No. 1666: King David's mistake and disgrace that is little discussed was perhaps that he did not forgive his son Absalom, who presumably perished due to David's actions!

No. 1666:

King David's mistake and disgrace that is little discussed was perhaps that he did not forgive his son Absalom, who presumably perished due to David's actions!

Picture of Absalom, who was unfortunately left to his own devices in many ways.
It went as it almost had to go.
In defeat, death and despair.

 

There are areas and aspects of King David that are much discussed.
Not least his infidelity with Bathsheba.
Also his census of the people, which displeased God in a special way, is also discussed.
These are of course important things.
But what happened internally in the family.
Not least David's actions towards his son Absalom are little discussed.
Almost not brought up in any contexts when King David and his Kingdom, life and ministry are discussed.
Here in this article, this is the main topic.

Some brief history about Absalom.

Absalom is King David's third son.

Absalom was born in Hebron. As a young man, he avenged his sister Tamar, who had been raped by his half-brother Amnon (2 Sam 13).
Absalom was the most handsome and the most cunning and ambitious son that David had. The Bible says: “In all Israel there was no one so highly praised as Absalom, who was a handsome man. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.” 2 Sam 14:25.

We enter the story after Absalom had killed his half-brother Amnon.
When Absalom fled.
We read in 2 Sam. 13. 37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son all the days. 2 Sam 3:3
38 Now Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39 This kept King David from going out against Absalom; because he had consoled himself over Amnon's death.

Absalom fled to the area where his mother came from, and which he certainly knew from before.
Absalom was the son who probably resembled King David the most?
He was a tough guy like David, who enjoyed challenges.
At the same time, very sensitive like his Father.

Here Absalom had fallen out of favor with his Father.
Although in many ways he had let his half-brother get punished for having offended Absalom's sister, as you can read about in 2 Sam. 13.

Eventually Joab intervened in a masterful way and got Absalom to move back to Jerusalem. Where he belonged and where his family lived.
King David his Father took him to "grace."
It was not really any "grace." When David did not forgive Absalom as he should. But we read that the lack of grace, and the way he handled this situation, would have enormous consequences.
We can all find ourselves in situations, relationships and circumstances that are very demanding.
But then it is important to seek the Lord.
Live according to God's word, and orient yourself in a spiritual and biblical way.
We see that David behaved towards his own son in what in my eyes I would call a betrayal and a game of trickery towards his own son.
Such behavior that King David displays towards Absalom is such unworthy, simple and vulgar behavior.
Is actually what the scripture says we should not do.
We read about this in the New Testament.

Gal. 6. 7 But do not be deceived, for God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
8 He who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh. But he who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.
9 Do not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not give up.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

It says here that we should do good, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
I would add, the family.
This is exactly what David did not do to his own son.
Who should have shown how to deal with this.
King David, like Absalom, was a warrior, sensitive, and also let this dominate him.
We read the following about King David when he faced challenges.

1 Sam. 25. 21 But David had said, “In vain have I kept all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was lost of all that belonged to him; but he has repaid me with evil for good.” 1 Sam 24:18 Ps 35:12
22 May God do evil to David’s enemies both now and later; I will not leave one of all who belong to him alive until tomorrow!”
23 When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from her donkey and fell on her face to the ground before David.
24 She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, the blame is on me; but please let your servant speak to you, and listen to the words of your servant.”
25 My lord, do not pay attention to this wicked man Nabal. For as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and he is full of folly. But I your servant did not see the men whom you sent, my lord.* *Nabal: fool.
26 Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, the LORD has kept you from bloodguilt and from avenging yourself; now let your enemies and those who seek my lord’s harm be like Nabal.
27 And now, let this gift that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the men who are with my lord.
28 Leave your servant alone, what she has brought.has done evil! For the Lord will build my lord a sure house; for thou hast fought the Lord's battles, my lord, and evil has not been found in thee from the day that thou wast. 1 Sam 18:17 ** *warrior: 1 Sam 18:17.
29 And if any man rise up to pursue thee, and seek thy life, then the life of my lord shall be hid with the Lord thy God in the congregation of the living; but the lives of thine enemies shall he sling out as a stone from a sling.
30 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done unto thee according to all the good that he hath spoken unto thee, and shall have appointed thee prince over Israel, 2 Sam 5:2
31 Then shall this not be a stumblingblock unto thee, my lord, nor a reproach unto thee, that thou hast shed innocent blood, and hast avenged thyself, my lord: and when the Lord shall have done well unto thee, my lord, then remember thine handmaid.
32 Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent me this day to meet you!
33 And blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from coming to bloodguilt and from avenging myself!
34 But as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not hurried and come to meet me, surely not one of Nabal’s men had been left by morning.”
35 Then David accepted the gifts that she had brought him and said to her, “Go in peace; I have considered your words and granted your request.”

When we read this account.
David was about to kill Nabal and take the law into his own hands in many ways.
But because Nabal’s wife was clever, wise, and resourceful, David was spared from all of it.
Who later became David's wife when Nabal died.
While his son Absalom was in many ways like his Father, and took the law into his own hands.
It is clear that Absalom was in many ways his Father's successor.
But how did David behave towards him?
I would say very badly and blameworthy.
When he returned to Jerusalem we read the following about the relationship the two had.

2 Sam, 14. 28 Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years but did not come before the king's eyes.

In order not to try to include all the details here.
Which could have been interesting enough, we must look at this period where King David and his son were apart.
Where Absalom developed into a man who tried to take David's throne.
It actually became a coup d'état and civil war. Where David had to flee from Absalom and he then left Jerusalem.
If we include the years that they were separated from each other until Absalom died.
Then there is probably a period of approx. 6 years or thereabouts.
In many ways, David was no Father to Absalom in those years.
When David in many ways broke all contact and connection.
Where Absalom got to meet David at least once physically during those years.
It was a great, great tragedy for both of them.

It was during that period that David did not want to have contact with Absalom that he became radicalized!

