Mr Donald Trump’s unpardonable sin. Part 2

It is interesting to watch the efforts to dredge up as much dirt as possible on Mr Trump.  What about his ‘sins’ of the past?  Before judging too fast, let us look at the life of David, the king of Israel.  David united the nation, made Jerusalem the capital and successfully waged war against their enemies. 

Then he committed a grave sin: 

• He seduced the wife of one of his trusted soldiers.  She became pregnant. 
• He tried to cover it up.  He had her husband come home from the army to visit her.  When that failed, he organised it that her husband was killed. ¹

#  If there ever was a case for impeachment and jail, it was that. 

Watergate and other ‘scandals’ are nothing compared to David’s offences.  Look at the tragedies in his family: 

• His son Amnon raped his half sister Tamar and ruined her life. ²
• His son Absalom killed Amnon, fled, came back, conspired against his father and organised a coup.  Absalom was killed in the hostilities that followed. ³
• Then, nearing the end of his life, his son Adonijah tried to usurp the kingship.  God had chosen Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife, to be the next king (the grace and mercy of God!). ⁴
• Beside that, David made a strategic blunder when he counted the nation.  It cost the nation 70,000 that died. ⁵

#  Talk about the failures of a king. 

• Yet, listen to what God says about him, ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ ⁶ 
• How did that come about, and what was it God wanted David to do?  God sent His prophet, Nathan, to confront David about his sin.  David repented. ⁷

#  Then David began with a work which we believe God intended for him. 

• He began the preparations to build the temple.  He did not build it, because God chose his son, Solomon, to do it. ⁸ 
• Yet David organised the Levites, the division of the priests, the singers, the gatekeepers. ⁹
• He got the plans for the temple from God. ¹⁰
• He collected massive amounts of gold, silver, bronze, wood and whatever was needed. ¹¹  He also encouraged the leaders to contribute.  No wonder God recommended David’s efforts on behalf of the temple, God’s House where He would put His Name and live among the Israelites.  

Conclusion

David is a vivid proof of how a person can be an instrument in God’s hands, even if he is far from perfect.  The reason is that Jesus died for our sins, so there is forgiveness if we confess them and turn away from them.  King David is an example of how God takes a terrible mistake and turns it around.  That applies to all people, even to Mr Trump.

References

1. 2 Samuel 11  
2. 2 Samuel 13  
3. 2 Samuel 14-15, 17-18  
4. 1 Kings 1  
5. 2 Samuel 24  
6. Acts 13:22  
7. 2 Samuel 12; Psalm 32, Psalm 51  
8. 1 Chronicles 22  
9. 1 Chronicles 23-26  
10. 1 Chronicles 28  
11. 1 Chronicles 29

Mr Donald Trump’s unpardonable sin. Part 1

As a non  American, it is interesting to watch the war against Mr Donald Trump.  He can hardly do anything right in the eyes of the left.  It even seems as if some churches have forgotten God’s command, ‘I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.’ ¹

#  What is Mr Trump’s biggest sin?  

It was to move the Unites States’ embassy to Jerusalem and acknowledge it as Israel’s capital.  So, what is the big deal in that?  Why did it cause an almost apocalyptic out roar?  The reason is that Jerusalem is God’s city: 

• ‘Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, His holy mountain.’ ² 
• ‘…Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King [God].’ ³   Psalm 48:4 repeats that Jerusalem is the city of God. 
• ‘For the Lord has chosen Zion [Jerusalem], He has desired it for His dwelling: This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned for I have desired it..’  ⁴  

Mr Trump supported what the Bible declares about Jerusalem.  It is God’s dwelling place.  If so, why all the accusations, complaints and general discontent from especially the left and many Democrats?  It has to do with the invisible ruler of this world, the devil. ⁵  He does not love God or God’s love for Jerusalem.  To explain it let’s look at the following:

#  Satan’s last act before his eternal sentence will be to attack Jerusalem.

• Some time in the future, before Satan enters his eternal dwelling in the lake of burning sulphur, he will be chained in the Abyss for a thousand years.  That is during the time of the Millennium, when Christ will personally rule over the nations, from Jerusalem. 
• When Satan is released after the thousand years, he immediately deceives the people and gathers them for battle.  Revelation 20:8b-9 records, ‘In number they are like the sand on the seashore.  They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city He loves.’  
• This is Satan’s last act of treachery, ‘And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur.’ ⁶  From then on his future is only eternal torture in the lake of fire.
• God and Jerusalem are so intimately tied together that on the new earth, we will not have a New Moscow, or a New Washington, but a New Jerusalem. 

