(11/14/2018) King Solomon and Predestination?

The splendor of Solomon portrayed by Edward Poynter (1890) The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon (see reference below)

Today, reply is on the figure of King Solomon, and divine process as continuous and unfolding, yet, fixed and unchanging. Mankind exists on the earth as humanity’s sphere of life, and also must respond to mechanical and natural law. The idea of predestination introduces spiritual confusion by using language that denies sacred law, eternal purpose and divine order are the primary origin for human events, while mankind’s expression of self-will is the primary determinant for the carnal, material, and social aspects of ones life experience. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion and Spirituality, who uses the ID “Stonehaven” (Level 1 with 1 points, a member since March 21, 2018) posted the following:

Solomon was predestined to be a Great King or not?

As Solomon was one of the Great Kings of the Old Testament it would seem to suggest that his career was predestined by the Creator.

Since we know that all of the Major and Minor prophets of the Old Testament have been predestined in some way: Isaiah 46:10.

The mere fact that Solomon was born at all is predestined by the Creator.

Which begs the question: Did God have anything to do with King David’s adultery with Bathsheba and the death of her husband Uriah the Hittite in the specific context of “God creating evil” in Isaiah 45:7?

Had David not committed adultery nor killed Uriah, Solomon would never had been born at all; but we seem to think that the latter was predestined to do great things.

So, was God behind David’s adultery and the death of Uriah in the specific context of Isaiah 45:7?

THE GOLDEN ARROW: For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. (2^nd Corinthians 4: 6-11, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: A Descendent of David? (03/18/2018); Neither “All-knowing” Nor “Omniscient” (11/07/2017); The Bible on “Soulmates”? (03/12/2017); Divine Knowing, Finite Will? (09/28/2016); Solomon Punished For Sins Of David? (08/28/2015); Errors of King Solomon? (06/13/2013); Salvation for Atheists? (06/14/2013); GOD Knows Tomorrow? (04/12/2013); The Priesthood of Kings (10/17/2012); Childlike Faith (10/18/2012)

“Stonehaven”, here are some points intended for Christian believers that you may find useful; our focus is to be on the greatness of GOD, rather than on any carnal, material, or social element:

1. Within the revelation of Jesus Christ, Solomon appears as a figure or type (the Son of David) who is to display and embody the greatness of divinity (we may say, divine fullness; the Godhead; the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit).

2. Sacred gifts to mankind were to become visible through Israel in covenant relationship and through an inheritance of dynasty provided to King David, that included faith, forbearance, forgiveness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, priesthood, prophecy, and sacred wisdom.

3. The prophetic demonstration wherein Solomon was married to 700 wives and was joined to 300 concubines speaks to the condition of Israel as married to her maker who is GOD. Viewed as a political or secular fact from the life of Solomon, his marriages appear only as abuse, exaggeration and spiritual confusion from a man in the flesh expressing sexual desire, lust, and passion.

4. The character, makeup, and process of GOD revealed to Moses was that of Lawgiver and the GOD of judgment, who does not punish the children for the sins of the parents, yet, challenges the offspring by continuing the conditions and consequences of parental transgressions for as much as 160 years (the 4^th generation). The offenses of King David included failing to command his household in the matters of Tamar and Absalom as well as the infidelity demonstrated when the King commanded that a census be taken.

5. By the workings of human events and finite self-will, rather than eternal purpose, there would be division; and Israel would become two kingdoms: the two tribes, Judah and Benjamin (the Southern Kingdom) and the ten tribes (Israel, Samaria; the Northern Kingdom). Israel existed as a united kingdom only during the reigns of King David and his heir, King Solomon. (Solomon was anointed and crowned king while David was still alive; and Israel briefly had both father and son as ruler at the same time.)

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (6.) Solomon understood his anointing from GOD to be no less that that bestowed upon David. In addition to being authorized as builder of a permanent house for GOD (a palace; a temple), he himself would be judge, king, priest, and prophet. Even so, David’s offenses were coupled with King Solomon’s indulgence of idolatry by his foreign wives, and the arrogance expressed by Solomon’s lawful heir to the throne, Rehoboam. The ten tribes would elect as their king Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the enemy Solomon had forced out and who returned from Egypt at Solomon’s death. It was Jeroboam who then introduced worship of the golden calf in two separate places.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

Edward Poynter (1890) The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon downloaded 10:00 AM, 11-13-2018 from the Wikimedia Commons Internet site @ https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/%27The_Visit_of_the_Queen_of_Sheba_to_King_Solomon%27%2C_oil_on_canvas_painting_by_Edward_Poynter%2C_1890%2C_Art_Gallery_of_New_South_Wales.jpg/1280px-%27The_Visit_of_the_Queen_of_Sheba_to_King_Solomon%27%2C_oil_on_canvas_painting_by_Edward_Poynter%2C_1890%2C_Art_Gallery_of_New_South_Wales.jpg

(08/28/2015) Solomon Punished For Sins Of David?

Scripture points are shared, today, on the mercies of GOD shown to the House of David.  In addition to divine wrath against sin that was provoked through adultery, negligent parenting that resulted in rape of the king’s daughter, fratricide, unjust banishment of a son who had been severely injured, and near overthrow of the kingdom, the reigns of David and Solomon also saw crimes of presumption and pride (taking a census), and the building of houses for idol worship to appease 1,000 concubines and wives.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Underwater” (Level 2 with 864 points, a member since September 20, 2007) posted the following:


Why was David s son punished for David s sin with Bathsheba?

