EXPANDING THE ROYAL FAMILY

EXPANDING THE ROYAL FAMILY

David’s rule as King over Israel started out well.  Except for one thing. In 2 Samuel Chapter 5, we hear of new wives and concubines. David took these after becoming King of Israel.  Right or wrong, David was expanding the royal family.  But wasn’t this practice culturally acceptable? Isn’t this how Kings increased their heirs and formed alliances?  Should we overlook it for those reasons? Let’s consider that for a moment.

CULTURALLY ACCEPTABLE CIRCUMSTANCES

We’ve spoken of David’s imperfections.  His desire for women, especially those who helped to expand his kingdom, was pretty obvious.  That is why I laugh every time I hear of the theory that assumes David and Jonathan were gay.  It simply couldn’t be true for either of these mighty warriors.  They both enjoyed their marriages to women, and neither of them could claim an unattraction for the opposite sex.  Let the records speak for themselves. 

The intimacy David and Jonathan shared was a covenant relationship.  It was a covenant between them and a God who held both accountable to the expansion of His Kingdom.  This is why David says he loved Jonathan above the love of a woman.  He was speaking of loyalty and the covenant commitment to their friendship. This was a serious covenant, a solemn vow the two took before God.  It was about loyalty and nothing else. Any pledge to God would always come before a pledge to a woman.   Truth and loyalty before God was a high commitment for these two men.  God would always come first, before any thing or any one.

KINGDOMS BASED UPON POLYGAMY

Let’s not blur those lines.  Homosexuality is out as far as David was concerned. However, what about that other sin called polygamy?  It appears David simply can’t avoid guilt in that particular situation.   

 Again, it can be noted that God did not love David for his perfections. Because David was humble and quick to repent, God loved him.  However, in order to confess a sin, one must be aware that there is a sin.  It appears David was living too close to the culture. Humans can become so drenched in their culture that they forget to consider God might desire a totally different way.  Did David forget to understand this?

So, in the middle part of 2 Samuel Chapter 5, we come to see this obviously erroneous situation.  The greatest problem in the long line of David’s imperfections seemed to be polygamy.  How could this be possible?

TORAH REQUIREMENTS FOR A KING

David clearly followed Torah.  It is easy to see this because of his many public confessions to God in the Psalms.  One thing we don’t hear him confessing is his desire for multiple wives and concubines.  David either forgot, neglected, or simply did not understand how to follow Deuteronomy 17:16-18. This is the passage which stated the requirements of a King.

But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold. When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.…(Deuteronomy 17:16-18.)

ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE KINGDOM

Did David’s priests not require accountability?  Apparently not. Where were the Samuels of David’s day?  Now we learn how David left Hebron. He moved into the area of Zion. David then took more concubines and wives into his harem.   We know David already had seven wives.  Now he has multiplied that number further.  So, in Jerusalem many more sons and daughters were born to David. It seems his mistakes or wrong judgement were expanding the royal family.

The scriptures name David’s children who were born in Jerusalem. They are Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

Many women provided David many heirs.  Not only was David NOT gay, but women seemed to be his downfall. When Satan decides to provoke a man to sin, he always looks for the weakest part of the man’s life.  I think he might have pinpointed this trait in David.

I have to wonder, where were the king’s advisors? Could they not open David’s eyes?  Were they out to lunch on the days David took on multiple wives and concubines?  Did they not warn him of the scriptures in Deuteronomy? Are we not all as guilty as they would have been?

CULTURAL ACCEPTANCE

The rest of the culture during David’s time were on the same page as the King. However, that is no excuse. I’m sure fingers were pointed toward Abraham, Jacob, and a few other prominent ancestors.  They too had multiple wives.  It was culturally acceptable for them too.  However, David was a King.  Deuteronomy held a King to a higher standard.

In Genesis 2:24, God clearly stated one man and one woman are the acceptable way for a couple to live.  God had not yet corrected this immoral pattern of many wives which had gone astray with the Israelites.  He did, however, clearly address this subject in the case of a King.  He addressed it in writing inside the Torah.  Kings set the patterns for their nations.  David clearly overlooked or ignored this part of the Torah. 

