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, June 13, 2022
Chapters: II CHRONICLES 5, I KINGS 8
Study: In The Darkness
Hello My Friend,
Funny thing, last night I was teaching my church kids how God answers our prayers sort of like a traffic light, but there are two things to remember when praying. One; we need the Holy Spirit inside of us in order for God to hear our prayers, and two; we need to think about what we are asking Him for to make sure it is something that is necessary. We talked about this passage, [Luke 11:5-9 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.]
I asked my kids if they ever gave something to someone because they kept asking for it until they gave in, and they all agreed that they did. When I asked them if the friend gives them an ultimatum when asking for it, if they were really a friend, and do you know these seven to ten year old kids knew that someone like that was no friend at all. There is a very good reason to seek out what we asking God for before we start knocking on His door, and we also make sure that we are not trying to bargain with Him, [James 1:5-7 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.]
It does not matter if you are praying for wisdom or a piece of bread, we need to be sincere, we need to consider what it is that we are asking Him for, and we need to have faith. And as we return to the reading of 2 Chronicles, it also gives the account of the temple being complete and Solomon having all the things that David had dedicated to God placed inside. And now it was time to bring the ark of the covenant inside, which he made sure that it was Levites who were dedicated, meaning sanctified, going near it.
[2 Chronicles 5:1-2,7,10 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God. 2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. 7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims: 10 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.]
[to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David,] The city of David, which actually is Zion, a hill that David had conquered before he became king of all of Isael, [2 Samuel 5:6-7 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. 7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.]
Zion, is also the place where Jesus will reign when He returns. David’s reign was symbolic of Christ making war in power for the establishment of the millennium. Solomon, on the other hand, is symbolic of Christ reigning in millennial peace. Christ will descend from heaven for the destruction of Antichrist; but He destroys the enemies of Israel by means of His own people, after having established His throne in Zion, [Zechariah 9:9,16 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. 16 And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.]
Let me tell you, while we do not need a church building to worship God, we do need to have fellowship with like minded Christians. By God’s design, man cannot dwell alone, we need interaction with people, otherwise, we would all end up like these fools shooting up public places. After the priests and Levites bring in the Ark of the covenant into the temple, and all the vessels that were in the tabernacle, a choir and orchestra like you would not believe started playing music and singing to God in one accord, then something incredible happened.
[2 Chronicles 5:11-14 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: 12 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) 13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; 14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.]
[ for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.] I love singing in the choir, it really lifts up your spirits and gets you ready to hear a good message from the preacher. The glory of the LORD is a light so bright that it blinds you, it is the same light that shines within every saved, born again Christian that accepts Christ as their Saviour, and that light is the Holy Spirit. Now, Solomon speaks out to the crowd, reminding them of the covenant God had given David.
[1 Kings 8:12-13,15-17 Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. 13 I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever. 15 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying, 16 Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel. 17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.]
[dwell in the thick darkness.] Do you see how God waited until they were all singing, praising Him together before He revealed to them that He was among them? God is always among us, interestingly enough, revealed more in our darkest hours as that is when His Light shines the most. I will tell you this, sometimes when I am all alone, and having one of my overwhelming moments of despair as though I am never going to get through this trial, I feel someone behind me. In fact, I even get a glimpse of a person, only to look back and no one is there. And I know that that is not my imagination, I know we have angels watching over us, but they look like you and me, I know this is Jesus just letting me know that I am not all alone, [Matthew 5:3-8 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.]
Perhaps it is because we talk to Him a little more, or our faith gets stronger as we look for that light at the end of the tunnel. Most likely it has to do with the fact that God wants to be the one who shows us that all things are possible through Him, that nothing is too hard when we trust Him, and that the greatest blessings come through the darkest days with Him. 1 Kings 8 is one of those chapters where you can find something in every verse to write an entire devotion about. Solomon, was is such awe that the only thing he could think to do was get down on his knees and pray.
[1 Kings 8:25-28 Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me. 26 And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father. 27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? 28 Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day:]
[But will God indeed dwell on the earth?] Now, since God does not, nor ever really has dwelt in an actual building, if we want to fill the presence of His Spirit in us, then we need to communicate with Him. How we do that is by learning His ways, confessing and repenting when we sin, keeping our faith in Him, and staying faithful to Him.
[Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant,] By our asking God to respect our prayer we are actually allowing God to think about what we are saying to see if it is from our heart. Believe it or not, God loves to prove to us that what He says He will do. Why? He gets the glory. When we prove God it increases our faith in Him, we become more obedient to Him, it draws us closer to Him, and we are more likely to tell everyone about Him. Solomon continues his prayer, he pleads with God to be forgiving to all who come to Him.
[1 Kings 8:33,35,37,41,49,52 When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house: 35 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them: 37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be; 41 Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name’s sake; 49 Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause, 52 That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.]
[to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.] God knows when our prayers are from the heart, and we are truly calling out to Him. He will hear and forgive any transgression, any doubt, any fear, and any plea that we send Him when our heart is perfect. I admit, I have prayed when it did not mean anything and it was not until I poured my heart out completely that I felt God’s presence. We do not have to say a thousand word prayer to get God’s attention, we just need to call on Him with a pure heart, [Romans 10:12-15 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!]
Solomon spoke the largest prayer recorded in history, and we can say a thousand word prayer, but unless we truly mean what we say, all we are doing is talking to the air. After Solomon prays, he shouts out to the entire congregation to make sure their heart was right.
[1 Kings 8:56-61 Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. 57 The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: 58 That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. 59 And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: 60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. 61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.]
[that he maintain the cause of his servant,] Maintain the cause of Christ and stay faithful to Him. This is the matter that God requires in order for Him to hear us, and reveal His presence to us. Charles Spurgeon said, “Satan does not often attack a Christian who is living near to God. It is when the Christian departs from his God, becomes spiritually starved, and endeavours to feed on vanities, that the devil discovers his vantage hour.” All the devil needs is one inch of our distancing ourselves from God for him to attack. Keep in mind, that while he does tempt Christians as God allows him to prove us, He will prove us for the same reason, but as He proved with Job, we shall come forth as gold, [Job 23:8-10 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: 10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.]
Today’s Prayer: God, There is no better feeling than having Your presence known to me, it is as if I can feel You right there with me. I admit that when I get discouraged or busy with life it causes me to talk to You less and lose the sense of Your presence. I find myself burning the candle at both ends and getting no where, and that is when You need to remind me that I am not alone, You are with me, and You will help me. Lord, walk with me, lead me and guide me, clean my head, body, and spirit from all the things that are weighing me down, and replenish them with Your wisdom, guidance, understanding, mercy, and grace. I want to be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You, and to take care of the temple that You dwell in. I ask these things in Your name Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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