King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 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.]
Date: Monday, May 31, 2021
Chapters: I Kings 3-4, II Chronicles 1
Message: Observe The Fallen And The Freedom
Hello My Friend,
As I was reading the chapters for today, this passage came to mind, [James 4:1-4 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.]
As we take some time here in America to observe the men and women who gave their lives defending our great nation today. We must also take time to reflect that on the freedoms they sacrificed their lives for, not only to worship God as He sees fit, but to to live our lives as we see fit. We must also take time to reflect on the war that is within our own nation. Black Lives Matter, Antifa, Women’s Rights, LGBTQ (or whatever acronym they change it to), these are angry people desiring things that they cannot obtain and will never obtain, their own freedom. Angry and hateful people live in bondage to whatever made them that way, they spend their entire lives trying to make other people miserable because they lust for the things that we obtain, only they are not willing to so the work. It is just like Jesus said, [Luke 12:30-31 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.]
Okay, we all know that racism exists, and also know that prejudice exists, but it is those who are the true racists that are the ones starting all this. I know what these things really are first hand as I grew up in Detroit in the 70’s and 80’s. And our country that is succumbing to these violent bullies is not helping the situation, all they are doing is adding fuel to the fire. The only way a nation can be free and is at peace with each other is when it is under Godly leadership. In the beginning of Solomon’s reign as king he did very well and the kingdom prospered greatly, this was solely upon the fact that David taught Solomon to fear God and loved God just as much as David did. Even though Solomon was known as the wisest man, there was one thing that he did do that was not very wise, he became friends with Egypt and married the Pharaoh’s daughter.
[1 Kings 3:1-3 And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about. 2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days. 3 And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.]
[and took Pharaoh’s daughter,] This would, actually cause problems later on as Solomon would go on to marry more wives from different nations. The problem was that they did not worship God and therefore, would eventually turn his heart from following God completely. The Book of II Chronicles is the fourteenth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains thirty-six chapters. The timeline for these events took place between 1015 BC to 610 BC. The author of the book is Ezra, and was written to the Jews who were in captivity in Babylon for seventy years. The purpose of the book was to record the events that took place in Judah that brought them into captivity. What we are to learn from the book is that the blessings God gives to us comes through humbling ourselves and seeking His wisdom in all that we do.
[2 Chronicles 1:1,4–7 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. 4 But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 5 Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it. 6 And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it. 7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.]
[Ask what I shall give thee.] Do you see how God worded what He said, “Ask what I shall give thee.” God knows what we need, He knows what we desire, but when we are coming to Him, we must know what to ask for. Seeing where Solomon was headed, God thought it necessary to have a chat with him.
[1 Kings 3:7-10 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. 8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.]
[And the speech pleased the Lord,] Wealth, fame, and a prosperous nation has nothing to do with the man that can possess these things by obtaining them through their own personal lusts. None of that will do any good, eventually it will all come to a halt as we cannot take it with us, nor would it help us through any war. When we have a true heart, and ask God for the things that are pleasing to Him, that is what He will grant us and more. God honored Solomon’s request with a bonus.
[1 Kings 3:11-13 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. 13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. 14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.]
[And if thou wilt walk in my ways,] You see, God will give us the things we ask for and them some when we ask the right requests, but they do come with conditions, we must remain faithful to Him. He gives, but He will also take it away, actually quicker than He gave it if we turn our heart away as those blessings come, [Titus 3:8-9 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.]
Here in America, we have a Constitution that enables us the freedoms we enjoy, a Constitution that many are attempting to overturn on every level. They were designed to remind us that no matter the President, the Congress, or the Judge, that no one is above the law and must be held accountable for going against the law. Unfortunately, we have a president, majority of congress, and judges that are breaking that law on every level and have not been held accountable for their actions as of yet. He is sending those whom have abused their power for way too long a message that these ungodly actions will be to their own fall. The rest of us just have to trust God and endure it until they get the message. Now, Solomon prospered greatly as king because he not only set his heart on God, he had Godly people united with him, and led his nation to set their hearts on God as well. We learn this with the first decision he made as king. Two women came to Solomon, both of them had a baby, but one died and now they were fighting over the living child.
[1 Kings 3:17,19-20,25-28 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. 19 And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it. 20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. 25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. 26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. 27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.]
[for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.] Godly leadership will always prevail and bring protection and prosperity from God in our nation that exceeds our expectations, and even the world knows it. In my Civics class King Solomon was actually mentioned as a king that ruled with compassion and regard for the people, and not under his own agenda or selfish pride as so many other rulers have done. Of course, they did not mention that it happened because he worshiped God. All of Israel might not have been Godly, but they knew that God’s hand was on Solomon and the great team of Godly men to help him rule.
[1 Kings 4:1-7 So king Solomon was king over all Israel. 2 And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest, 3 Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder. 4 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests: 5 And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king’s friend: 6 And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute. 7 And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.]
[Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,] Do you see who it is that is first mentioned in helping Solomon succeed as king? We need our pastors and other ministers of God to give us the spiritual wisdom we need to do our secular jobs. Not every one of God’s people are called to serve in His Church, He needs faithful, Godly men and women in every position to serve Him wherever He leads them.
[1 Kings 4:29-34 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. 30 And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. 32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. 33 And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. 34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.]
[and largeness of heart,] Leaders, whether Godly or corrupt, will lead their nations in the way of their heart. A fallen nation can be restored, but it takes more than the leader to restore it, it takes Godly people united as one nation, and until that happens we are fighting a battle that no one will win. Let me tell you, I and my family suffered through oppression, poverty, a broken home, racism, prejudice, and endured some horrible things over the years. I never blamed people of color, my parents, or God. I went to school, got the lowest of job I could obtain at the age of fifteen, and did what I needed to do to change my situation. Just this morning I thanked God for what He has brought me through and also give credit to my mother who taught me and my brothers the right way. And praise God, that while I do not believe we will never have great wealth, we are always taken care of and receive much more than what we ask, [1 John 5:13-15 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.]
Jesus Christ Magnified: [1 Kings 3:28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.]
Today’s Prayer: God, It brings You great joy to You see Your children blessed with the things they ask for, especially when they are faithful to You. The key to our success and prosperity is living a Godly life and guiding others in the way that You would have them. With Your wisdom and guidance we can turn into one nation under God once again and see it prosper once again. God, need to ask You for wealth, weapons, or the desire that the ungodly and corrupt have obtained, we need to ask for your wisdom to rule our own hearts and whomever You entrust us with with a perfect heart. Lord, Lead me and guide me, give me wisdom and understanding, help me know Your will for me. As I come to know Your will, give me the skills, talents, and people I need in my life to do what You called me to do. Let me not even ask You for anything else without asking You what it is that You want me to have. And let me never forget all that You have done for me, I have never lacked when I put my faith and trust in You, and I will never lack as long as I am grounded and rooted upon the foundation of Your Son. You deserve praise and glory for all that I am and have. I love and thank You God, and ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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