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 17, 2021
Chapters: II Samuel 18-19, Psalms 3-4,12-13
Message: Grieving The Lost
Hello My Friend,
Some of the most trying times on our Christian faith is with family. As you may have noticed, not everyone in our family has that same faith in God, or faithfulness that we may have. Even families raised in Christian homes have the black sheep of the family that alter or even move away from their faith. If there is one thing that I have learned in the fifteen years since I dedicated my life to Christ, it is that compromising your own faith in an attempt to enlighten someone else’s faith will create havoc on your own faith. This reminds me of what Jesus said, [Matthew 10:34-36 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.]
When Absalom conspired to take the throne from his father he managed to get half of the kingdom (other than Judah) to follow him. David did not want bloodshed of his own people in Jerusalem so he crossed over the Jordan. And now, under the advice of Hushai, who was there to assist David, Absalom and his men were coming after them. David says this prayer, [Psalms 3:1-5 A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.]
[There is no help for him in God.] How foolish are those who question our faith in God when they see our struggles? Last week I was attempting to put air in my tires, only the nozzle on the air pump was broken, instead of it putting air in my tires it was releasing it. After about fifteen minutes of trying to get it to work this guy comes over and tries to convince me that it was my tire and I did not know what I was doing. Praise God, there was a tire shop two doors down from the gas station, I was able to drive it over there and a nice man was able to air the tire, assuring me that it was not my tire. God knows what we need, and He will give us the help we need when He is ready to give it to us. Sometimes we need to suffer a little in order to understand that one, our help comes from God, and two, everything is in His timing, [II Peter 3:9 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.]
Now, as word got out that Absalom was coming after him, David set up his army, he divided them up in three groups and was ready to lead them in this battle, but they people stopped him, [II Samuel 18:1-5 And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also. 3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city. 4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.]
[therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.] [Succor; Literally, to run to, or run to support; hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering.] This is why God fights our battles for us, we are here to do His work, to preach the Gospel to the lost, if we were to leave here before our time is appointed, then there would be none to care for the lost. Let me tell you, the longer you walk with Christ and see all the evil going on, especially among family, the more your heart hurts for those who are not saved. You beg and plead with God to open their hearts, and the more they reject Him, the more you grieve for their souls. We must understand that while God wants them to be saved, He knows their heart, sadly, many of our loved ones will reject Christ, but that is the choice they make, even God cannot force someone to believe in Him. And for this reason God does create a division among our very own families, He sets His own apart from those who reject Him.
[Psalms 4:3-8 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. 6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.]
[Stand in awe, and sin not:] It is not our job to try to save them all, even family members, that is God’s job, and He will only save those who come to Him through His Son. We are merely the messengers, as long as we do our part God is pleased. Now, there was a great battle between Judah and Israel, but more men actually died in the rough terrain than by the men, here comes Absalom meeting up with the group that Joab led.
[II Samuel 18:9-14 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. 10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak. 11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle. 12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. 13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me. 14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.]
[Absalom rode upon a mule,] This was David’s mule, riding upon a mule was a humble act to symbolize peace among the people. Absalom, in all his pride, prematurely boasts that he will be king, ends up getting caught up in the rough terrain himself when his think, long hair got caught up in the trees. This was not David’s sin that caused this, this was Absalom, all his pride, and the hatred that he had for his father. Pride will always be the downfall of man, [Psalms 12:1-5 To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. 2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. 3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: 4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? 5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.]
[I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.] David might have sinned, and faced some chastening for what he did, but this went beyond reason, and Absalom’s death was rightly justified even though David gave the order not to kill him. Well, the time had come to deliver the news that Absalom was killed, just like any parent, the loss of his son, even if he did try to kill him, was heartbreaking.
[II Samuel 18:28-33 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. 29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. 30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. 31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. 32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. 33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!]
[would God I had died for thee,] No one wants to see their children die under unfortunate circumstances let alone such tragic events, even if they brought them on themselves. When we see our loves ones fail, we feel as though we have failed them, often crying out to Him, [Psalms 13:1-6 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. 5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. 6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.]
[having sorrow in my heart daily?] Each and every one of us is responsible for our own actions, those who make the wrong choices, and refuse to repent will die in their sins, and this includes, many saved, born again Christians who choose their sins over God’s will for their lives. God will use any situation to His advantage, He used Absalom to fulfill His purpose in fulfilling the judgment that He placed upon David, but he went too far and now God judged him for going after His anointed. After their victory, the soldiers returned from battle expecting to be welcomed by a glorious celebration. Instead, they get a king crying, and deeply mourning the death of his son. Joab confronts him, and reminds him that it was something that had to be done.
[II Samuel 19:1-7 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. 2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. 3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! 5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; 6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. 7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.]
[and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil] While this does bring great grief, we cannot let it stop is from taking care of ourselves and the rest of those entrusted to us. We have all been deceived by friends, family, and even our own flesh and blood from time to time. Satan does not care who he uses to keep people away from Christ, he will use anyone to deceive, destroy, or kill, to take a soul from God, even if it takes years to get it, [I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:]
God’s mercy is astounding and quite long in that He gives everyone the opportunity to change their hearts and repent. Remember, God knows the intents of our heart, well before we do. We could question why God would not open someone’s heart to get saved, but then we do not know what they are capable are. Satan, the biggest, most arrogant fool of all, has a great was of deceiving God’s faithful into believing that someone has received Christ, but the proof is, as they say it, in the pudding, or as Jesus puts it, the fruit, [Luke 6:44-45 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.]
Jesus Christ Magnified: [II Samuel 19:11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Although I do not understand everything that You allow me to be afflicted with, I do understand that You have a reason and a purpose for all of it. Jesus, thank You for having my back, for keeping me close to You, no matter how many times I mess up. It is only through You and Your strength that I can even stand, let alone walk through the rough terrain of family, friends, and those who are determined to cause havoc on my faith. Lord, give me Your strength to endure, the discernment to know how to handle all matters and people, and Your grace to suffice what Your will not remove. Give me Your power to trust, and wait for Your timing. Keep me to looking to You for guidance and direction in all my steps so that I can do what You call me to do effectively and even though I grieve, live and care for those You entrust me with. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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