Psalm 63: Living in the Wilderness

Psalm 63 is about living in the wilderness. It can be both literal and figurative.
Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness, see 5. Twelve Spies Exploring Canaan
in Moses; Part 13: Rebellion and Paganism. Figurative is what we call those times when we just find ourselves in challenging conditions and we don't like it.

There are several reasons why wilderness times can appear in our lives:

• Loosing someone we love, either to death or to a broken relationship.
• A long-term illness.
• A loss of a job, the ability to support oneself.
• A life change that is overwhelming.
• Feeling depressed and living in darkness.
• Disbelief in a Biblical truth, even when being a child of God.
• Pruning by our Heavenly Father to bear more fruit for God.

The feelings are then usually the same; separation and a sense of isolation, 
like being in the wilderness without water. We feel isolated from other people,
we may even feel isolated from God. It's not enjoyable. These times can be met
by sadness, self-pity, or confusion about why having to be in the wilderness. 

The following can help in these situations:

• It's important not to give my mood a meaning that isn't real. My mood
  isn't a sign of God's displeasure or my lack of love or devotion for him.
  The Bible calls it "being downcast" (feeling sad, low, or discouraged,
  or physically looking downward toward the ground because of sadness, shyness, or shame), everyone experiences it.
• We shouldn't over-analyze our feelings, because that makes us
  focus on ourselves, and self-focus only makes depression worse.
• We can take time to share our blessings, either in prayer or in writing,
  and then be specific. Thinking about all we have to be thankful for.
  If we come up empty, we can ask the Lord to awaken our hearts
  to all the good he has done in our lives.
• Slowly recite the promises in God's Word as you get ready for the day,
  or whenever these bad feelings arise. And then take a moment
  to thank God for giving us such amazing promises.
• Listen or sing to music that is uplifting, praise music that magnifies and glorifies God. This is what the Bible calls "sacrifice of praise" (Heb 13:15).
• We can do something for someone else, extend ourselves in some way
  to others. It could be by praying for someone going through
  a difficult time, sending a quick word of encouragement,
  or to see what needs to be done to help someone in my family.

The search that goes on during that time in the wilderness is personal.
David describes time he spent in the wilderness in Psalm 63.

(For some Bible translations, one has to be added to the verses in Psalm 63).

David is then looking for a person, he is looking for God himself (Psalm 63:1–2).
The reason David does this is because our God is a personal God and with whom
we can have fellowship. We need to come to him, to the God who can be known.
Jesus has promised us to have life and to have it abundantly
(no matter how we feel) (John 10:10). David runs after God to bring the time
in the wilderness to an end. He doesn't blame God, himself,
or others for being there. He seeks God intensively and sincerely.

David says that God's steadfast love is better than life (Psalm 63:3).
God is more important to him than anything else. David promises to bless God
as long as he lives (Psalm 63:4). When deciding to come to God,
one of the first steps to get out of the wilderness is to start praising God. 
David does this before he is out of the wilderness. He understands
that he needs to walk in obedience to God, and that starts with praising God
and praying to God (Acts 16:22–26, Luk 22:44). 
His soul is then satisfied with peace (Psalm 63:5). 
David thinks of God during the night
(when he is awake with all his thoughts, seeking to find peace) 
(Psalm 63:6). See also, for example Isaiah 40.

See also The Book of Psalms.

Psalm 51: Coming to God when we fail

Psalm 51 shows what king David prayed when confronted with his sin
of committing adultery with Bathsheba and plotting the death of Uriah the Hittite 
in battle to cover up his sin (2 Sam 11). The prophet Nathan told David 
that God had taken away his sin and that he wouldn't die (2 Sam 12:13b), 
but that what he had done would have serious consequences (2 Sam 12:1–23).

(For some Bible translations, two has to be added to the verses below in Psalm 51). 

David knows that God's heart is a heart of mercy (Micah 7:18, Psalm 78:38,
86:5, 15), see God's Attributes. He also knows that he is guilty (2 Sam 12:13a,
Psalm 51:3). He admits that he has committed a heinous crime; a capital crime
(Psalm 51:14). There is no burnt offering for a capital offence (Psalm 51:16). 
David therefore asks God to have mercy on him according to his steadfast love, and to blot out his transgressions according to God's abundant mercy (Psalm 51:1, 9). 

Mercy means compassion and forgiveness towards someone whom it's within one's power to punish or harm. In the same way, we as Christians can and should cry out to God for mercy if and when we make mistakes and sin, see Sanctification.

David writes: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise." (Psalm 51:17), see 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit
in The Sermon on the Mount. David is poor in spirit (Psalm 86:1).
This is the key to understanding why David is so blessed by God
(Psalm 89:3–4, 19–37 (4–5, 20–38 in some translations), 132:11–12). 
Messiah would come from the lineage of David  (Acts 2:29–31, 2 Sam 7:12–13).

David asks God to make him spiritually and morally clean (Psalm 51:2). 
He feels himself to be spiritually and morally filthy. He sees himself
as a spiritual leper because of what he has done (Psalm 51:7, Lev 14:6–7a).
David needs a new heart and a steadfast spirit (Psalm 51:10). 
He needs it to resist the temptation of sin. He wants God to strengthen him
to better resist the sin in his life (Psalm 51:12b). 
David needs the wisdom that comes from God (Psalm 51:6). 
He also wants to hear joy and gladness after all mourning (Psalm 51:8, 12a).

