MISTAKES
This study is to look at
great men who had high authority from God.
Men who had been taught
from birth “The Law of
Moses”, but were so caught up in what “THEY” were doing that they forgot about God’s
Teachings. They made mistakes, and paid
dearly.
Proverbs 9:10 – The Fear of God is the Beginning
of WISDOM
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight
(ESV)
Proverbs 28:26 – The man who trust his own mind is
a FOOL.
26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. (ESV)
26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. (ESV)
Moses
·
There
was a man named Moses who God called to bring the entire nation of
Israel out of the bondage of Egypt; to take them to a new Promised Land.
·
Moses obeyed God’s instructions and did mighty miracles
such as turning his staff into a snake - He spoke and plagues came on the land
- Water turned into blood – A plague of frogs in the whole country - Plague of Gnats
– Flies - Death of livestock - Boils – Hail – Locust -Darkness – Then a plague
on the firstborn of Egypt so that they all died.
·
Moses parted the Red Sea for his people to cross over on dry land –
He made bitter water become sweet – He provided Quail in abundance - Provided
Manna bread; and Water from a rock. – He went before God’s Shekinah Glory and
received the Ten Commandments and the “Mosaic Law”.
Exodus 3:9-10 – Moses to free the Israelites
9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” (ESV)
9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” (ESV)
Exodus 7:10 – Staff turned into a snake
10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. (ESV)
10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. (ESV)
Exodus 7:20 – Waters turned to blood
20 Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. (ESV)
20 Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. (ESV)
Exodus 8:3 – Plague of Frogs
3 The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. (ESV)
3 The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. (ESV)
Exodus 8:17 – Plague of Gnats
17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. (ESV)
17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. (ESV)
Exodus 8:21 – Plague of Flies
21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. (ESV)
21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. (ESV)
Exodus 9:3 – Plague on the Livestock
3 behold, the hand of the LORD will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. (ESV)
3 behold, the hand of the LORD will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. (ESV)
Exodus 9:9 – Plague of Boils and Sores
9 It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” (ESV)
9 It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” (ESV)
Exodus 9:22 – Plague of Hail
22 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt.” (ESV)
22 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt.” (ESV)
Exodus 10:4 – Plague of Locust
4 For if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country, (ESV)
4 For if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country, (ESV)
Exodus 10:21 – Plague of Darkness that could be
felt
21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” (ESV)
21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” (ESV)
Exodus 11:5 - Plague of Death on all the first
born.
5 and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. (ESV)
5 and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. (ESV)
Exodus 14:21 – Parted the Red Sea
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. (ESV)
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. (ESV)
Exodus 15:25 – Made bitter waters to become sweet.
25 And he cried to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. (ESV)
25 And he cried to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. (ESV)
Exodus 16:13 – Provided Quail
13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. (ESV)
13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. (ESV)
Exodus 16:15 – Provided Manna Bread
15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. (ESV)
15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. (ESV)
Exodus 17:6 – Provide water from a rock - STRIKE ONCE
6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. (ESV)
6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. (ESV)
Exodus 20:1-2 - Provided the Ten Commandments
1 And God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (ESV)
1 And God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (ESV)
The Mistake
·
Moses
was undoubtedly God’s man, but one weary day he made a mistake. He beat the heck out of a rock to get some water. While this seemed right, it was not what God had
told him to do. – The instructions was to strike the rock ONCE.
·
This
word study is to show you how much obedience is desired over even sacrifices. - For us striking the Rock more than once seems
“trivial”, however with God obedience is what is desired and required.
·
For the reason of
disobedience,
Moses was not allowed to go into the Promised Land although he was
allowed to see it from a distance; then he died.
·
I
think it is important to look back at the many accomplishments of Moses and
understand the statement; “To whom much is given, much is required”.
Luke 12:48 – To whom much is given – Much is
required
48And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.
48And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.
(ASV)
1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience is
better than sacrifice
22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. (NLT)
22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. (NLT)
Deuteronomy 34:4-5 - You can see it, but not go
there - Die
4 And the LORD said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.”
5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD, (ESV)
4 And the LORD said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.”
5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD, (ESV)
Side Bar
·
When
I think of Oprah Winfrey, I
think of the power she has been given, and the church she has formed that
strays so greatly from the Word of God. – She is a figurehead for the promotion
and propagation of anti-biblical beliefs which deny every foundational truth of
historical Christianity. - Think about
how God must feel about that.
·
Pray
that someone will cross her path that she respects and will turn her around, and
most of all, turn around the millions of followers that are traveling on
the road to Hell. – This is serious stuff; all the New Age religions sound
pretty good till you read about what God has to say. – Read the Bible for yourself -
Matthew 7:15 Watch out
for false prophets
15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. (NIV2011)
15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. (NIV2011)
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 – Come out from among them
17 Wherefore Come ye out from
among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean
thing; And I will receive you,
18 And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (ASV)
18 And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (ASV)
King Jehoash aka Joash
·
Then
there was King Jehoash (aka Joash) who rebuilt the house of
the Lord by setting a chest beside the altar to receive love offerings. He received so much money he had to empty it
every day in order to receive the overflow of the offerings.
