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 23, 2022
Chapters: I CHRONICLES 21-22, PSALMS 30, 95
Study: Judgment Comes Before Joy
Hello My Friend,
Of all of God’s judgments the ones that prove the most effective in Him opening the eyes of His people are famine and sickness. Food is what sustains us, and perhaps this shortage of baby formula is just what is necessary for people to turn to Jesus and not man for help. Likewise, as we now have monkey pox to deal with as well as Covid lingering, perhaps this is what is necessary to turn them to Jesus. Now, keep in mind that judgment starts with God’s house first. Why? We know better, our ought to, [1 Peter 4:17-19 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.]
Forget about the fact that the world is performing surgeries on men and women to change their bodies to make them look like another gender. Forget about the fact that the world kills countless babies in the womb and does not blink an eye at the thought of doing so. And forget about the fact that the worlds kids have no respect for their own parents let alone anyone else of authority. God will handle them on their own, in fact, they will likely bring their own judgment upon themselves as God gives them up to their reprobate minds. God’s focus right now is on His people. Why? Because people are dying and going to hell because they trusted in a religion that told them that it was okay to do those things. As we return to the reading of 1 Chronicles, it also gives the account of David numbering the people and bringing judgment upon all of Israel.
[1 Chronicles 21:1-6 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. 3 And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? 4 Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword. 6 But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.]
[why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?] Did you notice how it was Satan that stood up against Israel? This was an actual command from God as we recall, that He was angry with Israel. And this is what brought the judgment, God’s Law states, [Exodus 30:12-13 When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. 13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.]
Every time a census was taken, the people had to pay money for the ransom of their soul, otherwise, there would be a plague sent upon them, which is another word for pestilence or disease, and if it were not paid, then they would die for their sins. Does this sound familiar to you? There is always a price to pay for sin, even if it is done out of ignorance. A ransom or tax paid for the numbering of the people was initially done as a means to raise money for the maintenance of the tabernacle. Later on, during the time of Jesus’ birth, this tax was changed into a yearly tax for the maintenance of the temple, [Luke 2:1-5 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.]
The ransom money was was half a shekel, about fifteen pence of our money, and it was the same for all, the rich were not to give more, nor the poor less for their souls, which is a reminder that there is a price to pay for the ransom of our souls, and it is the same price for everyone, [Romans 2:9-11 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.]
Now, as for the judgment, which we can now see why God had given David an option this time, for the Law itself would bring the disease since David ordered the census and did not collect any money. And do you notice the number three in all of this? Three judgments, three years, three months, and three days.
[1 Chronicles 21:9-13 And the LORD spake unto Gad, David’s seer, saying, 10 Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. 11 So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee 12 Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me. 13 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.]
[or else three days the sword of the LORD,] The number three, which is also the case with the number seven, signifies completion. One is just a number that has no significance because there are no witnesses, two has a little more merit, but can often be divided, but three settles it all. Just as with Jesus being in the tomb for three nights and three days, and also the trinity of God, being the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, all three are necessary for us to be complete, [1 John 5:6-9 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.]
You see, David knew that God’s mercies were much greater than mans, but even he did not expect what was to come of them once that virus struck the nation. In a matter of nine and a half hours seventy thousand people died. What David, and many of the people with him saw next was enough to not only get them on their knees, but begging for God to stop.
[1 Chronicles 21:15-18 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued. 18 Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.]
[and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven,] I can only imagine how scared David and everyone else who saw this incredible sight. This is actually Jesus Himself, and just like He had warned the people when He was here in the flesh, [Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.] He did the very thing that He warned them about well before He came here in the flesh. Remember, it was God who moved Satan to convince David to number the people as He was angry at them, and it was God who numbered them also with the sword, and that sword was the disease, [Isaiah 65:11-12 But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. 12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.]
This is what Jesus does for us, He stands before His Father, begging and pleading with Him not to destroy His sheep, the ones whom believe in and accept Him as their Saviour, including the ones who are unfaithful to Him. He also tells us what we need to do in order for Him to save us. In fact, it was the angel of the LORD who commanded David to build the altar.
[1 Chronicles 21:26-30 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. 27 And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof. 28 At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. 29 For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon. 30 But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.]
[At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor] We cannot just take any offering to God, it must be the one that was purchased. Our souls are bought with a price, and that price was the pure and precious blood of Christ, [I Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:]
Last night as I had my Sunday night class praying, one of them prayed for God to end Covid, it was a reminder that God is provoked and the one who provoked Him needs to step up and throw themselves at the altar or there are going to be many more deaths. And since this virus has hit the entire world, we can pretty much account that there is more that one person that has provoked Him. We all need to come to the altar, just as David did, and do exactly what Jesus tells us to do, with the reminder that while God’s judgments do stand, joy comes in the morning for those who put their faith and trust in Christ.
[Psalms 30:1-5,11-12 A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David. I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. 11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.]
[Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing:] God, does get angry at His people, we are often stubborn and willful, and until we do become mournful we are going to suffer. When we become mournful that is what brings repentance, and that is also when God will lift us up, and that mourning turns into dancing, [James 4:5-10 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.]
Now, after that terrible judgment, God pointed out that where they built the altar that was the place where He wanted the Temple built. David was excited to make all the preparations, he gathered people and supplies that would be needed, including the instructions on who was going to do what. Then he calls for Solomon, and tells him what he expects of him.
[1 Chronicles 22:1-5 Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel. 2 And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God. 3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight; 4 Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David. 5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.]
[So David prepared abundantly before his death.] While David was commanded not to build the temple, God did not stop him from preparing Solomon to build it. And while Solomon would be the next king, he also made it a point to make sure that his brothers would be a part of it as well.
[1 Chronicles 22:11-13,17-19 Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee. 12 Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God. 13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed. 17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.]
[Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God;] David, was the only person since Moses to prepare his successor for what he was to do after he was gone. He also made it a point to remind Solomon and all of them for that matter, that both their heart and soul needs to be right with God. It does no good to have a plan and not tell the next generation how to carry out the plan when you are gone. It also does no good to know the plan and not be saved. You can build a thousand churches for God, but unless you are saved, God does not recognize any of it, [Luke 13:25-27 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.]
Workers of iniquity are those who think that their proclaiming Christ, and telling the world how much Jesus loves them (with no need for repentance) is saving them. That is why Jesus only recognizes our works after we are saved. Our salvation is not about our works, but if we are going to say that we believe in God, then we need to come to Him how He instructs us, otherwise, there is no joy or rest for that matter.
[Psalms 95:1-3,7-11 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. 10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: 11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.]
[Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.] Jesus is the only way to escape God’s wrath and enter into His rest, [Matthew 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your mercy, no matter what I do, You will never leave nor forsake me. I know that I have provoked you a time or two, and have witnessed Your anger. I also have seen Your hand over me more times that I can count, and yet You truly watch over, and protect Your own. Lord, Thank You for Your mercy, Your grace, and Your protection on me. Lead me and guide me, keep Your hedge of protection around me, fill me with Your mercies, grace, and love, for I know I will fail You at times, but You are my strength to lift me up. When I come to Your in mourning, that is when You will lift me up and I will be dancing for Your anger only does endure for a moment, and then joy comes in the morning. I pray these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://readytofollow.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/welcome/
Read Today’s Bible Reading: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
I’m Following Jesus On Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/readytofollowJesus/
Copyright © 2022 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.