Why did his men plead him not to go to battle?

Open line radio on Februrary 11, 2023 hour 1

Listener:

Hi, I have a question, 2 Samuel 21:17 tells us how David's men made a determination for David not to go to battle, how does this incident compare with the other incidents when David was resting at home, for example in the incident with Bathsheba? Were both incidents related to the idea of preserving the lamp of Israel? (Listener was ambiguous in his asking of the question, so the question is paraphrased partially)

Dr Michael Rydelnik:

Well, it seems like to me when you look at the story in 2 Samuel 11, obviously, David, it said in 2 Samuel 11, one of the spring when the kings march out to war, David send Joab with his officers and all Israel but David sat around. This is implying in that passage in 2 Samuel 11 that David was really much more vibrant and strong enough to go out to battle, he was taking a little bit of sabbatical or not being as active as he should have been. I think by the time we come to chapter 21, he's learnt that lesson and he's still going out to battle, he was getting old by the time we get to chapter 21 and so David's men swore to him that you must never again go out with us for battle, you must not extinguish the lamp of Israel, in order words, his role in leading Israel was so necessary, they did not want him to see him die on the battle field, they say we will take care of this, I think that's just a bit of recognition of his age. I think in chapter 22, one of his thanksgiving songs about how God proved himself faithful in all his battles, so he's sort of looking back on his career as a warrior and chapter 23 has his last words. By the way, the same song of thanksgiving is in psalm 18. I know I am still vibrant and strong, I have 2 adult sons and whenever it snows in Chicago, they don't say, "Dad, you just stay inside, we will come and snow blow and clear the walks and do all that for you." So, apparently, they don't think I am too old. I know I am old when they say to me, "You know what, you stay inside, we will clear the walk and the driveway". That's sort of what happened with David here. You stay home, we don't want you to die in battle. You're weakening, you're getting older.

Scripture:

2 Samuel 21

17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.” -kjv

17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.” -nkjv

17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “You shall not go out again with us to battle, so that you do not extinguish the lamp of Israel. -nasb

17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished. -niv

Was that the start of the tribulation?

Open line on Feb 4, 2023 hour 2

Listener:

Hey Dr Mike, thank you for taking my call, I noticed that the Word says that the Anti-Christ is going to make false peace agreements with Israel and I was wondering if possibly the past politician that we had who went to Israel and made agreements, so much so that he even changed the location of the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, one of his main negotiators was his son in law, who was not a diplomat or involved in ...

Dr Rydelnik:

Just go ahead with your question, we know about the history.. go ahead ... what is your question?

Listener:

Do you think that the former agreement will have something to do with what's going to happen in the future in the tribulation?

Dr Rydelnik:

I see. Well... the book of 1 Thessalonians says in chapter 5, I believe, where everyone is saying peace and safety, I believe in verse 3, when they say peace and security, then sudden destruction comes on them, it does appear that the tribulation period starts in a time of peace and safety. Also the invasion in Ezekiel 38 and 39 is coming at a time when Israel is living in a time of peace because it says repeatedly in that invasion that takes place somewhere near the end of the first half of the tribulation, it takes place when people is living a time of security, it says in verse 11 for example that "I will come against a tranquil people of Israel, who are living securely, all of them living without walls or without bars or gates, that's when the Lord says that's the time it will happen. So, the question becomes are the Abraham Accords with the gulf states and Israel, are they the peace and safety that 1 Thessalonian 5 is talking about, that's what your question is, correct?

Listener:

Yes. Correct.

Dr Rydelnik:

Well, I don't think so. Because it says a little bit later in this passage in Ezekiel 38, when the invasion happens, it says Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its rulers will ask you this about the nations that invade Israel, "Have you come to see spoil? Have you assembled your horse to carry off plunder to make off with silver and gold, to take cattle and possessions and to sieze great spoils? But it doesn't says in this passage that Sheba and Dedan join in the battle, Sheba and Dedan are gulf states, that's what the name of the places were in biblical days. And so what it appears to be saying is and I think the merchants of Tarshish, Tarshish being in Spain, merchants of Europe, and so what it's saying is that the gulf states and the EU, apparently, are going to be saying things like, "Are you coming to invade and if not ..", they are just going to ask questions, not going to be part of the invasion. So, it seems to me that even in the tribulation period, the peace that's taken by the gulf states, that doesn't fail, those states does not invade, as part of it, as best as I can tell, I think we should do all we can in this day and age, to work for peace. I don't think the Abraham Accords are part of the false Messiah's peace.

Scriptures:

1 Thessalonians 5

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. -kjv

3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. -nkjv

3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. -nasb

3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. -niv

Ezekiel 38

11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? -kjv

11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell <d=">d</a>">safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’— 12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ -nkjv

11 and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, who live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, 12 to capture spoils and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the ruins that are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who live at the center of the world.’ 13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villages will say to you, ‘Have you come to capture spoils? Have you assembled your contingent to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to capture great spoils? -nasb

11 You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars. 12 I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land.” 13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you, “Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder? -niv

What is baptism by fire?

January 28, 2023 open line hour 2

Listener:

I have this question out of the book of Matthew chapter 3 in the account of John the Baptist when he was baptizing, he said it in verse 11: that I am baptizing with water but there's one who comes after me who is greater than I whose sandals I am not worthy to carry, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. And I want to know how does that fire comes in?

Dr Michael Rydelnik:

Well, it's saying the Lord Jesus will be the one who baptizes believers with the Spirit. We are baptized with the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus is the one who sends the Holy Spirit. He says he will send you another comforter. When we believe, we are immersed with the body of Christ with the Holy Spirit but the Lord Jesus is the one who sent Him but He also will baptize with fire. That means He will immerse people who don't believe in Him with judgement. The reason I say that is when you read the next verse, his winnowing shovel is in his hand, He will clear his threshing floor gathered his wheat in the barn but the chaff he will burn up with fire that never goes out. So, the point is the Lord Jesus has the authority to place us in the body by the power of the Holy Spirit into the body, that's the baptism of the Holy Spirit that began at Pentecost. It's every believer or we will be baptized with fire, the judgement that we face if we don't believe in Him. How much better to appreciate being put in the body of Christ, we live with the Lord Jesus forever. That's the baptism of the Holy Spirit. That's what happens to any person who will believe in the Lord Jesus. Hope you will put your trust in the Lord Jesus who died for you and rose again and experience baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. -kjv

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” -nkjv

11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” -nasb

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” -niv