·
He
took the money and paid the workers for their labor and material and held back
none. The house of God was set in good
order with new vessels of gold and silver and they offered burnt
offerings to God continually.
2 Kings 12:7-9 - Put a chest beside the altar for
offerings
7 Therefore King Jehoash (aka Joash) summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and said to them, “Why are you not repairing the house? Now therefore take no more money from your donors, but hand it over for the repair of the house.”
8 So the priests agreed that they should take no more money from the people, and that they should not repair the house.
9 Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in the lid of it and set it beside the altar on the right side as one entered the house of the LORD. And the priests who guarded the threshold put in it all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. (ESV)
7 Therefore King Jehoash (aka Joash) summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and said to them, “Why are you not repairing the house? Now therefore take no more money from your donors, but hand it over for the repair of the house.”
8 So the priests agreed that they should take no more money from the people, and that they should not repair the house.
9 Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in the lid of it and set it beside the altar on the right side as one entered the house of the LORD. And the priests who guarded the threshold put in it all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. (ESV)
2 Chronicles 24:11 – So much money; Emptied chest
every day
11 And whenever the chest was brought to the king’s officers by the Levites, when they saw that there was much money in it, the king’s secretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the chest and take it and return it to its place. Thus they did day after day, and collected money in abundance.
11 And whenever the chest was brought to the king’s officers by the Levites, when they saw that there was much money in it, the king’s secretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the chest and take it and return it to its place. Thus they did day after day, and collected money in abundance.
(ESV)
2 Chronicles 24:12 – Restored the House of the
Lord
12 And the king and Jehoiada (the priest) gave it to those who had charge of the work of the house of the LORD, and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the LORD.
12 And the king and Jehoiada (the priest) gave it to those who had charge of the work of the house of the LORD, and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the LORD.
(ESV)
2 Chronicles 24:13-14 – Offered offerings
regularly to God
13 So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the repairing went forward in their hands, and they restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it.
14 And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada (the priest), and with it were made utensils for the house of the LORD, both for the service and for the burnt offerings, and dishes for incense and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD regularly all the days of Jehoiada.
13 So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the repairing went forward in their hands, and they restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it.
14 And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada (the priest), and with it were made utensils for the house of the LORD, both for the service and for the burnt offerings, and dishes for incense and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD regularly all the days of Jehoiada.
(ESV)
The Mistake
·
Now
king Jehoash (aka Joash) reigned forty years and
then one day he messed up. Some of the princes
of Judah came to him to ask permission to be allowed to go to the groves for worship
of their idols. He was probably
tired and said “Do as you want to“.
·
A
prophet of God warned Jehoash on his “decision” but he didn’t listen. God sent a great army against the land and afflicted
the people with diseases.
·
Jehoash’s
(aka Joash) servants revolted concerning the situation and killed
him in his bed.
·
If you notice, there is a common thread woven here; when you
grow strong, you feel like you don’t need advice from anyone, not even God;
after all… you are your own man.
2 Kings 12:1-3 – Did not remove the pagan altars
in high places
1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash (aka Joash) began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba.
2 And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
3 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings on the high places. (ESV)
1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash (aka Joash) began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba.
2 And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
3 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings on the high places. (ESV)
2 Chronicles 24:18-19 – Did not pay attention to
the Prophets
18 And they abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs.
19 Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention (ESV)
18 And they abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs.
19 Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention (ESV)
2 Chronicles 24:20-22 – Jehoash killed the
Priest’s son
20 Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.’”
21 But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD.
22 Thus Joash (aka Jehoash) the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, “May the LORD see and avenge! (ESV)
20 Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.’”
21 But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD.
22 Thus Joash (aka Jehoash) the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, “May the LORD see and avenge! (ESV)
2 Chronicles 24:23 – Army invaded and spoiled
Jerusalem
23 At the end of the year the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. (ESV)
23 At the end of the year the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. (ESV)
2 Kings 12:20 – Servants formed a conspiracy
20 His servants arose and made a conspiracy and struck down Joash in the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla. (ESV)
20 His servants arose and made a conspiracy and struck down Joash in the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla. (ESV)
2 Chronicles 24:25 – Killed Jehoash in his bed
25 When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. (ESV)
25 When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. (ESV)
King Jehoshaphat
·
How
about King Jehoshaphat, who got rid of all the idols and places
of pagan worship. He sent men throughout
the cities to teach God’s ways to the people. – He sought God and walked
in His commandments.
·
He
built castles and storehouses for his riches and had many businesses, and many
mighty men of war.
2 Chronicles 17:3-9
3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals,
4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel.
5 herefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.
6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
9 And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. (ESV)
3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals,
4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel.
5 herefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.
