King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34
Date: Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Chapters: I Samuel 19-20, Psalms 11,59
Message: Established Through Christ
Hello My Friend,
In my Civics studies it goes into depth on the Bill of Rights, which are the first ten Amendments written in the Constitution. The author of the book suggests that some of these Amendments are outdated and do not apply to us today. That is just like those who tell us that the Old Testament of the Bible is outdated and does not apply to us today. Now, there are some things written in the Old Testament that were for that dispensation of time in how God dealt with His people. For example, God established some specific rules that pertained to Israel only while they spent forty years in the wilderness. Once on the promised land, He had established some specific rules that pertained to that time, and it remained that way until Christ’s passion. Today, we are established by grace, through our faith in Christ. That does not mean that God sees sin differently, it means that we no longer have to bring animal sacrifices to the Temple everytime we sin for atonement as Christ is the atonement. We are established through our faith Christ alone, nothing and no one can alter that.
[John 5:25-27 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.]
What is the difference between the Son of God and the Son of man? Well, it was important that God chose to use man, by which He created in His own image to establish that we would be saved by grace. While God could have made salvation permanent some other way, it was man that the curse of death from sin was cast upon, so, it would have to be a man that He would use to break that curse. Christ, being the Son of man, came here in the flesh, through man, in particular one man, and that man was David,[2 Samuel 7:12]. God would first use David to establish authority over His people. It was prophesied from the beginning that God would use David to bring His only begotten Son into the world, and yet, as long as Satan exists he will forever attempt to stop prophecy from being fulfilled. When God sent Samuel to anoint David as king, David really had no idea how much affliction he would face, but here was Saul, once he found out that God was with him, trying to kill him.
[1 Samuel 19:1,2,4,6-7,9-11 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. 4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: 6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. 7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past. 9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. 10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. 11 Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.]
[and he was in his presence, as in times past.] This is why we cannot go back to the life we were living before Christ, especially once we start prospering from our walk with Christ. The world, the worldly, and those who are quite frankly, jealous over our relationship with Christ will forever be our enemies, [Luke 21:17-19 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls.]
So, at this point David was a little confused, he could not understand why Saul, who happened to be his father-in-law, wanted him dead. He prayed this prayer to God, [Psalms 59:1-5,13 To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. 2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. 3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD. 4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold. 5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah. 13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.]
[Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be:] Many will tell you that we are not to pray for death or affliction upon our enemy, but then again, we are not to wish them Godspeed either, [2 John 1:9-11 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.]
Jealousy is like a disease, it slowly spreads until it consumes and controls the person that it captures and stops at nothing to destroy what gets in its way. People of the world do not need a reason to try to destroy a child of God, the truth is, that they see the blessings that God gives them and that enrages them because their lives are a mess and getting worse the more they try to destroy the threat. Saul saw David as a threat and was not about to stop pursuing him until he was dead. David decided to go visit Samuel, but when Saul found out he sent men to capture him, three times he tried before going there himself, and soon discovered something.
[1 Samuel 19:18-24 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. 19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. 20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. 23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?]
[and the Spirit of God was upon him also,] Okay, so, Saul sent men three times to capture David, and each time, the Holy Spirit stopped them by revealing to them that His hand was upon David and no one can touch him. God even went as far as showing that to Saul, which is why when he saw Samuel he stripped off his robe and just laid there. This is exactly what Jesus talks about when He says that many will come to Him saying that they prophesied in His name, and He will tell them to depart because He never knew them, [Matthew 7:23]. God will use any means to get true believers saved, even using those who do not believe for a time, [Romans 9:21-23 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,]
Well, now that it was revealed to Saul and everyone else that David would be king, he left Samuel and met up with Jonathan. Of course, he still did not understand why Saul was trying to kill him, he was not even trying to take the throne from him. He asks Johnathan if he knew why Saul wanted him dead.
[1 Samuel 20:1,3,12-16 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? 3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. 12 And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee; 13 The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father. 14 And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: 15 But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David’s enemies.]
[there is but a step between me and death.] David, discouraged by Saul’s constant threat on his life, even going as far as chasing after him now, but Jonathan encourages him, he knows that he will be king. [But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever:] This reminds me of what the man on the cross said to Jesus as he understood that Jesus was dying for him too, [Luke 23:40-43 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.]
It is natural to question why people not only dislike you, but would want to cause such great harm. Now, the longer this went on Saul became increasingly violent with an uncontrollable temper, he considered any opposition as treason. So, when Jonathan spent two days at dinner, without David showing up, it finally came out as to why Saul was so determined to have David killed, and actually tells Jonathan why.
[1 Samuel 20:30-34,42 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. 32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? 33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. 34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame. 42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.]
[thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom.] Saul knew God was with David, and that Jonathan and Michal were also on his side. It is the devil that despises anything good, especially when we know that God’s hand in it, and will use anyone, even try to kill anyone who opposes him. So, what if Saul did succeed in killing David? Did he think that that would change the outcome? The devil is no fool, he knows where he is going, yet, he will continue to do whatever he can to stop prophecy from being fulfilled, even though he also knows that it will never change the outcome, [James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.]
As Christians we face a lot of opposition because of the fact that we walk with Christ. The saved who are not really walking with Christ are jealous of those who do. Why? Because He is always with us. He would be with them too, but they refuse to repent of their sin. We need not fear those who come after us over jealousy, God will take care of them, and us, [Psalms 11:3-7 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? 4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. 5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. 6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.]
Jesus Christ Magnified: [1 Samuel 20:42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.]
Today’s Prayer: God, It seems like Christians are being persecuted more than ever from those who are jealous at Your blessing their lives. Lord, give us Your power to keep living by faith and not in fear of those who are jealous of us. Give us Your strength to stand up for ourselves, and not be afraid to confront them. And give us the wisdom, guidance, and love that only You can give us to handle the situations we are faced with. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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