#  God loves Jerusalem and has not forgotten the Jews. 

• Many people think that God has forgotten His nation.  He has not.  The prophet Jeremiah tells in no uncertain terms that Israel will not cease to be a nation before God. ⁷  Paul writes in Romans 11 about the future restoration of the Israelites.  It all has to do with the end times.  
• Satan is very well aware of it, and he does not like this prospect, because it means his doom is near.  He likes being the ruler and the destroyer of humans.  Behind the scenes of the ‘attacks’ against Mr Trump is the hand of Satan.  Any leader that in any way advances God’s plan and admits that Jerusalem and therefore the Jews, are important, is the devil’s enemy.  That explains the furore against Mr Trump by the left: they are on the side of the enemy of God, the devil.  Wittingly or unwittingly, they advance the devil’s agenda, not God’s.   

Conclusion

This verse explains what is happening in the world,  “The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they say, ‘and throw off their fetters.’“ ⁸  However, in America we have to add, ‘Certain news media and influential people in America gather together against the Lord, and do their best to abuse Mr Trump who recognises the importance of Jerusalem in God’s plan.’

References

1. 1 Timothy 1:1-2  
2. Psalm 48:1  
3. Psalm 48:2b  
4. Psalm 132:13-14  
5. 1 John 5:19bd  
6. Revelation 20:10  
7. Jeremiah 31:35-37 
8. Psalm 2:1-3 

Deride Clinton and Trump, or pray?

Although we are not citizens of the United States or live there, the Trump/Clinton election battle is intriguing.  Let’s compare the candidates and the country with the history of Saul and David.

#  Israel no longer wanted God to be their King.

The people of Israel told the prophet, Samuel, that they wanted a king like all the other nations.  Samuel felt that they rejected God as their King.  It can be compared to the USA where there are many organisations and groups that fight to get rid of God.  The general impression is that the people of America don’t want God as their King.  God’s faithful followers resist it, but because the devil is the ruler of the world, he controls most of the media.  Thus we are aware of the efforts to banish God from public life.

#  Israel got what they wanted.

God told Samuel to give the people what they wanted, a king.¹  Saul was ‘an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites – a head taller then any of the others.’ ²  Both Trump and Clinton, though not young, have impressive accomplishments.

#  Saul could not stand firm against social pressure.

Initially Saul defended the Israelites against their enemies.  Then God commanded Saul to punish the Amalekites because they attacked His nation (read Church).  Saul did not obey God, but submitted to the people’s desire to save the best possessions of the Amalekites.  Will the president elect take a stand against God’s enemies (abortion, gender issues, same sex marriage, opposition to to marriage, et cetera), or capitulate to the wishes of the masses?

#  Saul wanted to look good in front of the people.

Saul was not interested to obey God, but to look good before the people.  He asked Samuel, ‘Please honour me before the elders of my people and before Israel….’ ³  Both candidates promise everything to everybody.  Fine, but what about the Church?  Will the chosen president honour God through obedience to God’s commands, or capitulate to what the general media wants?  Saul persecuted David so intensely that he in a sense lost his mind and killed all the priests of Nob.⁴

#  Saul focussed on the minor instead of the major.

What was Saul’s end?  Because he was so intent to destroy David, he neglected the duties of kingship.  The nation was overrun by its enemies.  That might happen in the USA, but not necessarily by the invasion of a foreign nation, but invasion of foreign doctrines that are detrimental to the nation.  The family is under siege through confusion about the roles of men and women, et cetera.  Biblical values like love for the Lord, are devalued.

#  David’s reaction to persecution.

How did David, whom we take in this blog as a type of the Church, react?  David constantly went to God through prayer. ⁵  David found his strength in God. ⁶

Conclusion

David’s love for the Lord caused him to always ask God’s direction and help in prayer.  Eventually that is the only recourse for a Church under siege.  God never fails to answer prayer, but it needs committed people like David, who loved the Lord and trusted Him.

References

1. 1 Samuel 8:4-22
2. 1 Samuel 9:2
3. 1 Samuel 15:30
4. 1 Samuel 22:6-23
5. 1 Samuel 23:9-12;  22:5;  17:45
6. 1 Samuel 23:16;  30:6