Now we cannot go into all the details in this article.
But it is clear that Absalom as we meet here at the end of his life.
Before he is killed by Joab, and dies a tragic death.
So he was in many ways a rebel, a rebel and there was little lovable about him as a person.
In my eyes, without that it is clear and straightforward.
Then Absalom was let down, by Joab and others.
But above all, by his own Father who did not in any way try to take him under his "wings!"
Where he, King David. Not once visited, or let Absalom be in his vicinity.
As we know, the Jews celebrate more than any other holidays.
Be it the Sabbath and other holidays.
Imagine, David could have invited his own son to these holidays.
Not once did he do so.
In every way, there was a denial of responsibility, irreconcilability and everything that should not be in a Father Son relationship.
David had to have a feeling and desire for reconciliation?
But why didn't he take the incentive or try to meet his Son Absalom?
Absalom walked like David, looked like David.
Was a tough guy like David, a strong and distinctly emotional person like his Father.
He was really as similar to him as possible.
However, Father David failed to do anything about the situation when Absalom was dead.
By then it was too late.
We read about what King David trumpeted and shouted when Absalom was dead.

2 Sam. 18. 28 And Ahimaaz called to the king, Peace! And he fell on his face to the ground before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered into thine hand the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29 And the king said, Is it well with the young man, with Absalom? Ahimaaz answered, I saw a great tumult, when Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, but I knew not what it was. 2 Sam 18:21-23 ** *servant: 2 Sam 18:21.Note on departure: 2 Sam 18:23.
30 And the king said, Turn aside, and stand there. So he turned aside, and stood there.
31 And immediately the Cushite came, and said, Let my lord the king hear good tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
32 The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who come to him be safe.”

 is against you and seeks to harm you, as that young man did!
33 Then the king was deeply moved. He went up to the upper room above the gate and wept, and as he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you! Absalom, my son, my son!” 2 Sam 19:4

2 Sam. 19. 1 And some people came and told Joab, “The king weeps and mourns for Absalom.” 2 Sam 18:33
2 And the victory was turned into mourning that day for all the people, for the people heard that day that the king was grieved for his son.
3 And the people stole into the city that day, as men steal into their houses when they are ashamed because they flee in battle.
4 But the king had covered his face and cried with a loud voice, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!” 2 Sam 18:33
5 Then Joab went into the king's house and said, "Today you have disgraced all your men, who have saved your life today, and the lives of your sons and daughters, your wives and concubines.
6 You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have shown today that you have neither commanders nor servants. Now I know that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have been right in your eyes."

It is painful, strong and painful to read David's desperate cry and that he wished he had died instead of his son Absalom!

Listen to David's cry, which is almost like a supplication.

My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! Oh that I had died instead of you! Absalom, my son, my son!

My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!

David wept, covered himself and cried out in despair.
It must have been downright terrible, traumatizing and directly brought David to the breaking point of what he could endure and handle as a human being.
This is what happens when you really let others down.
Here he let Absalom be left to himself.
Then he became a rebel and a rebel.
Not only that, he had relations with David's concubines in front of all Israel. Where he actually raped his Father's concubines for "open scene."
Right up on the roof. We read about the incident here;

2 Sam. 16.20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel: Now give advice and tell us what we should do!
21 Ahithophel answered: Go in to your father's concubines, whom he left to keep the house! Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself abhorrent to your father, and all who are with you will be encouraged. 2 Sam 15,16
22 Then they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 2 Sam 12,11-12

This in many ways free sex life was part of his rebellion and way of acting that was to that extent simply evil, rebellious and demonic.
This person Absalom had become, without his Father David having in any way tried and shown willingness to stop his development.
That David wanted to die in his place, is difficult to see as a real desire?
He had failed his own son when he was alive.
Then wanting to die in his place must be interpreted and believed that David had then realized that he had completely acted directly evil and unwisely towards Absalom.

After this incident, David was a reduced man.
He probably did not go out to more wars, and lived more secluded.
There was no doubt, that here David really failed.
In that we know our own shortcomings and here I would say almost stupidity not to try to reconcile.
So unfortunately that is how we all act in many situations, relationships and settings.
Therefore the scripture says:
Prov. 24. 10. If you show yourself discouraged in the day of trouble, your strength is small.

Isn't this true only of David?
Isn't that how we all are, often?
David failed. He failed himself, his family and his people.
But above all, he failed God and Absalom.
David says:

Psalm 51. 16 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation! Then my tongue will rejoice in your righteousness.

This verse fits so well here.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness.
Of course, it is very hard to take.
But there were probably some colossal battles and accusations that David now had.
Absalom of course chose himself to become who he became.
But for him to become what he became, it was undoubtedly being let down by several.
But above all, his own Father.
Which made this situation and the circumstances as tragic as they became.
Here we have a lot to learn, all of us from David.
It is not least to do good, always.
In some settings, doing good is seen as being disobedient to the community.
Was there possibly something behind it all?
Showing Absalom care and love after his actions.
Wasn't seen as something good, but it would have been.
Here one should let mercy go for justice. Not least when one reads that Absalom was given the opportunity to return to Jerusalem. Then it is important to look after that person when one before he invited him. If one has said a, then one must say b.

In many ways, it was David's morality that made him not contact his son. When he had fallen from grace with the murder he committed of his own half-brother who had raped his sister.
But David let him return to Jerusalem.
But was not so loving and devoted above or Absalom as a Father was supposed to be after he died. Then it was too late to show love.

I also believe that David as a leader suffered from having few or no close friends.
It seems that when you study David, he got many followers.
But friends are needed.
Solomon writes a lot about this in the book of Proverbs.
Here is an example.

Prov. 17. 17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for trouble.
18. 24 A man who has many friends will fall into trouble; but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Joab, we read about, was probably a little worried and did not stand up for Absalom. Except to get him back to Jerusalem.. That was how many of David's warriors and men were.
Was there no one who could correct David?
Make suggestions, or something like that?
That he should not just let Absalom come to Jerusalem.
But let him back into the family, and don't let him live a secluded life where he only got sustenance. Money and material values ​​can never replace family, friends and the contact that we all need with having someone who stands up for you.

The story with and around Absalom has a lot to say to us today.
Where we see that isolating someone is the last kind of way to treat people.
We are made for community. Therefore, what David did to Absalom is a form of tyranny and really being unloving towards his own son.

What King David should have done to Absalom was actually a simple and small matter!

