DAVID HAS REACHED HIS PINNACLE IN BELIEF AND IN POWER, AND SADLY (LIKE MANY PEOPLE ONCE THEY REACH THEIR SPIRITUAL ZENITH) SUCCUMB TO THEIR EVIL INCLINATIONS, TEMPTATIONS AND FLAWED CHARACTER. SO IN THIS CHAPTER WE START TO SEE THE EARLY SEEDS OF DAVID'S DECLINE. THE STORY IS ABOUT THE WAR WITH THE AMMONITES AND THE SYRIANS AND THESE 2 WARS WERE LIKELY THE MOST SERIOUS, THE FIERCEST, AND THE MOST EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS WARS THAT HAPPENED DURING DAVID’S 40 YEARS ON YISHARAL’S THRONE.
BATTLE (2Sam.10)
Some time later, King Nakash of Ammon died and his son Hanun became King (NAKASH WAS THE FIRCE YISHARAL-HATER IN 1SAM11 WHO GOUGED OUT ALL THE RIGHT EYES OF THE YISHARALITE MEN OVER IN THE TRANS-JORDAN, BEFORE SAUL CAME TO THEIR RESCUE AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS RISE TO KING.) And David said, “Nakash was kind to me, so I will be kind to his son.” So he sent some officials to the country of Ammon to comfort Hanun and tell him how sorry he was that his father had died.
DAVID HAD A SINCERE SENSE OF WANTING TO PUT ASIDE LONG-HELD ANIMOSITIES BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS. HE CERTAINLY DIDN’T WANT TO HAVE TO DIVIDE HIS ARMY AND FIGHT ON YET ANOTHER FRONT, SO HE DECIDED TO USE THE OCCASION OF NACHASH’S DEATH TO STRETCH OUT A HAND OF FRIENDSHIP TO THE NEW KING, HANUN, TO STATE THAT IT WAS TIME FOR BOTH SIDES TO BURY THE HATCHET AND END THEIR LONG-RUNNING CONFLICT. ATTENDING A STATE FUNERAL OF THE SUPREME LEADER IS ALWAYS A GOOD TIME TO DO SUCH A THING BECAUSE THE NATION AND ITS LEADERS ARE OFTEN IN A REFLECTIVE MOOD AND READY FOR A CHANGE.
But Hanun’s officials told him, “Do you really believe David is honouring your father by sending these people to comfort you? He probably sent them to spy on our city, so he can destroy it.... I mean look what he did to Moab!”
WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT WHILE WE OFTEN THINK OF THESE ANCIENT SOCIEITES AS BEING “PRIMITIVE”, AND THUS “UNINTELLIGENT”, IN FACT THEIR MOTIVES, POLITICAL REASONING AND THEIR ACTIONS ARE INHERENTLY THE SAME AS LEADERS TODAY IN THE MODERN WORLD. THEREFORE THE KING OF AMMON’S REACTION THAT LED TO WAR IS JUST LIKE THE USA’S REACTION IN THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISES OF THE 1960’S WHEN AN OLD ENEMY SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH A WORRISOME MILITARY PRESENCE A MERE 90 MILES OFFSHORE - MUCH TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT IN MODERN TIMES (AND IT NEARLY CULMINATED IN A NUCLEAR WAR).
UNFORTUNATELY HANUN WAS SOMEWHAT LESS CORDIAL THAN DAVID HAD HOPED. THE OLD ANIMOSITY AND DISTRUST WAS TOO DEEP TO OVERCOME AND SO HANUN’S ROYAL COURT ADVISED THE NEW KING THAT THIS HAD TO BE A DECEPTION AND THAT THE YISHARALI DIPLOMATS WEREN’T GENUINE IN THE PURPOSE OF THEIR VISIT. RATHER THEY WERE SPIES WHO MERELY WANT TO GAIN INTELLIGENCE ON THE AMMONITE CAPITAL CITY (WHICH WAS RABBAH, MODERN DAY AMMAN, JORDAN).
