2 Samuel 11,
1: And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
2: And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
3: And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
4: And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
5: And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
6: And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7: And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
8: And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
9: But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
10: And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
11: And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
12: And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
13: And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
14: And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15: And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
16: And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
17: And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
18: Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
19: And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
20: And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
21: Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
22: So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
23: And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
24: And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
25: Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
26: And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
27: And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
Why onewould ask did David do such a thing? Someone who the Bible refered to as a "man after God's heart." A person who at all times in his life sought God, but at this time, we see him going after the thoughts of "his own heart."
The answer is not far fetched. There are two types of people of the same person in the Bible, one is the man of sin and another is the regenerated person, one who has been redeemed by Christ. That this is also true in everyday life is evident in such illnesses as Bipolar Affective Disorder, which doctors do not have a clue to its origin, but which I believe is caused by this nature in man. We will get to this later.
At this the time that David committed this sin, he was totally following his own thoughts. Had he been following the thoughts of God, he would not have committed this sin. There are two words in Hebrew, Bala' and Ba'al. Bala' means swallow down, swallow up, engulf, usually with the sense of calamity and destruction in the Bible. For example Korah, Datan and Abiram were "swallowed up" by the earth in Numbers 16. Ba'al on its own means to marry or rule over, and has the sense of lordship. Jesus Christ is the Lord of every Christian but he is married to only a few. Before I continue about the story of David and Bath-sheba, let us look at this place in 1 Corinthian.
1 Corinthians 10,
1: Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2: And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3: And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4: And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5: But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6: Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7: Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8: Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9: Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10: Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11: Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14: Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15: I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16: The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17: For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18: Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the alter?
19: What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20: But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21: Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
22: Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23: All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24: Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
25: Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26: For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
27: If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28: But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
29: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
30: For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32: Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
We find written in 1 Corinthians 10: 21 these words " ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils: Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils." When we "drink" from the cup of demons, we can only be destroyed as we are saying the blood of Jesus does not avail for us and that he has not bought us with his blood, or that he is not our lord.
This calls to mind those who say in this country they do "deliverance sessions" for people, even Christians. What are they "delivering" people from? Jesus has already done all the delivering there is need to do. There can be no other need for deliverance, though this people say they are doing this "deliverance" in the name of Jesus. There are also people who say they have a Ministry for "prosperity" or they have a Ministry for holiness and so on. The only Ministry we have as Christians is the Ministry of reconciliation and this includes prosperity and holiness, and even much more.
Now back to the story of David and Bath-sheba, we can now see that when we go after our own thoughts and we refuse to acknowledge, or should I say, have the thoughts of God, we are destroyed. 'Adam was taken from the soil 'Adamah. When we refuse the thoughts of God, we are consumed by the evil one and we return to our 'Adamah, the ground, because we refuse to acknowledge the one who gave birth to us in God, Jesus Christ himself, our spiritual 'Adamah.
Anyone who has a bedroom relationship with Jesus Christ is an 'Adam ( see the essay Newton's third law, laws, and the Creation Account in Genesis). Therefore for someone to pass into the bedroom relationship with Christ he must first have acknowledged that all his sins have been taken away. Then, he is in the image of God, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1: 7-8 says,
7: In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8: Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Also Hebrews 10: 19-39 says,
19: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20: By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21: And having an high priest over the house of God;
22: Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23: Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised![]()
24: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26: For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27: But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28: He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30: For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32: But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33: Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34: For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35: Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36: For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37: For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39: But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Those who drink of the cup of demons bring damnation unto themselves and despise the Lord over them, Ba'al. This is therfore represented by Bala', the disorganised arrangement of Ba'al. Their Lord is Satan and they are the image of Satan, the serpent.. Thinking of going ahead in this essay, the story of the molten calf made by Aaron is of note in Exodus 32.
Exodus 32,
1: And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
2: And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.
3: And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.
4: And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
5: And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
6: And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
7: And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
8: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
9: And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
10: Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
11: And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?
12: Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
13: Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.
14: And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
15: And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
16: And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.
17: And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.
18: And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.
19: And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
20: And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.
21: And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?
22: And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.
23: For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
24: And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.
25: And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies![]()
26: Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
27: And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.
28: And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
29: For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.
30: And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.
31: And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.
32: Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin -- ; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
33: And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
34: Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.
35: And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.
The Hebrew word for the molten calf is "Egel Masecah." The word for the curtain of the courtyard of the tabernacle in the wilderness is Masaq. Meanwhile, a word for mixed wine is Meseq. We can note that even when Moses killed about 3000 people in the story above, he still had to go and see if he could make atonement for the people. Only the blood of Jesus can make us leave the courtyard and enter the Holy of holies, freeing us from all sin. Deliverance and effort such as fasting will not deliver us from sin. All these are symbolized by the killing of those 3000 or so people. We do not have to mix the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. The Butler did not mix the wine he gave to Pharaoh and he was saved, but the Baker, trying to add "all sorts of pastery," when he wanted to present these to Pharaoh was destroyed in the story in Genesis.
I think therefore, that illnesses such as schizophrenia and Bipolar Affective Disorder are due in part to these two images in a person, that image of of Satan and the Image of God. And it is this conflict and "misunderstanding" between them that causes the illnesses. When someone learns to hear from the WORD, Jesus Christ he or she then speaks the same language as the Son of God and ends up being healed.
