..To Ancient SDA's ............ To "What's New?"
by
Ron Parsons
The aim of this series:
“Then He said to them, ‘O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:25-27.
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Internet: http://NonConformist.MyChurch.com
Genesis 14b
Another Question and answer
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Dear Ron;
I see.
This explanation, then, obliterates the justifications that present-day Jews, Christians and Muslims lean open to bolster their own revenge, "destiny", or national dignity agendas.
In the face of the facts of the three systems, the nominal (in name only, not in spirit) descendents of Abraham use the 3rd, claiming it's the 2nd, and worship the memory of the 1st.
Sad, huh? God has sure got incredible patience dealing with the likes of us.
So in the individual Christian's life how does all of this apply?
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My answer:
Hi everyone,
Our questioner has come back with another question that you might like to consider. My answer is a bit long but I feel that this is an important point.
We tend to make our own plans and then expect God to bless them. Or something happens which we want and we thank God for it, assuming it is what He wants also. You can think of many other ways so I won’t go into that. What we need to do, as individuals, is to search out what God wants first of all. We can get that through the scriptures in a general way, i.e. we can find that God would like us to live in the country rather than a city. Then, when we ask Him, “Why?” we can get an answer that will help us to know His will for us in our particular situation.
Under those conditions, we can approach the Spirit in prayer requesting guidance for our living situation. He will normally point us towards a country place, BUT, and this is important, He may want us to live in a city for a particular reason. This is why we cannot ASSUME that He will ALWAYS say “in the country”.
We should learn to be “listeners”, but keep asking “Why?”
The best way to find a job in God’s kingdom, for instance, is to look at God’s promises and then plead with Him for the opportunity to fulfil one of them (the one that appeals to you). If you lay His word before Him, He can only say “No” if you are not capable or not ready. So if you get a “No” answer, then ask how you can be ready or capable!!
Here’s an example of how God turned way #2 into way #1:-
1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God [aka His throne, called the “Mercy Seat”] dwells within curtains [it was still in Moses’ sanctuary which was then about 500 years old, and David wanted to change that].”
3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart; for the LORD is with you.” [Even a prophet sometimes answers without consulting God! This is way #2]
4 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, Thus says the LORD, Shall you build Me a house for Me to dwell in?”
6 “Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people Israel, saying, ‘Why don’t you build Me a house of cedar?’ [I really wanted to be just like them so I never asked for special treatment.]
8 “Now therefore so shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel: 9 And I was with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies out of your sight, and have made you a great name, like to the name of the great men that are in the earth [what a pity!].
10 “Moreover I will appoint a place for [all] My people Israel [the overcomers], and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, 11 and [it shall be] as since the time that I commanded judges [volunteers, not kings] to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies’.”
“Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house [a dynasty!]
12 And when your days be fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He [Solomon] shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his Father [to tell him what to do], and he shall be My son.”
“If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men [I’ll use the ways of men to correct him because he is a king and doing things his own way, 1 Samuel 12:12]: 15 but My mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.” [Because Solomon will not leave My protection as Saul did by committing suicide.]”
16 “And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you: your throne shall be established forever.” [It will be through Jesus who is a descendant of David’s.]
17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David . . .
27 [Then David prayed] “For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house: therefore has Your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer [of thanks] to You.
28 And now, O Lord GOD, You are that God, and Your words be true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant: 29 therefore now let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue for ever before You: for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it: and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed for ever.
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So God said, “Thank you for offering to build Me a house, but no thanks!”
The reason why David was not to build the temple was declared:
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1 Chronicles 22:8-10
"You have shed blood abundantly, and have made great wars: you shall not build a house to My name [character] . . . Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies: . . . his name shall be Solomon [peaceable], and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for My name."
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David knew that it would be an honour to his name and would bring glory to his government to perform the work that he had purposed in his heart to do, but he was ready to submit his will to the will of God. The grateful resignation he showed is rarely seen, even among Christians. But this was John the Baptist’s great strength. John 3:30.
How often do those who have passed the strength of manhood cling to the hope of accomplishing some great work upon which their hearts are set, but which they are unfitted to perform! God's providence may speak to them, as did His prophet to David, declaring that the work which they so much desire is not committed to them.
It may be theirs to prepare the way for another to accomplish it. But instead of gratefully submitting to the divine direction, many fall back as if slighted and rejected, feeling that if they cannot do the one thing which they desire to do, they will do nothing.
Many even cling with desperate energy to responsibilities which they are incapable of bearing, and vainly endeavour to accomplish a work for which they are insufficient, while that which they might do, lies neglected.
And because of this lack of co-operation on their part the greater work is hindered or frustrated.
In David’s case, he went on into a great sin with Bathsheba, but was eventually forgiven for it. Many have murmured at what they called God's injustice in sparing David, whose guilt was so great, after having rejected Saul for what appear to them to be far less flagrant sins. But David humbled himself and confessed his sin, while Saul despised reproof and hardened his heart in impenitence.
So each chose his own fate.
Yet David was “punished” with “the rod of men”, for his sons rebelled against him and tried to depose him. Civil war broke out and David left Jerusalem rather than have any harm come to God’s city or His people. His repentance and humbleness was great.
He had pleaded with the LORD for permission to build, but towards the end of his life he pleaded to be able to help. THIS prayer was answered.
"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come of You, and of Your own have we given you." 1 Chronicles 29:14.
The time when David was to be gathered to his fathers had almost come; but before his career closed, he turned his attention to the sanctuary to be erected for the Lord. David was not the one chosen of the Lord to build the temple; but he had no jealousy in his heart on this account, and manifested none the less zeal and earnestness in its behalf.
He had prepared in abundance the most costly material, gold, silver, onyx stones, and stones of different colours, marble, and the most precious woods. And now all this valuable treasure that he had collected must be committed to others; for other hands must build the house for the ark, the symbol of God's presence.
So David said to Solomon:
10 “Take heed now; for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.” 11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern [blueprints, which he had asked God for] of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, 12 and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things.
13 Also for the courses [rosters] of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.
14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service: 15 even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.
16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of showbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver: 17 also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basins he gave gold by weight for every basin; and likewise silver by weight for every basin of silver.
18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
19 “All this,” said David, “the LORD made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.”
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So, when he was refused one thing, he came back with another prayer and was given a vision of the temple building. Then He asked again for more details and received them. Again and again he asked and received, for now he was asking in God’s way (#1) and it was done in His “perfect” way.
God says of most of us . . .
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1 Kings 14:8; 15:5
14:8 . . . you have not been as My servant David, who kept My commandments, and who followed Me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in My eyes . . .
15:5 . . . because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that He commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
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May God be able to bless you all,
Ron
Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library. No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.
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