KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Sunday, May 08, 2016
Chapters: 2 Chronicles 9-11
Message: 2 Chronicles: Bearing Temptation
Hello My Friend,
Temptation. Did you ever notice that the second you tell yourself you are not going to do something there are all sorts of temptations to entice you. We do not know how long Eve starred at that fruit tree before she grabbed a piece from it, and we do not know how long she held it in her hand before she bit into it, but we do know that she took a bite because she saw it was something to be desired. God never said that He would not allow us to be tempted, He did say that He would give us a way out. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13.
It is often said that in order to keep yourself from being tempted you need to remove everything that would entice you. I use to think that it did not matter if I removed the temptation, I am strong enough to overcome it. While that can be achieved sometimes, the truth is, our flesh is way too weak to avoid falling into temptation if it is staring at us in the face every day. But in all honesty, we are tempted every day, and most of the time we pay no mind to it. It is only when we are mentally weak that we desire them, thus falling into the temptation. As wise, wealthy, and famous as Solomon was, you would have though that he would have left with a better legacy, monarchs all over the world praised him and gave him an abundance of things because they knew it was God that blessed him.
“And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart. And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the low plains in abundance. And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands.” – 2 Chronicles 9:22-28.
“And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon,” There is something to be said about being desired. We all want recognition, to be acknowledged, accepted, and praised for our good work, but if we are not careful we forget that God is the one who blessed us. Solomon had everything he ever wanted and needed, yet something was amiss, it had to have been since he had a thousand wives. He may have looked happy on the outside, but he desired something much more than money, possessions, or women could give. Nothing with God is more valuable than everything without Him. “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.” – Ecclesiastes 2:24-26.
Now, after Solomon died, his son Rehoboam reigned. It did not take long before he, desiring to be accepted by his friends as the new king, caused the entire nation to split. Every tribe, except for Judah and Benjamin, rejected him, even claiming their namesake of Israel as well. “And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents. But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.” – 2 Chronicles 10:13-19.
“for the cause was of God,” 1 Kings explains this in more detail, but God was angry with Solomon for allowing the influence of his foreign wives to bring false god and idol worship into Jerusalem, he even began worshiping them himself. To keep his promise to David, God caused the split. Why? To keep the corrupt Israelites from the godly. You see, God knows well ahead of time what is going to happen when we give into the mental desires that lead to temptation. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” – James 1:14,15.
Now, with the news that everyone scattered, Rehoboam is fuming, he wants to show Israel who is in charge, he gathers up an army to fight against them, but just as the battle began God orders them to stop the fight. Once he realizes that all this was under the hand of God he straightened up, and for three years was strong in the Lord. “And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam. And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah. And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.” – 2 Chronicles 11:1-5,6,7.
“And they obeyed the words of the LORD,” When we obey God that is when we have the power to bare and escape any temptation. Sometimes things do not make sense, anger, pride, depression, loneliness, these are some of the many things that play a part in our mental desires wanting to be fulfilled. When we are not right with ourselves that is when we are most vulnerable to temptation, but Jesus, can help us overcome any temptation when we look to Him. Jesus was tempted just as we are, He used the power of God to help Him, so He can help us. The key to overcome is not in our strength, we will fail every time, it is in the strength of Jesus in us.
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” – Hebrews 2:9-11,17,18.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is reveled through the ivory throne of Solomon’s kingdom. The luster of his kingdom illustrated the glory of the coming of Christ’s kingdom, and is a faint representation of His throne to be set up when He returns. “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.” – Revelation 20:11.
Today’s Prayer: God, You did not promise that we would not be tempted after we receive Your Son as our Saviour, but You did promise that You would give us a way out, an escape. It is not the temptation itself that causes us to fall, it is our mental state. Lord, You are our only strength to strengthen our mind, body and spirit to walk away from temptation. Help us take control of those emotions that make us vulnerable to temptation, lead us away from anything that will cause us to think upon and desire these things. Give us Your power to bare any temptation that does find us, let us be forgiving to ourselves for any fall, and help us get back up if we do. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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