6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
9 And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. (ESV)
2 Chronicles 17:12-13 – Built fortresses and
storehouses
12 And Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built in Judah fortresses and store cities,
13 and he had large supplies in the cities of Judah. He had soldiers, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem. (ESV)
12 And Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built in Judah fortresses and store cities,
13 and he had large supplies in the cities of Judah. He had soldiers, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem. (ESV)
The Mistake
·
But
one day this man of God made a mistake; he made an alliance with king
Ahab who was NOT a man of God.
- In fact Ahab hated God and had given himself over to idolatry and
immorality.
·
Through
ONE prophet, the Lord warned Jehoshaphat to NOT do this; while 400 other lying
prophets said everything would be okay.
·
Jehoshaphat
cold not discern evil from good therefore he did not listen to the one true
prophet of God.
·
God destroyed all of Jehoshaphat’s ships and put him out of
business. The problem was not the lying
prophets, but the sinful alliance with the other king.
·
Do not be unequally yoked
with unbelievers.
- What does Light have in common with Darkness?
2 Chronicles 18:3-5 – Made an alliance with
another king
3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.”
4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the LORD.”
5 Then the king of Israel gathered the (false) prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.” (ESV)
3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.”
4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the LORD.”
5 Then the king of Israel gathered the (false) prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.” (ESV)
2 Chronicles 20:37 – Everything destroyed – Ships
wrecked.
37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.
37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.
(ESV)
2 Corinthians 6:14 - Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers
14 Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? (ASV)
14 Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? (ASV)
King Uzziah aka Azariah
·
There
was a king named Uzziah (aka Azariah) who was made king when
he was just 16 years old. He loved
God and found his favor. He
built towers, dug wells, provided cattle and vineyards.
·
He
put together a host of fighting men and prepared for them all kinds of equipment;
bows, helmets, shields, spears, slings, and even provided mechanicals that
could shoot multiple arrows and hurl great stones.
·
Uzziah
well-fortified his city and did well for his people for 52 years.
2 Kings 14:21 – Azariah made king at the age of 16
21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
(ESV)
2 Chronicles 26:9-15 Built Towers – Dug wells – Great
army
9 Moreover, Uzziah (aka Azariah) built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the Angle, and fortified them.
10 And he built towers in the wilderness and cut out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.
11 Moreover, Uzziah (aka Azariah) had an army of soldiers, fit for war, in divisions according to the numbers in the muster made by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s commanders.
12 The whole number of the heads of fathers’ houses of mighty men of valor was 2,600.
13 Under their command was an army of 307,500, who could make war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
14 And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging.
15 In Jerusalem he made machines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong. (ESV)
9 Moreover, Uzziah (aka Azariah) built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the Angle, and fortified them.
10 And he built towers in the wilderness and cut out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.
11 Moreover, Uzziah (aka Azariah) had an army of soldiers, fit for war, in divisions according to the numbers in the muster made by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s commanders.
12 The whole number of the heads of fathers’ houses of mighty men of valor was 2,600.
13 Under their command was an army of 307,500, who could make war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
14 And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging.
15 In Jerusalem he made machines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong. (ESV)
2 Kings 15:2 – Azariah reigned 52 years
2 He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. (ESV)
2 He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. (ESV)
The Mistake
·
One day Uzziah made a
mistake. He went into the temple to burn incense on
the altar to God. - While this seems
like a good thing to do, it was not Uzziah’s place to do this, but was to be
done ONLY by the priesthood. The Levites
warned him, but he did not listen, and God struck him with Leprosy and he
was forced to live in a separate house excluded from the House of the Lord
till the day he died.
·
Do you see the common
theme...? A warning that was ignored and the cost that
was dearly; he became Leprous and was separated from the Church and his family
of God.
2 Chronicles 26:16-17 – Became proud; offered
incense on altar
16 But when he was strong, he grew PROUD, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
17 But Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the LORD who were men of valor,
16 But when he was strong, he grew PROUD, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
17 But Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the LORD who were men of valor,
(ESV
2 Chronicles 26:18 – Azariah was warned by the
Priest
18 and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the LORD God.”
18 and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the LORD God.”
2 Chronicles 26:19-20 – Leprosy broke out on his
forhead
19 Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, LEPROSY broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the LORD, by the altar of incense.
20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they rushed him out quickly, and he himself hurried to go out, because the LORD had struck him(ESV)
19 Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, LEPROSY broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the LORD, by the altar of incense.
20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they rushed him out quickly, and he himself hurried to go out, because the LORD had struck him(ESV)
2 Chronicles 26:21. – Excluded from the House of the Lord
21 And King Uzziah was a
leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house,
for he was excluded from the house of the LORD.
And Jotham his son was over the king’s household, governing the people of the
land. (ESV)
2 Kings 15:5 - He was a
leper to the day of his death
5 And the LORD touched the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and he lived in a separate house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the household, governing the people of the land. (ESV)
5 And the LORD touched the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and he lived in a separate house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the household, governing the people of the land. (ESV)
Uzzah
·
Then there was Uzzah who loved the Lord. One day he reached out to steady the Ark of the
Covenant; the Ark of God, to keep it from falling down when the oxen stumbled.