Then he would teach transgressors God's ways, so that sinners
would return to God (Psalm 51:13). David is already looking beyond the situation
to see how the Lord would use it in his life to help other people.
Our experience of failure gives us a unique voice
that speaks into the hearts of other people going through similar situations. 

David says that he has sinned against the Lord, and him alone (Psalm 51:4).
He acknowledges that God is the ultimate judge of all. At the end of it all,
it's God and God alone he will stand before. The final judgement is always God and David knows that. He doesn't minimize the sin he has committed
against Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite. David makes no excuse for his sin.

He makes a theological declaration that he was born in iniquity,
and in sin his mother conceived him (Psalm 51:5). Sin came into the world
through Adam and death through sin, and so death spread to all men
because all sinned (Rom 5:12–14, Gen 2:16–17, 3:3, 17–19),
see The Biblical Creation and the Fall of Man. 

He asks God to not throw him away from God's presence
and not to take the Holy Spirit from him (Psalm 51:11).
This was something that happened to Saul.
The Holy Spirit didn't live inside people at that time. In the Old Testament,
the Holy Spirit lived with and upon them, see Jesus the Light of the World. 

David understands that there is a connection between his personal holiness
as king and leader and God's blessings for the nation of Israel (Psalm 51:18–19).
He represents the people of Israel before God. Character counts.
This is important for every Christian leader to understand, see The Book of Timothy.

Psalm 51 is called David's prayer for repentance, but is also David's prayer for brokenness from pride, to be compared with the last part of The Apostle Peter,
who needed to be broken from pride in order to act as leader among God's children.

See also The Book of Psalms.

Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepherd

"A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23 (ESV)).

David uses a metaphor that describes his relationship with God. He uses a shepherd and his sheep (Psalm 23:1a). David helped tend his father's sheep as a young man.
David says that the Lord is his shepherd. It's personal. God is personal and we can have a personal relationship with him like David had. God can be personally known.
David took advantage of that opportunity. He connected with God in a very honest and genuine way. But it's possible to know the Lord in the sense of salvation
but lack a personal relationship with him. This relationship can be very flawed from time to time. Jesus wants a personal relationship with us but we can choose
to be distant from him. Sin can also put a distance between us and God.

"Let him who boasts, boast in this, that he understands and knows me."
(Jer 9:24a), see also The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.
Paul said about Jesus: "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, 
and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death" (Phil 3:10).

"I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1b) means that I lack nothing. 
Jesus is our shepherd and he meets all our needs (Phil 4:19).
We as believers can be seen as his sheep. See The Parable of the Good Shepherd. 

"He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake." (Psalm 23:2-3). Shepherds in biblical times didn't "drive" their sheep. Instead
of pushing the herd from behind, they walked ahead of the flock, which followed. Shepherds needed to guide their sheep to green pasture, otherwise the sheep
would go hungry. Those verses can be compared with Psalm 32:8: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." And also with Psalm 32:9: "Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you." 
We need to accept this leadership and guidance from the Lord, see Sanctification.

"the valley of the shadow of death" is everything that threatens our lives.
"your rod and and your staff" were tools used by the shepherd to protect the sheep. (Psalm 23:4). The rod was a cudgel: a short, thick, heavy stick similar
to what modern people might call a baton or mace. This was worn at the shepherd's belt. The staff was a long, lightweight pole with a curved end—a crook—that
the shepherd used to move, count, and examine the sheep at evening when they returned to the fold. This psalm can be compared with Psalm 138:7:
"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out 
your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me."

We shouldn't let our hearts be troubled or give in to fear. Jesus gives us peace that isn't connected to the circumstances of our lives (John 14:27). A fearful attitude can be a sin of not trusting in the Lord. We then need to confess it to God, come to the Lord to give us rest in peace. Psalm 23 gives us reasons to trust Jesus.

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" is a host and guest
metaphor. When you come under someone's roof in that area, you are under
their protection. In this case, it means that we are under the protection of the Lord and he provides for us. Even when we are in the presence of our enemies.
"you anoint my head with oil" was a sign of being a good host
and a very hospitality thing to do in those days. It was done to refresh someone.
"my cup overflows" means an overflowing abundance to what God has given me. God pours out his grace on me. It's a picture of God blessing his children
when we are under his protection. (Psalm 23:5).

"goodness and mercy shall follow me" speaks of David's expectation of God's goodness. We can share this expectation. "I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever" speaks of eternal life with God when this life is over. (Psalm 23:6).

See also The Book of Psalms.

Psalm 22: the Crucifixion Psalm

Psalm 22 was written by King David 1000 years before The Crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus says on the cross: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" 
(Mat 27:46, Mark 15:34). The answer to this question is: For our salvation. 
Jesus in his pain quoted the opening verse of Psalm 22.
Jesus wanted to point to Psalm 22 which prophetically describes his crucifixion.

This psalm was written at a time when the crucifixion was yet not invented
as a tool of torture and death (300 years later it began to be used).

(For some Bible translations, one has to be added to the verses below). 