WHEN ONE LOOKS BACK TO THE BRUTALITY THAT DAVID PILED UPON MOAB (AFTER SUBDUING THEM HE EXECUTED AT RANDOM 2 OUT OF EVERY 3 CAPTURED SOLDIERS), IT’S EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE KING OF AMMON AND HIS COUNSELLORS WERE WARY AND UNCONVINCED OF DAVID’S INTENTIONS. ALL ONE HAS TO DO TO GET A GOOD MENTAL PICTURE OF THE SITUATION IS TO TURN ON OUR TELEVISIONS AND WATCH THE INTRACTABLE SITUATION BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS. THERE HAS BEEN SUCH A LONG HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, DECEIT, SLAUGHTER AND FAILED AGREEMENTS THAT TO TRUST ONE ANOTHER AT ANY LEVEL SEEMS THE HEIGHT OF FOLLY RISING TO THE SUICIDAL.
So (listening to his council) King Hanun arrested David’s officials and had their beards shaved off but only on one side of their faces. Then he had their robes cut off just below the waist, exposing their butts and he sent them away terribly ashamed.
HANUN’S REACTION WAS ALMOST PREDICTABLE, LAYING THE UTMOST HUMILIATION UPON DAVID’S MEN TO RETURN A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT HE HAD NO INTEREST IN PEACE. KNOWING HOW A HEBREW’S BEARD WAS MORE THAN A CULTURAL NORM, IT WAS SEEN AS A RELIGIOUS IMPERATIVE FOR MALES (JUST LIKE TODAY), THE AMMONITES SHAVED OFF HALF THE BEARDS OF THE DIPLOMATS AND THEN FOLLOWED THAT UP BY CUTTING OFF THEIR CLOTHING HALFWAY UP THEIR BUTTOCKS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE SHAMEFULLY EXPOSED FOR PUBLIC HUMILIATION. IN SOME WAYS (TO THE MIDDLE EASTERN MIND) THIS WAS WORSE THAN DEATH. WHAT IT ACTUALLY AMOUNTED TO WAS A DECLARATION OF WAR.
So when David found out what had happened to his officials, he sent a message and told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back. Then you can come home again.”
WHEN DAVID HEARD OF THIS HE SENT SOME MEN TO MEET HIS DIPLOMATS ON THEIR RETURN, AND TOLD THEM THAT THEY OUGHT NOT TO RETURN TO THE CITY OF DAVID IMMEDIATELY; RATHER THEY SHOULD STAY IN JERICHO, A SMALLISH OUTPOST AT THIS TIME, UNTIL THEIR BEARDS GREW BACK. BUT UNDERSTAND: WHILE THIS SEEMS LIKE A KIND THING FOR DAVID TO DO (AND IT CERTAINLY HAD THAT ELEMENT IN IT) IT WAS FAR MORE ABOUT DAVID (AS A KING) NOT WANTING SHAME TO BE IN HIS PERSONAL PRESENCE AND HAVING TO VIEW IT EVERY DAY. LOOKING EVEN UPON SOMEONE ELSE’S SHAME WAS SEEN AS SHAME UPON THE PERSON’S EYES WHO SAW IT (ESPECIALLY IF IT WERE ROYAL EYES).
Then the Ammonites realised that they had made David very angry, so they hired more foreign soldiers.
1CHRON19 EXPLAINS THAT KING HANUN SPENT OVER ½ MILLION POUNDS OF SILVER TO RENT THE SERVICES OF THESE ARMIES. AT TODAY’S PRICES THAT WOULD AMOUNT TO AT LEAST $175 MILLION.
20,000 of them were foot soldiers from the Aramean cities of Beth-Rehob and Zobah, 1000 were from the King of Maacah, and 12,000 were from the region of Tob. David heard what they had done, and he sent out Joab with all of his well-trained soldiers. The Ammonite troops came out and got ready to fight in front of the gate to their city. The Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the soldiers from Tob and Maacah formed a separate group in the nearby fields.
Joab saw that he had to fight in front and behind at the same time, and he picked some of the best Yisharalite soldiers to fight the Arameans. He put his brother Abishai in command of the rest of the Army and had them fight the Ammonites.
Joab told his brother, “If the Arameans are too much for me to handle, you can come and help me. If the Ammonites are too strong for you, I’ll come and help you. BE BRAVE AND FIGHT HARD TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE AND THE CITIES OF OUR ALAHIM. I know that Yahuah will do whatever pleases Him.”
THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR TIME WE SEE KING DAVID `PHONING IT IN' BY SENDING HIS ARMY TO CONFRONT THE ENEMY WITHOUT GOING WITH IT. DAVID'S BEGINNING TO SLIP (DECLINE) INTO BEHAVING MORE LIKE A TYPICAL SEATED (PHYSICALLY INACTIVE) MONARCH OF HIS ERA, WHO STAYS SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY BEHIND IN HIS PALACE WHILE HE SENDS HIS TOP GENERAL INTO HARM’S WAY. AND WHILE THAT'S DEFINATELY THE METHOD OF POLITICAL LEADERS IN MOST CULTURES (INCLUDING OUR OWN) FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, THAT IS NOT THE METHOD OF LEADERSHIP INSTRUCTED FOR YAHUAH’S PEOPLE.
THE KING OF YAHUAH’S KINGDOM IS NOT TO “SEND” OR “TO BE SERVED”, RATHER HE IS TO “LEAD” AND IS “TO SERVE”. THE KING IS TO GO WITH HIS ARMY AS SYMBOLISED IN HOW YAHUAH “TRAVELS” WITH YISHARAL’S ARMY BY MEANS OF THE ARK OF THE BLOOD-COVENANT (AND TO BE SURE, YAHUAH IS NOT INSIDE THAT GOLDEN BOX, RATHER IT IS BUT AN ILLUSTRATION OF YAHUAH’S PRESENCE WITH HIS PEOPLE). YISHARAL’S KINGS ARE TO FOLLOW THIS EXAMPLE AND FOR MANY YEARS A YOUNGER DAVID DID SO; BUT NOT THIS TIME.
THE MESSIANIC PERSPECTIVE (check this out!!)
"BEFORE HEADING INTO BATTLE JOAB ENCOURAGES ALL OF THE ARMY BY REMINDING THEM THAT WHAT THEY FIGHT FOR IS NOTHING LESS THAN THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES THAT FORM THE KINGDOM OF YAHUAH ON EARTH. THIS ISN’T ABOUT PERSONAL HONOR OR ABOUT THE HOPE FOR SPOILS OF WAR. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ISRAEL TODAY DESPERATELY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND AND TAKE TO HEART AS THE WORLD (AND THE CURRENT AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION) RELENTLESSLY PRESSURES ISRAEL TO NEGOTIATE AWAY MANY OF THEIR TOWNS AND VILLAGES TO YAHUAH’S SWORN ENEMIES, IN EXCHANGE FOR NOTHING MORE THAN A PROMISE OF PEACE. I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT WILL TAKE FOR MISGUIDED BELIEVERS TO WAKE UP AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE COMMITTING THE WORST POSSIBLE REBELLION AGAINST THE CREATOR, SECOND ONLY TO A REFUSAL TO ACCEPT HIS MERCY AND FAVOUR OF FORGIVENESS OF SINS THROUGH MESSIAH.
IT IS NEARLY UNFATHOMABLE THAT EVEN A MAJOR PORTION OF ISRAEL’S POLITICAL PARTIES EMBRACE THE SO-CALLED TWO STATE SOLUTION, AND ARE OPENLY WILLING TO GIVE UP ABOUT HALF OF JERUSALEM (INCLUDING THE TEMPLE MOUNT) FOR A PEACE-AGREEMENT WITH THE PALESTINIANS. THE CHURCH AND THE ISRAELIS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT TO RESIST THE 90% OF THE WORLD THAT WANTS ISRAEL TO ABANDON MUCH OF THE PROMISED LAND TO PAGANS IS TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. WE ARE TO PROTECT THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF ISRAEL WITH ALL OF OUR MIGHT. NOT BECAUSE THE JEWS WHO LIVE THERE SOMEHOW MERIT IT, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS THE CREATOR'S KINGDOM AND HE HAS DECLARED BY MEANS OF THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT THAT THE HEBREW PEOPLE ARE THE ONLY DIVINELY AUTHORIZED LAND TENANTS.
So Joab and his soldiers attacked the Arameans, and they ran from them. When the Ammonite soldiers saw that the Arameans had run away, they ran from Abishai’s soldiers and went back into their own city. Joab stopped fighting the Ammonites and returned to Jerusalem. Then the Arameans realised they had lost the battle, so they brought all their troops together again. Hadadezer sent messengers to call in the Arameans who were on the other side of the Euphrates River. Then Shobach, the Commander of Hadadezer’s Army, led them to the town of Helam.
David found out what the Arameans were doing, so he himself brought Yisharal’s whole Army together. They crossed the Jordan River and went to Helam, where the Arameans were ready to meet them. The Arameans attacked, but then they ran from Yisharal. David killed 700 chariot drivers and 40,000 cavalry. He also killed Shobach, their Commander. And when the Kings who had been under Hadadezer’s rule saw that Yisharal had beaten them, they made peace with Yisharal and accepted David as their ruler. And the Arameans were afraid to help Ammon any more.
