Chapter 5: The Kingdom The people inhabiting Palestine, the land into which the children of Israel had come, were evil. They were called Canaanites and were of a different language than the Israelites. They offered human sacrifices and bowed before gods made of gold, silver, brass, and wood. We offer this innocent child to you, O Baal. May his blood appease your wrath. I will give my baby to pay for the sin of my soul. Someday, we may get to be high priests, and be the ones offering the sacrifices. It is distasteful but it must be done. Do good, receive good; do evil, receive evil. God sent prophets and priests to tell them to repent, but they continued in their sins. Just as God destroyed the people in Noah’s day and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, so he would now destroy the people of Canaan. The idolatrous people who lived in the promised land resisted the presence of the children of Israel and fought to keep their land, but God gave the children of Israel power to defeat them. How dare you come in this sacred temple! You have killed your last baby. When the bloody war finally ended, the Hebrews had conquered their enemies, and the land lay before them for the taking. Joshua addressed the people. Our most ancient ancestor, Abraham, came from an idolatrous people. God spoke to him and promised to make of him a great nation. God also said that His people would go down into Egypt and there remain for 400 years, after which he would lead them out and bring them back to this very land on which you now stand. Here we are, over 500 years later, and God has kept his promises to Abraham. Now go in and settle the rest of the land. Do not follow the example of the sinners who lived in this land before you, for God will judge you just as he judged them. In the new land they were at peace. Everyone owned his own farm and there was plenty to eat. God blessed them above all people. Your dinner is ready. Just as soon as we get this rock out. Just as God promised, the Hebrews multiplied until they filled the land. Their cities were alive with goodwill and justice. The new nation was called Israel. Peace to you, my sister. How is the fish today? It is fresh from the sea as always. Jehovah has defeated your enemies, but there is still idolatry in this land. Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the false gods of these people, in whose land you dwell, or the God of Abraham. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. God forbid that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; but with great power Jehovah delivered us from our slavery in Egypt and took care of us in the wilderness. And the LORD drove out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in this land. Therefore will we also serve the LORD; for He is our God. God is a holy God; He is a jealous God; if you forsake Him and follow idols, He will turn and do you hurt and consume you. We promise to serve the LORD. Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve Him. We are witnesses. I will write in the book the covenant you have made with God this day. As we obeyed Moses in all things, so will we obey you; only the LORD thy God be with thee, as He was with Moses. Whosoever rebels against God’s commandments shall be put to death. The people were ruled by judges who talked with God and read the words of Moses. They explained the law of God to the people and led them to obey God. What does the law of God say concerning an ox that has gored someone? Moses said the owner is responsible for damages and the ox should be killed. For a while, the people remembered the miracles God did under Moses and Joshua. They were thankful to be free of the Egyptian bondage. They served Jehovah God and offered the sacrifices as they were commanded. Father, why are the priests going to kill our lamb? Is the destroyer going to pass over like he did when our fathers were in Egypt? No son. The destroyer is not coming, but the blood of this lamb will cover our sins and make us acceptable in God’s sight. They promised Joshua that they would worship God and keep His commandments, but not everyone continued to worship Jehovah. When the miracles ceased, the next generation forgot the living God and worshiped in front of lifeless images. They also worshiped their ancestors. Just as Joshua warned, God sent the heathen to destroy Israel. No! Save me, Baal! When judgment fell on God’s people, they remembered His law and confessed their sins. O Jehovah, forgive us of our sins and restore our peace. When they confessed their sins, He forgave them and restored their land. The people grew tired of following the judges who sought God and directed the people out of the Book of God, so they decided they would make a king to rule over them. A prophet and judge named Samuel warned them that in making a king they were rejecting God as their ruler, but they did not want to walk by faith. King Saul abused them, took their money, their property, made servants of their sons and abused their daughters. Your lands will be confiscated for the good of the kingdom. You can leave your daughter here. We will take good care of her. When King Saul was older, evil spirits came on him and he had an uncontrollable temper. One day, he tried to spear a young boy named David who was playing the harp for him. Saul sinned yet more and more. He was jealous of everyone and fearful. The evil spirits promised to give him power and wealth, but they only brought misery and suffering of the soul. Saul forsook the living God and consulted witches. I see darkness. It is not good. You will die in battle and another will take your place. Saul died in battle and his soul was cast into hell. God chose a young man to replace Saul as king. He was a shepherd boy that loved God and kept his commandments; the same one that Saul had tried to kill. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He restoreth my soul. David was righteous and beloved of God. Could he be the one to deliver mankind from sin and death? Would David be the promised one? David wrote: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. When Saul died, David became king of Israel and led the people to worship God and keep His commandments. Restore this woman’s land to her and see that she is not taxed further. Under David’s reign, the nation prospered and lived uprightly. God spoke to David and revealed many things about the future. David wrote those prophecies in the book of Psalms. Many of them have already been fulfilled. David was a righteous man, but he did sin, so he could not be the promised Redeemer. He wrote this of the coming Redeemer: He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. He shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: And he shall live. Prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. His name shall endure forever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: Men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. God said to David: “After you have died, I will establish your kingdom under your son. He will build a temple in which I will be worshiped, and I will establish his kingdom for ever.” After David died, Solomon his son became king (971 B.C.). According to instructions God gave David, Solomon built a temple (966 B.C.) to replace the aging tabernacle they had used in the wilderness. The people of Israel prospered as never before. Truly God fulfilled his promise to bring them into the land and bless them there. But there was one promise God had not yet fulfilled the coming of a Savior who would destroy the works of the Devil. The people still sinned, and animal blood was still offered to atone for sin. But they were thankful that God gave them a way to cover their sins until the time appointed when the deliverer would remove sins forever. People came to the temple to hear teaching from the Holy Scriptures. They especially enjoyed the prophecies of a coming Savior. The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. David wrote many things about the coming deliverer: The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. More prophecies of the coming Saviour: Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (Psalm 89:26-27) I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8) I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: (Psalm 78:2, Matthew 13:34-35) David wrote a strange thing about the coming Messiah: I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (Psalm 22:14-18) Solomon had a long and prosperous reign, But after he died the northern half of the kingdom broke away and made a wicked man named Jeroboam their king. (975 B.C.) The northern kingdom was far from the temple in Jerusalem, so they built their own places of worship, complete with idols in the image of golden calves. This is the God that brought you out of Egypt, and here are his priests. But what about the law of Moses and the temple that God set up in Jerusalem? There are many ways to God. Some people call him Jehovah, some Allah, some Chemosh, but we call him Baal. But what about the Holy Scripture God gave to His prophets? It commands us not to have any other God. It says there is only one God and one way to Him. Do you think God is so narrow-minded? I will hear no more of this! Baal worship is now the official religion of the land. Infidels will be put to death! When the priests selected the bull as the image to worship, they unknowingly selected the very image of Lucifer, the sinful cherub. They were worshiping the Devil, and he was delighted, for he was turning the people away from the promise of God concerning a coming redeemer. O Baal, receive this sacrifice from our humble hands. Blessed art thou Queen of heaven, mother of God, hear our prayers and forgive us our sins. What are you doing on this sacred ground? In the name of Jehovah, from whom you have departed, hear the word of the Lord. A child shall be born of the seed of David. From his lineage will come the deliverer. His name will be Josiah, and upon this altar he will burn the priests of Baal. How can you say such a thing? No one can tell the future but the gods. By the word of the Lord I say unto you that the bones of these very priests shall Josiah burn upon this altar. God will give you a sign that I speak for him. This very day that fine altar that you have built to worship dumb idols will split and the ashes will spill out. Ha, ha, ha! Listen to the pious ass bray. He thinks he is right and everyone else is wrong! Seize him! Kill him. How dare he speak against another man’s religion! My arm has withered!