·
Side Note: They had forgotten God’s
Word; the Ark of the Covenant was to be carried on Poles by the Levites; never
on a cart pulled by oxen.
2 Samuel 6:6-7 – Uzzah put his hand on the Ark of
the Covenant
6 And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the Ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. (ESV)
6 And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the Ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. (ESV)
The Mistake
·
It
seemed the right thing to do; but only the priest were sanctified and allowed to
touch the Ark of the Covenant and Uzzah was not of the priesthood, and GOD
KILLED HIM.
·
This was such a SMALL thing, but Jesus comments that the smallest
punctuation of a Jot and Tittle in the LAW of God must be kept.
·
The
lesson is, It all matters - He who is
faithful in LITTLE will be faithful in MUCH.
2 Samuel 6:7 – God struck him dead
7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God
struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the
ark of God.
(ESV)
Matthew 5:18 – Jot and Tittle will not pass away
from the Law
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.
(ASV)
Luke 16:9-10 - Faithful in a very little is faithful also
in much
9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles.
10 He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much.
9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles.
10 He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much.
(ASV)
Time Out
·
Let’s
stop here for a moment to reflect. - On
the first reading of the passages, most of the decisions reached “Seemed
Correct”, in fact we probably would have done the same things as they did.
·
As
we continue to read and digest the parallel passages, we will find the answer
for “God’s wrath” on their decisions. - That
had ignored God’s teachings, or perhapa had not been in God’s Word in so long
that they just forgot… Obedience is better than sacrifice. - Read on.
1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience is
better than sacrifice
22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. (NLT)
22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. (NLT)
King Asa
·
God raised up a King by the name of Asa.
·
Asa
removed all the Idols from the land; removed the pagan altars from the high
paces; placed dedicated vessels of gold into the House of the Lord and rebuilt
the Holy altar.
·
He removed his mother as the queen, because she had made an idol; then
he made a covenant that he would put to death all non-believers of the God most
High.
·
He
commanded the people to keep the Laws and commandments of God.
·
Asa sought God’s council to deliver him from his enemies and built
strong towers, walls and gates with bars that allowed the people to live in
peace.
1 Kings 15:9-15 – Asa did what was right in the
sight of God
9 In the twentieth year of
Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah,
10 and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
11 And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as David his father had done.
12 He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
13 He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image (of Asherah) and burned it at the brook Kidron.
10 and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
11 And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as David his father had done.
12 He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
13 He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image (of Asherah) and burned it at the brook Kidron.
14 But the high places were
not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the LORD all his days.
15 And he brought into the house of the LORD the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels. (ESV)
15 And he brought into the house of the LORD the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels. (ESV)
2 Chronicles 14:4 – Commanded Judah to keep God’s
Laws
4 and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to keep
the law and the commandment. (ESV)
2 Chronicles 14:5 – Removed the pagan altars in the high places
2 Chronicles 14:5 – Removed the pagan altars in the high places
5 He also took out of all the cities
of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had
rest under him. (ESV)
2 Chronicles 14:6 – Fortified the cities and had
peace
6 He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace. (ESV)
6 He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace. (ESV)
2 Chronicles 14:7 – Built walls, towers, gates and
bars
7 And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered. (ESV)
7 And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered. (ESV)
2 Chronicles 14:11 – Asa sought God’s council
11 And Asa cried to the LORD his God, “O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.” (ESV)
11 And Asa cried to the LORD his God, “O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.” (ESV)
2 Chronicles 15:8 – Repaired the Altar of the Lord
8 As soon as Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, he took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the LORD. (ESV)
8 As soon as Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, he took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the LORD. (ESV)
2 Chronicles 15:13 – Put to death whoever would
not seek God
13 but that whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman.
13 but that whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman.
(ESV)
2 Chronicles 15:16 – Removed his mother from being
Queen
16 Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made a detestable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron.
16 Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made a detestable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron.
The Mistake
·
One
day trouble came in the form of an invading army. Asa made an alliance with another king to help
him fight the invading army.
·
Yep, a mistake; Instead of consulting
and relying on God, Asa chose a man, a non-believer at that, to help him
fight the invading army.
·
God
rebuked him and instead of peace, he had many wars. - He became diseased in his feet and
while he went to doctors, he never thought to ask God to heal him.
·
He
died with his disease.