We often think that our biggest mistakes and the so-called big things.
But very often it is "small" decisions that have "big" consequences.
Here David should have just gotten Absalom into the "warmth".
Don't let him be out in the "cold" and isolated from David, the family and would have clearly needed a greater community.
Of course, Absalom had his own choice, and it is obvious that those choices were anything but good.
What could have possibly helped him, and broken those choices.
Not least this about being taken into the "heat!"
That did not happen, and he became a rebel and caused himself and all of Israel enormous pain and tragedy.
David acted completely wrong, and the consequences were civil war.

King David as an older man

 

Final comment:

This last battle here that resulted in an actual rebellion and civil war.
David did not stand up for his own son.
Then it went as it often does, it ends in disaster.
I am aware that it may not go as badly as it did with David.
But the point is there, we must stand up for each other.
I am aware that everyone is responsible for their own lives.
But here Father and the shepherd failed. But if Father and Mother fail.
Then one must seek the Lord on their own.
It does not look like Absalom did.
Therefore he had nothing to oppose when the enemy laid his cunning and evil plans against Absalom.

There are many circumstances and much to learn here. Where we must surely realize that David acted far too late. Perhaps he overlooked his own feelings and his own conscience?
Much speaks for it, as he screamed and carried himself when Absalom died and had been killed by one of King David's most trusted men, Joab.

2 Sam. 18. 8 And the battle spread throughout the whole country around, and the forest devoured more of the people that day than the sword devoured.
9 Absalom came straight to meet David's men; he was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great terebinth, so that his head caught hold of the terebinth, and he was suspended between heaven and earth; for the mule that he was riding on ran away. 2 Sam 14:26
10 And a man saw it, and told Joab, and said, I saw Absalom hanging there in the oak.
11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, Why sawest thou him not then, and smote him to the ground? then I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
12 And the man said unto Joab, If I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, I would not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for we all heard the king charge thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware of the young man, and of Absalom, whosoever he be of you.
13 But if I had dealt deceitfully, and taken his life, there was nothing hid from the king, and thou wouldest have escaped.
14 And Joab said, I cannot stand here with thee, to be carried away. And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them into Absalom's heart, while he still hung alive in the midst of the terebinth.
15 Then ten young men - Joab's comrades-in-arms - stood around and struck Absalom and killed him.
16 Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and the people stopped pursuing Israel; for Joab kept the people back.

Related links: 

http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2012/12/nr-425-king-david-had-choice-to-resist.html
http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2015/11/no-1077-king-davids-life-and-work.html
http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2018/05/no-1668-israel-as-independent-nation-in.html
http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2022/12/no-1599-king-david-beat-big-enemies-in.html
http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2020/02/no-1504-trials-and-difficulties-as.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnLR3Ii8Ycc&t=1040s

No. 1665: Now February 28, 2026 it is ½ year since my beloved and wonderful wife Berit Nyland Christensen died after 38 years of marriage with me, at the age of 66!

No. 1665:

Now February 28, 2026 it is ½ year since my beloved and wonderful wife Berit Nyland Christensen died after 38 years of marriage with me, at the age of 66!

Berit leaves behind an enormous void and loss.
Where I as a widower remain.
Besides 3 children and 9 grandchildren who have all lost a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Besides siblings, nieces and nephews and other family.
Picture of Berit, me and our 3 children Benedikte, Sara and Benjamin when they were minors. What a wonderful time this was, now this is the story.

 

 
http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2025/09/no-1651-memorial-to-my-beloved-and.html

It has now been ½ year since Berit died and went to Paradise with Jesus!

It is not that I or anyone else really knows what awaits us after death.
But the scripture is clear on one thing, that we as believers do not die.
We continue our lives, but then in anticipation of the resurrection where we will receive a glorious body.
https://blog.janchristensen.net/2025/11/nr-3518-berit-min-kone-er-dd-er-na-i.html

I think that Berit and I as a married couple had it like Paradise on Earth!

We had three children together. Or to put it more correctly, we have three children together and nine grandchildren.
Where we should have had far more children in hindsight.
Having many children is such a great blessing that I would encourage everyone to have it, especially as believers.

As for the life between Berit and me, we both lived for each other.
Where we lived according to God's word, that was our common desire.
The scripture says, among other things:

Rom. 12. 10 Love one another fervently as brothers and sisters, esteeming others higher than yourselves.
Arne Jordly's translation:
Rom. 12. 10 Show loving closeness to each other, and be foremost in showing each other respect.

This is how Berit and I lived for thirty-eight years!
Where we put the other above ourselves.
Showed each other respect, and sometimes we didn't.
Then we were able to ask for forgiveness, and in that way we resolved any tangles and disagreements.
What a wonderful life together and marriage we had.

It is very demanding then to be alone after such a rich and wonderful life together for almost forty years!

It is true that nothing on this earth lasts forever, not even a marriage.
I realize that I was not prepared in any way for Berit to die so early.
Was I as unprepared for this as it is possible to be?
That was the last thought I had, that Berit would die so early.
God has promised us humans the following:

Psalm 90. 10 The days of our lives are seventy years, and if there is great strength, eighty years, and their glory is trouble and vanity; for we are quickly driven forward, and we fly away.

Berit did not reach the "minimum age", and I had imagined that we would grow old together.

Why this did not happen, I have no real answer to except that there will be assumptions and speculations.
It is clear that there were things that happened beforehand that I see in retrospect as a "God's guidance" that I was not involved in?

I will give a concrete example of this. Which I am very embarrassed and ashamed that I did not understand more then and there.

The summer of 2022, a year before Berit was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Then she broke her foot, or rather her ankle.
Was taken by ambulance to A Hus in Lørenskog where she died three years later of pancreatic cancer.

We have had a man who himself had experienced something similar.
Where he had kidney cancer which had been fatal according to what the doctors told him.
But it was discovered by "coincidence" when he got a kidney stone.
When they were going to operate on it, they found the cancer and removed the kidney and the cancer.
In this way they saved his life, and he is still alive today.

