King James Bible Study – “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.” – Mark 8:34
Date: Thursday, May 02, 2019
Chapters: I Chronicles 11-12, Psalm 106
Message: On The Winning Side With Christ
Hello My Friend,
As I was teaching Junior Church last night, God reminded me of something, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” – Proverbs 29:18. As we go through life with one trial after another, we need to have vision, we need to have that hope and dream of something greater on the other side of our faith. We all have dreams, and let me tell you, most of them, are just that, dreams, they will never become reality, but if we do not dream we will perish. Then one day, we will discover that one of those dreams is actually in the will of God, and it will become a reality. So, instead of feeling like you have failed more times than you can count, rejoice in knowing that you are on the winning side when Chirst is on your side.
“Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise? Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance. Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.” – Psalm 106:1-5,47-48.
“Blessed are they that keep judgment,” Remember, there are two kinds of judgment, critical, and righteous, and we are to keep righteous judgment. What does that mean? Righteous judgment is making the right decisions, thinking before we act, thinking what Jesus would do, keeping our eyes open, and walking away from temptation, and we even so kindly showing people they are sinners too. Righteous judgment is not criticizing someone, it is making the right judgment as God would. Now, while II Samuel gave us an overview of what happened after David became king over all of Israel and the Philistines went to war with them, I Chronicles gives more insight into their taking out the Jebusites. David, chooses his army, recognizing each and every one of them, giving special recognition to the ones who helped him when we was on the run from Saul.
“And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief. These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim. And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines’ garrison was then at Bethlehem. And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate! And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD, And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.” – I Chronicles 11:4,6,10,15-19.
“shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy?” What David did here was actually commendable, he saw the lengths that these men went through just to get him some water, and could not drink something that could have taken their lives, instead, he poured it out to God. You know, we can have the greatest, most precious things the world has to offer, but they are worthless if it means it will take the most valuable thing that we have, life. God knows what we have need of, sometimes it is best to give up the things we desire, and hand them over to God rather than keep them for ourselves. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Mathew 6:31-33.
“and all these things shall be added unto you.” We know that we are on the winning side when we stop worrying about all the things we have need of, knowing that He will always provide. Instead of dreaming up anything that will take care of your needs, search out what God’s needs for you are, and you will truly see it unfold right before your eyes. David continued to set up Israel in the way God directed him, even if that meant he had to deal with people who were against him. At first, every tribe except Judah was against him being king, in fact, they chose Saul’s son to reign over them while David reigned over Judah. However, after the death of Ishbosheth, the Benjamites decided that since they could not beat David they might as well join him.
“Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war. They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul’s brethren of Benjamin. And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David. And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it. Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.” – I Chronicles 12:1-2,16-18.
“the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.” Do you see how we are on the winning side with Christ? The world may mock us and even betray us, but God will turn it all for good. We may not realize it, but every single one of our failures, every single one of our dreams lost had a purpose and it made you stronger, wiser, and prepared you for what God really wants you to do. Something amazing happens when we put our trust in God, and allow Him to put us through all these ups and downs, we and everyone around us will be blessed. Now, imagine if your whole family has that same belief? An entire nation will be blessed. Not only did the Benjamites join David, they all did, there were even some Levites that joined his army. David had people working under him from every tribe, including Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, who were on the other side of the Jordan.
“And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD. The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war. Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred. Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred. And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand. All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them. Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.” – I Chronicles 12:23-26,37-40.
“for there was joy in Israel.” For the first time ever, one nation came together as one. David’s success as king was due to the fact that he set up Israel in the way God directed him, but David was not perfect, he sinned too. You know you are on the winning side with God when you know that anything you do on the foundation of Christ will prosper, and yet even if it all crumbled, you still have Christ, and He is all we need. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” – I Corinthians 3:11,14-15. Amen!
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.” – Psalm 106:23.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for that powerful verse, without vision we truly do perish as we see no end to our troubles and trials. However, when we do keep Your law we are happy because we finally see that even if we lost every single thing we posses on the earth, we have eternal life awaiting us through our faith in Your Son. Lord, I know I am on the winning side already, but my mind and even my spirit often feels defeated as life’s struggles seem to block You from my vision. Lead me and guide me, fill me with Your mercies, grace, love, break away that wall that keeps me from seeing You. Keep me walking by faith, trusting in Your Word, and looking forward that amazing reward awaiting me on the other side of the Jordan. Show me Your will, and purpose for my life, and lead me in the way that is truly everlasting. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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