Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

When I was in Elementary School, I read an American Short Story about a youth who named his dog "Moreover". His family, who were poor but pious sharecroppers, told him to name the dog a word that appeared in their KJV Bible. And, so, "Moreover" it was.

When people say "I can do it because it is in the Bible", thus attempting to justify themselves in the commission of some really heinous sins, they can find themselves in David's predicament in due time.

From the story of David's life which dominated the Books of First and Second Samuel, we learned of his heart after God and his triumphs. We were also told of his failings, which included polygamy, adultery, murder, depression, and poor parenting.

These all come back to haunt him in the closing moments of his life. Obviously, Bathsheba is still his favorite, and both know that God has chosen Solomon to rule after David. Nathan seemed to be in on it too, but it is not clear if the other members of the complicated royal family were aware of God's choice.

In any case, the preemptive actions of Adonijah were inappropriate, and general Joab should have known better! (He was probably quite elderly by this time, so I won't go too hard on him!)

Modern geriatric medical practice probably would not condone the chosen "therapy" that was given to David! Even this will result in controversy later on.

In our study of the Tabernacle, The Temple, and The Ark of the Covenant, it is very important to see how the succession of Solomon to the Throne was vitally important. In these opening chapters of the First Book of Kings, we see how it happened. We also see the relationship of the Israelites to the Tabernacle (here called the "Sacred Tent"), and the Altar. The Tabernacle had been set up in a permanent location, what we now call the "Temple Mount" and for the usurping half-brother, a place of Sanctuary. Clinging to the horns of the Bronze Altar, he was in fact, admitting his sin and begging for mercy. Remember, the Bronze Altar was a symbol of Judgement, and was just outside of the heavy veil that shielded the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies.

The inside portion of many churches is called a "Sanctuary" to this day. It has become an architectural term that is fraught with meaning.

This brings us back to the Boy Who Named His Dog "Moreover". It is very easy to say "It's in the Bible, so I'm going to do it that way, when, in fact the Bible may be saying, "DON'T do it that way!". It is all about context.

Although Adonijah clung to the horns of the altar, he was still guilty of treason and knew it. He did have to pay the consequences for breaking the law. Using the term "Sanctuary Cities" in our own time, to shelter known lawbreakers is not in the spirit of the idea of "Sanctuary" in the Bible.

Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

God Bless America!

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

A little search, and I found the name of the Story about the dog. It was called “The Biscuit Eater” and was made into a little-known film by Disney.

http://disdb.com/movies/details.asp?mov=biscuit-eater

A very nice commentary yet again. They are always appreciated, as they generate much thought.

This is another one of those palace drama stories that remind us that in spite of David’s perfect heart, his sons... yikes, many (most?!) weren’t anything like their father on the inside.

Even Solomon turned his heart away after marrying hundreds of women. (Which is kind of funny though, because the Messianic line runs through amorous Solomon, so there were no shortage of genealogical options.)

Even among Jesse’s sons, there was just the one who was *the* son of Jesse.

As the Lord told Samuel right before David was brought in from the sheep, “the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Ha, in thinking about that, all the other sons must have looked very impressive, dressed and groomed perfectly in expectation of their honored guest, whereas David had been... dragged in at the last minute, fresh off the farm. :)

Wow. What a story

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PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH FOR
THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM!
And for the Preservation of the Valiant
Israeli Nation!

"Bathsheba, Solomon, Nathan, and Abishag
tend to aging David" - c. 1435
Illuminated manuscript, MMW 10 A 19, folio 33r
National Library of the Netherlands, The Hague.

"ZADOK THE PRIEST"
Georg Friedrich Händel
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge
(Click)

_ OW king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

2 Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and

let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. 3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

4 And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.

8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

9 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:

10 But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

13 Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?

14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.

15 And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.

16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

17 And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.

18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:

19 And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

20 And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.

23 And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?

25 For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.

26 But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.

27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.

29 And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,

30 Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.

31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.

32 And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

33 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:

34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.

35 Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.

36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.

37 As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.

38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.

40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

41 And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?

42 And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.

43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.

44 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule:

45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.

46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.

47 And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.

48 And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORDGod of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.

49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.

50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

51 And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

52 And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.

53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.

__________________________________________ 1 Kings 1 (KJV)

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For ML In This Time Of Tribulation.

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For A Rapid Recovery For Our Own Yorkie.

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For A Rapid Recovery For Our FRiend Uri'el2012.

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For The Safety Of Our Gallant Troops And For The Success Of Their Vital Mission.

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For The Repose Of The Souls Of Our Embassy Staff In Libya Who Were Assassinated 11 September 2012.

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For The Deliverance Of Our Beloved Nation From The Lion’s Mouth.

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For Our Brethren Of All Faiths Throughout The World Suffering Persecution.
We pray in particular on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya and throughout the Mideast. The members of the oldest of our Christian Communities, some of which date from the days of the Apostles, suffer under cruel, merciless and unrelenting persecution. They are Orthodox and Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical, Coptic, Pentecostal, and Baptist. To the persecutors, we are all "Nazarenes."

Adding my late prayers. God bless.

Amen, left that other site

Joining in prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem

In the end, mercy triumphs