Route 66-12 A Twice Told Tale

The story never grows old, especially when the crown has faithful historians. We return from the choir loft to the theater, to sea the story of the great king once again unfold in 1 Chronicles. We know the history is faithfully rendered, for hundreds of names are given as testimony to its truth.

When finally we return to David, we see a warrior whose only flaw seems to be pride. He puts the fate of his people in God's hands, losing a tithe for his arrogance. The chroniclers see the work of Satan as God's servant where the prophets saw only God.

David spends a fortune to get the materials to build the temple. Appointing the worship leaders, he turns the plans over to Solomon with his blessing.

Route 66:11 The Songbook of the King

Some might think of this as a side trip, but as the path tracks through the life of David, one can here the choir singing. It behooves us to stop for a while and visit.

The Psalmist calls us to consider who our companions are along the way. In fact, we are directed to not be side tracked.

Instead, we are to take heed of the enemy while constantly looking to our guide and his guidebook for directions. If we listen carefully we find that when we can't go further, the Guide will give us a ride.

Finally, as we approach our designation, we hear the songs are happy, joyful anthems of praise. We turn and thank our guide and take a complementary copy of the song book.

Route 66:10 Life with the King

It had been quite a life as the crown Prince on the run. Politics back in David's day was a bit like that all over Europe not so long ago. Kings expected to pass down the crown to the first born son. But the prince, David's friend, had been killed in battle along with the king.

Few people knew that Samuel had anointed David  years earlier. But when news reached David, he was aggrieved. His king and his friend were dead.

After the funeral, civil war arose a Saul's surviving son became king over ten of the tribes. When that son was killed, David had the assassin executed and had another state funeral.
It was a hard way to become king. Finally, the nation united again, David fought with the neighbors until his boundaries were secure. Breathing easier, he stayed home and enjoyed life, but at a terrible cost. His sin cost him the blessings, and brought troubles he never really got passed.

As he got older, his grown sons, princes with an eye on the throne, rebelled. Civil war once again threatened. His charismatic son Absalom had the heart of the nation. Things looked bad. Again, an assassin saved the day. Of course, David was not happy.

Finally, the chosen successor, Solomon, was secure as king. David died a worn out old man. Life as a king is not for the weak.

Route 66-9 A Prophet's Life

Life under the judges had been a rough ride, though the interlude in Bethlehem allowed for the weary reader to appreciate what was to come. As we open the "First Books of the Kings", as they are called in the Hebrew bible, we find the priesthood in bad shape. Aging Eli can't control his wayward successors, but takes on a new assistant in a young child loaned to him by a grateful mother.

No one had communicated in any real way with God for years when young Samuel was called in the night. God was audible, but invisible. The boy thought it was Eli at first but then the old priest told him it must be God. So Samuel listened to the voice of God. The message he brought back to Eli was not a pleasant one. It was not a warning, but a prophecy. The House of Eli would fall.

It was not pretty to see the ark used as magic charm. And it didn't work that way. The dreaded Philistines had taken the Ark of the Covenant!! Eli died on the same day when he heard the news that his sons, protectors of the ark, were dead.  His broken heart was aided by a broken neck as he fell off a bench. Samuel would now serve as a priest and judge for the people. But that was not enough for the people. They wanted a king so they pestered Samuel and won the day when God assented to the request with a warning that a king with no respect for God was not a good idea.

Things went from bad to worse with the new King Saul, but the people seemed to content to have their king and champion, a head above the rest. The new king was good for the country for a while, but it did not take long them to fail under a manic monarch. Another king would have to be found. In time, David, the son of Jessie. The old man had many sons, but only David was 'chosen.

The next few years were a blur.  David was anointed, got a job as a court musician and armor bearer, and he got a feel for what Saul was like.  But he then went back to help on the ranch. After saving the whole army from an arrogant giant, everybody got to know the young warrier. David got a new wife, and then lost her, and then ended up on the run.

