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: Saturday, May 09, 2020
Chapters: II Samuel 8-9, Psalms 36,39
Message: By Mercy And Truth
Hello My Friend,
It has been two months since our nation pretty much closed down over a virus that had a worse bark than bite. Yes, sadly, people died, but the majority of them were already sick from something that caused them to catch the virus in the first place. Yet governors and mayors are still enforcing strenuous laws that are threatening their livelihood, millions of people are out of work, unable to pay their mortgages, rents, utilities, and even buy food, and other essentials. As our nation slowly starts to reopen there are still many people living in fear, afraid to go outside, afraid to live, and angry that people want to go out and work so they can provide for their families. Let me tell you, being a leader of a city, state, country, is not about having the power to control their peoples every move, it is about making sure their people are being treated fairly, and are given the same opportunity as every other citizen. We can pretty much attest that this pandemic has been one big trial on everyone’s faith, it is doing the one positive thing though, it is bringing people to Christ.
[I Peter 1:6-9 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.]
[ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:] I just watched a movie called, War Room, and let me tell you just how much God spoke to me through it, it is about the power of prayer. Right now, the devil is doing a number on all of us, and seems to be winning this battle, we must remember who our Father is, and what our LORD is capable of. David went from being a shepherd boy to king of all of Israel, once he became king he could have been like so many others, arrogant, proud, and dictating, but he was not, he remained humble, gave just judgment, and owed all his success to God. And David was not ashamed to let his faith be known either.
[Psalms 36:5-12 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. 6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. 7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. 8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. 9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. 10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. 11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me. 12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.]
[thou preservest man and beast.] Preserve; To keep or save from injury or destruction. God is not done with this nation, or the world just yet, there are still many souls that need to be saved before Christ returns. [in thy light shall we see light.] This is the time for Christ to shine, shout His name from the rooftops, proclaim His name in the stores, the fields, and in the streets. Do not be ashamed to tell the world that there is hope, even if they were to die today. So many people are living in fear of losing their lives, well, if we do not tell them about Christ they will lose their soul, and then there will be no hope for them, [I Peter 3:14-15]. We, as Christians must not live in fear, Christ is with us, and He will help us defeat the enemy. After David had the Ark moved to Jerusalem, he went right to work establishing the kingdom as one that was governed under the authority of God. Under God’s direction, David managed to get every one of Israel’s enemies to serve under him.
[II Samuel 8:1-6,10-11 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts. 3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. 10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: 11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;]
[And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.] God preserved David because he did not fear his enemy, but trusted God every step of the way. So, stop living in fear, if you are saved, then you are preserved, Christ has His blood upon Your soul, it is time to remember who you belong to. If you are not saved, the time to do that is right now. We do not have the hope of tomorrow in our own flesh, only by receiving Christ can we have hope of everlasting life, [Titus 2:10-13]
[Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD,] You see, God preserved the nation also because every gift, and the spoils that David received was dedicated to God. [and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.] You see, when we have leaders that fear God, and govern the city, state, nation with the fear of God, they are not tyrants, they execute just judgment and justice to all the people. This not only brings the respect of the country as a whole, [Proverbs 16:6-7 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. 7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.]
[By mercy and truth iniquity is purged:] The only way this nation will return to prosperity, and be respected is by mercy and truth, we must not be judgmental of others, and be merciful because we are all suffering with something through all this. And we must teach them the truth, not only about this pandemic being blown out of proportion, but what Christ can do for them. How do we do that? We pray. Give it all to God.
[Psalms 39:3-9 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, 4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. 5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. 6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. 7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. 8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. 9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.]
[I was dumb, I opened not my mouth;] We get absolutely nowhere if we remain silent. Yes, sometimes we do need to be quiet, to observe what is going on so that we can know the truth, but then there is the time to speak up. Now, is the time for every saved, born again Christian to speak up. Pray for our nations, our leaders, each other. It is time to put the devil in his place, he has stunted this nation long enough and caused enough chaos. Open your mouth, let God fill it, [Psalms 81:10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.]
When we open our mouth, admit we are a sinner, believe the Gospel of Christ, and confess that we need Jesus to save us from our sin, then we have eternal life. Amen! That means that Jesus has made a covenant with you, to love and preserve your soul forever, and while we are sinners nonetheless, we are sinners saved by the grace of God, and nothing will ever change that. Now, David never forgot about the covenant he made with Jonathan, Saul’s son. While he could not be there for Jonathan since he died, he asked if there was any one left of his family. He found out that he had a son, Mephibosheth, who was crippled, and David calls for him immediately.
[II Samuel 9:6-13 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! 7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. 8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? 9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. 10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.]
[that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?] Mephibosheth humbling himself, comparing himself to a dead dog, meaning he did not feel worthy to accept all that David was blessing him with, especially with his handicap. None of us are worthy to receive eternal life because we all infirmities that prevent that, but keep in mind that Jesus thought your soul was worthy to be saved. Our faith in Christ is all we need to be saved and to sit at our LORD’s table forever. [as one of the king’s sons.] This is a great illustration of how we are accepted by Jesus through our faith in Him alone. All who believe in and receive Him will have a permanent place setting at the table with our only KING. Praise God! [Revelation 3:20-21 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You again for Your gift of salvation by grace through my faith and acceptance alone of Your Son as my Saviour. I know I am not saved by any works of my own, but by His finished work. It is humbling to know that no matter what I have done or will do, You have given me a permanent place setting at Your table. Lord, You have given us all a voice, and just like everything else, there is a time to be silent, and a time to speak, with Your guidance, and direction, and by the power of Christ in us, we can open our mouths wide, and be not only Your voice, but a reflection of Your Son as we proclaim what our hope is. Lead us and guide us, while we muse on Your Word, speak to us, and give us the words You want us to speak, let us be confident, unwavering, and humble in all we think, say, and do. And Lord, open the hearts of our leaders, put Your fear in them so that they might govern in mercy and truth. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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