💥 Podcast: Absalom tries to take the kingdom from his father David

 

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on, November 27, 2021) 

 

Absalom instigates a plan to build a power base among the children of Israel.

II Samuel 15 

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

(Absalom did this for 40 years.)

7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.

9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.

12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. 

(Absalom even took David's own counsellor to give advice against David.)

And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

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God had raised up evil against David because of that which David did concerning Uriah the Hittite and Uriah's wife, Bathsheba.

God sends a prophet to pronounce God's judgments upon David for his sins:

II Samuel 12   (God sets a penalty upon king David)

7 Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in HIS sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

(Penalty:)

10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised ME, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. 

And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

(But the penalty against David will continue upon David as long as David lives.  And God said his enemies would be they of David's own household.  Absalom, David's son, later tries to take the kingdom from David.  And Absalom goes into David's concubines and all Israel knows what he has done, thus fulfilling part of the penalty God set upon David.)

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Then the prophet pronounces another judgment from God upon David.

14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

15 And Nathan departed unto his house.

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Absalom, David's son, is the instrument of evil raised up by God against David and as long as Absalom lives he will be a problem to David.

II Samuel 15

13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.  

(Later Absalom will have sex with David's concubines to shame David, and also this fulfills the prophecy against David where God said: Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.  For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.   II Samuel 12:11-12)

II Samuel 15

17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

David prayed to God, making his requests to God, as he feared his own son Absalom.

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New Testament church:

Philippians 4  

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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David sent spies to Absalom's "court" and they worked behind the scenes on behalf of David.

II Samuel 15

34 (David says) But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house (from Absalom's house), thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.  

36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.  (They will come and tell David that which Absalom is doing.)

37 So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

(Hushai will be used to turn the counsel to be ineffective against David.)

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💥 Scriptures shared by members of the body of Christ:

 

Galations 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 

 

***

 

Mark 14:38  Jesus said...Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

 

***

 

John 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for HIM hath God the Father sealed.

 

***

 

Psalm 97:11-12  LIGHT is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

 

12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of HIS holiness.  

 

***

 

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

 

***

 

Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

***

 

Psalm 23:1  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 

 

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💥 John 9 (Reading through the Bible)

 

And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth.

² And his disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

³ Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

⁴ I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

⁵ As long as I am in the world, I (The Word) am the light of the world.

⁶ When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

⁷ And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

⁸ The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

⁹ Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

¹⁰ Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

¹¹ He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

¹² Then said they unto him, Where is He?

He said, I know not.

¹³ They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

¹⁴ And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

¹⁵ Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

¹⁶ Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because He keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

¹⁷ They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of Him, that He hath opened thine eyes?

He said, He is a prophet.

¹⁸ But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.¹⁹ And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

²⁰ His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
²¹ But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

²² These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

²³ Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

²⁴ Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

²⁵ He answered and said, Whether He be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

(We, who are born again, are also like that.  We were blind.  Now we can see.)

²⁶ Then said they to him again, What did He to thee? how opened He thine eyes?

²⁷ He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be His disciples?

²⁸ Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art His disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.²⁹ We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence He is.

³⁰ The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes.³¹ Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth. ³² Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.³³ If this man were not of God, He could do nothing.

³⁴ They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

³⁵ Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

³⁶ He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?

³⁷ And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.

³⁸ And he said, Lord, I believe.  And he worshipped Him.

³⁹ And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

⁴⁰ And some of the Pharisees which were with Him heard these words, and said unto Him, Are we blind also?

⁴¹ Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

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💥 Hymn: Trust & Obey

 

(Click play symbol, > ... to start music)  

(Click pause symbol, || ... to stop music)


1.  When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides in us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Chorus:

Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.


2.  Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His WORD quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3.  Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.

4.  But we never can prove
The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5.  Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do;
Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.

 

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Music for this hymn downloaded at:  hymnal.net

 

*****

Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:

Psalm 111:10    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do HIS commandments: HIS praise endureth for ever.

The fear of the Lord is a deep respect for God and The Word.

When we "fear" God, we are basically afraid to go in a way opposite to God's Word for we have an inner understanding that God knows what is best and to violate what HE says is to go in a way of self destruction.

Therefore our trust is based on the awe we have for God.

And we obey God, doing what HE says to us by HIS Spirit.

***

In December, 2018, at the age of 81, I fell at my house.

As the ambulance people were removing me and we reached the front door, I heard the following word in the form of a thought that came to my mind:  "You'll never see this house again."

 I believed that thought was from God.

Therefore I believed there would be another way for me to go if I survived the accident.

I put my house up for sale even as I was awaiting surgery.

A church person said to me, "I don't see how you can do that."  (I don't think she understood faith in God.)

I explained to her that when you believe you have heard from God and there is a way to go, you simply obey ... no hesitation.

I never looked back and I never saw that house again.

I did not know where I would go when I put the house up for sale but I knew God would work it out for me and reveal it to me and God did within a few weeks.  A woman in our little church group took me (and my cat) into her house to live in Colorado.  She is a very godly woman and prays over everything!  It is a great joy for me to live in a house with such a person.

My life was made better after my accident, not worse.

God had a plan for me and I knew HIS plan was all that mattered.

Ecclesiastes 3:1   To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

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Acts 17 ... NIV Original Translation ... God chooses the exact places we will live and the times we will live there.

KJV  Acts 17:26 … And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

(God determines the times we live and the places we live.)

27-28 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though HE be not far from every one of us:  28 For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.

 

 

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💥 The Word of God is powerful

Joseph Meriweather, member of the body of Christ

 

Recently I was telling another saint the message of old is still powerful.  God's word. 