King David speaks of the suffering of Messiah who is Jesus on the cross:

1. He is forsaken, abandoned, and condemned so that we may be saved
   (verse 1–5). Jesus was made sin on our behalf (2 Cor 5:21, Rom 8:3). 
   "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Rom 8:1), see salvation.
2. He is rejected by the people (verse 6–8), see Mat 27:39, 43 and Luk 23:35.
3. God became flesh, assumed a human nature, and became a man in the form of Jesus. Jesus has always been faithful to God the Father (verse 9–10).
4. Mighty people have gathered against him (verse 12–13). These verses
   aren't about animals, they are about powerful people who are against Jesus.
5. He is poured out like water (verse 14). Jesus was beaten, pierced by nails,
   and dripped his blood everywhere from Jerusalem to Golgotha. After he died,
   he was stabbed with a spear, so that blood and water flowed out.
6. Massive blood loss causes dehydration (verse 14–15), see John 19:28.
7. His hands and feet are pierced (verse 16b). There are two translations
   of this part; "pierced (ka’aru) my hands and my feet" 
   and "like a lion (ka’ari) my hands and my feet". Most of our bible translations are based on the Hebrew Masoretic text manuscripts from 900 AD.
   Most of these manuscripts say ka’ari (like a lion), with the exceptions
   of twelve manuscripts that say ka’aru (pierced). In the Dead Sea Scrolls 
   from 100 BC it says ka’aru (pierced). Also, in Septuagint,
   a Greek translation from 250 BC, it says ka’aru (pierced). Most bibles today say pierced, based on the oldest manuscripts available, see time 17:15–23:30 in Dead Sea Scrolls: The Shocking Evidence for the Septuagint!
   
   Jesus was pierced in his arms and not in his hands, see this explained at
   time 10:21–11:08 in Nabeel Qureshi: Jesus in Islam vs. Jesus in Christianity.
   This nail placement doesn't require tying and is done through the soft tissue
   between the two bones of the forearm (the radius and the ulna).
   The Greek word "χείρ" is usually translated as "hand", but can refer
   to the entire part of the arm below the elbow. Similar is for the Hebrew word. 
   This speaks of crucifixion, see Zechariah 12:10a and John 20:25–27.
8. His bones are out of joint (verse 14, 17).
   This happens because of the crucifixion.
9. It was a public execution before a hateful crowd (verse 16a).
   Dogs in this context mean a hateful crowd of Gentiles.
10. They divided his garments and cast lots for some of his clothes (verse 18),
    see Mat 27:35, Luk 23:34b, and John 19:23–24.
11. After all this he is rescued (verse 21), that is, God the Father answers him. Either Jesus is rescued before he dies, or God (see the Trinity) will resurrect him after his death. The latter is God's will, see The Resurrection of Jesus.
12. The verses 22–23 speak of Jesus, see Heb 2:11–12.
13. This story is spread to all people (verse 27, 31). These verses deal with
    the results of the crucifixion and resurrection. It's spread all over the world.
14. Gentiles will worship the Lord because of this (verse 27).
15. This affects people even after they die (verse 29),
    see Rom 14:10 and Rev 20:12–14.

See also Some stories in the Gospels and Some stories closely related
to the Gospels at the end of The Four Gospels. See also The Book of Psalms.

The Book of Proverbs

Solomon is believed to have written the Book of Proverbs (Pro 1:1)
with the exception of the chapters 30 and 31 and parts of the chapters 22 and 24.
It's also believed that Solomon wrote the proverbs early in his reign, before his
heart was drawn away from the Lord. It appears that the Book of Proverbs was compiled into the book, 250 years later in the time of king Hezekiah (Pro 25:1).

It's a book of observations made by Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived
on Earth with the exception of Jesus himself. Solomon received wisdom from God
and made observations in the Book of Proverbs. Some of the observations
lack moral directives such as Pro 10:15, 18:11. He doesn't say there
that a rich man should regard his wealth as his strong city. It's an observation
he has made on rich men. He also writes that whoever trusts in his riches will fall (Pro 11:28a), see The Love of Money. See also Laying up treasures in Heaven
in The Sermon on the Mount. Another examples of observations without moral 
directives are Pro 14:20, 17:8, 23. Many proverbs are observations without such directives. The moral directives are found in other places in the Bible, see Exo 23:8.

It isn't a book of promises.

The book is about wisdom and presents life statements (Pro 1:2–6). 
In Jewish thought, wisdom means living skillfully from God's perspective.
In our secular society, we can say that an unwise person makes poor choices.
The proverbs are not all to be interpreted literally. For example:
"Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings." (Pro 22:29).
It means that a skilled person would be recognized and rewarded.
See also time 17:26–20:19 in Bible Q&A With Pastor Paul │April 2024 . . ..

The book of Proverbs is about wisdom. It's generalized. It's not necessarily
so specific. If having the financial mean to help a person with a loan
and it's not a danger for me, it's OK to do it. Pro 6:1–5, 11:15, 17:18, 22:26–27 don't forbid that. Wisdom here would advise against securing loans to someone
who can easily send you into financial ruin. Jesus encourages us to lend money
(Mat 5:42, Luk 6:30), see Giving in The Sermon on the Mount. 
It's a sign of righteousness to do so (Psalm 37:25–26, 112:4–5). 
Parents can do it for their children.

The purpose of wisdom is to protect us (Pro 2:12–17).
See Casting pearls before swine in The Sermon on the Mount. 

The source of wisdom is Jesus Christ (Col 2:2–3, 1 Cor 1:24). 
Wisdom existed before the creation and is the architect of the creation
(Pro 8:22–31), see The Biblical Creation and the Fall of Man.

The wisdom from Heaven is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere (James 3:17).

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously
to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5),
see Ask, and it will be given to you in The Sermon on the Mount. 
If asking, ask in faith believing this promise.

Several proverbs contain great warnings against marital infidelity
and sexual immorality (Pro 5:3–8, 18–20, 6:20–35, 7:4–27).
See the comment to the 7th commandment in the The Ten Commandments. 
Physical intimacy, but also emotional and spiritual intimacy, is for marriage. 
Marriage is intended by God to be a blessing. It becomes a blessing
when we decide in our hearts to love and appreciate the person we are married to.

