constantly for the slightest error. What is described in the Old Testament is essentially a governmental process that related to criminal activity and punishment not much different than governments of today. Only some of the foundational laws from Scripture have been changed, omitting some and then adding a whole lot of detail, like 9 of the 10 commandments incorporated into American policy, and bankruptcy laws based on the 7 year cycle of Scripture, but then heaping on reams of paper to supplement the original framework. We live in a social environment that refuses to understand God’s laws—even Christians. Fortunately these often misunderstood penalties are not carried out today, especially “at whim” as many believe, otherwise most of us would have been stoned to death ourselves already for severe transgression. In the midst of this is a radical contrast that the Christian Shepherds call so loudly from the pulpit against YHWH’s laws, yet the same mouths Scripture-Whip the sheep with Romans 13 to encourage submission to the laws of men. This is profoundly interesting dynamic of double-mindedness that always leads to apostasy. Hence the entire story of Scripture and the necessity for the Gospel put in context with the “bad news”.
The spiritually inspired picture the Old Testament was painting regarding the governmental provisions was ultimately the coming Kingdom of God, and the second resurrection, whereby many overly confident souls will be put to the second death in the second resurrection, because they will not make the first resurrection. As for presuming to speak in the Name of YHWH, false prophets abound in the church today! False prophets are easy to spot for those who spend the time to understand what “God said”, in the text, vs. what “men say” about the text. We must first introspect, as the propensity of “all of i/me” is to lie. Therefore, I myself must die in Christ so I can properly testify (24a) to the truth of the Kingdom of God. Call this the true reformation! If not, then the consequence is sin unto death (24b). When we don’t die to ourselves, while we also call ourselves Bible Teachers, pride rises with the megalomaniac so-called scholars who counsel with heinous hermeneutics (and the metatron), and shame those who don’t follow their pernicious ways of interpretation. Put plainly, they trash the simplicity of the good news with much ado about intellectual garbage.
When it comes to the Scripture, we need to consider what spirit is being moved, in isolation, but not without confirmation. While the whole counsel of the text is inspired by the only Holy Spirit of the Father, this monos despotes theos (only one god Jude v4) certainly allows for the revealing of many spirits across the platform of the script. In fact, the whole account of the Scripture can be partially summed up in the context of a revolving door of rebellion against the words of YHWH Elohim, beginning in Genesis 3. That is by definition the story of his people. In his grace and mercy he continually makes concessions to establish ways to dwell with mankind, and in the midst of the storyline this reality is a repeated paraphrase: “Where YHWH chooses to place his name” (25). El Shaddai (The Almighty) says so, even in the face of his people’s most rebellious behavior. The problem is his people always quickly forget the conditions of his abiding, and usually have little understanding as to how to apply this reality to personal behavior…and prophecy.
This wisest of Proverbs says: “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination” (26). This brings the understanding of all of these things together. Note the exact context, and also what it doesn’t say. There is no mention of perfection, or exact keeping of Torah for salvation, but the posture of the individual ear turned toward hearing Torah as the primary activity. “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (27). These are timeless sayings: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! Shema Yisra’el [or Yashar-el (?), the upright of God] YHWH Elohim echad YHWH” (28). So let us pay attention to the words of the Almighty One, at least for those who lay claim to being followers, and do so with a pure heart, setting aside self, and the traditional philosophies of men. This is the essence of the continued repentance of baptism for sanctification by living water (29).
As we enter in the story at first Kings, this Proverb applies directly to the temple:
[1 Kings 9:1-9 KJV-F Version]: 1 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of [Yahowah - YHWH], and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do, 2 That [Yahowah - YHWH] appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon. 3 And [Yahowah - YHWH] said unto him, I have heard [your] prayer and [your] supplication, that [you have] made before me: I have hallowed this house, which [you have] built, to put my name there forever; and [my] eyes and [my] heart shall be there perpetually. 4 And if [you will] walk before me, as David [your] father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded [you], [and] [will] keep my statutes and my judgments: 5 Then I will establish the throne of [your] kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David [your] father, saying, There shall not fail [you] a man upon the throne of Israel. 6 [But]if[you] shall at all turn from following me, [you] or your children, and will not keep my commandments [and] my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: 7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: 8 And at this house, [which] is high, every one that [passes] by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why [has Yahowah - YHWH] done thus unto this land, and to this house? 9 And they shall answer, because they forsook [Yahowah Elohim], who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore [Yahowah] brought upon them all this evil.
YHWH spoke a similar message to Solomon in Gibeon in his dream:
[1Ki 3:14 KJV-F Version] And if [you will] walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as [your] father David did walk, then I will lengthen [your] days.
Preceding this verse we already see an indication as to why Solomon needed this warning:
[1Ki 3:1-3 KJV-F Version] 1 And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about. 2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of [YHWH], until those days. 3 And Solomon loved [YHWH], walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
Anyone that chooses to understand the text can easily understand that the “high places” reference is against God, as well as marrying into Egypt. Things are already falling apart, but YHWH Elohim is in control and still working with Solomon, and is especially pleased with the young King’s request for wisdom on behalf of the people. In each case of speaking to Solomon, YHWH explains the conditions of his relationship. These requirements are repeated constantly from scroll to scroll, yet God’s people continue to drift away from YHWH’s statues, commandments, and judgments. Modern Christianity does the same exact thing with a hyper-grace interpretation of the text solidified in circumcising most anything God said that relates to obedience. We will soon find out how that is going to play through in end-times prophecy as well. So it would be wise to take heed.
For now we answer the question: “Why did YHWH fill up the temple with his Glory, if he told David he did not want him to build him a house?” If God always quit on us every time we disobeyed him, there would not be a people—poof gone bye bye! In truth his people come out of a fallen disobedient state to begin with, and they were destroyed but for a remnant already (30). The problem is when we are called out of darkness into the marvelous light (31) we often soon choose to retreat into our own dim-wit ways. So before we go attributing God’s glory and presence as credit to something David or Solomon did in the case of the temple, let’s consider the exact opposite alternative: despite their imperfect behavior concerning God’s ways…YHWH chose to place his name. This is simple. Yes, Yahh works with disobedience, because
