The Interpreter

And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him. 2Sa 21 :20-21

The Interpreter comes into our lives when we are the most vulnerable and innocent.

• It may be our mother holding a spoon with a new food in front of us, and smiling, saying, “Open wide, Honey. This will help you grow strong and smart.” So we open our mouth and swallow it, imagining ourselves becoming stronger and smarter.
• Or it might be our first grade teacher interpreting interesting shapes as numbers or letters or words upon which our whole educational life will be built.
• Or it might be when we don’t feel well and go to our doctor. He pulls out our lab test results and points to some numbers with :HIGH” OR “LOW” before them and says, “This is why you aren’t feeling well.” He then prescribes a “get well” program and sends us home.

These (and many more can be given) are illustrations of how dependent we are to the Interpreters in our life. Their influence is powerful, for what we are taught in our innocence can go with us the rest of our time on this earth, molding our thoughts, choices, arguments, and behavior. And this will be whether the Interpreter is Jesus decoding the principles of Heaven during His Sermon on the Mount, or Satan handing us a fruit from the Tree of Knowledge and explaining how it will make us stronger and wiser.

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By now it has been quite apparent that each giant studied has been a counterpart of one of the kingdoms of Nebuchadnezzar’s image described in Daniel 2. This giant is no exception. The description in the verse above identifies him with the iron kingdom, specifically, the notable horn of Rome.

1. no name given
2. the place of battle
3. size
4. association with a number
5. his father
6. the circumstances of his death

NO NAME GIVEN

This fourth giant in our study remains nameless, though his three brothers were identified by names—just like the fourth kingdom in Daniel 7 (the first three were described as specific creatures; the fourth was not identified with any particular animal):

The first was like a lion… Dan 7:4

And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear… Dan 7:5

After this I beheld, and Io another, like a leopard… Dan 7:6

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly… Dan 7:1

Names often describe origin, or identify specific characteristics.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Gen 2:23

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name lshmael [God will hear]; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. Gen 16:11

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name lmmanuel [God is with us]. Isa 7:14

 If a name is purposely withheld in describing an individual, then something of a mystery surrounds that person, AT LEAST AS FAR AS UNDERSTANDING HIM. Who is he? Where does he come from? What is his purpose for being here? What is he really like? Such a mystery encircles the horn of Rome who is out to take God’s place.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.  2Th 2:3 

In order to deceive he must maintain an aura of mystery, so as not to be discovered. Is he a serpent (Gen. 3:1)? Is he an “angel of light” (2Cor. 11:14)? Is he a lion (1Pet. 5:8)? When Jesus was about to help a man vexed with a power of darkness , He demanded the devil to identify himself by name.

And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. Luke 8:30

THE PLACE OF BATTLE

It’s not very difficult to portray certain characteristics on a person when you know something about the place of battle—especially if that person is there voluntarily, and leading the fray. Consider these individuals: [a] a religious zealot, [b] an anti-abortion advocate, [c] a power-hungry world leader, [d] a racial extremist, and [e] a powerful labor union activist. In what battle would you place each in the list that follows? Would you expect to find them in one or more of the other activities?[1]

1. A country with rich oil fields
2. A recently burned abortion center
3. A large nonunionized assembly plant
4. An isolated religious community in Waco, Texas
5. A white segregated bus in which a black woman demands a ride

How did you do? Was it hard to match them up? It works the same way with this giant. The only time we hear of him is when he is trying to defend or capture Gath. Obviously, there is something about Gath that interests him.

Gath was likely home territory since it was the home of Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4,23), this giant’s deceased father. It occupied a strong position on the borders of Judah and Philistia. It had been one of the royal cities of the Philistines, but was at this time now part of Canaan, the inheritance of God’s people. As we follow the history of Gath throughout the Old Testament we notice it is constantly being captured and recaptured. It appears in I Chron. 18:1 that David conquered the city, yet we find in I Chron. 20:6 that the Philistines, led by this giant, had initiated another battle here. There is something about Gath that appears very important to both camps. Perhaps the name may help us a bit.

The name Gath means “wine-vat”, a place for holding grapes in pressing them. Grapes, wine, vineyards, besides offering valuable industries, have often had spiritual associations.

For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel. (Isa 5:7).

Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country…. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them [the husbandmen of the vineyard]. Mat 21:33, 45

This cup [of grape juice] is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Luke 22:20

And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. Rev 14:18

The association of the giant with “wine-vats’, then, suggests this giant may have some connection with spiritual powers. As we look at the little horn power, the haughty see of Rome, we notice he, too, is connected with grapes and wine.

With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. Rev 17:2

The woman of Revelation 17, representing “Babylon”, is described as “arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness…“. She represents a church, a persecuting power,“drunken with the blood of the saints”. This power was the church of Rome who for centuries persecuted and killed Christians who didn’t follow her dogmas.

SIZE

A point is made of the giant’s size. Height is often equated with greatness in figurative language. The taller a person, the more they are usually feared or respected. One of the names of God is “the Most High God’[2]. Apparently, this giant represents something very important. The Hebrew word used for “great stature” includes much more than physical height. It’s a measurement word: tribute (as measured), a vesture or dress (as measured), a portion (as measured). Measurement, however, necessitates a standard, yet we are not given an exact measurement, or a specific standard by which to measure this giant (like cubits). It is left to us to use our own standard for “greatness.” Also the Hebrew word is associated with extensiveness (as by stretching). This suggests that the size may not always be actual, but occasionally inflated or stretched beyond normal limits, like a rubber band or balloon at its maximum.

Situations can make this giant appear larger than life—a significant characteristic of the little horn power of Rome. Much of her religion includes things to charm the eye and captivate the ear, to impress the senses of her greatness. Her grand cathedrals, lofty domes, pillared isles, unsurpassed music, imposing processions, jeweled shrines, exquisite sculptures, captivating artistry, and colorful robes appeal to the senses, but do not necessarily give evidence of a pure heart.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.  Mat 23:27 

Delicate refinement, lofty concepts of art, brilliancy of style are not necessarily an index of holy, elevated thought. They often exist in minds that are sensual and worldly. Satan can use these to lead people to forget the necessities of the soul, to focus on the earthly attractions instead of the future, immortal life, to turn away from their infinite Helper, and to live for this world alone. A religion based on externals is attractive to the unconverted heart. Pomp and ceremony can have a seductive, bewitching power to such a soul; and they come to look upon the Roman church as the very gate of heaven.

In God’s kingdom true wealth is measured on the inside.

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 1Sa 16:7 

God does not make the outside appear more important (or even equal in value) than what is on the inside. In the sanctuary that the Lord directed Moses to build, imposing and grand architecture was omitted. There was nothing on the outside to attract the senses. This was to be an illustration of Himself[3], when He would come as a man.

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. Isaiah 53:2 

This giant is considered VERY IMPORTANT, yet no standard is given to define his actual size. In fact, it is even suggested his size could be stretched or inflated. This indicates our perception of him as an enemy may be dependent on things not all related to real size or worth. This, the Bible is telling us, will characterize the little horn power of Rome.

ASSOCIATION WITH A NUMBER

We must ever keep in mind that our introductory text is describing an enemy, and in this case we are to fear more who or what he is than any physical weapon he may try to use against us.

So we are now instructed to look at his hands and feet. What do they tell us?

Look what the Bible associates the Hands with, the things we do for others or ourselves.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave where you go. Ecc 9:10 

Hands can also express thought, like in sign language. Have you ever watched a person making gestures with his hands while talking on a phone? Its just part of our nature to “talk” with our hands! Hands are used for so many things. Often when we are grieving we wring our hands, or feeling need of help we hold out our hands to others. It used to be a common practice to raise the hands in worship and praise. Hands are so much involved in the activities of mankind that often the hand alone is used to represent the person’s thought. The mark of the beast, spoken about in Revelation 13:16, is given in the hand as well as in the forehead. The bloodless hand that wrote out Belshazzar’s sentence (Daniel 5) expressed the thoughts of the Great Judge Himself.

Hands identify with service as well. Without hands, helping others would become most difficult.

Feet are associated with the choices we make (Psalm 73:2), or the direction we take in life (Psalm 119:105; Eph. 6:15). To try to help His disciples understand the true nature of their hearts, Christ washed their feet. Mary Magdalene, wanting to express her love and devotion before His death, anointed Jesus feet (as well as His head) with a costly ointment.