Some proverbs contain warnings against being deceived (Pro 1:8–19, 4:14–15).
See also The Parable about the Wise and Foolish Builders.

We shouldn't despise the Lord’s discipline (Pro 3:11–12, 8:33, 10:8, 17,
12:1, 13:1, 18, 15:32, 17:3, 19:27, 23:12, Heb 12:5–7, 1 Pet 1:6–7). 
We should endure all hardships as discipline, see the first part of The Book of James.

See the proverbs in To Fear the Lord at the end of Fear of Man.

There are serious things that are abominations to the Lord (Pro 6:16–19): 

• Haughty eyes (an attitude of prideful superiority).
• A lying tongue (a person who doesn't speak the truth).
• Hands that shed innocent blood (a murderer).
• A heart that devises evil plans (a person who plans and thinks
  about how to break the law and harm others).
• Feet that hasten to run to evil 
  (a person who has a gravitational pull to do evil).
• A false witness breathing out lies 
  (a person who is willing to lie even in court to falsely accuse another).
• One who sows discord among brothers (a person who sows the seed
  of suspicion between people so that they end up hating each other).

Seven ways to know and be sure you're on the right track:

1. Be wise in all the counsel of God's Word. 
   It's important not to focus on one passage, verse, or idea to the exclusion
   of the rest of the Bible, see Introduction to Interpretation of the Bible.
   That gives an imbalance in the understanding related to the Word of God.
2. Avoid the opinions of any person who claims unique insight. 
   This is how cults start.
3. Avoid the belief that only one Bible translation is true. 
   Although the wording is different, the message is the same
   in many different translations, see it explained in Bible Translations.
4. Keep praying for clarity. 
   See Ask, and it will be given to you in The Sermon on the Mount.
5. Be humble. 
   See 3) Blessed are the meek in The Sermon on the Mount. 
   This prevents pride from emerging and believing
   to have found the one true way that no one else has.
6. Avoid man-made religion and tradition. 
   See Confronting Meaningless Religion.
7. Trust that God will lead you to the truth. 
   See Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life.

At the end of Solomon's life, he took the same wisdom and applied it in a different way in The Book of Ecclesiastes. It presents conclusions based on human reasoning.

Some of the Proverbs:

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Pro 4:23).
It means that we need to protect our minds, thoughts, desires, affections, 
as well as emotions and feelings. We need to set limits to the desires of our heart
that may be contrary to God's Word: "Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure." (Pro 4:26).

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil." (Pro 3:5–7).
See To Fear the Lord at the end of Fear of Man.

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power
to do it." (Pro 3:27–28). See The Golden Rule in The Sermon on the Mount.

"A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, 
with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord, 
therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly." (Pro 6:12–15).

"What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous
will be granted. When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, 
but the righteous is established forever." (Pro 10:24–25).
"When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,
but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God." (Pro 14:32). 
We reap what we sow (Gal 6:7b).

"The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it." (Pro 10:22). "The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin." (Pro 15:6). When any kind of wealth comes from the Lord's blessing,
it comes free from all the drama that saps the joy out of every moment of it.

"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools
will suffer harm." (Pro 13:20). "Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge." (Pro 14:7). 
The power of influence (Psalm 1:1–3, John 15:5, 1 Cor 15:33, Isaiah 32:5–8), 
see Psalm 101: How to live a holy life.

"The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body." (Pro 18:8). 
Human nature is very prone to believe the worst in man. Gossip is irresistible.
But instead of believing in gossip and slander, we should reason if it matches reality.
There are two sides to a story. "Every charge must be established
by the evidence of two or three witnesses." (2 Cor 13:1b, Deu (5 Mos) 19:15).

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." 
(Pro 14:12, 16:25). We may face persecution for our faith in Christ
by people who believe in their hearts that they are doing the right thing
(John 16:2). Evil is very deceptive.

"Pride and arrogance, and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate." (Pro 8:13b).
"The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They won't go unpunished."
"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." (Pro 16:5, 18). "Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor." (Pro 18:12).

"Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool
than for him." (Pro 26:12). "When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom." (Pro 11:2). "The Lord resists the arrogant,
but he gives grace to the humble." (Pro 3:34, (LXX, page 6)).
This is about a proud person who thinks his opinion is superior to someone else's
and makes him difficult to teach, see the Sadducees in Our Resurrection from Death.

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe."
(Pro 18:10). We can pray in Jesus' name (John 14:13–14).

"The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes
and examines him." (Pro 18:17). There are always two sides to a story.
It's important and necessary to listen to both sides before making an assessment. 
See also Do not judge others in The Sermon on the Mount.

"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him
for his deed." (Pro 19:17). God has special concerns for poor people.
God cares about them. When we help poor people, it is like giving to the Lord,
see Peter Sent to the Gentiles.

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old
he will not depart from it." (Pro 22:6). This is an observation and not a promise,
see it explained at time 40:42–43:14 in Bible Q&A with Pastor Paul.

"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender."
(Pro 22:7). "Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy;
do not desire his delicacies, for he is like one who is inwardly calculating.
'Eat and drink!' he says to you, but his heart is not with you." (Pro 23:6–7).
See it explained at time 4:26–6:18 in Bible Q & A With Pastor Paul │February 2024.

"If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small." (Pro 24:10).
It shows how weak we are in ourselves. We need to come to the Lord for strength.
Our strength need to be in the Lord (Eph 6:10–11).