I thought about that incident, and asked Berit if they had scanned her whole body.
When she was lying in the drum.
She said yes, and I settled down with this.
Of course I should have talked to the doctors, and had them scan not just her foot.
But her whole body.
I should and should have shown this, when her brother Knut Harald died at only forty years old from cancer. He died of bone marrow cancer. Berit also died of cancer, so I knew this was in the family. It's unbelievable that I was so focused on the broken ankle.
Not being able to see this in a larger context.
In retrospect, I think this was a "golden" opportunity for Berit for the doctors to catch the pancreatic cancer a year before it was discovered.
Then her prognosis might have been completely different?
Of course, I don't know this 100%.
As I see it today, I was unable to take the signal that the broken ankle was an opportunity to scan Berit, my beloved wife, a year before the disease was discovered.
Then it was really too late for her to have a so-called "successful" operation in August 2023. And lived exactly 2 years after the operation.
If she had had the operation 1 year earlier, isn't it impossible that she would have been alive today?
In the operation in 2023, they took 8 out of 15 lymph nodes that were infected by the cancer.
It "lasted" for 2 years before she was "eaten up" by cancer.

There were also other things that I regret – in retrospect!

There were times when Berit and I did not take active steps towards our own health.
Where exercise and sitting were too much.
And food intake was excessive.
Of course, it is impossible to know such things if this had had a healing effect on Berit.
In retrospect, it is not good to not take care of your own health.
The scripture actually speaks a lot about this.
Among other things here:

Prov. 23. 1 When you sit at table with a prince, then you should pay close attention to who is before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat, if you are greedy.
3 Do not desire his fine dishes, for it is food that can deceive!

This is written about sitting at table with princes.
But it applies to life in general, that one should not overeat.
Where both Berit and I were overweight for a time.
Among other things, this is not good for health. And Berit got cancer in the stomach region.
Where pancreatic cancer is not unlikely, could obesity and too much sitting have influenced this?
Of course, I will never get the answer here on earth, but there is no doubt in my mind that there are reasons that could be the cause.
Where both Berit and I did not do everything right and proper.

The fact is that Berit is dead, and I have become a widower!

Life is very vulnerable, fragile and unpredictable.
There are parts of our lives that I have taken for granted.
And not thought and acted right and proper.
Then it is good to know that God does not love me or anyone because we succeed and get everything done.
On the contrary, it is because we do not make it so that God loves and wants to help us.

God's word says this many, many places. And this must be allowed into your heart when you need it, as I do here and now.

1 John 4:8 Whoever loves is of God, for God is love.

9 In this God showed his love for us: He sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.

10 This is love — not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent his Son as the propitiation for our sins.
In retrospect, I see that there were areas in our lives and marriage that were not perfect.
As far as I know, Berit and I did not have anything unresolved with each other.
But that does not mean that there are areas that we could have worked on and talked about.
In the end, I see myself as just as much a nurse as a husband.
Where I fell short, I know that I did everything 100% as best I could then and there.
But still, one feels one's own shortcomings and that there are things that should have been done better and differently.
Here it is good to know that God's perfect grace and forgiveness are what covers a multitude of sins.

When we moved back to Oslo in 2005 it was to "reopen" Smyrna Oslo.

http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2022/05/no-1586-when-we-started-smyrna.html

We started Smyrna Oslo in 1991, where we had some progress.
But we chose to move to Karmøy in 1993 after we had actually had some and good progress with Smyrna Oslo.
It was probably not until 2008-9 that we began having our own meetings after a time in Betaina Lillestrøm as the Pentecostal church here in Lillestrøm.
Now Filadelfia Oslo is running that church.
We never managed to achieve what we achieved in the early 1990s.
In many ways, Smyrna Oslo is not a church today.
But I run the website https://www.janchristensen.net/
And various blogs, of which the Himmelske blog is the most read and well-known.

Even though Berit is now dead, and Smyrna Oslo has never had its renaissance and "resurrected"

I experience that my entire life and ministry as of today as in many ways a failure.
Where everything that Berit and I invested in has not led to progress.
Then I experience that the very message and the preaching/teaching that Berit and I have promoted.
Which God after all is with and behind.
Berit is now in Paradise, and saved for time and eternity.
https://blog.janchristensen.net/2025/11/nr-3518-berit-min-kone-er-dd-er-na-i.html

God calculates differently than we do!

There is a lot that I have been through together with Berit.
I carried her on "eagle wings" as I did with the children.
Especially when they were growing up.
Berit I did everything in my power throughout our life together.
Berit did everything in her power throughout our life together for me and the children.
Later the grandchildren. Not only them, everyone she came into contact with.
What a warm-hearted, warm and good person Berit was.
At the same time, Berit had a wonderful service for Jesus where her manner was Jesus from morning, noon and night.
She loved to testify about Jesus and the gospel.


Where I got to experience as much love, closeness and encouragement as it is practically possible to get from a woman and spouse.
So happy and grateful for the 38 wonderful and magnificent years we had together here on earth.
Could we have had a better life and marriage.
Berit told me right before she died that she could never have had a better husband than me.
I can and will say the same about her.
What more can I say?
We will meet again soon, at Jesus' house.
If I live until Jesus comes again.
Or yes If I die before Jesus comes, then my life and ministry are in the arms of God and Jesus and He has full and complete control, power and dominion!
http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2025/11/no-1657-what-now-jan-kare-what-is-way.html

I am not ashamed of Smyrna Oslo and the message I have preached!

I have tried to preach the whole of God's counsel for salvation.
Where I have held nothing back.
Even though today it is painful to think about and have experienced that Berit was not healed.
It is experienced as a great personal defeat.
Where were you God?
You who are my Father and Berit's Father.
http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2025/09/no-1651-memorial-to-my-beloved-and.html

Final comment:

This is in many ways how I feel about it all, now.
Everything is in many ways destroyed, failed and I am down after Berit died.
I have become a widower, the Smyrna congregation has become nothing.
I am persecuted by various agencies and have been in recent years.
It does not look exactly bright and bright.
Rather dark, demanding and I am depressed and literally alone here in Oslo as I have no family left here.
As the children have chosen to move far away.
The Smyrna congregation is only on "paper" as we do not have regular gatherings or meet.
What I, Berit and the family came to Oslo from Karmøy in 2005.
Has in many ways gone exactly the opposite.
Berit is dead, and at home with Jesus.
The children live far from Oslo and me.
Western Norway, Trøndelag and England are far from Oslo.
It may seem quite as difficult as when Jesus died.
Wasn't that exactly the best thing?
Seen from the outside. But from this perspective, the "defeat" on Calvary.
Then it was the greatest victory.
For me, it is the "greatest" defeat of my life that Berit died.
But even from this perspective, I believe that God has a way.
And he has full and complete control.

