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: Sunday, May 22, 2022
Chapters: 2 SAMUEL 23-24, PSALMS 97-99
Study: God’s Just Judgments
Hello My Friend,
I spent the day with my oldest nephew, he is twenty-one now, and has grown into such a goodhearted and faithful Christian man. He often does not get the recognition he deserves for standing by his faith and dedication to college as well as his work in the ministry, and job as well, and gets treated badly sometimes. A good part of the day we actually spent in his truck because traffic was so bad for the event that we were going to, and it was so packed that we actually could not get into the event until four hours later. I reminded my nephew that God has perfect timing, and as long as God is pleased with what he is doing, then it does not matter what anyone else thinks. And we should all be reminded of that fact, [Hebrews 13:15-17 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. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.]
Reading this passage reminded me of the woman that I had spoken to last week, we were talking about having a strong will accompanied by faith that aids in healing. She has cancer and the treatments she is receiving is helping, then she says as I had said that her strong will and faith will keep her around for a while, “From your lips to God’s ears.” You know, we cannot even mention God unless the patient speaks about Him first, that is how bad it is getting all over the world when we are being censored as to not offend someone. I will tell you what, there will come a day when they too will be calling out to God, in fact, kneeling before Jesus, and they are going to regret having not only tried to censor His faithful, but the affliction they caused as well. As we come to the end of the reading of 2 Samuel, David recalls how God had been there for him, even when he messed up.
[2 Samuel 23:1-5 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. 5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.]
[Although my house be not so with God;] These were not technically the last words of David, he was still around for a while after this, this was just David getting his house in order before he would leave this earth. David was fully aware that not everyone from his house feared God, and even he failed a time or two, and yet God never forgot or forsook the covenant that He made with him. We need to be reminded that while we are not always perfect with God, He never forgets the covenant that we made with Him in receiving His Son as our Saviour. Yes, we do need that reminder, and not be smug or arrogant about our being saved by grace, because all that will do is lead to a premature death. Remember what Jesus said, [Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.]
It is the proud, who think that their faith in Jesus will allow them to live as they please and still get to heaven, that will find out the hard way that you cannot take salvation by grace for granted. God will not be mocked, and if He sees that He is being mocked, that will be the end of His mercy toward them. God gives us a choice, we do not have to choose Him, we do that by choice, which is often why He does prove us to see if we are serious about our faith. And He does not prove us so that He can know because He already does know, it is so that we ourselves can see if our faith is true. We could question His methods, but what good would that do, the only thing that it would probably do is reveal the truth that perhaps we do not believe with all our heart that Jesus is the only way to our salvation. This is God’s world, He created it and He will do with it what He will and He does not need our permission or our support.
[Psalms 97:1-7,10-12 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. 3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. 4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. 5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. 7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods. 10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.]
[and all the people see his glory.] Yesterday, I had mentioned how God is seen through thunderstorms, but He is also seen through clouds, the sun, the moon, and yes, the rainbow that comes after the storm. Only the one and only living and Almighty God, can create an earth that is suspended in space, while orbiting an orbiting sun that is nothing, but a fireball, and a moon that controls the seas, and people want to question His existence. For the past two years, all we hear is, “Trust the science.” Well, mans science is far from what God’s science is, while mans science is trying to transplant the womb of a woman into a man, God’s science reveals that God is true and everyone else is a liar.
[Romans 1:18-21 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.]
We can rejoice in God’s judgments because they are just and make our heart pure as we learn to fear Him. David had his share of judgments placed upon him, but he was still loved by God, and he never forgot that, he also recognizes that his mighty men, who also feared God, played a part in his success both in becoming king as well as during his reign.
[2 Samuel 23:8-10 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: 10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.]
[and the LORD wrought a great victory that day;] David recognizes all the men who helped him, even the ones who were not as noble as others, fully acknowledging that their success was from God alone. We are not who we are today nor have we gotten this far in our faith, simply through our faith in Christ alone, it takes a village, so to speak, to raise Godly Christians.
[1 Corinthians 12:12-13,23-26 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.]
Saved, born again Christians, and even many of other faiths, can see the splendor of our Creator just by looking up into the heavens. And that is where it stops, people of other faiths may believe in the Almighty God, but very few are willing to admit they need Christ. And sadly, many Christian based faiths are also leaning toward this ideology that there are other ways to salvation besides Jesus Christ. Do you know why? No one wants to end up being judged by God. They buy into this ideology that they can be justified through their faith in whatever they choose God to be. Let me tell you, our Almighty God may be merciful, but He is also just, which means He will judge all, and we need to accept that while God loves all, that love also includes judgment of the just. Once again, David finds himself in a mess as he decides to number all of Israel, but watch who put it in his heart.
[2 Samuel 24:1-4 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. 2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. 3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing? 4 Notwithstanding the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.]
[And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel,] Look at what is going in the world right, as if Covid has not lingered enough with its different variants, by the way, there will always be different variants of a corona virus because that is what they do, but now we have monkey pox. Really? Let me tell you, every time I fail God, the first question I ask Him is why He allowed me to fall when He has stopped me so many other times. I usually get the same response, freewill, but once in a while He does tell me that the reason He allowed something was because he was proving someone else and teaching me the hard lesson that not only are we not be yoked together with unbelievers, me cannot be yoked together with those who are not like minded in their faith, [Philippians 2:20-22 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. 22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.]
Paul, was actually speaking about Timothy when he wrote that letter to the Philippians, he was sending him to pastor the church there, but it applies to any saved, God fearing, and faithful Christian. There are very few who seek God’s will, but God does recognize the ones that do, my nephew is one of them, and has even sacrificed time with his family to serve God when asked to fill in for someone. We are not always going to be in God’s will, but the most important part is getting back in when He tells us. And I will tell you this, sometimes being in God’s will is not enjoyable, we are requested to do things and make decisions that we really do not want to make. Nevertheless, God will have His say and His way, and this time, God sends Gad to tell him that he has sinned, but the hardest part is that this time, it was David who had to choose the punishment.
[2 Samuel 24:8-12 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. 10 And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. 11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, 12 Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.]
[I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them,] Whenever I do fail God, I always say that whatever befalls me I will accept it because I did fail Him. And while we can ask God why we were moved to do these things that led to sin, it all comes down to the fact that we made that choice ourselves, and regardless if God is the one who allowed us to actually fall into Satan’s trap of sin for he is the only one who can influence us to sin, there still is a consequence to sin. Well, David chose three days of disease in the land, which is pestilence.
[2 Samuel 24:14-18 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. 15 So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men. 16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. 17 And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house. 18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.]
[and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough:] This was more than just David sinning against God by numbering the people, although this was part of it, there was something else going on as well. I am sure that God did not like the way Israel behaved and turned on David in regards to Absalom and Sheba. Remember, God does judges His anointed, but He never forgets His covenant with true believers, and for that reason He always repents of destroying them completely, [1 John 2:1-5 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.]
Seventy thousand men died in only nine hours of the first day, but there was one way to stop the spread of the disease, and it was not wearing masks or isolation, it was repentance. David was sickened by so many people losing their lives over something that he did that he begged for God to stop, and judge him instead of the innocent. Even though God had already stopped it, He still instructed David to build an altar.
[2 Samuel 24:20,22-25 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. 22 And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. 23 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. 24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.]
[unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing.] This is exactly the place where Abraham stood when he was about to offer Isaac, [Genesis 22:7-8 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.]
God indeed did provide the lamb for the sacrifice and that lamb was His Son, [John 1:29,32-33 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.]
God has always shown man the way to salvation, the animal and even grain sacrifices [Leviticus 5:11 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.] were the temporary lamb to take away the sins of the world, well believers sins. While God never denies and nation to come to Him, He will only save those who truly believe in Him and want Him in their lives. This Psalm describes how merciful God is on both the just and the unjust in that He gives all the opportunity to get saved.
[Psalms 98:1-3,8-9 A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together 9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.]
[and the people with equity.] [Equity; Justice; right.] Equity is the impartial distribution of justice, or the doing that to another which the laws of God and man, and of reason, give them a right to claim. God is merciful to both the saved and unsaved, and in fact, He is often more merciful to the unsaved because He wants to see them get saved, but His mercy does run out for the unsaved. God could wipe out the entire earth right now as corrupt as it is, but He is merciful in that He is not willing to destroy it until the very last soul to accept Christ gets saved, [2 Peter 3:8-10 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.]
Salvation is never free, there is always a price that comes with it. Jesus paid the price of our sin debt on the cross, He replaced the need for endless animal sacrifices and ceremonies for temporary redemption, and made it permanent when He sacrificed His own life to save all who believe in and receive Him as their Saviour, [John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.]
Yes, Jesus died to save all. No, Jesus does not save all because in order for Him to save all they must believe that He their only way to salvation. This is God’s law, and His earth, and He will do with it what He will, the only escape from its destruction is true repentance.
[Psalms 99:1-3,6-9 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. 2 The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. 3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. 6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them. 7 He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. 8 Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. 9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.]
[they called upon the LORD,] I do not care if you were here before Christ’s passion, it has always been the same, unless we call upon the LORD in true repentance, meaning accepting that Jesus alone is the only way to be saved, we will not be saved, [Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Every day I am amazed that no matter how many mistakes I make You still love me, You have not forsaken me, and I still have a place in heaven with You. Your judgments are true and just, and we should rejoice in them because they are what conform us into an image that resembles Your Son. Thank You God, for everything that You do for me, whether times are good or bad, happy or sad, You are always there guiding me in the right direction. Lord, continue to lead me and guide me, keep me in Your Word, learning, understanding, and conforming to Your Son until You bring me home. Let my life be an example of not only Your mercies and grace, but of Your righteous judgments that keep me out of Satan’s hands and in Your will. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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