Meanwhile Samuel just prayed for Saul. There wasn't much left to do. After a long life ministry, after anointing two kings, the old prophet died and was mourned.  David mourned with the rest of Israel while still on the run. He picked up two more wives and then ... he waited.

Samuel showed up one more time before Saul was killed on the battlefield. Or at least everyone thought it was Samuel back from the dead (as a ghost!!). The wily old witch was startled when her incantations worked. Samuel seemed reluctant, but scolded the apostate king and predicted sure death within a day.  Saul and his sons died the next day. The king was dead. Long live the "present and future king"!

Truth - Part 4

0571 tma  ‘emeth eh’- meth

Firmness, faithfulness, truth.

Contracted from 

0539 Nma  ‘aman aw-man’ 

To support, to confirm, to be faithful
To be established, to make firm
To stand firm, to trust, to be certain, to believe in.


In Psalm 30, the psalmist (probably David) reminds Yahweh in prayer that he prefers life to death, since no one who is dead can tell others of God's Word, the truth (verse 9). In prayer, David declares complete confidence in Yahweh, comparing Him to a rock onto which he is pulled out of the mire in which he had been sinking. This brings praise to God for being the foundation of all things true.

Psalm 40:

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. . . .

11 ¶ Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

Note that the attributes accompanying God's Truth are his compassion and covenant loyalty [chesed, “mercy, lovingkiness] to His people. In Psalm 43, the psalmist speaks of God's tabernacle being upon the “holy hill” to which he wishes to go. It is there that he wants to worship God who gives “light and truth.” This is the first time that light has been paired with truth, but the idea is as old as the creation account. In Genesis 1, the first thing to exist by God's word was light! It is no wonder then that he writes:

3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

Light and darkness cannot exist together. And neither can truth and falsehood. Just as things are harder and harder to see as twilight fades, so the truth becomes more and more obscured each time a liar presents the foolishness of his own imagination.

In Psalm 45, a coronation song, the new king is extolled as God's instrument in bringing righteousness to the land. The king is to rule on principles of truth, humility and righteousness. He is to be taught what to fear by “his right hand.”

2 Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

Studying the psalm closely, one can see a glimpse of Jesus Christ as the “Son of David” (the psalm is a “song of loves [y'daidim, related to “David/Beloved”]. In these verses the king is praised as “beautiful” and his words are favored. He is blessed by God. As he goes out, he is prepared for battle. The ultimate fulfillment of this is found in Revelation 19. The Word of God is called a sword, and as we have seen it is the Truth. Here the truth is teamed with “meekness,” a word that emphasizes strength under pressure, and righteousness. The King is to be One who stands for what is right, even under extreme pressure, because He knows the truth – that which is sure and unchangeable. That meekness is appropriate, though, in sinners even more, as David himself found out when he faced God after gross sin (Psalm 51):

1 ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Notice God's “lovingkindness” [chesed] and tender mercy (compassion). David knows he is far from what God wants for him, calling his actions 'transgressions' (breaking God's Law), 'iniquity' (perversity) and sin (falling short of God's requirements). Sinful by nature of being human, he knows that God wants him to be dependable (firm in his convictions) within his “heart.” David truly wants to be righteousness, and he knows that turning to God is the only way to get that way.

In Psalm 54, David prays for deliverance from his enemies, breaking in the middle to speak of God in the third person, then going back to addressing Him directly:

4 ¶ Lo, God is a helper to me, The Lord is with those supporting my soul,
5 Turn back doth the evil thing to mine enemies, In Thy truth cut them off.

He knows that God will help him and his friends. Those who stand against him, though, will find that God's righteous anger will surely bring them to naught.

In Psalm 57, David cries out to God while on the run from Saul. While worshiping Yahweh, he notes that his enemies are no match to the majesty of what God can do. Twice in the psalm David pairs mercy [lovingkindness] with truth. This is a common combination, for God is good and he is dependable.

2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

In Psalm 61, David prays for the dynasty which God has promised to him. In doing so, his words become a prayer for the Messiah:

5 ¶ For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
6 Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.
7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

It is again “mercy and truth” that god is called on to provide in blessing “the king.” This is the “help from heaven” that David needs. God will be faithful to his promises because in Him is the foundation for all things.