WHEN DAVID STEPPED ONTO THE SCENE (YAHUAH'S ANOINTED) - SPARKS FLY !!
EVEN WHEN DIVIDED, THE FORCES OF YISHARAL AS LED BY JOAB WERE ENORMOUS; AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE HIRED SYRIAN TROOPS ABANDONED THEIR POSITIONS AND FLED. WHEN THE AMMONITE SOLDIERS STATIONED AROUND RABBAH HEARD ABOUT IT, THEY QUICKLY RETREATED INSIDE THE CITY WALLS. NEITHER THE ARMY NOR THE LEADERS OF AMMON HAD ANY CONFIDENCE THAT THEY COULD DEFEAT YISHARAL, WHICH IS WHY WHEN HANUN HUMILIATED THE YISHARALITE DIPLOMATS (A DE FACTO DECLARATION OF WAR) THEY QUICKLY OUTSOURCED FOR TEMPORARY HELP TO JOIN THE FIGHT. INTERESTINGLY ONCE THE AMMONITES WENT INSIDE THEIR CAPITAL CITY THAT ENDED THE BATTLE. JOAB CHOSE NOT TO BEGIN A SIEGE OF RABBAH BUT RATHER TO GO HOME TO YERUSHALAYIM. THIS IS BECAUSE (AS WE’LL SEE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER) THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LATE FALL AT THE TIME OF THIS CONFLICT; THE RAINY AND COLD SEASON WAS APPROACHING AND SO SIEGE WARFARE WAS IMPRACTICAL. AND BESIDES, SUCH COWARDICE OF THEIR MILITARY WAS PROOF ENOUGH THAT AMMON WAS, OF ITSELF, NOT AN IMMENENT THREAT TO YISHARAL.
YISHARAL SUFFERED GREATLY, THE DEATH TOLL WAS ENORMOUS, AND EXHAUSTION WAS OVERWHELMING BECAUSE NO SOONER HAD SOME HARD-WON BATTLE VICTORIES OVER THE SYRIANS BEEN CELEBRATED THAN THE EDOMITES OVERRAN THE LAND IN HOPES OF DESTROYING YAHUAH’S CHOSEN PEOPLE. THESE BATTLES AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES ARE TOLD IN A PARALLEL ACCOUNT IN 1CHRONICLES 19. BOTH ACCOUNTS EXPLAIN THE WAR IN A TYPICALLY SCRIPTURAL SCARCITY OF DETAIL, HOWEVER THERE WERE AT LEAST 2 PSALMS THAT WERE WRITTEN TO EXPRESS THE ANGUISH AND DISTRESS OF THESE TIMES AND THEY DO ADD TO THE EMOTION AND INNER TURMOIL THAT IS OTHERWISE MISSING.
PSALM 44
(A special Psalm for the people of Korah and for the music leader.)
"Our Alahim, our ancestors told us what wonders you worked and we listened carefully. You chased off the nations by causing them trouble with your powerful arm. Then you let our ancestors take over their land. Their strength and weapons were not what won the land and gave them victory! You loved them and fought with your powerful arm and your shining esteem. You are my Alahim and King, and you give victory to the people of Jacob. By your great power, we knocked our enemies down and stomped on them. I don’t depend on my arrows or my sword to deliver me. But you saved us from our hateful enemies and you put them to shame. We boast about you, our Alahim and we are always grateful. But now you have rejected us, you don’t lead us into battle, and we look foolish. You made us retreat and our enemies have taken everything we own. You let us be slaughtered like sheep and you scattered us among the nations. You sold your people for little or nothing and you earned no profit. You made us look foolish to our neighbours and people who live nearby insult us and sneer. Foreigners joke about us and shake their heads. I am embarrassed every day and I blush with shame. But others mock and sneer as they watch my enemies take revenge on me. All of this has happened to us though we didn’t forget you or speak maliciously against Your Covenant. Our heart has not turned and we haven’t swerved from the way of your teaching. But you crushed us and you covered us with deepest darkness where wild animals live. For if we’d forgotten Your Name or stretched out our hands to foreign Deities, You would have known it because you discover every secret thought. We face death all day for you. We are like sheep on their way to be slaughtered. Wake up! Do something, Yahuah! Why are you sleeping? Don’t desert us forever. Why do you keep looking away and hiding Your face? Don’t forget our sufferings and all of our troubles. We are flat on the ground holding on to the dust. Do something! Help us! Show how kind you are and come to our rescue".
