Opening the Gates of Heaven Perry Stone

child would die. After the birth, the infant became sick, and David spent seven days in fasting and prayer, interceding for God’s mercy to heal his little son. The heavens became brass , and the child died. The Lord allowed this as an act of judgment on David for killing an innocent man and taking his wife. Nathan the prophet also had informed David that although he would not die because of the sin, but because he had caused people to blaspheme God’s name, the sword of the Lord would never depart from his house (v. 10). David lost four sons because of this word of judgment. In the first case, the Lord said no to Moses for several reasons, but the primary one, I believe, was to teach Miriam how to control her tongue and not speak evil against God’s prophet. In David’s case, the child was already under a death sentence before it was born, and thus the death was the fulfillment of God’s chastisement to David (2 Sam. 12:14). Notice that Moses did not blame God or become angry, and after the death of David’s son, the king arose from the dust, washed himself, worshiped God, and ate a meal (v. 20). David said he could not bring the infant back from the dead, but one day he would go to where the infant was—speaking of paradise, the home of the righteous departed souls (v. 23; 2 Cor. 12:1–4). Notice, however, the outcome of each situation. Moses was told that God would not heal Miriam; however, she was healed seven days later after setting outside the camp and, no doubt, learning the importance of guarding her