Lewi Pethrus writes in the book seierstider - brettningstedier in the chapter seierstro - vorser gleichstorn the following: The victory on Calvary is the victory above all others!

"The great crowds began to desert him when he began to speak of his suffering and death. Even the twelve he had chosen as his apostles deserted him and fled. Before that happened, one of them had succeeded in selling him to his enemies for thirty pieces of silver. The most trusted of them all denied his discipleship three times during his public trial.

He swore that he did not know him. Humanly speaking, the beginning of Christianity ended with its founder hanging alone and abandoned by God and man on a cross between two thieves.
According to Jesus’ enemies, this was the collapse of Christianity at its very beginning, and many of the believing Jews saw in this his defeat forever.

They did not see the plan of God’s salvation that lay behind these seemingly discouraging external events. But in what seemed to be the greatest defeat, lay the greatest victory for God’s cause that has ever been won.

The victory of Calvary is the victory above all others!

The Scripture says that all things work for good to those whom He has called.
Rom. 8. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2026/01/no-1661-becoming-widower-like-me-after.html

No. 1664: Is it possible to give a brief overview of the end-time events and to date some of the events?

No. 1664:

Is it possible to give a brief overview of the end-time events and to date some of the events?

Where will the USA or the federal state of the USA.
Which in many ways is not mentioned in the prophecies about the end-time.
Today the federal state of the USA is the most powerful and important country in the world.
We see this not least in their protection of God's people the Jews.
Where the State of Israel and the federal state of the USA are allies to be reckoned with.
But when the Antichrist and the resurrected Roman Empire emerge.
Then the USA must in some way be almost erased?

 

https://blog.janchristensen.net/2011/09/nr-204-jesus-sier-han-og-faderen-kommer.html

Joh.e. 13. 19 Now I tell you these things before it happens, so that when it does happen you may know that I am he.

2 Pet. 1. 19 Therefore we have the prophetic word confirmed in us. And you do well to hold fast to it, as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
20 But above all, you must know that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

When it comes to the prophetic word, there are many things to consider

We all have an interpretation that is colored by our theology, our experience and not least what we experience in the present.
The present is for us humans – God is opposite, from eternity to eternity.
For with him a thousand years are a day, and a day a thousand years.
It is not so for us, who live in many ways opposite to this.
But God’s word will always be fulfilled when the time is right.
Then we will understand it and acknowledge the fact.
At least on a completely different basis than what we "believed" before it came true.

For me, the fact that Israel returned to its own homeland and the state of Israel was established in 1948

As well as the fact that Israel today has all of Jerusalem in its possession, is one of the surest and clearest of biblical prophecies that have come true and are coming true.
Israel gained control of all of Jerusalem in 1967 during the so-called 6-day war.
I am aware that this is only the beginning of the fulfillment of prophecies that God's word has spoken about.
Will happen and upcoming events that lie ahead of us.
I am not going to explain all prophecies and what God's word says here in every sentence. But we can take some of God's words with us.
Among other things, that now the time of the Gentiles is about to ebb.
We see that Israel will increasingly be at the center of the fulfillment of prophecies and God's word.

Luke 21. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, or be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”

Jerusalem has been trampled by pagans since the death of Solomon around 1000 BC, at least since the exile to Babylon around 600 BC. Israel has not had sovereignty without an overlord for a very long time.
Jerusalem has not had absolute Jewish sovereignty from then (well before Christ) throughout the modern era until 1967, when Israel recaptured it in the Six-Day War.
In fact, this is a period that began with the captivity of the Jews to Babylon around 600 BC and ended in many ways in 1967.
But we know that it is only when Jesus returns to Jerusalem that this word will be fully fulfilled.
Then Jerusalem will be besieged and taken by the Antichrist and Israel will have to flee to survive as a people and nation, again!

Isaiah says something important:
Isaiah 21. 11 The burden of Dumah. To me they cry from Seir: Watchmen! How far is What is the night? Watchman! How long is the night?
12 The watchman answers: Morning comes, but also night; if you want to ask, ask - come again!

It is obvious that after Israel returned to their own land that God gave them through his many promises and covenants to them.
It is with doing God's word that will be fulfilled.
How long exactly before Jesus comes again to take the bride, and the Antichrist will rule this earth for seven years.
No one knows the exact day, month and year for this.
But that we see that the prophecies are fulfilled, and we are in the middle of end-time events now like never before.

What can we expect to happen?
In order and where do we stand today?
Give such a clear answer, is an impossibility.
But we do know something, and the time is ripe for this.

Today the USA is the strongest country in the world. But the word of God says that the Antichrist will arise within the old Roman Empire, which in many ways is within Europe and where the EU is a precursor to this I am pretty sure of that.
The fact that the EC as it was first called, and the EU has come into place.
Is definitely part of the plan that the Devil and the Antichrist have.
Or to put it another way.
It is within this system, area and government that the old Roman Empire was. As the word of God said through several of the old prophets, not least the prophet Daniel. As we read, among other things, in Daniel 2 and elsewhere.
That the Antichrist who will then lead a union, and which will culminate in the battle of Armageddon. Mentioned among other things in John's Revelation Chapter 16.

My Bible comments John the Baptist
Read for yourself here:
https://www.janchristensen.net/bibelkommentar-hoved.php?side=bibelkommentarer-Johannes-aappanberging

Do we find prophecies about the USA and the English-speaking world?

Possibly a few places in the word of God?
What one can also mention. Is that since neither the USA, Great Britain nor any other English-speaking countries are specifically mentioned.
Will those countries probably be wiped out when the Antichrist appears?
Since the word of God has a lot of prophecies around that time.
Not least in from John. Rev. Chap. 4 onwards which from chapters 4 – 18 is more or less exclusively about that time.
As well as other places in the word of God. Both in the OT and NT.

One of them is here:

Ezekiel 39. 4 On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your hordes and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as food for all kinds of birds of prey and for the wild animals of the field. Ezek 29:5 Ezek 32:4-5 Ezek 39:17 Rev 19:17-18
5 You will fall on the open field; for I have spoken, says the Lord, the God of Israel.
6 And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live securely in the isles, and they will know that I am the Lord.
7 And I will make my holy name known among my people Israel, and I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.
https://www.steiare.no/Inder/okindergaard/Profetierne.html

These are actually two chapters where Gog the Army with his allies receives his judgment.
There Gog is probably Russia, since Gog is an old name for Russia and in Russia in general.
Then we read in verse 6 the following:
"And I will send fire upon Magog, and upon them that dwell securely in the isles; and they shall know that I am the Lord."