1 Kings 15:19 – Lets make a covenant between me and you
19 Let there be a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.”
19 Let there be a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.”
(ESV)
2 Chronicles 16:7 – God sent a Prophet – You made
a MISTAKE
7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. (ESV)
7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. (ESV)
2 Chronicles 16:9 – Now you will forever have wars
9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” (ESV)
9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” (ESV)
2 Chronicles 16:11-12 – Diseased in his feet
11 The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians.
11 The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians.
(ESV)
1 Kings 15:24 – Died with the disease
24 And Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place. (ESV)
24 And Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place. (ESV)
Prophet Balaam
·
Then
there was Balaam, a prophet of sorts; a man of God who was called by a
king to curse the Israelites; because whom Balaam blessed became blessed and
whom he cursed became cursed.
·
Balaam
asked God for instructions and God said “Don’t go and curse the Israelites”.
·
Balaam
told the king what God had said, but the king begged him to come and offered
him more REWARDS and to come anyway.
Numbers 22:5-6 – Come and Curse the Israelites
5 sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me.
6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
5 sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me.
6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
(ESV)
Numbers 22:10-12 – God said – You shall not go and
curse them!
10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,
11 Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”
12 God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” (ESV)
10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,
11 Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”
12 God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” (ESV)
The Mistake
·
Balaam
asked the Lord AGAIN should he go, this time God said “Okay, Go”.
·
Now
while it seemed correct to go, the problem was, God had already said
“NO”, so God sent an angel along the trail to give Balaam a haircut; to part his
hair with a sword.
·
Fortunately
for Balaam, his Ass spoke to him and made him see he was about to be
killed.
·
Well,
Balaam barely got out of that one alive and did go on to do God’s bidding, but
you have to read it for yourself to see how it all happened.
·
Later
on, he died by the sword for even considering a reward and NOT obeying God’s
first Words. – Balaam’s Ass is a Word Study into its own self and is a real eye
opener into the tricks of Satan… I urge you to read his one. – NYOBS 26.02 - BALAAM’S ASS
Numbers 22:15-17 – Balaam was promised Great
Rewards plus
15 Once again Balak sent
princes, more in number and more honorable than these.
16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17 for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’” (ESV)
16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17 for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’” (ESV)
Numbers 22:19-23 – Balaam asked God AGAIN
19 So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.”
20 nd God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”
21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
22 But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23 And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. (ESV)
19 So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.”
20 nd God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”
21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
22 But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23 And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. (ESV)
Numbers 22:27-29 – Balaam has a conversation with
his Ass
27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28 Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” (ESV)
27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28 Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” (ESV)
Numbers 24:1 – Balaam did not curse Israel
1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. (ESV)
1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. (ESV)
Josephus - Chapter 6 – Balaam hatches an Evil Satanic Plan
6:129b Do you therefore set out
the handsomest of such of your daughters as are most eminent for beauty,
and proper to force and conquer the modesty of those that behold them, and
these decked and trimmed to the highest degree you are able. Then do you send them to be near the
Israelite’s camp and give them in charge, that when the young men of the
Hebrews desire their company, they allow it them.
6:130 and when they see that they
are enamored of them, let them take their leaves; and if they entreat
them to stay, let them not give their consent till they have persuaded them to leave
off their obedience to their own laws and the worship of that God who
established them, and to worship the gods of the Midianites and Moabites;
for by this means God will be angry at them.
Num 24:25 – Balaam gave
his plan and went home with his booty.
25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to
his place: and Balak also went his way. KJV
2 Peter 2:15
– Balaam was PAID OFF
15 They have forsaken the right way, gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; (NKJV)
15 They have forsaken the right way, gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; (NKJV)
2 Peter 2:15 – Balaam loved the gain of wrongdoing
15 Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, (ESV)
15 Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, (ESV)
Jude 1:11 – Perished for the sake of gain
11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. (ESV)
11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. (ESV)
Numbers 31:8 – Balaam was killed by the sword.
8 They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. And they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword. (ESV)
8 They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. And they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword. (ESV)
Lot’s Wife
·
Then
there was a fellow named Lot. - God rescued him and his family out of the
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah before He blew it all up. – God told them to flee
and not look back.
Genesis 19:15 – Take your family and get out of
here
15 As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” (ESV)
15 As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” (ESV)
Genesis 19:17 – Escape and don’t look back
17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” (ESV)
17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” (ESV)
Genesis 19:25 – God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah
25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. (ESV)
25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. (ESV)
The Mistake
·
Lot’s
wife wanted just a little peek and stopped and looked back at where
everything she had owned was going up in smoke, and God turned her into a
pillar of salt. - She was assaulted.
·
Such
a small thing… Obedience.
Genesis 19:26 – Just had to look back – Pillar of
Salt
26 But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. (ESV)
26 But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. (ESV)
Sampson
·
What
about Sampson, a judge in Israel who fought almost singlehanded against the
Philistines, God’s enemy. - He killed a
thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an Ass.
·
He
had taken the Nazarite Vow of no alcohol and to never cut his hair.
Judges 13:5 – Never cut your hair
5 for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” (ESV)
5 for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” (ESV)
Judges 15:15-16 – Killed 1000 Philistines with
jawbone of an ass
15 And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men.
16 And Samson said, “With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of a donkey have I struck down a thousand men.” (ESV)
15 And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men.
16 And Samson said, “With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of a donkey have I struck down a thousand men.” (ESV)
The Mistake
·
Sampson
started messing around with a cutie named Delilah – This mistake turned out to
be a close shave.