Bathsheba becomes the Queen Mother (mother of Solomon) after Uriah is killed in battle?
This might be too many words for Yahoo Answers ;-) but how do these stories make any sense?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.  In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.  In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely:  and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.  For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;  Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.  And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying,  Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;  Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.  As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured:  so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.  (Jeremiah 33:  14-22, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Christ the Son of David? (06/12/2015); Was David a “Good” Man? (01/13/2015); Errors of King Solomon? (06/13/2013); Salvation for Atheists? (06/14/2013); The Golden Age? (01/10/2013); Translation, Please… (01/11/2013); The Root of Jesse (01/03/2013); Newness of Spirit? (01/04/2013)


“Underwater”, for Christian believers to have the most complete and correct understanding of the accounts recorded in the holy writings they all must recognize that those acknowledging their salvation are being shown sacred knowledge, not simply human history, or a collection of secular events.  A divine point of view is being shared that allows believers to see the operations of divinity through thousands of lives and thousands of situations over the course of thousands of years.  Included are atonement, confession, correction, judgment, incarnation, rebirth, repentance, sanctification, and the second death.  The Bible records the revelation of Deity to created beings and living creatures both in the heaven and upon the earth.  The Scriptures are part of a multi-leveled sacred process to impart spirit content to the living from the makeup of the Creator.  Included, here, are grace, divine love, faith, forgiveness, holiness, longsuffering, purity, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  Relationships such as family, tribes, and anointed workers (priests) are permanently altered and used to accomplish eternal purposes.  Examples are seen in friendship with Abraham (Patriarch), covenant with Moses (prophet) and the tribes of Jacob (nation) as well as dynasty and inheritance through kings.  The sons are not punished for their father’s sins, however, ones offspring are to be challenged by the conditions created and established by their parents for as many as four generations (160 years).  Here are a few points from Scripture that may further clarify GOD’s use of David and Solomon:

(1.)  Exodus 34:  6-8, King James Version (KJV):  6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,  7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.  8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.

(2.)  Ezekiel 18:  19-21, KJV:  19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.  20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son:  the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.  21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

(3.)  Ezekiel 33:  10-12, KJV:  10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?  11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?  12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression:  as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.

(4.)  2nd Samuel 24:  1-4, KJV:  1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.  2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.  3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it:  but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?  4 Notwithstanding the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

(5.)  2nd Samuel 24:  16-18, KJV:  16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.  17 And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly:  but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.  18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.

(6.)  1st Kings 11:  9-13, KJV:  9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,  10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods:  but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.  11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.  12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake:  but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.  13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.

There is much more that could be said, and that must be correctly understood and spiritually taken into account.  (For example, (7.)  1st Kings 12:  18-20, KJV:  18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.  19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.  20 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel:  there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.)  Even so, I trust this collection of verses will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(02/13/2014) The “Talking Cross”?

Today, some points are shared on why Jesus appeared alive in the upper room following his crucifixion, death, and burial.  The writer at  “Yahoo! Answers” using ID “Deidra” (Level 1 with 217 points, a member since September 14, 2010) posted the following:


Jesus and the Talking Cross?

One of my friends continues to claim that, after rising from the dead, Jesus asked if the cross had been making converts and disciples. I do not believe this is in the Christian Bible, but it sounds familiar. Is it from another religion?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.  Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.  And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side.  Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you:  as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:  Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.  But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them:  then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side:  and be not faithless, but believing.   And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed:  blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.  (John 20:  18-31, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Jesus Is GOD’s Word (12/28/2013); Alpha and Omega (12/29/2013); Jesus Rose? (11/08/2013); Why Was A Son Sent? (11/10/2013); Promise of A Spirit? (11/11/2013); Sacrificed and Risen? (10/06/2013); Assurances of Salvation? (10/07/2013); A Spirit Church? (04/04/2013); My Brother’s Keeper (04/05/2013); Ghosts (09/02/2012); About Conversion (09/03/2012)


“Deidra”, I am a long time Christian who has never heard that phrase before, the “talking cross.”  Even so, here are some points held by many believers that may be useful to you and your friends:

(1.)  Jesus appeared to the apostles he had appointed as well as other believers whom he had sought to prepare.  Only his mother and few of the other disciples were actually present at his crucifixion.  Most of those who had been with him at the Mount of Olives where he was arrested, had run away, and were still in hiding days later.

(2.)  When Jesus first appeared to them in their hiding place (an upper room), there were as many as 120 men and women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Many did not believe it was possible that he had been arrested, and tried, and condemned, and the death sentence carried out so quickly.  Many did not believe the reports of those who had been to the empty tomb.  More than this, many did not believe the reports by Mary, the former prostitute, and others that they had seen angels, or she had seen Jesus alive.

(3.)  Jesus appeared to correct their errors, and further prepare them for the coming operations of the Holy Spirit among them.  He chided them about their doubt, their lack of recall (these things were all prophesied, and were part of the doctrine he had taught), and their uncertainty, and gave them demonstrations to build up their courage and faith.  Those who were together in the upper room, later, became the nucleus of the church when the Holy Spirit also was made visible there on the day of Pentecost.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  For example, (4.)  The promises of GOD proclaimed to mankind, and fulfilled through the Son of the Highest are for an eternal kingdom wherein the righteous are numberless.  There is no likelihood that Jesus appeared to take a census, make a “head count,” see who was there and who was absent, or to gauge the impact of his ministry.  The Savior appeared to anchor his people in truth, and further reveal divinity in the recorded promises and prophesies from GOD.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC