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: Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Chapters: 2 SAMUEL 18-19, PSALMS 3-4,12-13
Study: Safely With Jesus
Hello My Friend,
This morning I woke up with this huge headache, the pressure around my sinuses were terrible, on top of that I felt dizzy and had this tightness in my chest as well. Thank God, that I did not have to be to work early, I read the chapters for today, then laid back down for an hour. I was feeling so much better and started working on the devotion, then all of a sudden something crashes down on my leg. I have a shelf on my desk, the notebooks decided to fall. I immediately started telling the devil to get out of my house and away from my family, only to start feeling the way I did when I work up. I asked God what was going on with me and then He told me to look up what an anxiety attack is. With everything going on the past couple of weeks, it is no wonder why my body is feeling all the pressure. God, had already led me to write a devotion on safety, and now I can see why.
[Safety; Freedom from danger or hazard; exemption from hurt, injury or loss.] Well, I was thinking of another passage when I was looking for one that contained the word safety, but as I read the meaning of the word, this is what came to mind, [1 Corinthians 3:13-17 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.]
Now, you can see why this passage came to mind, it does not matter what hardships we face, even if it is something that we brought on ourselves, even if we lost everything we ever worked for, the only thing that would make us lose our salvation is if we never truly trusted Christ as our Saviour. As we continue in the reading of 2 Samuel, Absalom sends an army out to capture his father, David actually divided the people into three groups and sent them out, with one order, do not kill my son.
[2 Samuel 18:1-3,5 And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also. 3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city. 5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.]
[but now thou art worth ten thousand of us:] Did you know that you, with all your faults, fears, and falls, are worth more to Jesus than all the people the world who reject Him? Jesus died for you, He gave His very life to save your soul from death and hell. Jesus did die for all, but He will only save those who believe in and accept Him as their Saviour, and that includes the promise of eternal life with Him, [Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.]
Talk about safety, even when things seem like they are out of control, they are actually falling right into place as it is God who sustains us. As David, awaits the news of what he thought would just be their capturing Absalom, no doubt, the prayers were come, including this one, [Psalms 3:1-5 A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.]
[I awaked; for the LORD sustained me] Let me tell you, when you are facing all these afflictions, which seems to be one after another sometimes, you do get to the point that you realize that God’s hand is in it, and each day that you wake up you are thankful that it was God who got you through another day. Now, there was a great battle between Judah and Israel, but more men actually died in the rough terrain than by the men, ans here comes Absalom, riding on a mule of all things (that was what kings did).
[2 Samuel 18:6-9 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim; 7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men. 8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. 9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.]
[and the wood devoured more people that day] Well, if you did not understand how so many died in the woods, Absalom, so proud of his thick, luscious hair, got it caught in a tree, then the mule got away from him, and there he was hanging from his hair. It is no doubt that other men had gotten tangled in the trees, bushes, and pits that were within and perhaps gotten attacked by the beasts as well. Absalom, on the other hand, did not die from any beast, when Joab was told that Absalom was hanging from the tree, he killed him.
[2 Samuel 18:12,14-17 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. 14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him. 16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people. 17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.]
[and all Israel fled every one to his tent.] Now, that everyone knew that Absalom was dead and that was the only thing that David had asked them not to do, no one wanted to be the one to bear the news to David.
[2 Samuel 18:21,31-33 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. 31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. 32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. 33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!]
[would God I had died for thee,] I feel like David sometimes, I have so much hope that my love of God and what He has done for me will wear off on my loved ones. That is not always the case, and I am the one left with all the tears and heartache. And let me tell you, the longer you walk with Christ and see all the evil going on, especially among family, the more your heart hurts for those who are not saved. You beg and plead with God to open their hearts, and the more they reject Him, the more you grieve for their souls. We must understand that while God does want them to be saved, He knows their heart, and sadly, many will reject Christ, but that is the choice they make, God cannot force someone to believe in Him, but He is right there the second they call on Him, believing.
[Psalms 4:1-3,6-8 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. 6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.]
[more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.] The most amazing thing about the afflictions that we do face, is that we find that the blessings come far more than when we are content and having no concerns. Though the afflictions is also when we do discover that our safety is in Jesus. Well, at first, David did not see God’s hand in Absalom’s death, in fact, their victory turned into a memorial.
[2 Samuel 19:2-3,5-7 And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. 3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; 6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. 7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.]
[there will not tarry one with thee this night:] Joab, was right in the sense that you cannot risk the lives of so many over one life that had no intention of turning from their wicked ways. It is not our job to try to save them all, even family members, that is God’s job, and He will only save those who come to Him through His Son. We are merely the messengers, as long as we do our part, then God is pleased, [Hebrews 13:8-9,15-16 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.]
God has not changed, He deals with us the same way He did when He first created the world for us, and when He sacrificed His own Son, and He will remain the same for all eternity. His Word is settled, and tells us exactly what we need to do, and to those who trust in His Word, that is actually their safety.
[Psalms 12:1-2,5-7 To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. 2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. 5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. 6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.]
[as silver tried in a furnace of earth,] God, is going to try us, the second that we ask Jesus to save us, He is going to turn up the heat and get rid of all the impurities that defile us. Do not mistake our soul for our flesh, our soul is clean through the blood of Jesus, our flesh is another story, it does need a cleaning, and it is Jesus who does that also, much of it thought His Word. Each and every one of us is responsible for our own actions, those who make the wrong choices, and refuse to repent will die in their sins, and this includes, many saved, born again Christians who choose their sins over God’s will for their lives, [James 1:13-15 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.]
Even though David did realize that Joab was right and it was time to move forward and get the kingdom back in order, he was still upset with Joab and literally removed him from being in charge. On their way back to Jerusalem, Shimei, the man who cursed David, met up with him.
[2 Samuel 19:11,13,18-19,23 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house. 13 And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab. 18 And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; 19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.]
[Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.] Do you remember what Jesus said when the people questioned who He is, and actually had the nerve to say that He was of the devil? [Matthew 12:30-32 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.]
God’s mercy is astounding and quite long in that He gives everyone the opportunity to change their hearts and repent. Remember, God knows the intents of our heart, well before we do. We could question why God would not open someone’s heart to get saved, but then we do not know what they are capable are. And that is where Jesus comes in, after all, He really does have more mercy on us than we truly deserve.
[Psalms 13:1-6 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. 5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. 6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.]
[Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him;] Satan, the biggest, most arrogant fool of all, has a great way of deceiving God’s faithful into believing that someone has received Christ, but the proof is, as they say it, in the pudding. Our biggest enemy is Satan, and he can make us feel like we are all alone and even question our salvation, thankfully, Jesus knows that we belong to Him, and will put him in his place, [Matthew 10:34-36,42 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Although I do not understand everything that You allow me to be afflicted with, I do understand that You have a reason and a purpose for all of it. Jesus, thank You for having my back, for keeping me close to You, no matter how many times I mess up. It is only through You and Your strength that I can even stand, let alone walk through the rough terrain of family, friends, and those who are determined to cause havoc on my faith. Lord, give me Your strength to endure, the discernment to know how to handle all matters and people, and Your grace to suffice what Your will not remove. Give me Your power to trust, and wait for Your timing. Keep me to looking to You for guidance and direction in all my steps so that I can do what You call me to do effectively and even though I grieve, live and care for those You entrust me with. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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