- Sampson
did not check with God about Delilah; he only saw her outward beauty and
wanted her. - Without God’s guidance this holy wedlock
became an unholy deadlock.
- Sampson
not only intermarried with a Philistine woman, but she was also a
prostitute thus bringing shame to his parents TWICE over. – However God
was planning to use this marriage for His own ultimate end.
·
Sampson
told Delilah the secret of his great strength was his Nazarite vow to not cut
his hair. - Sampson did not know Delilah was a barber and she cut off his hair
and then the philistines ran in and bound him; poked out his eyes and took him
to prison.
·
Had
he remembered God’s statutes and his own Nazarite Vow, he would not have
paid with his captivity and eventually his life. NYOBS 27.16 – MARRIAGE - SAMPSON
- RABBIT TRAIL
Judges 16:6 – Please tell me where your great
strength lies
6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.” (ESV)
6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.” (ESV)
Judges 16:19 – Delilah
gave Sampson a haircut
19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.
19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.
(ESV)
Judges 16:21 – Philistine’s gouged out Sampson’s
eyes
21 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. (ESV)
21 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. (ESV)
Time out
·
These
passages just scream out the message that it’s not enough to just be a “good
man”, but that we are TO KNOW our God in depth, to study His precepts, statues
and commandments; to reverence Him and with that, it is just the
beginning of Wisdom.
·
A hair cut is such a small
thing…
but not when God said NOT TO. – It’s the small things – Every “Jot and Title”
of God’s Word is important; that’s why we must STUDY His Word.
King Jehoram
·
Well,
then there was King Jehoram, who was just plain evil and God zapped him
with an incurable disease and his bowels fell out. – To whom much is given,
much is required.
2 Chronicles 21:18-19 – Incurable disease – bowels
fell out
18 And after all this the LORD struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
19 In the course of time, at the end of two years, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great agony. His people made no fire in his honor, like the fires made for his fathers. (ESV)
18 And after all this the LORD struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
19 In the course of time, at the end of two years, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great agony. His people made no fire in his honor, like the fires made for his fathers. (ESV)
King David
·
King
David was a man after God’s own heart. This Word Study does not have enough
space to share all the great things he did in the name of our Lord.
·
He
defeated God’s enemy, the Philistines. – He returned the Ark of God to Jerusalem
– He had many victories over the enemies of God; the Moabites, The King of
Zobah, The Arameans, etc., etc.
1 Samuel 13:14 - A man after
God’s own heart
14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
(ESV)
2 Samuel 5:19-20 - Defeated the Philistines
19 And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”
20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.
19 And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”
20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.
(ESV)
2 Samuel 6:2-3– Brought up the Ark of the Covenant
of God
2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim.
3 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, (ESV)
2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim.
3 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, (ESV)
2 Samuel 8:2-5 - Defeated Moabites, Hadadezer and
Syrians
2 And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.
3 David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates.
5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. (ESV)
2 And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.
3 David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates.
5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. (ESV)
The Mistake
·
One
day he saw a cute girl named Bathsheba taking a bath on top of her home. He sent for her and then slept with her even
though she was married.
·
She
became pregnant and to get out of the predicament, David killed her husband,
then he was free to marry her.
·
God killed their first born child even though David had repented
of his mistake; his Sin.
·
NOTE: When you get out of the rain with an umbrella
from God; you are still wet from the rain and it takes time to
dry off. – While forgiveness of sin is immediate like opening an umbrella; the
consequences of sin takes time to resolve; to dry out.
·
This mistake broke David’s heart and although
his’s own life was spared, God did not allow him to build the temple and his
family suffered many calamities, turmoil and death.
·
You
will reap what you sow; more than you sow, and for longer
than you sow. – If you have sown a seed of sin, you should pray now for
a CROP FAILURE.
·
Although
David composed many songs while he was alive, he is now in the grave
decomposing.
2 Samuel 11:2 – David sees Bathsheba taking a bath
on her roof
2 It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. (ESV)
2 It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. (ESV)
2 Samuel 11:4-5 – David lays with Bathsheba - Gets
pregnant
4 So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house.
5 And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.” (ESV)
4 So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house.
5 And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.” (ESV)
2 Samuel 11:13-15 – David has Bathsheba’s husband
killed
13 And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15 In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.” (ESV)
13 And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15 In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.” (ESV)
2 Samuel 11:26-27 – David marries Bathsheba
26 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband.
27 And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
26 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband.
27 And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
(ESV)
2 Samuel 12:18 – The child dies
18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” (ESV)
18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” (ESV)
2 Samuel 12:12-17 – David repented of his mistake;
his sin
12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’”
13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die.”
15 Then Nathan went to his house.
16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’”
13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die.”
15 Then Nathan went to his house.
16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
(ESV)
2 Samuel 12:10 – The sword will never depart form
your house
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ (ESV)
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ (ESV)
1 Kings 5:5 – You cannot build the House of God;
the Temple
5 And so I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’ (ESV)
5 And so I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’ (ESV)
1 Kings 2:10 David died and did not see the House
of God
10 Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. (ESV)
10 Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. (ESV)
King Solomon
·
King
Solomon was God’s man; he built the temple and boy was it something to
behold. He was so great that he did not have
storage rooms or barns, but had storage CITIES for all his loot.
1 Kings 5:4-5 – Solomon will build the Temple
4 But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune.
5 And so I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’ (ESV)
4 But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune.
5 And so I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’ (ESV)
1 Kings 9:19 Solomon had cites to store his STUFF
19 and all the store cities that Solomon had, and the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. (ESV)
19 and all the store cities that Solomon had, and the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. (ESV)
The Mistake
·
Now
Solomon had an eye for the foreign ladies and married about 700 of
them. (This is not
where the term the “700 Club” comes from, just sayin’)
·
The
wives fussed at him for a place to worship their foreign heathen god’s and he
finally gave in to their nagging.
·
God didn’t like this at all and he tore the kingdom away from Solomon
and gave it to his servant and later on Solomon died.
1 Kings 11:3 – Solomon had 700 wives
3 He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.
3 He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.
(ESV)
1 Kings 11:4-8 – Wives turned his heart away from
God
4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done.
7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem.
8 And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.
4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done.
7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem.
8 And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.
(ESV)
1 Kings 11:9-10 – God was Angry with Solomon
9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice
10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the LORD commanded. (ESV)
9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice
10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the LORD commanded. (ESV)
1 Kings 11:11 – God took his kingdom – Gave it to
his servant
11 Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. (ESV)
11 Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. (ESV)
1 Kings 11:43 – Solomon died and his kingdom was
divided.
43 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place. (ESV)
43 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place. (ESV)
Who can make
it?
·
As
I look at all these great men who “Missed it”, I wonder how can I, a plain
everyday person, stands a chance of being acceptable to my God.
·
Did
you notice that people just can’t seem to make it through life without mistakes?
·
Thank
God there is a NEW COVENANT.
A Thief
·
There was a criminal; an evil man who was being crucified along with
Jesus. At the last minute he believe on
Jesus and was saved. - Our God is a
forgiving God, regardless of how long you have practiced evil or how deep your
sin. - But you can wait until it’s just too
late.
Luke 23:41-43 – A Thief - Remember me -
41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”
41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 And he said, “Jesus, remember
me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (ESV)
43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (ESV)
A
Pharisee
·
There was a man named Paul who was
responsible for the imprisonment and death of countless followers of Christ. - Paul heard the call from Jesus and accepted
him as his Messiah and went on to be a great teacher for the Lord.
·
Paul’s past mistakes
against the Church were covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. – Forgiven -
Acts 9:1-2 – Paul threatened murder against
Christians
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (ESV)
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (ESV)
Acts 9:3-6 – God called him to his service
3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
Acts 9:20 - Paul proclaimed Jesus as the Son of
God
20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” (ESV)
20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” (ESV)
A Disciple
·
Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus made a MISTAKE by denying that
he was a disciple of Jesus; in fact he did this THREE TIMES.
·
However,
Peter repented and Jesus received him back into the fold. - Praise God for Grace!
John 18:17 Peter denies
Jesus
17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” (ESV)
17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” (ESV)
John 18:25-27 - Peter denies Jesus two more times
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”
26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”
27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed. (ESV)
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”
26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”
27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed. (ESV)
John 21:15-17 – Jesus forgives Peter three times
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. (ESV)
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. (ESV)
Not good enough
·
One
of the tricks of Satan is to get you to believe that you have made such bad
mistakes that you cannot ever be accepted by God; that you’re just not good
enough or worthy.
·
If
Satan can keep you from fellowshipping with God then he will have accomplished
his mission. - When we are not
fellowshipping with God, we are separated from Him.
Judas
·
Now
Judas, also a disciple of Jesus Christ betrayed Him for just a little
spending money.
·
Later
on, he saw that he had made a MISTAKE, but instead of asking for
forgiveness, he went out and hung himself. – He was tricked; consumed by
Satan as was prophesized.
John 18:2 – Judas knew where Jesus met with the
Disciples
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. (ESV)
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. (ESV)
Luke 22:3-6 – Satan tricked Judas
3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.
4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them.
5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.
6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. (ESV)
3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.
4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them.
5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.
6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. (ESV)
Matthew 27:3-5 – Judas hanged himself
3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,
4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”
5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. (ESV)
3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,
4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”
5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. (ESV)
The Big Mistake
The Judas Conspiracy
Or the
sovereignty of God
- The Jews were under
oppression from
- MOST believed that
Jesus was that person, and it would happen soon. Simon the Zelote was a member of one of
the fanatical groups that would kill a Roman in a heartbeat. It seems that Judas was also a Zelote at
heart. We can see in the
scriptures, James and John arguing about who would be the greatest in this
new kingdom. Jesus explained the
kingdom to them and they all understood it and received it except for Judas.