If you strip everything mankind does as represented by the hands and feet, you have very little left, except perhaps for some intellectual concepts! It is interesting that both Christ’s hands and feet were impaled to the cross, as if everything He tried to do for His people and the principles He stood for were rejected. These four members represent the expression of man’s thought and actions. The only other way he can express himself is with his head, and we shall be considering that shortly (but it won’t be any different than what he does with his hands and feet!).

As we look at this giant’s external members we are considering his real nature, what he does and where he is heading in life. And we see something very unusual. He has 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot. The scripture makes quite a point of this, even giving the total number of digits (24) that we not misunderstand.

What this does is gets us to think that the number 6 with this particular enemy is not normal. Every place we expect to see 5 we see 6. Something has been added, and because we are considering an enemy, that something is NOT GOOD!

5 appears to be the number for FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, as characterized the lifeforms on Day 5 of Creation. And the fives in man certainly lend themselves to flexibility. His head, two outstretched arms, and two outstretched legs represent almost everything that man uses to conceive and do. Even at the end of each of these five parts we find another group of 5: 5 fingers on each hand, 5 toes on each foot, and 5 senses in the head. Man’s use of these five areas defines his individuality as well as his ability to interact with his environment. Limit him in any of these areas and you restrict his potential.  Every human, except by accident or mutation, has these five parts. But this characteristic of man, freedom of movement and expression, is not supported in the Interpreter. Does he have another agenda?

THE ADDITION OF 1  [one]

In Hebrew the number 6 is considered simply as an overplus (beyond the five fingers of the hand). But what the addition of I does in the story is noteworthy.

      [1] It draws attention to the giant’s hands (works) and feet (ways).

      [2] It links these with an abnormality, something out of the ordinary. 

      [3] It associates the number 6 with an enemy of God’s people.

This association is also made with the giant’s counterpart, the little horn power, in Revelation.

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is 600 60 and 6.  Revelation 13:18 

Consider the effect of what the addition of I does to the character of a substance. The addition of one can make a real difference, as the Periodic Table of the Elements portrays. Gold has 79 protons in its nucleus. Toxic mercury has 80. If some scientist found a way to add just one more proton to all the gold in the world, what would happen to those countries where gold is the standard for all monetary exchanges? Would that prove a problem to the business world? That’s the effect of the giant’s addition to the expression of man’s thought and actions, man’s freedom to conceive and do, to develop his potential and individuality—what we term as TRUE EDUCATION!

THE UNFAVORABLE ELEMENT

Since the unnamed giant is portrayed as an enemy of God’s people, the variation in number that describes him must contain an unfavorable element, something unique that is not available to those who are “confined” to five. We should see something added to the concept of true education (to develop the power to think and do) that distorts the work of our hands and the direction given to our feet. This is similar to what free radicals do to healthy cells and tissues in the body. They add an extra element to normal cells and tissues, thus converting them to a toxic substance in the body.

The biblical description of the counterpart of this 6-digit giant pictures him not as a man but rather as the great red dragon in Revelation 12. And where is the emphasis? Yes, he has many heads, horns and crowns (verse 3), but it’s what he does with his tail that identifies him as an antagonist of truth. By deception He was able to draw 1/3 of the angels of heaven to himself, and were eventually cast out of heaven to this earth (12:4, 7-9). Humans do not have tails, but Satan is often pictured as a red person with a tail ending with a sharp point. Do tails help us understand the unfavorable element added to true education to make it toxic?

The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. Isa 9:15

And his [the serpent’s] tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them onto the earth…. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world… Rev 12:4,9

The first time tail is mentioned in the Bible is when Moses was being instructed by God on how to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 4:4). Moses had just thrown his rod down at God’s command, and noticed it became a serpent. Then he was told to pick it up by its tail and it became a rod again. So the first association we have with tails has to do with snakes and serpents and “magic”. (The Egyptian magicians were able to duplicate this rod-to-snake phenomenon.) Later, as we have noticed in Revelation, tails are used to denote deception: deliberate misrepresentation of facts by words, actions, etc., generally to further one’s end.

What does lying do to truth, to science, to relationships, to character? This giant does not have a little lie attached in some inconspicuous place. It is in both hands (works) and both feet (ways, or choices in life). He is out to deceive in every way possible!

This characteristic of deception is part of the 4^th kingdom in Daniel 2’s image, Rome.

THE SON WHO DEFIES

It is implied in the giant’s description that his father was Goliath. Like his brother, Lahmi, this giant also reflects an attribute of his father. Note what Goliath did to arouse David’s purpose to slay him, and what Goliath’s unnamed son did to arouse David’s nephew to kill him.

(about Goliath) Your servant killed both the lion and the bear. And this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God. 1Sa 17:36

(about the unnamed giant) When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother killed him. 1Ch 20:7

The word “defied” means to pull off, i.e. (by implication) to expose (as by stripping); to defame or blaspheme. Whatever he did, whatever he said, was an offense to God and an embarrassment to God’s people. Both father and son were skilled in it. And we can expect Rome’s little horn power to be equally skilled in blasphemy.

If the father and son were so close, what effect would it have on the son to have his father killed by someone? To an unconverted heart, would revenge and bitterness be added to one’s already evil character? Would it make him any more sly and cautious? This giant is downright dangerous! He reminds us of another giant we are warned about in the New Testament. He, too, is vengeful and bitter and very crafty!

Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and in the sea! For the Devil came down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a little time. Rev 12:12

And he is likened to a serpent! (And note what the serpent does!)

And the great dragon was cast out, the old serpent called Devil, and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Rev 12:9

THE BATTLE

And when he defied Israel,

Jonathan the son of Shimeah,

the brother of David,

killed him.

2Sa 21:21

Nothing happened until the giant opened his mouth. Deception is a terrible thing. It is designed to be transparent, silent, tasteless, odorless, and even somewhat pleasurable. It can be all around us and within us with everything appearing normal. And around it long enough, we will eventually invite it into our schools to teach our children, look for it in our healthcare facilities to get us well, and insist on its smooth words in the pulpits to direct our worship. During the day we will run our businesses and factories by it, and seek for it to entertain us in the evening. All is well, until Deception opens its mouth.

And what comes out? The very spirit that inspired it: bitterness, hatred, blasphemies, belittling accusations, faultfinding, defiance, resentments, and curses. Often Satan deceives us to divert our loyalty to him, and then humiliates and embarrasses us by that very loyalty, causing guilt and shame. Deception makes no friends. It’s a fiendish foe that enjoys belittling its victims until there is no joy left in life. When Deception finally speaks we realize we have been duped and are powerless against it. Some who have heard its voice have ended their life to silence their torment. Others turn to vice after vice to drown out those voices. Still others mysteriously lose their minds or go on a killing rampage on those around them. Very few turn to God.

This defiance of God and His believers is another characteristic of the beast of Rome (Daniel 7:8; Revelation 13:5).

God is our only answer. He knows who to send to help us, as He did for the sin-weakened king of IsraeI— sending David’s nephew, his third oldest brother’s son. We’ll look soon at the deliverer God designed to destroy this most terrible giant.

KINGDOM OF IRON

You may have observed with the other three giants a comparison has been made with the first three kingdoms of Daniel 2, in order. It would be hard to miss it.

Babylon — gold — self-sufficient prosperity

Medo-Persia — silver — obedience to human laws — limiting

Greece — brass — worldly philosophy, humanism — consuming

You may have also noted that God’s solutions to each of the problems included His version of the main theme.

• The slayer of lshbibenob, Worldly Prosperity, was one who used prosperity to help those suffering and in need. Both were identified by the prosperous number 300.
• Saph, the great Coach, fell at the hand of him who learned to limit his counselors and friends to those who were full of faith and enthusiasm for the advancement of God’s kingdom.
• Lahmi, the Philistine champion who used worldly philosophy (and entertainment) to corrupt divine truth and consume us from within, was overcome by God’s champion who had Truth, the True Bread as his counselor and the graciousness of God as his defender.

Well, we have come to the fourth giant and the fourth kingdom. By now we should be thinking, “What can the iron kingdom of Rome teach me about this mysterious no-named giant?”

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.  Dan 7:7

What does IRON characterize? And what did IRON symbolize in history? Simply put: strength and force to the rulers, the loss of power of choice and independent action to the subjects of the kingdom. In Christ’s time Rome was in power, and the Jews hated the Roman yoke. They longed to break its control over their nation, and hoped Christ would be the promised Deliverer. Well, He was, but not in the way they were hoping. Christ taught them to not resist the Roman yoke.

And whoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two. Mat 5:41

An allusion, probably, to the practice of the Romans and some Eastern nations, who, when government dispatches had to be forwarded, obliged the people not only to furnish horses and carriages, but to give personal attendance, often at great inconvenience, when required. But the thing here demanded is a readiness to submit to unreasonable demands of whatever kind rather than raise quarrels, with all the evils resulting from them. (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary on Mat. 5:41)

Brutal force is often characteristic of weakness.

Paul now returned to Damascus, and preached boldly in the name of Jesus. The Jews could not withstand the wisdom of his arguments, and they therefore counseled together to silence his voice by force— the only argument left to a sinking cause. They decided to assassinate him. 3SP 319

The Interpreter, the unnamed foe of God’s people is not just an imp who enjoys tricking us any chance he can get for a good laugh, but an evil mind that wants complete control of us, and then to spit us out onto the rubbish heap when he is through with us. He accomplishes his end by DISTORTING OUR DISCERNING POWERS so he can force us into doing those things we would be aghast to do were we in our right mind. The intent of this kind of deception is to bind us by iron chains to obedience to Satan’s dictates. Daniel 2 tells us that the kingdom of iron extends all the way to the time of the end (represented by the feet). This unnamed giant is a last-day issue as well.

If this giant is anything like his brothers, then we should expect his demise would involve a different kind of force, and a different kind of obedience, a divine application of “iron” in the very end of time. A brief look in Revelation shows that we shall not be disappointed!

And “He will shepherd them with an iron staff [rod]” (they are “broken to pieces like clay vessels’), as I also have received from My Father.  Rev. 2:27 LITV (Ps. 2:8, 9)

And she bore a son, a male, who is going to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.  Rev 12:5

And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, so that with it He should strike the nations. And He will shepherd them [lead them to green pastures] with a rod of iron. And He treads the winepress of the wine of the anger and of the wrath of Almighty God.  Rev 19:15 [Is there a connection here with winepress (Gath?) and iron?]

God’s Deliverer: JONATHAN = JEHOVAH-GIVEN

God has many names in the Bible. What is special about this name, Jehovah, the I AM, the Self-Existent One, that helps define the one who slew this giant? The name comes from the root “to be, or become”.

Jehovah points to Himself becoming the Child of Bethlehem, One (become) like us. God first made man in His perfect image, then He made Himself into our fallen image. What love!

It was Christ who from the bush on Mount Horeb spoke to Moses saying, “I AM THAT I AM: … Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” This was the pledge of Israel’s deliverance. So when He came “in the likeness of men,” He declared Himself the I AM. The Child of Bethlehem, the meek and lowly Saviour, is God “manifest in the flesh.” 1 Tim. 3:16. {Faith I Live By, p 47}

It connects Christ to us as our Saviour, the One we are to behold, that we may become like Him in character (the object of True Education).

The incarnate I AM is our abiding Sacrifice. The I AM is our Redeemer, our Substitute, our Surety. He is the Daysman between God and the human soul, our Advocate in the courts of heaven, our unwearying Intercessor, pleading in our behalf His merits and His atoning sacrifice. The I AM is our Saviour. In Him our hopes of eternal life are centered. He is an ever-present help in time of trouble. In Him is the assurance of every promise. We must acknowledge and receive this almighty Saviour; we must behold Him, that we may be like Him in character. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” Signs of Times, May 3,1899 par. 15

It leads us to the Third Angel’s Message, the message that presents the character of Christ to a fallen world (the work of true education).

The truths of the third angel’s message have been presented by some as a dry theory; but in this message is to be presented Christ the Living One. He is to be revealed as the first and the last, as the I AM, the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright and morning Star. Through this message the character of God in Christ is to be manifested to the world. 6T 20

What about the —GIVEN part of his name? It was not a reward for some heroic deed nor a wage for faithful service. This Babe of Bethlehem was God’s all-sufficient gift to us, an undeserved gift that satisfies all of our need. God foresaw our condition and gave us what would satisfy our need, that nothing would hinder us in our return to Him. The intent of this gift was not to force us back into His presence with mindless obedience, but to open pathways whereby we could voluntarily choose His presence again. It dispels the darkness of deception. But the gift can become that which finally condemns us.

SON OF SHIMEAH: HE THAT IS HEARD AND OBEYED

Shimeah was a brother of David, the third oldest brother, also called Shammah. His name means “He that is heard, he that is obeyed”. It comes from the root word for “astonished, an announcement, a wonderful thing.” Shimeah was present when Goliath defied the armies of Israel, but he did nothing. He was unfaithful to his name. He saw David take on the giant. What could have been his victory was conferred on his little brother.

Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem-judah named Jesse, who had eight sons; and he was an old man in Saul’s day, and far on in years. And the three oldest sons of Jesse had gone with Saul to the fight: the names of the three who went to the fight were Eliab, the oldest, and Abinadab the second, and Shammah the third. And David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. 1Sa 17:12-14

No doubt David’s example was not forgotten, along with the fact that God’s messenger, Samuel, when looking to anoint the next king-to-be, had looked straight into Shimeah’s eyes and said, “This is not the man’. Whatever stories Shimeah told his sons must have included his brother’s courage to face the giant in the name of Israel’s God, and the triumph that followed. And I suspect that there must also have been a humble confession of his weakness and an encouragement to his sons to be strong for the Lord, and obedient to His word. Whatever went on in those family counsels and evening chats, we do know a resolve was born in one of his sons, Jonathan, to be obedient to God’s “still small voice” and not to be afraid.

THE THIRD SON

In Bible times position in the birth-line was important. The first-born automatically was assigned a double portion of the inheritance. When Samuel came to the home of Jesse, at God’s command, to anoint the next subject for Israel’s king, Jesse’s sons were brought before the prophet, from the eldest to the youngest. When a dream was given that one of Jacob’s sons should have the others bow down to him, it would have been one thing to have it one of the eldest sons of the patriarch, but the 11^th son? Even the father, who loved Joseph immensely, had a hard time with that.

What about the third position? Was there any significance to that? Many interesting things have happened in the third position. [Note we are discussing 3 this time as a position in place of a quantity. It carries a different meaning.]

• The first time “third” is mentioned in the Bible is during the creation week. We notice that this is the first time a life form is created (plants — Genesis 1:13).
• The third son of Adam, Seth, born when Adam was 130 years old, was the one through whom the Redeemer (the life-giver) was to come. When Seth was 105 years old he had Enos. “Then began men to call upon the name of Jehovah.” (Genesis 4:26)
• The third river of Eden was called Hiddekel. It was by this river that Daniel received an important vision of the future (Daniel 10:4). It concerned what shall happen to God’s (saved) people in the latter days (verse 14).
• The third use of “third” was in reference to the ark that saved Noah and his household. It mentioned a third story. (Genesis 6:16)
• It was on the third day that Abraham received confirmation on where he was to offer his only son Isaac (Genesis 22:4)
• It was on the third day after receiving Joseph’s interpretation of their dreams that the servants of Pharaoh, the butler and the baker, were given judgment (as Joseph said would happen).
• It was on the third month of leaving Egypt that the children of Israel came to Mt. Sinai, where they received God’s law and began constructing the first sanctuary.
• It was on the third day that Christ arose from the grave as the Life-giver.

The list goes on and on. But a thread weaves through all the accounts, a thread of life, salvation, judgment—a fitting finale to a name of the third son of Jesse (which has in its roots “announcement, a wonderful thing,”), wouldn’t you say? Was this an intimation that somehow through his seed, life and judgment would come to Israel? At this point we can only surmise. It does fit. A thought we might want to keep in mind.

A LAST DAY BATTLE OF THE MIND

As we look at this mysterious unnamed giant, the reference to true education as the developer of man’s potential, its threat by the number six, the element of deception, the loss of individuality through force, reference to last day scenarios, we wonder what the future holds.

America, … where the greatest light from heaven has been shining upon the people, can become the place of greatest peril and darkness because the people do not continue to practice the truth and walk in the light…. The more nearly we approach the closing scenes of this earth’s history, the more pronounced will be the work of Satan. Every species of DECEPTION will take the lead to divert the mind from God through Satan’s devices. Letter 23c, 1894 (3SM 387)

The only safety we have against the GIANT OF DECEPTION is faithful obedience to all that God has graciously given to us—given that we may know what His will is, as well as the grace sufficient to obey it. This is the essence of the Third Angel’s Message (another “third” — hmmm), to turn people’s mind, heart, and soul back to God in faith and obedience, that they might have life. It is the last hope for mankind! And it is the only hope for True Education to be restored to God’s people, that they may make the advanced steps necessary for these last days. (My comments are in brackets.)