"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad
when he stumbles." (Pro 24:17), see The book of Obadiah.

"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you." (Pro 25:21–22, Rom 12:20). "Heaping burning coals on his head"
is a figurative statement intended to describe that the enemy regrets
his previous bad action and attitude towards you.
The Lord will also reward you for doing good to the one who dislikes you. 

"The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it." (Pro 27:12). The ability to see danger from afar is high on the Bible's list
of good things. Much pain can be avoided if we can look down the road,
to consider consequences and apply biblical wisdom. 

"As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man." (Pro 27:19).
Jesus said: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Mat 12:34b). What comes out of our mouth is a reflection of what is in our heart. "The heart
is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick;" (Jer 17:9a–10). "Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered." (Pro 28:26).

"Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord
understand it completely." (Pro 28:5). Justice comes from God,
he is just and fair, see God's Attributes. 
To know God is to know justice, something evil people don't do.

"Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses
and forsakes them will obtain mercy." (Pro 28:13). "We should confess our sins
to one another and pray for one another, so that we may be healed." (James 5:16).
Hiding sins only makes it worse. Doing so is part of our sin nature.

"Partiality in judging is not good." (Pro 24:23b). "To show partiality is not good." (Pro 28:21a). This is unfortunately common in human nature.
Showing partiality is a sin (James 2:9, Luk 20:21, 1 Tim 5:21, Mal 2:9, 
Lev 19:15, Deu 1:17, 10:17, 16:19, 2 Chron 19:7, Job 13:8–10, 32:21, 34:19).

See also The Old Testament of the Bible.

Song of Solomon

King Solomon is the author of the Song of Solomon. He wrote over 1000 songs. This one should be his Song of Songs and is considered his masterpiece.

It's a literary and powerful picture of romantic love between a man and a woman.

In Greek there are four main Greek words for love:

• Eros:
  Passionate and romantic love between the sexes. Gives the word erotic.
• Phileo/philia:
  Brotherly love. A love between friends. (John 11:1, 3, Rom 12:10a).
  This is how Peter loved Jesus (John 21:15b, 21:16b–17),
  and also how Jesus loved John (John 20:2). 
• Storge:
  Family love. Not used in the New Testament.
• Agape/agapao:
  Unconditional love (Mat 5:44), see Love and not revenge
  in The Sermon on the Mount. It's the highest form of love. 
  Most love is self-directed, but not agape. It's a choice to love that way. That's how God loves us. God has chosen to love us so, no matter what (Eph 2:4–5). This is how Jesus loved John (John 13:23, 19:26, 21:7, 20),
  see the article: Why is the Apostle John known as the beloved?
  This is also the way we are called to love one another (John 13:34). 
  This is how a husband should love his wife (Eph 5:25).
  It's beyond us, not possible for us to achieve in our own strength. 
  We need the Holy Spirit to work it out in us. 

The Song of Solomon is about erotic love. The kind of love
a husband has for his wife and the wife has for her husband.

When God created erotic love, he had a plan and a purpose for it, see
the commentary to the 7th commandment in the The Ten Commandments. Lovemaking is a gift that God has given to marriage. God created it
for his own purpose and knows best how it should work.
When applied outside God's plan and purpose, it becomes a man-made perversion. 

The Song of Solomon contains the following types and symbols:

• The bridegroom: Solomon.
• The bride: The Shulamite virgin (Sng 6:13 (12 in some translations)).
  Her skin is dark (Sng 1:5).
• Wine: It's an image of something that brings joy.
• To bring her into his chambers (Sng 1:4): It's a picture of marriage.
  This couple is married. (Sng 2:7, 3:5, 8:4).

This married couple loves each other. They communicate and express their love 
with words to each other. (Eph 5:25–28). A wise man would learn what his wife likes, and a wise woman would learn what her husband likes and adjust accordingly. 
They must be faithful to each other (Sng 8:6),
see the commentary to the 7th commandment in the The Ten Commandments. 

See also The Old Testament of the Bible.

See the video: Why did the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah Fail after Years of Success?

Many of the kings of the southern kingdom (Judah) were ungodly, but some were good and followed the Lord. The Lord didn't destroy Judah for king David's sake. 
The Lord had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever (2 Kings 8:19, 2 Chron 21:7). This is finally fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
However, God used the pagan and evil king Nebuchadnezzar to execute judgement on Judah under their last king Zedekiah (see the end part below).

There was no good king at all in the the northern kingdom (Israel) after the division. No one turned from their paganism to the Lord. However, God used some of these ungodly kings in Israel such as Baasha, Zimri, and Jehu (see below) to execute
his judgements. God even used Hazael, king of Aram, to bring judgement on Israel.
But many times they went too far, see time 6:19–7:45 in Bible Q&A • Episode 4.

God can use whoever he wants to use to get his work done,
even pagan and evil kings, see God is sovereign in God's Attributes. 

See also time 6:05–20:32 in 37 Bible Characters Found Through Archaeology.

Kings of Judah and Israel

Kings of Judah in succession:

• Rehoboam, see Rehoboam and Jeroboam, and the Division of Israel.
• Abijah, see (below) Abijah of Judah.
• Asa, see King Asa of Judah.
• Jehoshaphat, 
  see Ahab of Israel and Jehoshaphat of Judah in Elijah the Prophet.
• Jehoram/Joram, see Jehoram of Judah in Elijah the Prophet.
  