- Judas believed that
an economic militant kingdom would happen shortly and that
- Satan thought he
could force Jesus to use His powers improperly. Jesus never used His miracles or powers
to benefit either Himself or his disciples.
- Judas thought that
all the disciples would be in leadership positions and receive lots of
wealth, not realizing that it was the final reward that was the most
important.
- Judas is painted, not
as spiritual, but as an extremist; a patriot who was disappointed
that Jesus did not lead them into a revolt against Rome.
- I can see how Satan
could instill thoughts in Judas that Jesus was a “False Messiah”, otherwise
Jesus would have set up his kingdom.
- As part of God’s
plan; before Judas was even chosen, Jesus knew that he would betray him.
- He is the only one
that “was given” to Jesus by the Father that would be lost from Him, and
that was so that the scriptures might be fulfilled.
- Judas’ actions were
voluntary, being led by his own heart.
God used him in his plan, seeing the end from the beginning. He was predestined by his own
heart.
- Judas Iscariot was a
disciple for nearly three years and had the benefit of being close to the
Savior, but was spiritually careless. - He did not share Christ’s Spirit.
- Judas at best
referred to Jesus as “Rabbi”; never “Lord”.
- He was politically
inclined, looking to Jesus to deliver them from the oppression of
- He was not from
Galilee as the others were, and probably felt as an outsider; therefore he
was jealous of the others. Judeans
actually hated the crude people from
- He had a love of
money and most of his comments were about how to get more money into the
treasury, so he could embezzle more.
- So jealousy, greed,
bitterness and disappointment turned into spite and a plan was hatched.
- The Son of Perdition, was never saved,
therefore he was lost. - Jesus called him “friend” up until the end, and
even washed his feet.
- The sin
of Judas
allowed Satan to enter into him and take control of his spirit, betraying
Christ.
- This brings us up
to: How could Jesus select someone
to be a disciple who would betray Him?
This is known as the
Sovereignty of God. Nothing can
thwart the plan of God.
- When the solders
asked for Jesus, He stepped forward and said twice, “I am He”. Already identified, there was no reason
for Judas to identify him with a kiss, but he did anyway.
- A kiss was adopted as a
formal greeting among “believers” and was usually given on the forehead,
cheek or beard.
- He planned and
waited for a favorable “private” opportunity for the
“Kiss of Death”.
- Judas betrayed Jesus
for 30 pieces of Silver, and then in remorse threw the money back into the
- REMORCE
- When
Judas figured out he had made a MISTAKE,
he wanted to reverse things and give the money back and when he
could not, he killed himself. His
remorse was not; that he had betrayed the “Son of God”, but that Rome
would not be overthrown and everybody now would hate him for what he had
done and would extract revenge on him.
- Forgiveness
–
Nowhere in scripture can we find that Judas asked for forgiveness, mercy
or deliverance from his MISTAKE; his sin, but he sought suicide to silence
his tormented mind.
- Reading the different accounts of his
death, I think he hanged himself from a tree limb which hung over a cliff
and the tree limb broke off and his body fell head long down into the
ravine and burst open. I have other
emotions that say he most probably had “a little help” coming off that
tree. - That just what I
think, no scripture implied -
- Legend has it that the
Redbud tree is the tree that Judas hanged himself on; therefore it is also
known as “The Judas Tree”.
- The scriptures
indicate that Judas went to the “place reserved for him” – Ponder that -
Acts 1:25 - Judas went to his own place
25 That he may take part
of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell,
that he might go to his own place.
KJV
Last Word
·
If
you are not where you want to be with the Lord; then right now, talk to God
about your feelings. As you read the Bible,
ask Him for wisdom and understanding.
·
You
are somebody! - Jesus gave His life for you before you were ever born. - He left a book for you to read that tells you all
about Him and His Father and how much they love you.
·
The
Book has all the examples we will ever need to avoid mistakes. – If we make
mistakes; AND WE WILL, He is ready to forgive us if we just ask.
·
I
urge you, if you want to please the heavenly Father and try to avoid mistakes, then
read “The Word”. - Know Him; Seek Him, Spend Time getting to know your Father
every day.
·
Fellowship with God, that’s why you were
created, “To Fellowship”.
There is no
MISTAKE so big
that it can
separate you from the Fellowship of God.
If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 (NIV2011)
LIFE IS CHOICE
DRIVEN
In the
multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:14
I
am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical
information, and scripture verses.
Because of them I can stand on their shoulders and see further that I
otherwise ever could have.
English Standard Version
Bible – ESV
King James Version Bible -
KJV
New International Version
Bible - NIV
Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee
Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner
No comments:
Post a Comment