MODERN KINGDOMS

Could churches today be as guilty as David?  Do they overlook or ignore certain passages of the Torah while proclaiming that they believe in keeping God’s law?  Have churches failed to teach fornication and adultery are wrong?  How many Sunday School teachers are living in relationships outside of marriage?  How many Christian parents are okay with their children beginning their adult lives in relationships outside of marriage? It this the example we should be presenting? 

If you take a poll of today’s congregations, you will probably find these situations are more prevalent than not.  The next generation after them will have no examples of Genesis 2:24 to follow.  They will think it is perfectly acceptable to try out a relationship to see if it fits.  No one will question moving on if things do not come together as planned.  They just continuously look for another partner until they are satisfied. All because the generation before them considered this to be acceptable.

It does appear that churches of today have chosen to overlook many immoral situations. They claim to be showing grace.  Many think overlooking certain issues is showing love and compassion.  Didn’t Jesus show compassion to the woman caught in adultery?  Yes, but he also said, “Go and sin no more.” 

BLURRING THE LINE

Today’s congregations blur the line between a sinful lifestyle and a godly lifestyle. It happens more and more as time goes on.  We should never be deceived into believing toleration is the same as grace.  It is actually the opposite.  

There is a proper way of addressing things.  Certain matters do need to be addressed and corrected.  This is in the best interest of the people involved.  The gentle acknowledgement never needs to be public. Ministry should never be shame-based. No one has to know, except the people in authority over the congregation and the guilty parties.  Today’s churches seem to be absent of such discernment.  Maybe this isn’t such a modern-day problem. David’s kingdom leaders were severely lax about this same subject. 

MERCY FOR THE BROKEN

Please don’t misunderstand.  One function of the true church is like a hospital for the broken.  The church should always be a safe place for sinners to come and address brokenness.  No one should be turned away, for any reason.  The person who is in a sinful state, yet seeking God’s help, should be welcomed and shown inclusive love.

All congregants are actually sinners. Therefore, all should be allowed patience. Things should improve as they continue to grow.  No one should call others down.  Just the opposite.  Anyone should be welcomed and invited to participate in all public worship.  God knows what He is doing. He will eventually draw them closer and closer. Through proper worship The Father will teach His truth to all who come. He alone knows when they are ready to receive. It is our place to allow this to happen.

A HIGHER STANDARD FOR LEADERS

However, just as in the office of Kingship, there is a different standard required of church leaders. Luke 12:48 explains this by stating “to whom much is given, much is required.” A person must be given grace and mercy as they come, participate, pray, listen, and worship. Allow them time to address God with their questions. Forgiveness is a free gift from Yeshua.  Yet, when it comes to the matter of church leadership, that is quite a different subject. 

A leader in God’s church must reflect a godly lifestyle.  Leaders who are weak must be given time to grow. We need to allow their thinking to be transformed. Wrong actions and lifestyles need to be addressed and quickly corrected.  I say this merely to point out that David was a King.  He was at the highest level of leadership. Yet he was held like a slave in a very common sin.  God was patient with David, but his sins eventually came to hurt many of those around him.

LEADERS CONFORM TO GOD’S WAYS

This is very uncomfortable.  God clearly chose David.  There is no question.  People living in sin who cross the doorway into your congregation could also be called to leadership. They could be just like David.  If they are, you do them no favors by neglecting to offer careful and loving direction. Someone with discernment must help them by addressing any issues in question.  Of course this should be done quietly, gracefully and in private.  If individuals want to grow in leadership for God’s Kingdom, they must conform to God’s ways. 

Since we are all sinners, no one wants to point to the elephant in the room. So, these moral issues are often ignored.  I will state again, these matters can be quietly handled with grace, concern, and love. However, they must be addressed.  Sin can’t continue unaddressed within the church. Not if the church wishes to be loyal to God’s ways.  

God is Holy.  His church must reflect His Holiness. Others are still growing and healing.  They will see and notice when things are not right.  If holiness isn’t practiced by leaders, the truth of God will not be part of this picture they see.  Thus, they may not understand. They can walk right into the same sins. This would be the opposite of the leadership needed. Communication is important.  When do we stop using “the culture approves” and say, “God does not approve?”