Who are the islands, those that dwell there?
Could this be primarily the USA/Great Britain, which may be the islands mentioned there?
Will they perish then in nuclear war?
Or have they first become so weak due to great upheavals in their own country?
Where the nuclear missiles will completely end the USA and Great Britain as a superpower?
Then it will be open to the Antichrist, who will arise within the old.
Resurrected Roman Empire.
Mentioned in several places in the Bible, including in Daniel 2.

It is probably right to say that now Israel will have a much larger place within the prophecies of the Bible and what it speaks of will happen now in the end times.

There is no doubt in my mind that the point of the tongue is when it comes to weapons.
There will also be economics, presumably, and other things.
It will take place in the Middle East.
It is Israel and the Middle East that will be the focus and there the Bible's prophecies about the end times will take place.

If you look at Revelation, the first three chapters are dedicated to the church and Jesus.
Then you come from chapter four onwards.
Is that what happens after the church is raptured, to be with the Lord and celebrate the wedding.
So you can say that from chapter 19 onwards it is mostly dedicated to eternity, and the 1000-year kingdom is mentioned.
Where it is clear that Jesus will rule this earth for 1000 years.
Should we take this literally?
I can't see that we shouldn't do that.
There is nothing mystical or speculative about this, right?

We see an enormous hatred of Jews. An anti-Semitic hatred that is actually a hatred of God.
Where one completely irrationally and without meaning hates the Jews, among other things. because they defended themselves against Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist groups. Iran and other states are also part of this hatred that Israel defends itself against and is then hated by everyone.
As God's word says they will be, solely because God has in a special way promised to look with favor on them as the people he has in a special way chosen.
Not because they were better and greater than others.
But because they were the worst and least.

In my eyes, this is neither rational nor normal.
What and how does this come from?

The Arabs have 700 times more land than Israel.
They belong much further east than the Jews.
They have settled down.
The Jews are the only people group that has been a national state within the lands that are being fought over today.
It is Gaza, Samaria, Judea and Jerusalem.
+ the rest of Israel that extends north to Mount Hermon and up towards Syria with the Golan Heights.
Down to the Negev deserts and the border with Egypt.
In short. The land of the pitchers as the Bible calls it all.
https://www.janchristensen.net/israels_historie.pdf

The way I see it all. So this battle is, and this is spiritual.
Where Satan and his demons are behind the whole agenda.
Which will culminate in the battle of Armageddon, and the subsequent defeat of the enemies of Israel and God.

Then it will be completely different and a showdown in the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
All nations will be judged whether they will enter the 1000-year kingdom or not.
The basis for the assessment will be how one has stood against Israel and the Jewish people.

After Israel got its land back in 1948, there is an undertone that it is to erase this people that is Satan's main purpose.

Also, the removal of all Christian-Jewish values, often called Judeo-Christian values.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judeo-Christian

Also, we can also include that Satan's goal is also to destroy God's church.
First, that we are not evangelizing.
Second, that we as believers do not follow God's words in life and doctrine

I have written something about this in my Bible commentaries for John's Revelation which I include at the end.
Then about the USA and this topic we are now discussing here in this article.
https://www.janchristensen.net/bibelkommentar-hoved.php?side=bibelkommentarer-Johannes-aappanberging

From John's Revelation 6. 7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living creature cry out: "Come!"
It is not yet the end. It has just begun. If God had not intervened, humanity would have gone very badly.
Matt. 24. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. 22 If those days had not been shortened, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

8 Then I saw a pale horse. The name of the horseman was Death, and the realm of the dead followed him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth, so that they could kill with sword, famine and pestilence, and with the help of the wild beasts of the earth.
Here 1\4 of the people will be killed and then this seal must refer to the Gog war that will initiate the first part of the great tribulation.
That this must be understood symbolically is in the text. One cannot hear such a large number, but only imagine. The number is so large that for John it is by far the largest army he has heard. Twenty thousand times ten thousand is: 200,000,000
Is two hundred million. The number can be far greater that is killed by the Lord and Israel. Through this battle, several great powers are eliminated and the way is opened for the Antichrist and the old Roman Empire to take over the complete ruling position over the whole world.
These nations go down and home.
Ezekiel 38. 3 Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws. Then I will bring you out with all your army, with horses and horsemen, all of them in splendid clothing, a great company with large and small shields, all of them armed with swords. 5 People from Persia, Nubia and Put are with them; all of them have shields and helmets. 6 Gomer and all his bands, the people of Togarmah in the far north and all their bands, many peoples are with you.
First, Russia is mentioned with its neighboring countries. Then Iran, Libya and Ethiopia. And finally Germany (Togarmah) who also has its allies with them. Could it be Sweden and Finland? Little Norway and Little Denmark can be spared because of our support for Israel? Or will we also be included? I do not want to state anything with certainty!
39. 6 I will send fire upon Magog, and upon them that dwell securely in the isles: and they shall know that I am the Lord.
This must be the USA, Canada, and Great Britain with their allies.
We read of the same battle in Daniel.
Daniel 11. 40 And in the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him, and the king of the north shall come against him with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come upon land after land, and shall overflow them. 41 And he shall come into the pleasant land, and ten thousands shall fall: but these shall escape his hand, Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42 And he shall stretch out his hand upon land, and Egypt shall not escape. 43 And he shall have power over all the treasures of Egypt, and over all the precious things of gold, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Nubians shall follow him. 44 Then rumors from the east and from the north will terrify him, and he will go out in great fury to destroy and utterly destroy many. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain. But he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

 

No. 1663: January 22, 2026, Berit and I would have been married for 38 years if she had lived!

No. 1663:

January 22, 2026, Berit and I would have been married for 38 years if she had lived!

https://blog.janchristensen.net/2025/11/nr-3518-berit-min-kone-er-dd-er-na-i.html
http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2025/09/no-1651-memorial-to-my-beloved-and.html

 
Pictures from our wedding day.
January 22, 1988. We got married here in Oslo.
A wonderful and big day. We have three children and nine grandchildren together.

