Intro to the Divine Assembly Part Two: Facing Down High Strangeness

Now we get to the gravy on our dish. Nothing as exciting as a certain large Bear’s gravy, but fascinating to anyone who has noticed uncomfortable details while reading the Bible. But first here is a link to Part one of this series if you need to get caught up. This is the second part of the lesson, and will be more about the structure of Heaven and why things in the Bible transpire the way they do. So don’t miss the meat and potatoes encouraging the faithful to bravery in the face of adversity back in part one.

I’ve heard it said that the modern Pastor is a functional atheist. Saying all the spiritual things even as they downplay every paranormal event in the Bible and in their congregation’s lives. I concur. A modern Priest or Pastor is far more likely to call social services if a parent confided in them about a possession or demonic haunting in their home. The same can be said for their views of not just miracles in the Bible, but anything spiritual or “weird”. 

How many times have you been in a setting where a leader in the church has down played the odd to the disturbing? Maybe when the witch of Endor brings the Prophet Samuel back from the dead to speak to King Saul? (1 Samuel 28: 1-20) Or when God says let us make Man in OUR image (Genesis 1: 26) or who the heck these Nephilim giant dudes are?

Not here. The Bible is what it is. It is not our job to change the words or defend its content. God said what he said. He did what he did. You are the servant not the master so it's time we look at his words and deeds. All of them. Not just the ones that suit our enlightenment era addled minds are willing to accept. Buckle up because this chapter is just the appetizer, and we have a wild ride ahead of us.

Question 1: What was the most confusing or disturbing verse or chapter in the Bible you’ve read? Why and how have you handled the passage since?

Alright, the good part. Let's walk down this twilight zone where the churchian dare not tarry, and look the strangeness in the face. 

Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left.

And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’ “One suggested this, and another that.Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will entice him.’“ 

‘By what means?’ the LORD asked. “ ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. “ ‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’

“So now the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you.” 1 Kings 22: 19-23

You can almost hear those squeals and cries from all them theologians, try hard Calvinist types, and not to mention more than one churchian keyboard warrior. A spirit is sent by God to entice prophets to give false prophecies to trick Ahab into joining a battle where he would meet his untimely end. This sounds more like a Greek play about a poor sod who had angered the petty gods enough to warrant a bloody fate. 

But this is the Bible, and this is a brief snapshot of the decision making process in the Heavens. We see that God doesn’t just make his children who contain his likeness and image because he’s lonely or because he just wants to create or whatever modern trivial explanation we hear from various scholars, pastors, and theologian types desperate to paint God as so omnipotent that a sneeze from him could solve the universes’ problems. All the mental gymnastics and word games are geared to word play around the sticky issues like why he made creation or doesn’t solve everything now. 

I don’t have answers for all those difficult questions. I have some theories, but never trust anyone who says they know exactly how the Bible and God’s court functions. We see through a glass darkly. I can tell you that God’s children and servants have jobs in the Heavens and on Earth. Here we see this at play as God comes to his divine council to debate how King Ahab should meet his end.

We can see a similar event again in Psalms 82 as God calls spirits, known as Watchers in other parts of the Bible, for doing a horrible job at ruling over and guiding the nations. We can see these beings at war with one another, some in the service of the God of Heaven’s armies, one in rebellion to him.

Then he (the angel/prince/watcher) continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.” Daniel 10: 12-13

This is just scratching the surface of this particular topic. But for our needs in this quickly bloating lesson we will concentrate on a couple of points, and leave more deep diving for another day. Looking at the passage we see how God’s will is enacted while maintaining free will in his servants.

God’s will was for the demise of King Ahab at the battle over Ramoth Gilead how that was to be done was given over to the various members of the divine assembly. One eventually coming up with a scheme to entice Ahab to his doom. 

“ ‘By what means?’ the LORD asked. “ ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. “ ‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ 1 Kings 22: 22

Interesting to also note is Ahab was given a final chance and his free will left intact since he was not forced into his decision. Rather the spirit of God used his rebellion and selfish desires against the King to bring him to his demise. We will explore that little nugget in the last part of this lesson series come Wednesday. 

Now we come full circle as we see the job and task given to the Prophet Micaiah that was not only to show the stubborn evil of Ahab, but to give us a snapshot of how the heavenly courts function. Not just that, but give us an example of a man courageously doing his duty in the job given to him by his creator knowing full well that Ahab would not listen. Knowing what would befall himself for his bravery. As Paul said, rejoice when you are persecuted for God’s name. For Jesus Christ our savior. Be brave and courageous. It’s our task to complete the job God has given us. Let God handle the rest.

In Part Three we will explore the last chance offered the doomed King Ahab, and just a taste of Free Will versus Predestination debate. Be looking for that little bit of fun on Wednesday evening.

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Grizzly signing out.