Christ will judge the world

 

Psalm 82:1 ¶  «A Psalm of Asaph.» God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. 2  How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. 3  Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4  Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. 5  They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

In verse 6 it will become clear that the Psalmist is speaking of the rulers of Israel as gods. God makes it clear that no matter how powerful they think themselves to be it is He that judges them. He condemns their oppressions, their approval of their wicked associates, and their disregard of the poor and needy. The rulers of Israel walk in darkness and things are not right in the land.

John 10:34  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

Exodus 22:28  Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

They are being accused of judging unjustly. We as followers of Christ are called to make a righteous judgment.

Matthew 7:1 ¶  Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

We are not to tolerate the awful behavior of the wicked.

Psalm 12:8  The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

We are to champion the cause of the needy and the fatherless.

James 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

We must defend the weak and powerless and defend them from the hands of the wicked.

Psalm 140:12  I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

We don’t walk in darkness. We follow Christ.

1Thessalonians 5:5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 

The foundations of the earth are out of course because of sin and Christ is the only solution that humanity has or ever will have for that problem.

Psalm 82:6 ¶  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 7  But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. 8  Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

Note that verse 1 said God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

God gave these men the ability to exercise their offices in His place. One of the arguments for the pre-modern heresy of “The Divine Right of Kings” comes from this Psalm. The rulers of Israel acted as gods in God’s stead and were all His children and His representatives on earth but they were all too mortal and vain, doomed to die like all men. God Himself would inherit their heritage.

 

Christ will return to take the kingdoms of this world under His very real presence and authority.

 

Revelation 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

 

The rulers of this world, gods as they tend to think they are, better beware.

 

Psalm 2:1 ¶  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5  Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6  Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

 

    7 ¶  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

 

    10 ¶  Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

 

Isaiah spoke of Christ’s reign over all things.

 

Isaiah 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. 7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

 

God will judge the nations. See Matthew, chapter 25. Also;

 

Revelation 20:11 ¶  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

 

Christ will also judge His own.

 

Romans 14:10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

 

2Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

 

Make note of what Paul affirmed.

 

1Corinthians 15:20 ¶  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 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 is excepted, which did put all things under him. 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.