CULTURE IS NOT AN EXCUSE

Even David’s times had no excuse.  Moses lived long before David.  The ten commandments and the Torah were already written.  We could go back even further with understanding God’s consistency on moral issues. If we look at what God placed in motion on the first week of creation the evidence is plain.  Mankind started out with the concept of one man and one woman under God as family.  Any other logic just isn’t biblically logical, no matter how many cultural groups wish it were so.

We will eventually hear more about the rotten fruit inside David’s kingdom. It will come from this issue of multiple wives and concubines. We will hear more in future lessons. There is plenty of evidence, as we shall see, that much rotten fruit evolved from this one bad decision.

We could take this subject a step deeper. A father’s actions generally sets the stage for his sons future actions.  That will also come forth in future lessons.   David’s decisions concerning family matters didn’t just affect David; they affected all of his family.  Indirectly, these decisions affected the nation of Israel as a whole.

IMMORALITY IS SATAN’S PLAYGROUND

Satan wanted to stop God’s plan for this nation of Israel. He wanted to destroy Israel right away.  If he could take out an early King like David, he could stop worrying about what would happen next. What better way for him to do so than to use King David? 

If Satan wants to tempt you, he will eventually get around to using your physical relationships. Immorality is one of Satan’s special playgrounds.  He will invite you to come and play. Suddenly you will be trapped.  Once the door opens, it is hard to return to where and who you were before.  David should have stood stronger in this area. How could a man who consulted the Lord in all other things forget to ask about his personal life?

We all have our places of weakness and brokenness. Even great Kings like David sinned.  So, how can we avoid these things in a world of constantly shifting values?

HOW WILL NEW SITUATIONS INFLUENCE YOUR THINKING?

When making life-changing decisions, it is good to consider any influences these decisions will have on your life.  How will these new influences affect your thinking?  Do they make your choices more godly, or do they lead you in the wrong direction? 

God gave these rules to kings in the Torah. Perhaps He was thinking it would protect them from influences from the wrong cultures. These rules keep them from things which influenced them to sin. Note how the scriptures about horses speak of not going back to Egypt. It means, don’t be taken back into the slavery of your old sins.

YHVH is merely warning people in power. He is requiring them to keep away from situations which sway them and influence them to do wrong.  If everyone took this matter seriously, the world would be a different place.  I think of Jesus being tempted by Satan in the desert. He did not let power and riches influence His decisions. Every answer pointed back to the fact that God was in control and we should be obedient to Him.

Inside this modern life, each person rules their own little kingdom.  You are the King of your own little world. Will your part of this earth be a godly kingdom or a worldly kingdom?  The choice is unavoidable. We always have to choose. Our choices always matter.

BE TRANSFORMED BY RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND

Romans 12:2 states, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

It is very important to stay rooted in God’s Word.  When we forget, the culture around us takes over.  Suddenly our minds aren’t thinking on God’s truth. We begin thinking on the things of the world instead.  Staying immersed in the Word anchors us.  It helps to keep us on track.

 Remembering Joshua 1:8 is helpful. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” 

PRAYING FOR DISCERNMENT

If David followed the rules for Kings in The Book of Deuteronomy, he would clarify God’s perfect will. This exercise would remind him of what truly matters. It would help to keep him from temptation.

The wise ask God to give discernment for all decisions.  This thought is verified in Hebrews 5:14.  “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

BE SURROUNDED BY THE RIGHT COMMUNITY

Chose to surround yourself with the right community. You will be influenced to live out God’s ways on a daily basis. This is the concept recommended in Proverbs 27:17: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

Consider Hebrews 10:24-25. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Prayerful decisions reflecting God’s’ wisdom over worldly values will lead to flourishing rather than harm.  The scriptures verify this in Isaiah 55:8-9. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

TRUST THE ONE WHO KNOWS

The need to navigate complex moral issues in a culturally sensitive manner has become more pressing than ever.  Patience and endurance are required.  Trust the One who knows the beginning from the end.  He will guide you and keep you, even when you do not understand.  Whenever we make choices honoring God we are giving our best service to God as well as to others.

PRAYER:  Father, we need your discernment. Please lead us in all of our decisions.  Help us not to be influenced by the current culture. Let us learn how to be influenced by Your Word and Your Holy Spirit instead.  Teach us wisdom and understanding. Show us how we may lead a fruitful life for Your Holy Kingdom.  Amen.