Psalm 60
For the music leader. To the tune “Lily of the Promise.” A special Psalm by David for teaching. He wrote it during his wars with the Arameans of northern Syria, when Joab came back and killed twelve thousand Edomites in Salt Valley.
"Alahim You are angry with us! We are rejected and crushed, so come and make us strong again! You made the earth shake and split wide open, now heal its wounds and stop its trembling. You brought hard times on your people and you gave us the wine of trembling. You gave a signal to those who fear you, so they could escape from enemy arrows. Answer us! Use Your powerful arm and give us victory. Then the people you love will be safe. Our Alahim, you solemnly promised, “I would gladly divide up the city of Shechem and give away Succoth Valley piece by piece. The lands of Gilead and Menasseh are mine. Ephraim is My war helmet, and Judah is the symbol of My royal power. Moab is merely my washbasin. Edom belongs to me and I shout in triumph over the Philistines.” Our Alahim, who will bring me to the fortress or lead me to Edom? Have you rejected us and deserted our armies? Help us defeat our enemies! No one else can rescue us. You will give us victory and crush our enemies".
BOTH KORAH AND DAVID KNEW SOMETHING WAS TERRIBLY WRONG. WHEREAS BEFORE, NATIONS TREMBLED WHEN THE ARMIES OF YAHUAH’S KINGDOM ARRIVED, NOW THEY ARE CONFIDENT AND FEARLESS. IN AN EARLIER PART OF DAVID’S REIGN THE VICTORIES WERE CERTAIN AND RELATIVELY EASY, BUT NOW THE OUTCOME WAS IN QUESTION AND THE YISHARALITE LOSSES WERE HORRIBLE. BOTH PSALM WRITERS HAD THE GOOD SENSE TO SEEK AND ASK YAHUAH WHY IT WAS THIS WAY; HAS YAHUAH THE ALAHIM OF YISHARAL ABANDONED HIS PEOPLE? AT THE SAME TIME THEY ASKED FOR STRENGTH AND REDEMPTION BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT ALL VICTORY IS YAHUAH’S. IT IS FASCINATING (WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN) THAT YAHUAH’S WORSHIPPERS ALMOST TO A FAULT (EVEN TODAY) ASK “HAS YAHUAH ABANDONED ME”, RATHER THAN ASKING THE MORE LOGICAL QUESTION: “HOW HAVE I PULLED AWAY FROM HIM”? (WHAT HAVE I DONE, SAID, THOUGHT?) THERE’S 3 RULES FOR THAT YOU KNOW!
THIS DAUNTING EPISODE IS A CLEAR ILLUSTRATION OF THE YAHUAH-PRINCIPLE THAT, IF A LEADER OF YISHARAL TRIES TO DEAL WITH THE EVIL, REBELLIOUS SWORN ENEMIES OF YAHUAH IN ANY KIND OR TOLERANT WAY ….. THEY WILL EVENTUALLY SUFFER (AS WELL AS THE YISHARALITE PEOPLE SUFFER) GREATLY FOR THEIR ERROR IN TRYING TO BE (FOOLISHLY) HUMANITARIAN. SO WHILE DAVID BEHAVED WITH NOBLE INTENTIONS TOWARD THE NATION OF AMMON, HIS OUTSTRETCHED HAND OF FRIENDSHIP WAS MISINTERPRETED AS TREACHERY AND NO DOUBT ALSO AS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS. SO INSTEAD OF THE RESULTS OF HIS PEACE INITIATIVE BEING WHAT DAVID HOPED FOR, THE OUTCOME WAS A BLOODY WAR THAT ALSO HAD MUCH TO DO WITH AWAKENING OTHER ENEMY NATIONS INTO THINKING THAT PERHAPS THIS WAS THEIR MOMENT TO ANNIHILATE YAHUAH’S PEOPLE.
WHEN DAVID SOUGHT TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR AMMON’S NEW KING HANUN, HE ALSO BROKE A TURAH COMMANDMENT FROM DEUT 23:7 “SO YOU ARE NEVER TO SEEK THEIR PEACE OR WELL BEING, AS LONG AS YOU LIVE”.
