David was deceived… Will you be?

Be not deceived
A scripture that I regularly mention is Matthew 24:3-4. The disciples were wanting to know what to look for as a sign of Yeshua’s return. When Yeshua replied He said, “Take heed that no man deceive you”.

Recently I was checking out an interview of a well respected Bible teacher. He has spent many years in the trenches. In the interview, he was asked “do you think we’re really in the end”?

In response, the man said that one of his favorite Scriptures was Mt. 24:3-4. This understandably caught my attention. The man went on to talk about how great the deception is today; and it certainly is. Not only here in America, but seemingly, all over the world.

David “numbered Israel”
Deception is a very, very prevalent issue: Not only today, but all throughout the Bible. In fact, back in First Chronicles Chapter 21, there is a very interesting scripture that you really should be familiar with.

1 Chronicles 21:1 relates that the satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel. The text is clear that David was provoked by the satan.

So regardless of exactly if it was the satan himself, or if he was speaking through someone else, it was certainly not of God. And so a question that I have for you today is “do you think that David was aware that the numbering of Israel was not his own thought?

Do you think that David was aware that he was being provoked to number Israel? Or do you think that David thought it was his own idea?

Imagine David sitting in his chair in his royal room, contemplating his situation. Maybe he was praying: “Yahweh God, what do you think I should do? Look at all those who are gathered against me”. Hearing nothing in return he then thinks; well, “I really need to know if I have enough soldiers for this battle”. So he counts them.

So when that thought came to him, do you think he thought it was his own thought? Or do you think that maybe he was aware that he was being influenced? I think that most people would agree that he probably had no idea that he was being provoked to number Israel. I think that the context would bear that out.

If David can be deceived…
And so in Matthew 24, Yeshua says, “Take heed that you’re not deceived”. Yet there is every reason to believe that, that is exactly what happened in 1 Chronicles 21. David was deceived by being provoked.

And so we can look at this and consider that if David, “a man after God’s heart” was deceived, then where does that leave us?

David was clearly filled with Holy Spirit yet still, he was provoked by the satan with a thought that wasn’t his own.

From deception to glory
The Renewed Covenant (N/T), tells us that all of the things that happened to those in the O/T (Tanakh) happened so that we would know by their example how to go forth in the things of God today.

So moving forward from David, Isaiah chapter 60 is a Messianic prophecy. Isaiah 60:1 says Arise, shine for your light is come and the glory of Yahweh is risen upon you.

It’s a prophetic scripture saying “Arise, shine, be illuminated: For your light, the Messiah, the one who gives illumination has come and the glory of Yahweh God has risen upon you”.

Similarly, 2 Corinthians 3:18 says “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Yeshua brings the illumination of glory
In the renewed covenant we see the Messiah illuminating mankind.

Luke 10:21 says I thank you, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them unto babes:

God hides what he will from who he will. And for those who come to Him as children, he will reveal His ways. He will reveal to you what He wants us to reveal.

It should be obvious that we shouldn’t want to be “glorified” in a way that is an offense to the Most High as the satan wanted to be (and still does). He is a rebel who led the rebellion against Yahweh God.

However, when we neglect to seek all that God has for us we fail to glorify Him as much as we could.

We should desire to be glorified so that we are a better reflection of The Glorious One so that He is glorified even more than before if that were possible.

So when was the last time you meditated upon the reality that God wants to enlighten and glorify you?

Deception prevents us from glorifying God
Deception has been prevalent ever since the garden. Again, this is why Yeshua said in Matthew 24:3 to make sure that you’re not deceived.

Adam was deceived as was Eve, Cain, Job, Abraham, Sarai, Aaron, David, Peter: Many in the Bible were deceived at one time or another in one way or another.

So how do you prevent yourself from being deceived?
Ephesians, Chapter one gives us a very, very clear answer. Here we have a prayer of Apostle Paul.

I do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might ²⁰ which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 1:16-23

Pray the prayer of Apostle Paul continuously; every day and any other time that you need wisdom or knowledge. If you do, a whole new dimension can open up to you. A dimension where deception is greatly minimized and you can’t but hear the voice of God.

When the satan provoked David, the devil began to steal, kill and destroy David’s destiny. He wants to do the same thing with you. He wants to devour the destiny that God has for you by giving you thoughts that you think are yours. He wants to steal and then murder your destiny because he is a thief and a murderer. I hate him. I hope you do too.

The satan stands against all life. He represents death. The Most High God represents life. He wants only life for you. He said, choose life. So I encourage you today: Don’t be deceived. Choose life. Be enlightened by the Messiah and His Holy Spirit. Embrace the knowledge and understanding that only He can give you.

When you walk in truth, and the glory of God, Yahweh God is glorified and magnified.

Blessings in Yeshua, 
Parson Rayphe
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