• Ahaziah.
• Queen Athaliah.
• Jehoash/Joash, see Jehoash of Judah in Elisha the Prophet. 
• Amaziah, see (below) Amaziah of Judah.
• Uzziah/Azariah, see (below) Uzziah of Judah.
• Jotham.
• Ahaz, see Ahaz of Judah.
• Hezekiah, see King Hezekiah of Judah.
• Manasseh, see Manasseh of Judah.
• Amon.
• Josiah, see Josiah of Judah.
• Jehoahaz/Shallum.
• Jehoiakim/Eliakim, see Jehoiakim in The Curse of Jeconiah.
• Jeconiah/Coniah/Jehoiachin, see Jeconiah in The Curse of Jeconiah.
• Zedekiah/Mathaniah, see (below) Zedekiah of Judah.

Kings of Israel in succession:

• Jeroboam, see Rehoboam and Jeroboam, and the Division of Israel.
• Nadab, see (below) Nadab of Israel.
• Baasha, see (below) Baasha of Israel.
• Elah, see (below) Elah of Israel.
• Zimri, see (below) Zimri of Israel.
• Tibni.
• Omri, see (below) Omri of Israel.
• Ahab, see Ahab of Israel and 
  Ahab of Israel and Jehoshaphat of Judah in Elijah the Prophet.
• Ahaziah, see Ahaziah of Israel in Elijah the Prophet.
• Jehoram/Joram, see Jehoram of Israel in Elisha the Prophet.
• Jehu, see Jehu of Israel in Elisha the Prophet.
• Jehoahaz, see Jehoahaz of Israel in Elisha the Prophet.
• Jehoash/Joash, see Jehoash of Israel in Elisha the Prophet.
• Jeroboam II, see (below) Jeroboam II of Israel.
• Zechariah.
• Shallum.
• Menahem.
• Pekahiah.
• Pekah.
• Hoshea, see (below) Hoshea of Israel.

Abijah of Judah

Abijah reigned over Judah for three years. There was war between Abijah 
and Jeroboam who was king in Israel. Abijah went into battle
with an army of 400,000 fighting men and Jeroboam with 800,000 men. 
Abijah accused Jeroboam of making golden calves as their gods
and of making priests who weren't Levites.

Abijah said that those in Judah hadn't forsaken the Lord and that they observed
the Lord's requirements. The priests who served the Lord in Judah were the sons
of Aaron, and the Levites helped them. (1 Kings 15:1–2, 2 Chron 13:1–12).

Jeroboam sent troops around behind them, so that while he was in front
of Judah they were ambushed behind them. Judah turned and saw that they were
being attacked both in front and behind. Then they cried out to the Lord,
the priests blew their trumpets, and the men of Judah raised a battle cry.
At the sound of their battle cry, God drove Jeroboam and all Israel
before Abijah and Judah. The Israelites fled and God delivered them
into the hands of Judah. Abijah and his troops inflicted great losses on them,
so that there were 500,000 casualties among the men of Israel. The Israelites were subdued at that time, and the people of Judah won because they trusted in the Lord.
Jeroboam didn't regain power during Abijah's time.
The Lord struck Jeroboam and he died. (2 Chron 13:13–20).

Abijah grew in strength. He married 14 wives. (2 Chron 13:21). 
This was against the Mosaic Laws that a king wasn't to take many wives,
or his heart would be led astray (Deu 17:17a).

Abijah committed all the sins that his father had committed before him. His heart wasn't fully devoted to the Lord as king David's heart had been. (1 Kings 15:3–5).

God can do amazing and powerful things in our lives and it doesn't necessarily change the way we live. We can have miracles happen in our lives and still turn away from God. Abijah was completely outmatched in battle, cried out to the Lord
and defeated the enemy. We might think that such a miracle would make him
follow the Lord for the rest of his life. But that wasn't the case. Sometimes
people experience incredible miracles from the Lord and they still turn around
and go the other way, away from the Lord. That's one reason why we should be careful about praying for miracles. It doesn't necessarily change a person's heart.
It's more important to pray for a change of heart. Miracles can be forgotten.

Nadab of Israel

Nadab reigned over Israel for two years. He did what was evil in the sight
of the Lord and walked in the way of his father and in his sin which he made Israel
to sin. Baasha conspired against him and beat him. (1 Kings 15:25–28, 31).

God used Baasha to judge Jeroboam 's house 
despite Baasha walked the same path of sin. 

Baasha of Israel

Baasha reigned over Israel for 24 years. As soon as he became king, he killed
all the house of Jeroboam according to the Word of the Lord which he spoke through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. But he did what was evil
in the eyes of the Lord. The Word of the Lord came to prophet Jehu
against Baasha, saying that because he walked in the way of Jeroboam 
and caused his people Israel to sin, God would sweep away Baasha 
and his house as he did with the house of Jeroboam. All who belonged to Baasha and died in the city the dogs would eat, and all of him who died in the field the birds would eat. His son Elah became king in his place. (1 Kings 15:29–16:7).

God judged Baasha in the same way he had judged Jeroboam. 
Baasha never gave his heart to God.

Elah of Israel

Elah reigned over Israel for two years. His servant Zimri, commander
of half of his chariots, conspired against him. When Elah got drunk, 
Zimri came in and struck him and killed him and reigned in his place.
When he began to reign, as soon as he had sat on his throne,
Zimri struck down all the house of Baasha, according to the Word
of the Lord which he spoke to Baasha through Jehu the prophet,
for all the sins that Baasha and Elah had committed
and had caused Israel to commit. (1 Kings 16:8–14).

The kingdom of Israel had fallen into chaos. There is no order or godliness
at this time. This pagan thinking had taken over including how they run the country.