Pictures from the grave.
The contrasts are as great as it is possible and remain.
I just have to say, I cry when I think about this.
I know that God gives comfort, strength and survival powers.
But this is so demanding and difficult for me, that words are not enough.

Psalm 121. 1 A song at the feasts. I lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where will my help come? Psalm 123:1
2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will never let your foot slip; your keeper will never slumber.
4 Behold, he will neither slumber nor sleep, the keeper of Israel.
5 The Lord is your keeper, the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. Isaiah 4:6
7 The Lord shall keep you from all evil; he shall preserve your soul.
8 The Lord shall keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Deuteronomy 28:6

 

 

 Berit is buried in the cemetery of Østre Aker Church.

Need prayer and support for further work and service, would you like to join us?
Thank you!
Here is the account number in Nordea: 6634 05 87732
Be blessed in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
The possibilities are many, but then we must stand together and help each other move forward in the ministry

 

 

No. 1662: We get into trouble in life and ministry as believers when we slouch and neglect to ask the Lord for advice!

No. 1662:

We get into trouble in life and ministry as believers when we slouch and neglect to ask the Lord for advice!

Here the Gibeonites came and tricked Joshua and the children of Israel into doing wrong when they did not ask the Lord God for guidance and what to do.

 

From https://www.janchristensen.net/bibel1.php?bok=jos

Joshua 9. The Canaanite kings join forces against Joshua, 1.2. The Gibeonites trick the leaders of Israel into making a covenant with them, 3-15. When the people see that they have been tricked, they become angry, but settle for imposing the Gibeonites as slave labor for the congregation, 16-27.
1 Now when all the kings who were on this side Jordan, in the hills and in the lowlands and along the entire coast of the Great Sea to the middle of Lebanon—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—heard of it,

2 they all gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel.

3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

Jos 6:21-23 Jos 8:26-29

4 they acted deceitfully, going and pretending to be messengers, taking worn-out sacks on their donkeys and worn-out, cracked, and mended wineskin bottles;

5 they wore worn-out and patched sandals on their feet and wore worn-out clothes; and all the bread they had for the journey was dry and moldy.

6 So they went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now make a covenant with us!”
7 Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; how then can we make a covenant with you?” Exodus 23:32-33 Exodus 7:2 Joshua 11:19
8 Then they said to Joshua, “We will be your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?”
9 And they said, “Your servants have come from a very far country because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan, who lived at Ashtaroth. Numbers 21:24-35
11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our land said to us, “Take provisions with you for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, ‘We will be your servants. Now therefore make a covenant with us.’
12 Here is our bread; it was hot when we took it from our homes as a provision for the journey on the day we set out to meet you, but now it is dry and moldy!
13 And here are our wineskin bottles; they were new when we filled them, and now they are torn! And here are our clothes and our sandals; they have worn out because of the long, long journey.
14 So the men took and tasted the provisions of their journey; but they did not inquire of the Lord. Numbers 27:21
15 Then Joshua spoke peaceably to them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore to them. 2 Sam 21:2
16 But it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they understood that they were near them, and dwelt among them.
17 For the children of Israel journeyed, and came on the third day unto their cities, which were Gibeon, and Kephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
18 But the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And the whole congregation murmured against the princes:
19 And all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel, and now we may not lay our hand upon them. Ps 15:4
20 Thus will we do unto them; we will let them live, that wrath may not come upon us because of the oath which we sware unto them.
21 And the princes said unto them, Let them live. So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation, as the leaders had told them.* *to them: the congregation of Israel.
22 Then Joshua called them to him and said to them, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We live very far from you,’ while you live among us?
23 Now therefore you are cursed; there shall not remain a man of you to be a bondman, a hewer of wood and a drawer of water for the house of my God.
24 They answered Joshua and said, “Your servants certainly heard that the Lord your God had said to Moses his servant, ‘He will give you all the land and will destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you.’ But we were afraid because you would kill us; so we did this thing. Deuteronomy 7:1-5
25 But now we are in your hand; do to us as seems good and right to you.”
26 And he did so to them; he saved them from the hand of the children of Israel, that they did not kill them; Jos 9:21 ** *thus: Jos 9:21.
27 But Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, in the place which he should choose; and they are there unto this day. Deuteronomy 29:11

From Wikipedia:
Gibeon (Hebrew: גבעון‎, Giv'on) was a city in Canaan north of Jerusalem that was conquered by Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after the death of Moses. According to the Book of Joshua and the Book of Second Samuel, the inhabitants of Gibeon at this time, sometime between 1500 and 1390 BC according to biblical chronology, or the Late Bronze Age, were not Israelites, but Amorites.
The remains of Gibeon are today located at the southern end of the Palestinian village al Jib.
(end of quote.)

The children of Israel had won two great victories before this battle!

Joshua 9. 3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai.

Jericho is a picture of the world. Which I will not go into here.

Ai is a picture of the flesh. Which we will not go into here either.

The Gibeonites are a picture of Satan, which we will try to illuminate in this article.

Meeting the Gibeonites is always the most difficult battle, but at the same time the easiest.
Satan is a defeated enemy, but it is only by his cunning and cunning methods that he wins territory and his victories.

How did these Gibeonites proceed?
Completely different from anyone else.
They did not meet the children of Israel in direct battle and conflict.
But came up with a cunning and evil plan in order not to suffer defeat.
But still inflicts a heavy and painful loss and defeat on the children of Israel.

We read what they did here in Joshua chapter 9.

“Then they went forth with cunning, and went forth, and made themselves messengers; and they took old sacks upon their asses, and old, and rent, and mended wineskins; and old and patched shoes upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread which they had for the journey was dry and rotten.

So they came unto Joshua in the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him and unto the men of Israel,
We come from a far country; now therefore make a covenant with us!”

Here we see how Satan operates, not as the flesh and the world.
When the children of Israel were victorious over Jericho and Ai, the tactics and the resistance were much more obvious. And they were victorious in a more open battle.
Here they encountered someone who was using tricks and a cunning method.
How to meet those who lead by deception?
And engaged in direct diversion, lies and drama?

The children of Israel and Joshua made a cardinal mistake that unfortunately we all often make.

It says about the children of Israel the following in verse 14:
“Then the men took and tasted their journey’s provisions; but they did not inquire of the Lord.”