IT WAS NOT SO MUCH A MATTER THAT THEY WERE LOSING THE WARS AS IT WAS THAT THEY STRUGGLED MIGHTILY TO WIN THEM. THE WARS DRAGGED ON AND ON, THE YISHARALITE LOSSES WERE TERRIBLE, AND A DURABLE PEACE SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE SINCE YISHARAL’S NEIGHBORS WERE BENT ON YISHARAL’S DESTRUCTION. SOME OF THIS WAS (NO DOUBT) IN RESPONSE TO DAVID’S DETERMINATION TO REACH THE GOAL OF THE GREATER YISHARAL AS ENVISIONED BY ABRAHAM; BUT THE BULK OF THE BATTLING HAD MORE TO DO WITH A LONG TERM SETTLING OF SCORES AND OTHER NATIONS’ DESIRES FOR EXPANDING THEIR OWN INFLUENCE.
Battle: HEBREW UNDERSTANDING:
To yoke, hitch, fasten, join, bind, fast, gird, harness, hold, keep, make ready, order, prepare, prison, put in bonds, set in array, tie. To consume, devour, eat, OVERCOME, prevail. WAR/WARFARE - to pound, smite, disperse, thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusively, reject, let alone, permit, remit, etc) stretch out, SUFFER. Military equipment, i.e. arms (offensive or defensive) or an arsenal of armed men, armour, weapons. To set in a row, arrange, PUT IN ORDER.
The face (as the part that turns), accept, against, anger, beseech, COUNTENANCE or heaviness (mood), presence, employ, endure, enquire, favour, fear of, front, honourable, more than, mouth of, sight, state, straight (BEHAVIOUR). A mass of persons organized for war (an army), a campaign, (specifically, hardship, worship):--appointed time, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon war. HOSTILE ENCOUNTER or a clamor, i.e. acclamation of joy or a battle-cry; especially clangor of trumpets, as an alarum, alarm, blowing of the trumpets, JOY, jubilee, loud noise, REJOICING, shouting, PRAISING, high, joyful sounding.
Battle: SCRIPTURAL UNDERSTANDING:
PSALM 18: "For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.
1 PETER 5: “Be sober-minded, awake and watchful, for your enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour”.
LUKE 10: “Don’t you know I’ve even given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing can hurt you!”
HEBREWS 4: “For Yahuah’s Words are alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even the division of being and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”.
EPHESIANS 6: “My brothers, be strong in the Master and in the mightiness of His strength. Put on the complete armour of Yahuah, so you have power to stand against the schemes of the devil. Because we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against authorities, against the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, against demonic forces of wickedness in high places. So because of this, take up the complete armour of Yahuah ...
... so that you have power to withstand in the wicked day, and having done all you can to withstand, stand your ground, having girded your waist with Truth like a belt, the breastplate of righteousness on your chest, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the message of peace. But most importantly ...
... take up your shield of belief so you have power to entinguish all the burning arrows of the wicked one. Also put on the helmet of deliverance, and the sword of the Spirit, which is Yahuah’s Word, staying in constant communication with Yahusha in the Spirit while watching in all perseverance and for all the set-apart ones, including me (Paul) that a word might be given to me when I open my mouth, and that I will be be bold in making known the secrets of the good news of Yahusha, for which I’m currently a prisoner in chains”.
2 COR 10: “And I (Paul) appeal to you all through the meekness and gentleness of Messiah. I may seem timid and gentle when face to face with you, but inside myself (where you cannot see) I’m bold as a lion. So I hope, that when I’m around you all I’m not be bold with that same bravery or arrogance as a worldly person has who walks according to their flesh. Because even though we live and walk we walk in this physical world of flesh, we don’t fight according to the flesh, one against the other like the world does...
For the weapons we fight with are not fleshly but divine and mighty in Yahuah for overthrowing mental strongholds, stuck-up reasonings and every sort of high lofty arrogance that lifts itself up against the knowledge of Yahuah, taking captive every thought to make it obedient to our Messiah, and being ready to evaluate (investigate and weed-out) all rebellion, when your obedience is complete. Just wake up and take a good look at what you’re facing. If anyone seems to trust in himself that he is of Messiah, let him reckon again for himself, that as he is of Messiah, so also are we. If anyone is convinced that he belongs to the Messiah, he should remind himself that we all belong to Messiah as much as he does. For even if I boast a little too much about the authority Yahusha has given us (to build you up, not tear you down), I am not ashamed".
There’s so much in the Hebrew understanding of battle isn’t there? Immediately we see flashbacks of old war movies and medieval warriors entering a great sea of violence, barbaric aggression and bloodshed. But is our day any different? (Of course we’re looking in the Spirit now.)
Do you face what forces are attacking you everyday, or is your self-esteem so low (boohoo nobody likes me, everybody hates me) that you think you’re not even worth a demon attacking. WRONG! HONEY! The minute you came out of the water and ‘switched sides’ you were instantly on the enemy's radar, and (unlike us) SATAN'S DEMONIC FORCES ARE A UNITED, VIGILANT, ORGANISED MILITARY TROOP, WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE IS TO RELENTLESSLY TORMENT AND ATTACK YOU.
But because the Body is just way too stupid to even know it’s being attacked, it throws aside any instruction Yahusha gives her, then listens and believes the wicked voice in their heads and behaves aggressively. And the enemy is laughing it’s filthy head off. THAT’S RIGHT. YOU’RE UNBELIEF IS A JOKE TO THE DEMONS, one they get to relive day after day after day as they poke and prod you over and over, knowing you just think it’s you (or another person). You certainly don’t believe it’s a demon do you? Because if you did, YOU’D ENTER THE BATTLE & FIGHT. Yahusha gave is weapons so why aren't we using them?
Seriously, how long are we going to live in such ignorance, singing songs and reading Psalms about `the Battle is Yahuah’s’, then get up (forget everything we know) listen to demons and have drama with someone? It’s pathetic! Yahusha’s Bride is in a sad and sorry state of childish games and bubby-wubby habits. LIVING IN IMMATURE SHADOWS and wandering around the same old first principle and topics of study with 0-change of behaviour.
The enemy is so overjoyed that you’ve poo-pooed The 3 Rules - good onya for that! I mean the last thing he wants you to do is stop having drama with everyone, so keep going, Yes O’ yee intellectual one, O’ sprouter of knowledge, yes I’m talking to you, keep putting your offended little tutu on and showing with your gutless bubby-face how offended you are. No one cares! Go on, you better get’em back for what they’ve said, don’t let them have it will you! Your way is far better than Yahusha’s. And while you’re at it, GO AND CONVERT THE WORLD TOO WITH YOUR `GREAT COMMISSION’ RIP-OFF NONSENSE. Good luck to you. I mean you can’t change the mind of anyone under your own roof but you’re quite confident you’re gunna change the world for Yahusha. So go for it! You actually think Yahusha doesn’t already know who His own Bride is? That He hasn’t chosen her and is working with her already?
INSANITY
You're in a war, a battle! THERE’S A GREAT CALCULATED MILITARY STRATEDGY GOING ON TO CRUSH YOU AND ANY GOOD WORK YOU MIGHT DO (ie something Yahusha specifically tells you to do - ie a project of some sort or a word or behaviour, maybe even an event.)
It’s really simple. THERE’S POSITIVE THOUGHTS AND NEGATIVE THOUGHTS, and guess who’s is who? Yahusha may flog us and chastise us but He says “My thoughts to you are always uplifting and true, to give you future, hope and peace” so if what you’re hearing isn’t that - then you’re being attacked.
THE 3 RULES ARE A GIFT FROM YAHUSHA TO DISSIPATE THE VOICE OF THE ENEMY AND HIS CONTROL OVER YOU IN YOUR DAY. SO USE THEM!! FOR GOODNESS SAKE USE THEM!! Put them to yourself in every situation and Yahusha makes a way out of every conflict for you. Face what you see in everyone around you. It’s true, Yes they are controlled most of the time and there’s nothing you can do about it. But Yahusha can, so take your hands off and let Him have it.
Practice a new standard of behaviour in your home where you only say kind, uplifting things ... where you are unable to be rattled. BEFORE RESPONDING, TAKE A BREATH, GO INTO YOUR PORTAL, COMMUNICATE WITH YAHUSHA AND HE INSTANTLY GIVES YOU A FRUIT FOR BATTLE - love, joy, peace, patience etc (yes, sometimes Yahusha will tell you speak out and show anger though and that’s fine - especially with kids) …
Indeed the weapons we battle with (fruits of righteous behaviour forged from the 3 Rules) are not fleshly, but mighty - SO WHY AREN'T YOU USING THEM?
DO YOU ENJOY THE MISERY OF SATAN'S CONTROL ?