David was in big trouble as his popularity failed. Everywhere he looked he could see those that hated him. He calls out to Adonai Yahweh Sabaoth (the Lord, Yahweh of Armies). He wants a sure victory that he can depend on Yahweh to deliver. He once again sees God's covenant loyalty going along with his firm foundation (truth).

Psalm 69:
13 ¶ But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

David can depend on Yahweh to come to his rescue when his own sinful decisions have failed him, getting him so deep into trouble that no one else has the resources to help.

In the midst of trouble, believers know that God is there to save them. But that does not stop their enemies from attacking from every side. The grace of God, though, is enough to get us through. Instead of complaining, we need to sing praises to God. As the psalmist prays in Psalm 71:

22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

Music is a great way to declare God's truth, be it by a musical instrument or the human voice! Verse 22 mentions “the psaltery” (literally a vessel of 'nebel,' a word that means “to fade away”) and a harp (from a word meaning to pluck). Though the word 'nebel' is used for “harp” in modern Hebrew, the exact nature of the 'nebel' mentioned here is unknown. From “fade away,” though, I tend to think it may have been a percussion instrument! Other uses of the noun “nebel” include both skin and clay vessels. These materials make good percussion instruments, but don't suggest strings to me.

So, in my mind any way, I'd say sing loudly, for the words have to be heard over the drums and the strings!

Truth - Part 2

0571 tma ‘emeth eh’-meth

Firmness, faithfulness, truth.

Contracted from

0539 Nma ‘aman  aw-man’

To support, to confirm, to be faithful

To be established, to make firm

To stand firm, to trust, to be certain, to believe in.

0571 tma ‘emeth eh’- meth

Firmness, faithfulness, truth.

Contracted from 

0539 Nma ‘aman aw-man’ 

To support, to confirm, to be faithful
To be established, to make firm
To stand firm, to trust, to be certain, to believe in.

And so, the Law establishes that Truth is that which is firm, established, and therefore can be trusted.  The 10 commandments establish the soundness of God as Creator, Savior and Preserver; as well as the validity of familial and societal institutions.  We therefore know that God and man exist to live at peace.  But we also know that mankind is undependable on its part.  In the historical books of the Bible, we find this seen in the chosen and appointed leaders of God's people.

In the book of Joshua (Josh. 2:12), the prostitute Rachab displays her trust in the true God while asking for a promise from men who have told her that they serve Yahweh.  She wants to trust them, so she asked for a "true sign," that is, an oath by Yahweh that she and her family would be saved.  Having secured this, she saved them.  This is the first case of a Gentile showing faith in Yahweh based on verifiable wonders that He had done.

Later, in Joshua 24:14, Joshua called on all of Israel to trust God, based on the very same evidence that Rachab had believed true.  He calls on them to "serve him in sincerity and in truth."  This is to say, with a whole-hearted faith in what has been shown to be reliable.  In the next verse, their civil leader holds himself up as an example.  He would serve Yahweh along with his family.  He could not make that choice for others, but he could lead by example.

In the book of Judges "truth" only shows up in a parable.  In chapter 9, a parable is told of various plants looking to choose a leader.  It came down to who wanted to lead rather than who was suitable.  The occasion of the parable was the rise of Abimelech, son of the reluctant judge Gideon, to rule as a "king."  To do this, though, he had gathered a band of hoodlums to kill his own brothers whom he saw as a threat to his authority.  His youngest brother, though, escaped and told the parable of the bramble bush becoming ruler over all the worthy trees of the land.  In order to server "in sincerity and in truth" (as Joshua had said), trust had to be put in that which was worthless.

The people had chosen to follow other gods, and not the truth.  The examples of this folly are throughout this book, for they "did what was right in their own eyes."  There was no abosolute truth upon which to stand.

