CHAPTER 7
“Truly the Lord has occasioned something great here tonight.”
Bethlehem, 4 B.C.
Bakka watched as the skies around Bethlehem filled with angels. He was amazed at the spectacle and often wondered what it must be like as a human to be unable to see such splendor. He smiled at Eli, who was still talking about the history of his people to the men and boys seated around the fire. Bakka himself had been a part of some of the very events Eli was retelling.
An angel hailed Bakka as he strolled to the crest of the hill overlooking the little town below. How strange that it was so quiet—and yet there was so much activity going on, at least for an angel! Even the stars seemed brighter tonight—one star in particular.
“Quite a display,” remarked Gabriel, who had returned from a short watch around the area. “The Host are magnificent tonight. It seems the sheep are not the only things on these hills this evening!”
Bakka smiled at the archangel.
“Truly the Lord has occasioned something great here tonight,” he agreed. “But where is Michael? I should think that with a gathering this great he would be in the midst of it.”
“Michael has a very important assignment of his own,” said Gabriel, looking to the eastern plains stretching away from Bethlehem. “Very important indeed.”
Road to Bethlehem, 4 B.C.
The donkey lumbered along the evening road, carefully placing one foot in front of the other as it ambled down the dark path. On its back was a woman, bundled up in the night air, and looking uncomfortable with every jerk of the animal. A man led the donkey, holding its reins as steady as he could so as to make the ride as smooth as possible.
Ordinarily he wouldn’t go to such precautions. But this was no ordinary passenger—this was his beloved whose time to give birth was at hand. The man, a gentle looking person whose hands showed the marks of a trade, winced every time the donkey lurched a bit, as if he were feeling the discomfort of his wife.
For her part, the woman, a girl really of about 14, had borne the journey very well and had not complained a bit—except that she was very tired. She had striking eyes and was very much in love with her husband. They had left Nazareth quietly, so that they might take part in the census ordered by Caesar and not cause Mary any trouble because of her condition.
“Only a bit further, my love,” said Joseph. “A few more miles and we shall be in Bethlehem for the night.”
Mary said nothing, but glanced down at Joseph, giving him a weak smile. He was dusty and dirty from the trip, and traveling at night was certainly not easy. She thanked the Lord for the very bright star that had provided so much light for them in the dark evening.
Above them, Michael and a large troop of warriors followed along. They kept a sharp eye out for any sign of the enemy. The angels with Michael knew that not since they protected Moses from the crocodiles of the Nile had there been such an urgency to watch over a coming baby. But then, this was no ordinary baby who was to be born this night.
“I see the enemy circling about,” observed Serus, who had left Gabriel at Bethlehem to meet the party coming in.
“The enemy has been circling ever since we left Nazareth,” said Michael. “They haven’t a chance to get through.”
Serus nodded.
“They haven’t yet shown themselves at Bethlehem,” he said. “All that is there are a multitude of the Host and a few shepherds watching their sheep.”
“It’s early yet, my friend,” said Michael, watching Joseph give a sip of water to Mary. “When we arrive in Bethlehem, the enemy will be waiting.”
Gabriel and Bakka completed their rounds of the area, and came back near the shepherd encampment. Eli had taken a break from his story while the men drank some fresh water and ate some bread. Bakka watched Daniel get up and take his turn at the flocks, relieving one of the shepherds.
“I still do not understand the man,” said Bakka. “He is so very bitter.”
“He is very frightened,” said Gabriel casually.
“Frightened?” asked Bakka. “About what?”
“You need to discover that tonight, Bakka,” said Gabriel, leaving it at that.
Bakka remained silent for a moment as Eli, back in full form, continued his story. Upon the mention of David, Bakka looked at Gabriel.
“Ah, David,” said Bakka. “He was one of my favorite assignments.”
“As I recall, you were not the only angel assigned to David,” said Gabriel playfully.
“Of course not,” said Bakka. “But it was a great mission. It too started here, in Bethlehem—David’s city! Yes, it was a great mission.” He sighed.
