Most High God
Gonna get back to Dan 6 next time
Dan 4 (6x's) & 5 (2x's)
Dan 4:2
It hath seemed good unto me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God hath wrought toward me.
Dan 4:17
The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men.
Dan 4:24
this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
Dan 4:25
that thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and shalt be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee; till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Dan 4:32
and thou shalt be driven from men; and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Dan 4:34
And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation;
Obviously Most High deserves the praise and honor. But why Most High? Or there "lesser gods"?
Megan asked this question a few weeks ago?
Dan 4:17a, says:
"The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones"
But who are these watchers/holy ones?
For what purpose?
Dan 4:17b
"to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men."
The Most High gets (and deserves) credit. What part might these watchers/holy ones play? Are they the "lesser gods"?
Psa 82:1
1 A Psalm of Asaph. God (h430) standeth in the congregation of God (h410); He judgeth among the gods (h430).
"Elohim" in the OT (H430)
-here are the 6 primary but different ways it is used
Show
Elohim...
This is not just a synonym for God. Has other meanings too. Seems to be a word to describe spirit beings.
Back to Ps 82:1
God standeth"...
...in the congregation of God
...in the congregation of the mighty
...divine assembly
...divine council
Congregation - (h5712), assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm, council
Of God - (h410) god, god-like one, mighty, mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes angels, false god, (demons, imaginations) God, one true God, Jehovah mighty things in nature strength, power
...So God has taken his place (stands) in the divine council (assembly/congregation); in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
God seems to be the 'big boss'.
He stands and begins to judge.
Who is he judging?
-Those "gods" in the divine council/congregation or assembly) (could be called spiritual beings such as angels, demons, spiritual heads of foreign nations, even spirits of human dead)
Psalms 82:2-5
2 How long will ye judge unjustly, And respect the persons of the wicked? 3 Judge the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. 4 Rescue the poor and needy: Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. 5 They know not, neither do they understand; They walk to and fro in darkness: All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
God stands and rips into these spiritual beings on His divine council, assembly or congregation.
***Seems like there has been some sort of mutiny on His Divine Council***
They unjustly judged
They respected the wicked
They should have defended the poor and fatherless
They should have done right to the afflicted and needy
They should have delivered the poor and needy out of the hands of the wicked
Those they judged don't understand and are in misery
Psalms 82:6-8
6 I said, Ye are gods, And all of you sons of the Most High. 7 Nevertheless ye shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes. 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; For thou shalt inherit all the nations.
Vs 6: 'Ye are gods' & 'all sons of the most high'
Vs 7: (God's judgement) 'ye shall die like me'
***The implication is that these aren't humans because they are being compared to men***
Vs 8: Arise, O God, judge the earth; For thou shalt inherit all the nations.
Wonder who speaks this? Asaph?
When does he inherit all the nations?
What nation does God own now?
Does he own all the nations now? Who does?
Another passage w Divine council/Congregation of the divine?
Psa 89:5-7
5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Jehovah; Thy faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. 6 For who in the skies can be compared unto Jehovah? Who among the sons of the mighty is like unto Jehovah, 7 A God very terrible in the council of the holy ones, And to be feared above all them that are round about him?
Assembly of the holy ones?
Who in the skies/heavens can be compared to God?
Who among the sons of the mighty is like unto the Lord.
God is very terrible in the council of the holy ones. (Greatly to be feared)
Example of God and His use of The Divine Council
***Share the map of Israel and Judah***
We scene of 1Kings 22:
God split nation of Israel into two, Israel and Judah.
King Ahab (Israel) wicked & Godly King Jehoshaphat (Judah)
Peace has been established btw Israel and their neighbor of Syria (or Aram)
Altho Israel's town of Rathoth-Gilead is still occupied by Syria
Ahab (King of Israel) and Jehoshaphat (King of Judah) discuss whether to go and reclaim Ramoth-Gilead
1Ki 22:1-5
1 And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. 2 And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth-gilead is ours, and we are still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria? 4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. 5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire first, I pray thee, for the word of Jehovah.
***Jehoshaphat says "can we pray and ask God about this first?"
1Kings 22:6-9
6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king. 7 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah besides, that we may inquire of him? 8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Jehovah, Micaiah the son of Imlah: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.
***Summary***
Ahab's prophets tell him that God will give him Ramoth-Gilead into his hands.
Jehoshaphat doesn't trust Ahab's prophets and asks Ahab if there isn't another prophet of God to inquire of.
Ahab says the Micaiah is available but that he hates him since he only prophecies evil towards him.
They bring Micaiah to the kings.
1Ki 22:10-14
10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until they be consumed. 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king. 13 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak thou good. 14 And Micaiah said, As Jehovah liveth, what Jehovah saith unto me, that will I speak.
***Summary***
Both kings sitting there as Ahab's false prophets are prophesying good things
One even makes 'horns of iron' suggesting that God will 'thrust' the Syrians until they are consumed
As Micaiah is coming in, one of Ahab's prophets tell him to prophecy good like all the other prophets did
Micaiah tells him that he will say what God tells him to say
1Kings 22:15-17
15 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go up and prosper; and Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king. 16 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou speak unto me nothing but the truth in the name of Jehovah? 17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Jehovah said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace.
***Summary***
Wonder why he says "go up, God will deliver it into your hand"?
How did Ahab know Micaiah's first answer wasn't truthful?
What does his second word mean?
I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace.
1Kings 22:18-23
18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil? 19 And Micaiah said, Therefore hear thou the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 20 And Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner; and another said on that manner. 21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, I will entice him. 22 And Jehovah said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do so. 23 Now therefore, behold, Jehovah hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets; and Jehovah hath spoken evil concerning thee.
Here is "Spiritual Picture of the Divine Council at Work"
God on His throne
Hosts of heaven on His left and His right
God says to his host (council/assembly) "who shall entice Ahab to go and fall at Ramoth-Gilead?"
Notice God entertains suggestions as to HOW.
-He has already determined WHAT.
Does He need input?
-No it how he chooses to rule, with input from his council (assembly/Congregation)
who entices Ahab?
-False prophets
Lying spirit?
-remember the elohim (gods)
-some angels
-some demons
-spiritual beings given charge of nations
-even spirits of some dead humans (like Samuel)
4. So God uses good and bad for His purpose and has complete control of them
Psa 89:7
A God very terrible in the council of the holy ones, And to be feared above all them that are round about him?
1Ki 22:24-28
24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Jehovah from me to speak unto thee? 25 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. 26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; 27 and say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace. 28 And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, Jehovah hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hear, ye peoples, all of you.
**Micaiah slapped, yelled at, thrown in prison, given the bread and water of affliction
1Ki 22:29-37
29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle. 31 Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty and two captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel. 32 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel; and they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. 34 And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded. 35 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even; and the blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot. 36 And there went a cry throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his country. 37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.
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