Finally, a true prophet and priest arose to rule over the people.  But they asked this man, Samuel, to give them a king.  It was to them that Samuel warned that this king was not their savior in whom to put their trust.  That kind of faith could only be put in the true God - Yahweh - who had proven Himself in history (even among the judges, though they had been mostly evil men).  In 1 Samuel 12:

24  Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
25  But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

The requirements had not changed.  Without trust in Yahweh, no earthly ruler would prevail among men.  Saul would prove to be just as much a disappointment as had Abimelech.

After the reign of the first godly king (David), the subject of the truth once again arises.  David wants to honor Yahweh with a beautiful temple rather than the mobile home in the form of a tent (the tabernacle) which had been designed by God Himself.  The prophet Nathan received a vision from Yahweh pointing out that the tabernacle was just fine, fitting the purpose for which He had designed it.  Instead, God told the prophet that He would "build a house" for David -- a family and a nation founded in the truth of His unchangeable nature.  But David was persistent, going to God in prayer, bringing God's promise of a permanent family and nation back to a permanent temple in which to worship.  In that prayer David says:

2 Samuel 7:
26  And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.
27  For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
28  And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
29  Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

Not only are the acts of God to be trusted, but also His Word.  We know God answered this prayer with plans for the temple apparently via Nathan or Gad, his prophets, because David so informs his son Solomon (1 Kings 28):

11 ¶  Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
12  And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit ...

19  All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
20  And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

The building of the temple was left to Solomon whom David entrusted to Yahweh to fulfill the promise of a perpetual dynasty.  Solomon finds himself before God in a dream (1 Kings 3):

5 ¶  In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6  And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7  And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8  And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9  Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

Solomon had seen how God was real to his father David, and he wanted the same relationship.  He raises up God's covenant loyalty (chesed) and David's trust in God (walking in truth) in a prayer for wisdom.  Yahweh answers that prayer, along with so much more, as the Queen of Sheba would declare (1 Kings 10):

6  And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. [also 2 Chron. 9:5]

Here truth is just straight reporting of the facts -- what IS.  The rumors were squelched when she saw the proof for herself.  She had had her doubts, but evidence banished them.  So it is with truth: the measurable facts outweigh mere mortal speculation.  Generations later, the nation had split due to Solomon's apostasy to such a point that the kings of the northern kingdom (which kept the name "Israel") had got so bad that the prophet Elijah had to seek support among Gentiles.  There a widow saw the work of God and was convinced that anything Yahweh said was the truth (1 Kings 17):

24  And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

It took calamity in the southern kingdom for the godly king Hezekiah to pray to God for relief (2 Kings 20):

3  I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. [see also, 2 Chron. 20 and Isaiah 38]

Truth is synomous with that which is good in God's sight.  To walk with God is to do what is right, that is to be righteous.  That is an impossible task for fallen mankind, but it remains a goal.  God's creation, in its original state was good - that is, beautiful or pleasant.  How could it have been otherwise, since it was the work of his Word and his hands.  God healed Hezekiah but brought the delayed curse on the land through his yet to be born son Manassah. 

Years later, returning to Jerusalem after years in captivity, Nehemiah would recall in prayer the works and words of Yahweh:

Neh. 9:
13  Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:
14  And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:
15  And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.
16  But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
17  And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. ...

33  Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right ["emeth" = that which is true], but we have done wickedly:
34  Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them. 

Indeed, even when the authorities in the land did not believe in Yahweh, the letters of believers ended with "Peace and Truth" (Esther 9:30).  This same combination was used by Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:19; Isaiah 39:9) and by Jeremiah when the time had come for both to end.  Jeremiah confirmed that a time would come when both peace and truth would return (Jer. 33:6) in a period after God had made a ''new covenant" with his people (Jer. 31:31).

God is the ultimate source of all that is true.  He created the world -- as confirmed throughout history and by simply observing what he has done.  That which is observed is true because it is verifiable evidence.  God also saves his people, no matter how bad they seem to be.  This is an observed phenomenon as well, for the evidence has been there since recorded history began.  These two undeniable truths are clear from the Old Testament.

In the next post, we will look to the songs of worship -- the Psalms -- to see what the concept of "truth" means on a personal level.