 

 

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💥 Podcast: Absalom fights against David for many years, as was prophesied by Nathan the prophet for the sins of David

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on, November 26, 2021)

 

God pronounced a penalty against David for the killing of Uriah the Hittite and the taking of Uriah's wife.

II Samuel 12

Nathan the prophet said to David:

7 Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. 

And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

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Through David's son Absalom, we see some of the prophecies of God fulfilled.

"The sword shall never depart from thy house," says God to David.

"I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house," says God to David.

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II Samuel 13

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

(David was the father of Absalom, Tamar, and Amnon ... but Amnon had a different mother and was the 1/2 brother of Absalom and Tamar.)

Amnon forced Tamar to have sex with him and then he hated her after they had sex.

15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

16 And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.

17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

18 And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. 

Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. 

So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

Absalom hated his brother Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar.  Absalom planned revenge against his brother.

23 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.

25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.

26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?

27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.

30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.

31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

(But Absalom had not killed all the king's sons, only one son was killed, Amnon.)

32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.

37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. 

And David mourned for his son every day.

38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

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The stage is set for Absalom to rise against David and try to take the kingdom from David, being evil against David's house as God said would happen.

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I Corinthians 10

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

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💥 Scriptures shared by members of the body of Christ:

 

Psalm 104:24  O LORD, how manifold are THY works! in wisdom hast THOU made them all: the earth is full of THY riches.

 

***

 

Proverbs 19:20-21  Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

 

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

***

 

Proverbs 17:27  He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

 

***

 

Micah 6:8  HE hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

 

***

 

1 Corinthians 15:33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

 

***

 

Psalm 18:25-27  With the merciful THOU wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man THOU wilt shew THYSELFf upright;

 

26 With the pure THOU wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward THOU wilt shew thyself froward.

 

27 For THOU wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

 

 

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💥 John 8 (Reading through the Bible)

Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

² And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came unto Him; and He sat down, and taught them.

³ And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto Him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
⁵ Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest Thou?
⁶ This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him.

But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not.

⁷ So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

⁸ And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

⁹ And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

¹⁰ When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

¹¹ She said, No man, Lord.

And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

***

¹² Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I (The Word) am the light of the world: he that followeth Me (The Word) shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

¹³ The Pharisees therefore said unto Him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

¹⁴ Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of Myself, yet My record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

¹⁵ Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

¹⁶ And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me.

¹⁷ It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

¹⁸ I am one that bear witness of Myself, and the Father that sent Me beareth witness of Me.


***

¹⁹ Then said they unto Him, Where is Thy Father?

Jesus answered, Ye neither know Me, nor My Father: if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also.

²⁰ These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as He taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on Him; for His hour was not yet come.


***

²¹ Then said Jesus again unto them, I go My way, and ye shall seek Me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

²² Then said the Jews, Will He kill Himself? because He saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

²³ And He said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

²⁴ I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He (The Word), ye shall die in your sins.


***

²⁵ Then said they unto Him, Who art Thou?

And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

²⁶ I have many things to say and to judge of you: but He that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him.

²⁷ They understood not that He spake to them of the Father.


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²⁸ Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things.

²⁹ And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.

³⁰ As He spake these words, many believed on Him.


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³¹ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed;  ³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

Do the Word and continue to do the Word as long as God leaves you on this earth.


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³³ They answered Him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest Thou, Ye shall be made free?

³⁴ Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
³⁵ And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

³⁶ If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.


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³⁷ I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill Me, because My word hath no place in you.

³⁸ I speak that which I have seen with My Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

³⁹ They answered and said unto Him, Abraham is our father.

Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

⁴⁰ But now ye seek to kill Me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

⁴¹ Ye do the deeds of your father.

Then said they to Him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

⁴² Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me.

⁴³ Why do ye not understand My speech? even because ye cannot hear My word.

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

⁴⁵ And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not.
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⁴⁶ Which of you convinceth Me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?

⁴⁷ He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.


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⁴⁸ Then answered the Jews, and said unto Him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

⁴⁹ Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour My Father, and ye do dishonour Me.

⁵⁰ And I seek not Mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

⁵¹ Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death.


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⁵² Then said the Jews unto Him, Now we know that Thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and Thou sayest, If a man keep My saying, he shall never taste of death. ⁵³ Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou Thyself?

⁵⁴ Jesus answered, If I honour Myself, My honour is nothing: it is My Father that honoureth Me; of whom ye say, that He is your God:

⁵⁵ Yet ye have not known Him; but I know Him: and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know Him, and keep His saying.


***

⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad.

⁵⁷ Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?

⁵⁸ Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.


***

⁵⁹ Then took they up stones to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

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💥 Podcast: God penalizes David

 

 

(This podcast was previously published on, November 25, 2021)

 

God sends a prophet to pronounce God's judgments upon David for his sins:

First God shows David his sin:

II Samuel 12

1 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. 

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God sets a penalty upon king David:

Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in HIS sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

(Penalty:)

10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised ME, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD.

And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

(But the penalty against David will continue upon David as long as David lives.  And God said his enemies would be they of David's own household.  Absalom, David's son, later tries to take the kingdom from David.  And Absalom goes into David's concubines and all Israel knows what he has done, thus fulfilling part of the penalty God set upon David.)

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Then the prophet pronounces another judgment from God upon David.

14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

15 And Nathan departed unto his house.

And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

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16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. 

And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?

19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

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Psalm 51   (David prays)

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to THY lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of THY tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against THEE, THEE only, have I sinned, and done this evil in THY sight:

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8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which THOU hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide THY face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from THY presence; and take not THY holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of THY salvation; and uphold me with THY free spirit.

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