Zimri of Israel

Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah in Israel. When Israel's troops heard that Zimri
had conspired and killed the king, they made Omri, who was the leader of the army, king over Israel. Omri besieged Tirzah. When Zimri saw that the city was taken,
he entered the king’s house and burned it over him with fire, so that he died for his sins that he had committed. He did evil in the sight of the Lord,
and walked in the way of Jeroboam making Israel to sin. (1 Kings 16:15–20).

Omri of Israel

Omri reigned over Israel for twelve years; six years he reigned in Tirzah. 
He bought the hill of Samaria which he fortified, and called the city
which he built Samaria. Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord
and did more evil than all who were before him. (1 Kings 16:21–28).

Omri moved Israel's capital from Tirzah to Samaria, which he built. His dynasty lasted for four kings: Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, and Jehoram. They were good leaders from their secular faith point of view. But they were a disaster in the term
of spiritual integrity for the nation of Israel. They led Israel into greater crisis.
The ministries of Elijah and Elisha were directed at opposing these four men, because they were so wicked and ungodly and rewarded Baal worship.
But because they were gifted leaders from a secular point of view,
they brought prosperity to Israel, to be compared
to Laodicea in The Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation. 

Amaziah of Judah

Amaziah reigned over Judah for 29 years. He did what was right in the eyes
of the Lord, but not like David and not with all hias heart. He did in all that
what his father Jehoash king of Judah had done. But the sacrificial heights weren't removed; the people still sacrificed at the high places.
He struck down his servants who had struck down the king his father.
But he didn't kill the children of the murderers, according to the Mosaic Laws 
(Deu 24:16).  (2 Kings 14:1–6, 2 Chron 25:1–4).

Amaziah assembled the men of Judah, 300,000 capable of war. He also hired 100,000 mighty men from Israel. But a man of God told him not to let the army
of Israel go with him, for the Lord wasn't with Israel. Then Amaziah dismissed
the army of Israel to return home. But they became very angry with Judah 
and returned in fierce anger. Amaziah took courage and led his people out
and struck down 10,000 Edomites. They captured another 10,000 alive
and threw them down from the top of a rock. But the men of Israel
whom Amaziah sent back plundered the cities of Judah, killing 3,000 people,
and took much booty. (2 Kings 14:7, 2 Chron 25:5–13).

Amaziah employed the Israelites because of lack of faith. That wasn't God's will because of the apostasy in Israel. Amaziah obeyed the Word of God
and sent them back. But when he returned home, he brought back their pagan gods and worshipped them and sacrificed to them. Therefore the Lord was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who asked him why he sought the gods
of a people who couldn't rescue them. Amaziah ordered the prophet to stop talking. So he did but replied that the Lord would destroy Amaziah 
because of what he had done and not listened to his advice. (2 Chron 25:14–16).

Then Amaziah wanted to attack Israel. Jehoash, the king of Israel,
warned him not to do so, but Amaziah wouldn't listen, for it was God's will
to give Judah into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought the gods
of Edom. (2 Kings 14:8–11, 2 Chron 25:17–20).

It was God who had given Amaziah the victory over Edom,
but he believed that he had won the battle in his own strength.
The victory made him prideful, and he didn't listen to good advice.
Pride prevents a person from listening to good advice. 

Judah was defeated by Israel, and each fled to his home. Jehoash, king of Israel, captured Amaziah and broke down part of the wall of Jerusalem. He seized
all the gold, silver, and all the vessels that were in the temple and inside the treasury of the king’s house, also the hostages, and then he returned to Samaria.
There was a conspiracy against Amaziah and he fled to Lachish. But they went after him and killed him there. (2 Kings 14:12–22, 2 Chron 25:21–28).

Israel was a nation that gave over to paganism. Judah was a godly nation
for the most part. God allowed Judah to be defeated by an ungodly nation.
The reason was because Amaziah worshiped pagan gods
and because he was lifted up in pride. There is a spiritual principle
that pride goes before a fall (Proverbs 11:2, 16:18, James 4:6b, Gal 6:3).
God had to deal with his pagan worship and with his pride.

In the same way, as Christians, we can act in pride, especially after winning
a certain victory, thinking that the reason was only because of me. We always need to humble ourselves, see 3) Blessed are the meek in The Sermon on the Mount.

Jeroboam II of Israel

Jeroboam II reigned over Israel for 41 years. He did what was evil
in the eyes of the Lord. He didn't depart from all the sins of Jeroboam.
The Lord saw that Israel's suffering was very bitter
and he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam II. (2 Kings 14:23–29).

God was merciful to the people of Israel. Even though they had this evil king,
God rescued them by his hand, because of God's compassion for the people.

Uzziah of Judah

Uzziah reigned over Judah for 52 years. He did what was right in the eyes
of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
He decided to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who taught him godliness.
As long as he sought the Lord, God made him successful. 
Still, the sacrificial heights weren't removed.
The people still sacrificed on the high places. God helped him
against the Philistines. The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah,
and his fame spread even to the borders of Egypt, for he became very strong.
He had an army of 307,500 men trained for war. (2 Kings 15:1–4, 2 Chron 26:1–15).

But when Uzziah was strong, he became proud to his destruction.
For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple
to burn incense on the altar of incense. But the priest Azariah II 
entered after him with 80 priests of the Lord and told him that only the priests,
the descendants of Aaron, were consecrated to burn incense to the Lord.
He should leave the shrine because he had done wrong. Then Uzziah became angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry
with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead.
The chief priest Azariah II and all the priests rushed him out.
King Uzziah was a leper  until the day he died, and because he was a leper 
he lived in a separate house because he was barred from the temple. 
His son Jotham was over the king’s household and ruled the people of the land.
Jotham then reigned in his stead. (2 Kings 15:5–7, 2 Chron 26:16–23).