“No greater than the one you are currently assigned to,” said Gabriel. “I assure you.”
Bakka acknowledged Gabriel’s words and then continued.
“But David. Now there was a man who was quite a task for any angel! Called as a child, killer of giants, conqueror, lover…”
“Murderer,” said Gabriel.
“Writer of psalms,” continued Bakka.
“Adulterer,” Gabriel said, watching Bakka’s reaction.
“A man after God’s own heart,” said Bakka, daring Gabriel to second-guess that one. “God’s own heart!”
“Yes he was indeed,” said Gabriel, smiling at Bakka’s passionate defense of one of Israel’s greatest kings. “He demonstrated as much as any human being that God can work through imperfection to realize His perfect will. David was indeed a paradox.”
“True, Gabriel,” admitted Bakka. “David was a paradox. But he was a magnificent paradox.”
Chronicles of the Host
Dark Days
Following the years of the judges, the people of Israel took it upon themselves to ask the Lord Most High to give them a king—so that they might be like the other nations. As if they needed to be like the other nations! Coordinated through the efforts of Shawa and the other dark lords, the Philistines became Lucifer’s most effective weapon with which he raged against Israel. But there was not only an attack from without, but a rottenness from within. It came to a humiliating climax when Israel, led by Eli, the compromised high priest, and his corrupt sons, fought the Philistines at Aphek, and were soundly beaten—for the Lord Most High was not with them….
Canaan, 1070 B.C.
“I am happy to report that the Philistine army was completely successful,” said Rugio. “Israel was routed utterly!”
“Well done, Rugio,” said Kara, inwardly ecstatic at the humbling of Israel. The corruption of the priesthood had become one of his main thrusts, and now it was apparent that the Lord Most High had abandoned his high priest.
“And the Ark?” asked Lucifer pointedly.
“Captured, my prince,” said Rugio proudly. “Shawa saw to that. He is with the Philistines carting it back to Ashdod.”
“Excellent!” said Lucifer. “Ashdod is where the new house of Dagon has been established. How fitting.”
Kara stood to speak.
“In the interest of sound strategy, would the Ark not be better placed in a more prominent city?” Kara suggested.
Pellecus looked at him scornfully.
“Any particular city in mind, Kara?” he asked.
“I believe that one of the cities under my direct authority would be more appropriate,” he answered. “After all, Shawa is not exactly one of us.”
“I sometimes question how you came to be one of us,” said Pellecus.
“The Ark shall go to Ashdod,” said Lucifer with a tone of finality. “Shawa has earned the right. And as he has assumed and built up the cult of Dagon, it is his to humble the symbol of the Presence of the Most High God!”
Kara was perturbed but knew better than to contest the issue.
“Very well,” he said. “Allow the Ark to remain at Ashdod. It is certainly encouraging, but we must remain resolute. They will of course want it back.”
Lucifer clasped his hands together. The Council watched him pace about, knowing him well en
ough to realize that he was formulating something significant in his mind. Behind him, the foothills of eastern Canaan could be seen over the top of the small Baal temple in which they were meeting.
Pellecus stood to speak. He pointed to an Asherah pole nearby, where a recent celebration to one of the Baals had taken place.
“This sort of nonsense represents the future of the Lord’s Presence on earth,” Pellecus remarked. “I believe that with the capture of the Ark, the people of God will disintegrate into the same nonsense that the worshipers of Baal have become accustomed to. Men always tend to idolatry—it is fixed in them as the sun is in the heavens. Mark me, my brothers, the Ark will become a lost memory to Israel, and soon they too shall be dancing around poles and attributing to the Most High the trappings of Canaanite gods!”
“I view things a bit differently,” offered Lucifer. “True, having the Ark is a great victory for us. And it represents a repudiation of God’s people by the Lord Himself. But ultimately the Ark will be a liability. I suggest that we make use of it as a point of pride for the time being—a trophy of sorts with which to humiliate Israel—and then destroy it and the Testimony within it. Then perhaps, Pellecus, these people will lapse into idolatry and disappear as a threat altogether.”
“Yes, my prince,” said Pellecus. “And with their idolatrous demise they will take with them the possibility of the Seed ever emerging!”
Lucifer seemed encouraged for the first time in a while. He looked at his Council with a proud countenance.
“Not since the days that we mapped out the beginning of this war in Heaven have I felt more sure that we are going to win,” he said confidently. “We must win! The alternative is unbearable.”
“So what do you suggest is our next action?” asked Kara, who had recovered from what he considered to be a rebuff of his request to be custodian of the Ark.
“The people themselves are dictating the next move,” said Lucifer. “They are now clamoring for a king. Idiots! They would throw off the rule of the Lord for a king who would come from among their own petty ranks.”
“A king in Israel?” surmised Pellecus. “Men leading men. It would be the beginning of the end for the covenant people of God!”
“All kings are prideful and corruptible,” agreed Kara.
“Their hearts can be turned in an instant,” said Rugio.
“Let Israel find her king,” said Lucifer. “And in proclaiming a royal leader, they shall become like the nations around them—proud, corrupt, idolatrous—and ultimately separated from the Lord.”
“And the Seed?” asked Kara. “What becomes of the prophecy?”
“Lost to history,” said Lucifer calmly. “After all, Kara, how could the Lord possibly bring forth Israel’s salvation from so common a nation?”
Chronicles of the Host
Israel’s Progress
How indeed? And yet as was often the case, the Lord confounded the wise with the simple, the lofty with the profane. As for the Ark, just as Lucifer suspected, it became a liability causing all manner of disease to break out among the Philistines. Even the great image of Dagon collapsed and broke into two pieces in its presence. So it was that the Philistines sent the Ark back to Israel, glad to be rid of it.
The Kingdom Begins
And so it was that the people asked for a king—a king who would lead them into battle; a king who would see the yoke of the Philistines overthrown; a king who would bring glory to Israel. Thus the Lord, ever gracious, had the prophet Samuel anoint Saul, of the tribe of Benjamin, king over Israel. And Saul led Israel on a path of glory…for awhile. But, as the enemy knew would happen among humans, Saul became plagued by his own prideful heart, and the Lord soon rejected him as king.
Lucifer thought the idea of a king a colossal mistake on the part of the Lord, knowing that human kings tend toward corruption, and was delighted with Saul’s erratic behavior. He sent Rugio and all his warriors to plague Israel with all manner of death and disease and filthy corruption as a result of the king’s perverse rule. In the end, they knew that Saul would only help in ferreting out and destroying the line of the Seed once and for all. Corrupt kings could bring a nation down, and Lucifer would bide his time until Israel was destroyed and the prophecy with it….
As it turned out, the Most High had already considered a new king, from the line of Judah. He was neither a great hero, nor warrior, nor man of experience. This again was a great surprise to the Host, as we sought out in our own minds a champion of the people; but the Lord had already seen a champion else-where…a most unlikely champion…and a most unlikely king….
Near Bethlehem, 1030 B.C.
Michael and Bakka watched as the last of Jesse’s sons came before Samuel at Bethlehem. None of these men was to become king. And yet the Lord had instructed the prophet to anoint one of Jesse’s sons. Samuel seemed a bit flustered, and the six boys who had been rejected were each disappointed.
“Have you no other child?” asked Samuel.
Jesse looked at his sons standing in the room of their house. They looked back at him, as if hoping he might not mention their little brother.
“Well, of course there is David,” said Jesse finally. “But he is just a lad. In fact, I didn’t call him in because he didn’t seem to be what you were searching for…” Jesse’s voice trailed off in unintelligible embarrassment.
“Go and fetch you brother!” he ordered Shammah.
Bakka looked at Michael with puzzlement. He indicated David’s brothers who stood as if in a stupor ever since being passed over by the prophet. All of them seemed fine candidates for king: They were tall, with strong features, and the look of royal confidence that can command armies.
