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 29, 2023
Chapters: I CHRONICLES 29, I KINGS 2, PSALMS 37, 71, 94
Study: The Steps of Christ
Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,
My church paid a nice tribute to fallen soldiers yesterday in honor of those who lost their lives defending our country. They gave their lives so that we can be free to not only worship God from His Word and not some religion, but to be free from any dictatorship. Sadly, we are losing the freedoms that these men and women gave their lives for and yet we are still the greatest nation of all the earth. So far we are still free to worship Jesus without going to jail or losing our lives over it, but there will come a time when we will be persecuted for worshiping Jesus in public, just as other nations are doing as we speak,
[John 15:18-21 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.]
Do you know how many people know of Jesus, but do not know Him? Do you know how many actually worship Jesus, but He is nowhere to be found in them? As I was listening to the pastor talk about people who have lost their faith all I kept thinking about is if they really were saved they would not have lost their faith. Those whom have honestly and sincerely accepted Christ as their Saviour, not just in the heat of the moment, but with all their heart and soul will never lose their faith. Oh, they may dangle on the edge of their sin and lose sight of Jesus for a season, but they are not cast out because they belong to Jesus. Even David knew this.
[Psalms 37:23-28,32-34 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. 28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. 33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.]
[and he delighteth in his way.] Christians are not perfect, even faithful Christians backslide, but they do not stay there because their faith in Christ is much stronger than any sin that attempts to overtake them. The backslider will eventually find their way back to Christ and delight to follow Him. Now, those who do not sincerely get saved will fall and actually become even worse than had they not spent gotten the taste of salvation, [Luke 11:23-26 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.]
There are three kinds of Christians, the first; the mature, adult in Christ, who becomes knowledgeable in the Word of God, teaches it, and merely following it as they continuously learn from it. The second; the babe in Christ, these are those who are not very knowledgeable in the Word of God, but eager to learn. The third; the haphazard in Christ, the one who knows the Gospel, got saved, but has no desire to know God’s Word beyond that and ends up with a lot of needless suffering. Well, there is actually a forth kind of Christian, one that is even more dangerous than the haphazard Christian, and that is the false Christian. This is the one who really is not a Christian at all, but appears to be for a little while and has deceived you just like the devil does. I have been deceived before and let me tell you, it brings much heartache, discontent, and confusion, but what it actually did was draw me closer to God.
[Psalms 71:1-3,6-7,18 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. 2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. 3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. 6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. 7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. 18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.]
[thou hast given commandment to save me;] Did you know that we are actually commanded by God to receive His Son as our Saviour? That does not mean that everyone will follow His command and get saved, but at least those who do can find refuge in Christ at any time. God, is not actually the one to put us into confusion, He makes everything plain and clear. Satan, is the author of confusion, [James 3:15-17 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.]
[Now also when I am old and grayheaded,] It is the world, and quite frankly, the devil, who attempts to convince us that we have no place in this world and are cast off because of our age. Well, that is not the memo that God sends out to His faithful. Let me tell you, as we age we may not have the mobility to do things that we use to do, but that does not mean that God is done with us, He still has work for us to do as long as we are still on this earth. And as we come to the end of the reading of 1 Chronicles, it also gives the account of David standing before the congregation and announcing that Solomon would not only reign after him, but have the temple built that he so desperately wanted to see in his lifetime.
[1 Chronicles 29:1-3 Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. 2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. 3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,]
[for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.] David, did get everything in order for Solomon to get right to work on it, but he knew that he could not even attempt it on his own, he was going to need some assistance. This was not just some ordinary palace going up for another king, queen, or nobleman to live, it was a palace for God Himself.
[1 Chronicles 29:10-11,13-14 Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. 11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. 14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.]
[that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort?] What David is asking God is since everything belongs to Him, why is it that it is our choice to offer Him anything willingly? So, why exactly does God give us a choice when He could certainly enforce the very Law that is written on everyone? God, is not a dictator, He really does want us to come to Him willingly. Now, are the consequences all the same whether we choose Him or not? Yes, there are. Ignorance saves no one. Freewill saves no one either, if we are going to choose God, then we do it His way, through His Son, if we are going to deny Him, then the consequences are all on us, [2 Timothy 2:11-14 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.]
Now, how is it that we can know God’s will and what He wants us to offer Him? David, knew that Solomon had some tough shoes to fill, not to mention, a temple to build for God Himself, and as David continues his prayer, he asks God to prepare all of their hearts, but also give Solomon a perfect heart.
[1 Chronicles 29:17-19 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. 18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee: 19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.]
[And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart,] Let me tell you, I have had my bouts with having an imperfect heart and it did not end well. Then I would see people who never seemed to desire or care to walk with God and wonder why they are not suffering like I did. Well, fret not, they do suffer. If our heart is not perfect with God, then we are not going to understand His will or His Word for that matter. David, was well aware of that fact, which is why he came up with this prayer.
[Psalms 37:1-7 A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.]
[Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:] The word fret means; to corrode; gnaw; impair; to wear away. I tell you what, that is how our heart gets imperfect, and I will admit that when I grew up in the Catholic religion and was taught that it did not matter how good I was that I would end up in hell, it wore away my faith. Thank God that He changed my heart and showed me the truth. As for these false religions, that get more corrupt by the year, they will answer to God. We may not see it in our lifetime, but God will get the vengeance, so it is important that we ask God to give us a perfect heart every day.
[Psalms 94:3-7,12-14,17-19 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? 4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? 5 They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage. 6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. 7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. 12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; 13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. 14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. 17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. 18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. 19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.]
[My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.] It does not matter how strong our faith in God, all it takes is one thing to cause our feet could slip. David, became very ill and knew that his end was near, he accounted that his success as king had nothing to do with who he was, rather who God is. He decided that it was time to speak with Solomon one last time, gave him some words to live by.
[1 Kings 2:1-4 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; 3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: 4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.]
[And keep the charge of the LORD thy God,] It is very important that we teach the next generation that there are consequences to disobedience. Worldly kids have no respect for adults or anyone of authority and it all comes from how they were taught. Much of that I believe was the result of teaching them that it did not matter if they won or lost the game, they still get a reward, and of course, the number one reason was that God is not in the picture. Well, besides telling Solomon to keep his walk with God right, he also asked him to deal with the people who attempted to overthrow the kingdom, including Joab.
[1 Kings 2:5-7 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. 6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace. 7 But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.]
[Do therefore according to thy wisdom,] David, is telling Solomon to use his best judgment in all of these instances according to the Law of Moses, which is God’s Word, and if they are guilty, then let them not die a peaceful death. Never let anyone tell you that they read the Bible one time and know everything that God has to say to them. God does not work that way, knowing God’s will and His commands takes a Christian lifetime of reading and studying His Word so that He guides us in the way that we are to go. I say a Christian lifetime because until we are saved, God does not recognize our efforts to abide by His Word. If we are not willing to recognize from His Word that is says that Christ is the first step, then we will die a death that is not peaceful.
[Luke 13:25-28 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. 28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.]
It is a known fact that when the leader of the country fears God that the majority of the country will follow and it will be a blessed nation. God blessed Israel because Solomon first established the Kingdom fearing God. After forty years of what looked like Joab getting away with everything, David wanted vengeance and that is what he got too. Solomon wasted no time in avenging not only his father, but himself as Adonijah shows up trying to get Bathsheba to talk Solomon into giving the young woman that the people brought to David when he became ill.
[1 Kings 2:12-17 Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly. 13 And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably. 14 He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on. 15 And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother’s: for it was his from the LORD. 16 And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on. 17 And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.]
[Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine,] Basically, what Adonijah was saying was that the kingdom was rightfully his, btu that was until God took it from him. And guess what? That was a big mistake. I did not know this for the longest time in the reading of God’s Word, but just learned this a couple of years ago, that the concubines of the king who died would go on to the next king as they were not subject to the Law regarding a legal marriage in which it stated, [Leviticus 18:8 The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.] When Bathsheba went to Solomon, it did not go well for Adonijah.
[1 Kings 2:20-24 Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay. 21 And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife. 22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah. 23 Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life. 24 Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.]
[as the LORD liveth, which hath established me,] Solomon, swore that he would spare Adonijah’s life as long as he did good. However, this was not good, it was actually an act of treason, first, in using his own mother to influence him. And second, it would have given Adonijah more ammunition to conspire against him again. And Solomon was not done, Joab’s past caught up to him, Abiathar, the priest who helped him.
[1 Kings 2:26-29 And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted. 27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh. 28 Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.]
[and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.] Solomon, respected the man of God solely for the fact that he was a man of God and that he suffered as his father in regards to Adonijah. This goes back to what I was saying earlier, we may mess up, but our faith in Christ alone is God’s promise to us that He will never leave nor forsake us. That does not mean that we cannot lose our position with God, many a candle has been put out by because they have left their first love, but their salvation is not lost, [Revelation 2:2-5 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for giving me life and the life You have given me, I may not have been born in wealth, but I am certainly wealthy as You never fail to give me even more than I ever expected to desire with my heart. And thank You for giving me eternal life, and for the great sacrifice You made so that my sin debt was bought and paid for by Your Son’s perfect sacrifice. You are the one who orders our steps, may we be used to be a testimony of the life You have given us through Your Son. You are my life, I am nothing apart from You, I do not want riches or fame, all I want is to know Your will for my life and to keep my heart perfect so that I can be in it. Lord, Lead me and guide me, give me Your power to walk with You everywhere I go, the wisdom to make the right decisions and judgment, Your strength to take those steps, and keep my heart tender and perfect. I love You and ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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