Jesus took upon Himself man’s nature, that He might leave a pattern for humanity, complete, perfect. He proposes to make us like Himself, true in every purpose, feeling, and thought— true in heart, soul, and life. [This is true education!] This is Christianity. Our fallen nature must be purified, ennobled, consecrated by obedience to the truth [Shimeah]. Christian faith will never harmonize with worldly [Philistine] principles; Christian integrity is opposed to all deception and pretense [the 6^th  digit of the unnamed giant]. The man who cherishes the most of Christ’s love in the soul, who reflects the Saviour’s image most perfectly [as Jonathan reflected his father’s image], is in the sight of God the truest, most noble, most honorable man upon the earth [and the greatest specimen of the purpose and goal of true education]. 5T 235

APPEAL

Deception is not something that we can look inside and “see”. It usually is transparent or hidden. It is not like Lahmi, where we can sense a “void” within, a weakness when we know we should be strong. It is not like Saph, with whom we have to battle daily to maintain an enthusiasm in the Lord’s work. Nor is it like facing the very real allurements of Ishbibenob (prosperity). When deceived we know it not. The only evidence is a smitten conscience when Deception opens its ugly mouth. And by then, for many, it is almost too late! What can we do, then?

And when he defied Israel,

Jonathan [Jehovah-given],

the son of Shimeah [he who hears and does],

the brother of David [positioned in God’s family to bring life, salvation, and judgment],

killed him.

 We come to Jehovah-given and humbly cast ourselves at His feet. We ask Him to “create in us a new heart and renew a right spirit within us” (Eze. 36:26). We search our hearts and pray David’s prayer in Psalm 139. God is gracious and merciful and faithful to answer our prayers for “eyesalve” (Revelation 3:18).

Search me, 0 God, and know my head; try me, and know my thoughts, and see if any wicked way is in me; and lead me in the way everlasting. Psa 139:23-24

Then whatever God reveals to us, whatever we hear, let us, by His grace, do it! Those who don’t understand may calf it “legalism” or “works” or some other slandering word, but never mind them. Let us walk in the Light.

My brethren, God calls upon you as His followers to walk in the light. You need to be alarmed. Sin is among us, and it is not seen to be exceedingly sinful. The senses of many are benumbed by the indulgence of appetite and by familiarity with sin. We need to advance nearer heaven. AH 401

We are now a strong people, if we will put our trust in the Lord; for we are handling the mighty truths of the word of God. We have everything to be thankful for. If we walk in the light as it shines upon us from the living oracles of God, we shall have large responsibilities, corresponding to the great light given us of God. We have many duties to perform, because we have been made the depositaries of sacred truth to be given to the world in all its beauty and glory. We are debtors to God to use every advantage He has entrusted to us to beautify the truth by holiness of character, and to send the messages of warning, and of comfort, of hope and love, to those who are in the darkness of error and sin. CET 204.

With a heart focused only on the goodness and glory of God, determined to renounce any idol He reveals and follow His leading, we are promised life, salvation, and judgment. The deceptions of the fourth beast do not need to affect us! The promise of TRUE EDUCATION is that the image of our Creator will be formed in us again, with the full potential for development and service intended, as in the beginning, and the world will see what the Lord can really do with a houseful of converted sinners!

Our only safety against being deceived is [1] faithful [2] obedience to God’s word. The darkness of deception will be replaced by the Light of the world[8]. True Education, in its purest form, will be reinstated in God’s church. The clear message of the kingdom of God will be given. And then the end will come.

And this Good News about the Kingdom

will be preached through all the world

for a witness to all people;

and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:14 GNB

 

God, hasten that day!

[1]
      a-4, b-2, c-1, d-5, e-3

[2]    Daniel 5:18; Mark 5:7

[3]    But He spake of the temple of His body. John 2:21

[4]    Exodus 27:18

[5]    Revelation 19:8

[6]    Adventist Home, p 518

[7]    Every power of the renewed soul must be put to the stretch that the character may be fashioned after the divine Pattern. Signs of Times, May 18, 1891 par. 7

 

[8]    John 8:12

The Egyptian Giant