When David walked in with Shammah, he saw his brothers standing on one side of the room, a stranger seated on the other side of the room, and his father in the middle—and all of them were looking at him. He started to ask his father what was going on when Samuel stood up and announced that this boy was to be anointed king.
As Samuel poured the anointing oil over David, Jesse wept with pride to see his youngest son so honored. The brothers were astonished, but sensed the reverence of the moment and bowed their heads solemnly. As Samuel laid his hands on David, the Spirit of the Lord came upon the boy like waves crashing on the shore. Michael and Bakka knelt in the Lord’s Presence, and when the ceremony was over, they were suddenly charged with a new mission that concerned this shepherd boy who would one day be king.
“Leave me alone!”
Saul’s soldiers ran into the room where the king lay on the floor, his hands covering his ears. He was beside himself, half weeping, half sputtering nonsense. Saul’s attendant helped him to a couch and gave him some wine. Saul grasped the goblet and drank deeply of it. He wiped his chin with his cloak and looked at the servant.
“The dream, Highness?” asked the servant.
“The nightmare,” said Saul, his cloak drenched in sweat. “Only this time I was not asleep. I was seated over there looking at a map when I felt something staring at me. I thought that perhaps a messenger had arrived, or a servant had come into the room. When I turned, I saw a hideous creature—black and ugly. It was jumping about the room shrieking at me in some accursed tongue. Just like the dream except this time I was awake. You believe me, don’t you?”
“Yes, Highness,” said the servant. “It is undoubtedly an evil spirit!”
Saul cradled his head in his hands. The attendant looked up at the other servant and shook his head in pity. The men helped Saul to his bed. He ordered them to stay in the room with him until he fell asleep. In a short time he was sleeping.
“Is he losing his mind?” whispered one of the servants, as they exited the room.
“No,” said the other. “This is the hand of God. The Lord is punishing Saul for his disobedience. We must find a way to help him.”
“But how?”
“We must find something that will take the king’s mind off this torment,” the other answered. �
�And I believe I know what that is!”
“Well?” asked the servant.
“Music,” said the attendant. “Played by the young man I saw the other day. I am convinced that this man is filled with the Spirit of God and that he will be able to bring peace to Saul’s mind.”
The other man thought about it for a bit. He then asked, “Who is he?”
“David,” said the attendant. “Son of Jesse of Bethlehem.”
“Saul…”
“Saul…”
Saul opened his eyes, awakening to the sound of his name being called. At first he was disoriented, having been sleeping soundly for the first time in many days. He answered, “Yes, who is it?”
Bizarre laughter began to fill the room. Saul bolted up in his bed, the fear rising inside of him. He tried to call out to his servants but began to choke, as if something had hold of his throat.
It was then that he saw two small black hands with long fingers and claw-like nails releasing him, and a grim visage with yellow teeth and red eyes looking straight at him. The horrible face began to grin and make ape-like noises, as if laughing. Saul jumped out of bed and ran out of the room, finally able to scream for his servants.
The demon laughed hysterically, enjoying Saul’s fright. It was a wisdom angel named Aziel who had been allowed by the Most High to gain entrance to Saul’s mind in order to torment him. Aziel watched as Saul came back in the room with his servants. The king broke down completely and began weeping aloud.
“Get David at once!” said the servant.
The spirit, which had attached itself to Saul’s head and was clawing away at his mind as if it was a potter working clay, lurched when the name David was spoken. He growled a low growl and watched as the servant disappeared to fetch David. Within a few minutes David came into the room and sat next to the king.
The king reclined on the couch and kept his eyes on David the whole time that David played. The evil spirit began screaming into Saul’s mind in a furious effort to resist David’s music. But the Spirit of God began to fill the room, and as the Lord’s Presence began to calm Saul’s fragile mind, the evil spirit could bear the music no longer. He vanished with a string of curses.
Rising Darkness Page 10