Jehovah has punished me. Pray that he will heal me. Lord God, make yourself known this day. Heal the king’s arm. It’s a miracle! God healed my arm! Noooo! Jehovah, so soon? He destroyed my religion. There is nothing left. Truly you are a man of God! No prophet of Baal has ever done such a thing. Come with me. We will refresh ourselves with food and drink and then I will give you riches and honor for your great service to God this day. No, I cannot go with you. God told me to eat no food and drink no water while I was in Israel, and not to return by the same way I came. But you said the priests’ bones would be burnt on the altar. The altar is gone and no one died. It was God’s words, not mine. So as God commanded, the prophet of God returned by a different route. He had been without food or water for two days and he was terribly thirsty and hungry. Two young men, who were worshiping the golden calf that day, followed him to see which way he would go. Father, I would not have believed it if I hadn’t seen it. It was just like the old prophets of Israel! Father, do you think what he said is true? Is Jehovah the only living God? Are our idols nothing but wood and gold? Quick! Saddle the ass! I must find him! He found the prophet of Jehovah sitting under a tree. He wanted to be close to this man with such power. He was once a prophet of Jehovah, but when the kingdoms divided he followed the idolatry of his countrymen. He had reasoned, “Weren’t all religions the same?” You must be the man of God from Judah. You look tired. Come home with me and I will serve you food and drink. I cannot; God told me not to eat or drink in this place. But you see, I am a prophet just like you, and this very morning an angel of Jehovah spoke to me and told me to bring you to my house to eat and drink. Thank God, I am so thirsty. It has been a fine meal, but I must be on my way back to Judah. Jehovah has spoken: “Because you have not obeyed the commandment of Jehovah God, but have eaten and drunken in this place, your dead body will not return to Judah to be buried in your family cemetery.” Papa, you’re prophesying. Did God speak to you too? Yes, my son, the first time in years. You mean he is going to die? I’m afraid so, and it's all my fault. The prophet left with a heavy heart, knowing that God was always faithful to His word. He knew he would die. He just didn’t expect it to be so soon, or in this manner. That is the prophet from Judah! I have never seen anything like it. The lion killed him but just sits there and won’t eat him. It is even stranger that the lion and the donkey sit there together like they were guarding the body. The false prophet took the man of God and buried him in his own grave among the prophets of Baal, close to the place where God destroyed the altar. God slew him for his disobedience. Surely all that he prophesied will come to pass. The man of God was buried and soon forgotten by all but a few. The altar was repaired and nearly 300 years later it was still used by worshipers of Baal, but no one ever burnt their bones on the altar as the man of God predicted. Three hundred years later, a king named Josiah took the throne in Judah (640 B.C.). He went up to the temple and found a copy of the Bible. It disturbed him when he realized that the nation had forgotten the living God and gone after idols, so he commanded all the elders, prophets, priests, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem to come together to hear the book read. The people were ashamed of their sin and agreed to obey all the words of the book. Holy Mother, save us! The people obeyed the law of God and destroyed all the idols in the land. They killed all the priests that burned incense to the sun, moon, planets, and to the queen of Heaven. The law of God, as given by Moses, forbids homosexual activity, so all Sodomites were driven out of the land. Intolerant jerks. They also cleansed the land of all those who consulted familiar spirits, the mediums, and the witches. Break her crystal ball and burn the house. Josiah went up to the same high place where the prophet had faced Jeroboam, he first king of the northern kingdom, 300 years earlier. They broke down the altar, destroyed all the idols, and cut down the trees, grinding it all into powder. There is but one God and he is not worshiped through images. These false priests have led the people away from Jehovah! You must die. Once again the altar was rent and the ashes spilled out. All the false priests were killed and their bodies burnt on the ruins of the altar. Nearby was a graveyard for the false priests. To keep the people from worshiping at their tombs, Josiah dug up their bones and burnt them on the altar. Burn all the bones. But your graciousness, this is the tomb of the man of God that came from Judah nearly 300 years ago and predicted this very day. He said that a man named Josiah, that is yourself, would come and do the very things you have done this day. Then leave his bones alone. Burn the others. This idolatry must end if God is to bless us. And so the 300-year- old prophecy was finally fulfilled, just as the man of God had said. Now that idolatry was gone, King Josiah commanded all the people to keep the Passover in remembrance of Jehovah, who brought their fathers out of Egypt and gave them this land. Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. Father, how is this day different from all others? So Father told them the old story of how God delivered them from Egyptian bondage and gave them the law and the tabernacle. He told them how the blood on the doorposts saved the firstborn males from the destroying angel. It was the greatest Passover ever.