The prophet Isaiah served in the time off king Uzziah (2 Chron 26:22).

Uzziah authorised himself to enter the temple to burn incense,
something only the descendants of Aaron were allowed to do. 
Uzziah had become a proud man because of his great fame
and all that he had done, so he didn't listen to Azariah II or his priests.
God saw his disobedience and pride and caused leprosy to break out 
on his forehead. It was a sign of judgement from the Lord.
God declared by doing this, that this was an impure unacceptable behavior
on the part of the king. Uzziah showed no sign of repentance
or turning to the Lord in humility to perhaps be rid of the leprosy.

Hoshea of Israel

Hoshea reigned over Israel for nine years. He did what was evil
in the sight of the Lord, but not like the kings of Israel
who were before him. Shalmaneser V, the king of Assyria,
marched up against him. Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute. But Shalmaneser V found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So, the king of Egypt, and no longer offered any tribute to Shalmaneser V.
He therefore put Hoshea in prison. In the ninth year of Hoshea, 
Shalmaneser V captured Samaria, and he led the Israelites away to Assyria. This happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord
and had feared other gods and walked in the customs of the nations
that the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.
They forsook all the commandments of the Lord and made for themselves
metal images of two calves, they made an Asherah and worshiped
all the host of heaven, they served Baal and burned their sons and their daughters as sacrifices. They walked in all the sins that Jeroboam did. 
Israel was exiled from their own land to Assyria. (2 Kings 17:1–23).

Hoshea would be the last king to reign over Israel. Israel had now fallen.
Many people from Israel had moved to Judah over the years, meaning all the tribes of Israel were now represented in Judah. There was no tribe of Israel missing 
in Judah. (2 Chron 11:13–16). It was mostly the God-fearing people of Israel 
who moved to Judah for some of the kings in Judah were godly and feared the Lord.

Shalmaneser V of Assyria brought people from other nations
and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. These foreign people took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities. 
Shalmaneser V sent one of the priests whom they carried away to teach them
the law of the God of Israel. He taught them how to fear the Lord.
But each people still made their own gods and put them in the shrines
on the high places that the Samaritans had made, each people in the cities
in which they lived. They also feared the Lord but appointed from themselves
all kinds of people as priests of the high places.
They feared the Lord but also served their own gods. (2 Kings 17:24–41).

This area was no longer called Israel. In Jesus' time it was called Samaria. The Samaritans were a despised people. They had a small remnant of Jewish DNA, but they had also a lot of Gentile DNA. The real Jews of Jesus' day didn't even pass through their land. They thought it would defile them.

Zedekiah of Judah

Zedekiah reigned over Judah for 11 years. He did what was evil
in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim
had done. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 
(2 Kings 24:18–20, 2 Chron 36:11–16, Jer 37:1–2, 52:1–3).

This was contrary to what the Lord had told him to do, see Prophet Jeremiah.
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Judah at the direction of the Lord.
This pagan and evil king acted as a servant of the Lord
and was used by God to judge and chastise Judah.
It was God's will that Judah surrendered to Babylon, but they refused to do so. 

Similarly, God can sometimes rebuke and discipline us to get us
on the right track, see the beginning of The Book of James.

In the ninth year of his reign Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, 
came with all his army against Jerusalem and besieged it. When the Chaldeans
(see The Book of Nahum) who besieged Jerusalem heard the news
that Pharaoh's army was coming out of Egypt, they withdrew from Jerusalem.
Jeremiah then prophesied that Pharaoh's army would return to Egypt,
and then the Chaldeans would come back and fight against Jerusalem,
and they would burn it with fire. They returned and the city was besieged
until Zedekiah's eleventh year. (2 Kings 25:1–2, Jer 37:3–10, 39:1–2, 52:4–5).

The famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people
of the land. Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war
fled in the night. They went in the direction of Arabah. But the army
of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho,
and all his army was scattered from him. Then they took the king as prisoner
and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah. They slaughtered
Zedekiah's sons before his eyes, put out his eyes, bound him in chains,
and brought him to Babylon. (2 Kings 25:3–7, Jer 39:3–7, 52:6–11).

Jeremiah had several times prophesied to Zedekiah to surrender but he didn't listen. 
He had also prophesied about this, that it would happen (Jer 34:1–3).

In the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuzaradan,
the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
He burned the temple and the king’s house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. They broke down the walls
around Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan exiled the rest of the people
who remained in the city. But he left some of the poorest of the land to be vintners and ploughmen. He carried the bronze, silver, and gold from the temple to Babylon. He took several important men from the city and brought them
to the king of Babylon at Riblah. And the king of Babylon struck them down
and killed them in Riblah. Judah was exiled from their land. 
(2 Kings 25:8–21, 2 Chron 36:17–21, Jer 39:8–10, 52:12–27).

The reason Nebuchadnezzar decided to do this was because everyone
was constantly rebelling against Babylon from the kings of Judah.
He wanted to end it once and for all. This was also the end
of the magnificent Solomon's Temple. Zedekiah was their last king.

The Babylonian captivity lasted for 70 years until the land had enjoyed
its Sabbaths (2 Chron 36:21), see The Book of Habakkuk.

See also The Old Testament of the Bible.