We believers make this cardinal mistake time and time again.
We think that this must be true and right what these people say.
They brought bread that looked very old. They did not spread fresh bread on their lunch boxes, but brought what had expired when they left.
In order to pretend that they came from afar, and to deceive Joshua and the children of Israel.
The whole thing was staged, to deceive and deceive them.
We as believers are so easily led to take everything “for good fish!”
Even though it is rotten and dangerous to eat.

Here the children of Israel were deceived, even though they had the means they needed.
We read about the children of Israel being able to inquire of the Lord through the Urim and Thummim.

Numbers 27. 21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, and Eleazar shall seek the judgment of the Urim for him before the Lord; at his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel and the whole congregation.

https://blog.janchristensen.net/2015/02/nr-1043-guds-ledes-gjørn-urim-og.html

If we read in the OT, the High Priest was to wear a breastplate that was square and embroidered with gold threads. On it were twelve different precious stones, in a setting of gold, with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel engraved. Here God revealed his will by and through this breastplate. This tells us about God's presence and guidance, but we have it the same way in the NT. But then by God's indwelling Spirit who reveals God's will to the individual believer.

Joshua did not do this, and it became their downfall and defeat.
It is probably the same thing we as believers do many times today.
We do not ask the Lord for advice.
There are no situations for us believers that are obvious.
We need God's advice and guidance down to the smallest detail very often.
And not only receive revelation, but follow it to the letter.
I have several examples in my life that I have not sought advice and guidance.
And in fact, I also have examples that I have sought God for advice and guidance.
But not following it, then it is bad.
I will tell you about an example of this.

https://blog.janchristensen.net/2021/11/nr-2952-det-var-utelkende-kun-av-en.html

When I was fired from Unibuss for playing on Christian radio programs.
Then I wanted to have a trial. But Unibuss wanted to have a negotiation meeting before the trial.
I agreed to it.
Then I prayed to God, and got a clear answer what to do.
Demand 4 Million and a free pass.
What did I do? Did I follow the Lord's advice and guidance?
No, not at all.
I was given only 1/8 of what the Lord said I should demand.
It is not just hearing that is important, but following.
We must not only be hearers of the Word, but also doers of it.
James 1. 22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror.
24 For he looks at himself and goes away, and immediately he has forgotten what kind of person he was.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it, not becoming a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

https://blog.janchristensen.net/2023/02/nr-3180-det-som-var-ergerlig-sett-i.html
https://blog.janchristensen.net/2022/05/nr-3017-etter-et-ar-etter-rettsforliket.html

We read about Joshua the following:
“Then the men took and tasted their journey’s provisions; but they did not inquire of the Lord.”

It is these decisions we make so quickly, that it turns out that it is Satan and his demons who are either behind them. Or he manipulates and uses the decisions we make. Most often quickly, and we do not inquire of the Lord for advice.
Even in the simple and “safe” decisions, we must ask the Lord for advice.
The Scripture speaks of this in many places.

Psalm 32. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye.
9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, which have no sense! Their ornament is a bit and a bridle to force them; they will not come near you.

We see the children of Israel had three different battles in the encounter with the inhabitants of the land of Canaan. Where they won two victories, and a partial defeat.

They took Jericho by faith. They fought Ai with cunning and warfare.
The Gibeonites deceived the children of Israel, when they forgot God and asked Him for advice.
The “easiest” battle was actually against the Gibeonites.
I think many times it is like this, we sacrifice everything.
But when we really only need to sacrifice a few minutes or hours to God.
To ask for His advice, we are not able to take the time.
We read about what Paul writes.

2 Cor. 11. 13 Such as these are false apostles! They are false workers who have dressed up as apostles of Christ.
14 And it is no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as a messenger of light.
15 Therefore it is no wonder that his helpers disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be in accordance with their works

We read in the original text the following about this.
Deceitfully, they declare themselves to be Apostles, even though they are not true Apostles.
Satan disguises himself as an Angel of Light.
Do not be surprised at this, for this shows Satan's true nature how he is and acts.
Satan was once the Angel of Light with God, before he fell.
https://blog.janchristensen.net/2017/05/nr-1932-jesus-avvpnet-og-beseiret-satan.html

Meeting the evil Satan is in many ways "easier" than the compliant, gentle and pleasant Satan. Who operates as an Angel of Light.
The children of Israel were victorious against the evil enemy in both Jericho and A.
But when the Gibeonites came with cunning, cunningness and twisted the truth.
Then they went on the glue stick. Isn't that what we often do too?

The children of Israel had to make a kind of peace with the Gibeonites, so that they got their way. They were not destroyed, but became slaves to the children of Israel.
We read:
"But the children of Israel did not kill them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them peace by the Lord, the God of Israel."
They were appointed to serve the children of Israel, and this was of course exactly what they wanted. Not to be destroyed as the inhabitants of Jericho and Ai were.
And he did so to them; he saved them from the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them; Jos 9:21 ** *thus: Jos 9:21.
But Joshua made them that day woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord in the place which he would choose, and they have been so to this day.”

What can this account teach us?

Much in many ways.
Not least this that we as believers are in battle.
It is never the case that we can take anything for granted.
The enemy is always there to either tear us apart, break us down or make us compromise. In the worst case, lead us to fall.

Job said the following:
Job 7. 1 Is not a man's life on earth a service of war, and his days as the days of a day laborer?

I think about my life, that in so many cases I have been far too easy-going, not being aware of the dangers and taking most things for granted.
With the results that I have suffered if not defeated. Then I have not given God the opportunity to win a great and glorious victory.
But what to do then?

There is really only one thing. Pray this prayer or a similar prayer.
“God, start over in my life!”

I think of several stories in the Bible.
Not least the one in Luke 15 about the prodigal son who came to himself.
And wanted to go home to his Father, and become like one of his Father’s servants on the farm.
His thoughts about himself and his past, present and future were not great.
Maybe he prayed that prayer?
“God, start over in my life?”
I don’t know, as this is only a parable and illustration.
But unfortunately that is where many of us are, we have to start over with God.
The children of Israel had forgotten to ask the Lord for advice.
We have all failed more or less.
Then it is good to believe and know that with God there is always forgiveness and new opportunities for all of us!
We sing the following in a Swedish song:
“Börja om än en gång i mitt liv.”
That's what we all have to pray for more or less, and rededicate ourselves to our Heavenly Father.
Listen to the song here: