The Truth in Print Vol. 23 Issue 8, Sept. 2017
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Unwise Unsuspiciousness (Jer. 40:14)
The Mistake Gedaliah
Made
Consider the warnings that Gedaliah received from the captains who came
to him at Mizpah, after the destruction of Jerusalem,
for he was left in charge of the remnant there by the King of Babylon. He
offered them protection and abundance if they would stay there and serve the
King of Babylon (40:9-10). Read the below and note that some surely did know
the warning given to Gedaliah was a fact.
Gedaliah is warned by
“all the captains” who returned.
Jer 40:13 Moreover Johanan
the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces
that were in the fields came to Gedaliah at Mizpah,
Jer 40:14 and said to
him, "Do you certainly know that Baalis the king
of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah
to murder you?" But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam
did not believe them.
These had been scattered during the destruction of Jerusalem and
survived and they would have known more about what was being plotted among the
Ammonites. He ignored “all” and it was true. All the Jews in Moab and among the
sons of Ammon and in Edom and elsewhere had returned (40:11-12). Some came from
among the Ammonites, but there is no record of his having bothered to check
with them.
He’s so generous, so
forbearing — don’t you just love him.
Jer 40:15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke
secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, "Let me
go, please, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah,
and no one will know it. Why should he murder you, so that all the Jews who are
gathered to you would be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?"
Jer 40:16 But
Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah,
"You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely concerning
Ishmael."
He defended the one who would kill him. Who took advantage of the
trustfulness of Gedaliah? Why of course the one he was warned against. How many
lies do you suppose he would he have been willing to tell to cover it up?
The Pattern:
1. Refused to credit the
information from “all” – he could have checked with the Jews who came from
among the sons of Ammon.
2. Indignant towards the informant
– accused him of lying. “You liar!” You often hear that when the evidence
points to something one doesn’t want to believe. He should have listened.
Ishmael even slaughtered the Chaldeans who the King left there (Jer. 41:1-3).
Not good.
The Dirty Deed Followed
Quickly by More
What Great Acting
Jer 41:4 And it happened, on the second day after he had
killed Gedaliah, when as yet no one knew it,
Jer 41:5
that certain men came from Shechem, from
Shiloh, and from Samaria, eighty men with their beards shaved and their clothes
torn, having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring
them to the house of the LORD.
Jer 41:6 Now Ishmael
the son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went along; and it
happened as he met them that he said to them, "Come to Gedaliah the son of
Ahikam!" > You always see great acting when no one knows it
yet.
Final Outcome
1. Killed all except for 10 who
promised him riches (Jer. 41:7-9).
2. Took all in Mizpah
captive (Jer. 41:10).
3. Johanah
who tried to warn of this
and all the captains with him rescued them (Jer. 41:11-15).
4. Turns out Johanan
is too fearful now of the King of Babylon and the plan is to proceed into Egypt
where God told them not to go (Jer. 41:16-18; Jer. 2:36-37). They’ll be
destroyed there.
The way Gedaliah came
to death:
1. He ought to have been on his
guard,
2. He was warned,
3. He would not believe,
4. He blamed all the more the
friend who warned him in private,
5. He had “over confidence” in
Ishmael.
6. Ishmael was such a great guy!
There Are Times I Ought
to Think “Evil”
Not to do so can be stupidity and lead to not only one’s own harm but
others. This world has a distorted view of love and friendship. Wrong motives
are seen here: “I didn’t think it was hurting anyone”; “I didn’t think telling
him to quit associating with them was proper”; “I didn’t want to have to rebuke
my daughter and her friends” etc. — when one should be thinking I Cor. 15:33.
Mothers listen! A mother can turn so call love into what is hurtful, and
harmful to her child by allowing the child to go head onwards in immoralities.
I called in on our local radio station and corrected a statement a gentleman
made in saying, “You known the Bible says spare the
rod and spoil the child, and we have a lot of spoiled children in our society.”
No, that’s not what it says: Pro. 13:24 “He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.” It says
"hates" his son not "spoils" -- the world uses “spoils” to
avoid putting the father in a true light. The rod isn’t hate because it hurts.
Remember the old adage “Apply the board of education to the seat of
learning.”
It is a great sin and weakness to withhold needed discipline. If parents
do not discipline they’ll find civil law doing it later when the child is
older. Sparing your own feelings is selfishness in disobeying God’s command.
God doesn’t hate his sons; therefore, at times, he does not spare His rod (cf.
Prov. 3:12).
Feeling the Guilt for
Not Giving the Warnings
You feel guilt when not giving the warning results in someone getting
harmed, and you ignored it or acted like you hadn’t seen it coming: “If only I
had listened and told them I could have spared them.” How many things have come
when I didn’t want to believe in the dangers I was warned against, and act?
Giving warnings are not troublesome and make things safe for us (cf. Phil.
3:1-2). Jesus didn’t trust everyone (cf. Jo. 2:15; Matt. 7:6, 10:16). There are
always deceitful, wicked people looking for the opportunity to excite betrayals
and they just love to do evil.
1. Divorce — Some marriages can be saved if the
concerned are willing to act in time.
2) Death — That’s
in our lesson. Gedaliah didn’t listen. If someone threatens to kill you, and
you are told about it, you’d best take it seriously.
3) One in the process of falling
away — Ezk. 3:18-19.
4) Eternal Death — Consider the rich man in torment
as a man who wants another (Lazarus) to do what he failed to do (Lk.
16:27-31).
5) Your Own Penalty — cf. Ezk. 3:7-11; Acts 20: 26-27, 20; Gal. 4:16.
Improper Sexual
Thoughts Supported by the Ungodly
Context: Tamar is raped by Amnon; Absalom hates Amnon and
intends to kill him and others know; David’s looking the other way from dealing
with it. Absalom kills Amnon and flees, returns and
steals the kingdom from his father.
2Sa 13:1 After this
Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
2Sa 13:2 Amnon was so
distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And
it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her.
2Sa 13:3 But Amnon had a
friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother. Now Jonadab
was a very crafty man. > The facilitator is his
own cousin; parents watch out for your children’s wicked cousins.
2Sa 13:4 And he said to
him, "Why are you, the king's son, becoming thinner day after day? Will
you not tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I
love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister." >
Sinful thoughts affect health.
2Sa 13:5 So Jonadab said to
him, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father
comes to see you, say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me
food, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her
hand.' > “To do evil is like a sport to a fool…”
(Pr. 10:21).
Being deceived and Lied
to by One’s Own
2Sa 13:6 Then Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king
came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please
let Tamar my sister come and make a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I
may eat from her hand." > Look at this phony
stuff! If anything’s suspect that should be.
2Sa 13:7 And David sent home to Tamar, saying,
"Now go to your brother Amnon's house, and
prepare food for him." > A parent got used!
Mr. Let it Ride
2Sa 13:20 And Absalom her brother said to
her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But
now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to
heart." So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house. > Not willing to apply the law in Lev. 20:17.
2Sa 13:21 But when King David heard of all
these things, he was very angry. > Again not
willing to apply the law in Lev. 20:17.
Suspects but Gives In
2Sa 13:23 And it came
to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the
king's sons. > Clever for asking for “all”
conceals deceit and hatred for one.
2Sa 13:24 Then Absalom came to the king and
said, "Kindly note, your servant has sheepshearers; please, let the king
and his servants go with your servant."
2Sa 13:25 But the king said to Absalom,
"No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we be a burden to you." Then
he urged him, but he would not go; and he blessed him. > Do you suppose he figured his father was too busy and wouldn’t
want to go?
2Sa 13:26 Then Absalom said, "If not,
please let my brother Amnon go with us." And the
king said to him, "Why should he go with you? “ > He suspects here.
2Sa 13:27 But Absalom urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. > David gives in.
The Cousin the
Facilitator
2Sa 13:28 Now Absalom
had commanded his servants, saying, "Watch now, when Amnon's
heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon!'
then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and
valiant."
2Sa 13:29 So the
servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had
commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each one got on his mule and
fled.
2Sa 13:32 Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah,
David's brother, answered and said, "Let not my lord suppose they have
killed all the young men, the king's sons, for only Amnon
is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day
that he forced his sister Tamar.
2Sa 13:33 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 only Amnon is dead." > What a scum bag. He set the rape up and now he speaks as
if Amnon’s death had to happen to save his own skin —
but I’m no part
of it.
Emotions Override
Reason
2Sa 13:39 And King David longed to go to
Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon,
because he was dead. > Absalom fled and we see
David’s weakness.
2Sa 14:24 And the king
said, "Let him return to his own house, but do not let him see my
face." So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king's
face.
Here Joab helps Absalom get back, pleasing David, and thinks he’s out of
hot water for killing Abner, Saul’s captain, in a time of peace (2 Sam.
3:26-30).
2Sa 14:33 So Joab went to the king and told
him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself
on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Absalom.
I’m Really Religious —
this wins over the unsuspecting every time
2Sa 15:7 Now it came to pass
after forty years that Absalom said to the king, "Please, let me go to
Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the LORD.
2Sa 15:8 For your servant
took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying,
'If the LORD indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.' " > “I’m really religious” works. Moms just love to hear it!
2Sa 15:9 And the king
said to him, "Go in peace." So he arose and went to Hebron.
2Sa 15:10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout
all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the
trumpet, then you shall say, 'Absalom reigns in Hebron!' "
Speak the Bad when
Necessary
Only speaking “good” of others regardless of what they are often
misleads others who trust in their false doctrines and deceit. Read about John
in his old age and notice where he spoke the “good” (3 Jo. 1:1-3, 12) and where
he was willing to speak the “bad” (3 Jo. 1:9-10).
The Instruction of
Fools
Pro. 16:22 Understanding is a
wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is
folly. > Fools avoid the obvious needed reproofs
and warnings.
The fools best effort are stupidity and sinful – “instruction” [H4148 reproof,
warning, instruction].
First, their instruction avoids the obvious needed reproofs and
warnings. When speaking of one who commits gross immoralities it is “Oh they’re
so young” or “I can assure you they’d never plot to hurt anyone.” Parents and
family become liars!
If fools warn at all about sexual immorality it’s just don’t catch a
disease – that kind of thing.
If they warn about unfaithfulness in marriage it’s just keep it quiet —
but its ok and I’m your confidant.
If they have a child that has grown up to be a big deceiver and liar
they’ll instruct someone else’s child on their wrong doings instead! Part of
their blindness is their sinful selfishness and favoritism towards their
own.
Valley Church of Christ
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 782-5058 ~
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday Services – Classes ~10:00;
Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday evening – 7:00 pm
To learn more call, visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com