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 09, 2024
Chapters: II Samuel Chapters 8-9, Psalms Chapter 36, 39
Message: A Dedicated Life to Christ
Hello My Friend,
I took the day off work yesterday and spent the entire day with my mom, what came to my mind was this phrase, “The LORD works in mysterious ways.” I saw first hand just how mysterious God’s ways are as I believe He spares people pain through pain, [2 Corinthians 12:7-9 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.]
My mom was actually sitting up and eating by herself, and the therapist actually got her to take a few steps with a walker. She later became so confident that she got herself up out of the bed, but shes is still too weak to walk by herself. It took three people to get her back in the bed and while in her mind she was able to walk her body told her otherwise. It was yet another reminder of how fragile life is and how important it is to make each day count while you are able. Then this Psalm showed up this morning.
[Psalms 39:1-7 To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. 2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. 3 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.]
[I held my peace, even from good;] There are times that we need to speak up yet there are also times when we need to remain silent. There are times when we need to hold our peace even from the good, but when it comes to their soul, they need to hear the truth. Now, my mom is saved, but that is something that cannot be sugarcoated, [1 Corinthians 9:16-18 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.]
[make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days,] The older I get and the more loved ones I see suffer, the more I want to make each day count for something. I do not want to waste my days driving from store to store trying to get them to sign up for a rebate if they purchase hundreds of dollars worth of candy and yet that is what pays the bills right now. At least when I worked as a Pharmacy Technician I helped people and at least when I worked as product demonstrator I helped people. Even when I built websites and made pretzel bites for a living I helped people, but now I help no one and that bothers me to no end. As we return to the reading of 2 Samuel we learn of the successes that David had as king, how he had the respect of every nation.
[2 Samuel 8:1-3,5-6 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. 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.]
[the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.] Believe it or not we have God’s back in everything that we do, even secular jobs, as long as it is something that is not going to lead people astray or keep people from the truth, [1 Corinthians 9:19-23 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.]
Not only were the Philistines put in their place, but so were the Moabites and the Syrians. Israel, is not a very large country, in fact my own state is larger and yet it became one very strong and powerful nation, all under the hand and direction of God.
[2 Samuel 8:9-12 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, 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; 12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.]
[Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD,] Yes, everything that David received from these nations, whether it was gifts or spoils from their victories, it was dedicated to God. There was also another reason why David succeeded as king, everything he received he dedicated to God. We learn this as we read how nation upon nation became subdued under Israel, even the Edomites, and they had his respect as well.
[2 Samuel 8:13-15 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. 14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. 15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.]
[David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.] Does this sound familiar? [Jeremiah 23:5-6 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.] Of course, that BRANCH and KING is none other than our VINE, Jesus Christ, [John 15:5-6 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.]
Sometimes, in fact, many times I do not understand my purpose and why I have gone from church to church, and from job to job with what seems to be wasted time. While we have been freed from the bondage of sin and hell, we who are saved are but servants to Christ, becoming whomever it is that He needs us to be in order to reach others with the Gospel. David, understood this, was even called a servant to the LORD.
[Psalms 36:1-5 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. 3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. 4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. 5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.]
[A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD.] There really is nothing more freeing than to serve God and this goes beyond working in the Church. At least when we are serving Him we have something to account for, that cannot be said for the ones who abhor the good and only seek to please themselves in the lusts of their flesh. With that said, we need to be careful that we do not get too confident in our abilities as that can te that pride in us to where we stop acknowledging that God is the source for everything. David, goes on to remind himself of that.
[Psalms 36:6-11 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.]
[For with thee is the fountain of life:] David, did not need something written seventy years after Christ’s passion and well before He even descended from his lineage to know that He is the fountain of life, [Revelation 21:6-7 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.]
[continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee;] You know there are people who question the testimonies of the Gospels because they were written so long after Christ’s passion, but I am sure that one cannot forget something like that. I was only three years old, wrapped up in a bath towel, when I saw my mom hovering over my grandma because she fell. She died that day and I honestly do not know if she was saved because we were raised Catholic and they believe in purgatory. That was fifty years ago and yes I remember something that happened at that young age and it was not from the stories that my mom told. So, another key to our success is our own testimonies, [1 John 5:9-10 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.]
When we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, that means that Jesus has made a covenant with us to love and preserve our soul for eternity. While we still are sinners, we are sinners saved by the grace of God, and nothing will ever change that. 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.
[2 Samuel 9:1-4 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake? 2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. 3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. 4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.]
[that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?] We certainly are not saved by any righteousness of our own, it is because of the kindness of God for Christ’s sake. Oh my goodness that sounds strange, but it is true, it is only by the grace of God that one who accepts the Gospel of Christ is saved, [Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)]
Of course, whenever you are summoned by someone of authority, especially a king or other leader you are going to question what is going on since you are just a nobody. Well, when Mephibosheth came to David he immediately bowed himself to him, [2 Samuel 9:6-8 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?]
[that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?] Until we learn of the Gospel of Christ and accept Him we are no more alive than a dead dog. Praise God that He sees more in us than we see in ourselves and while we may be unworthy of being restored our Father’s inheritance He gladly gives it to us merely by our faith in His Son, [1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.]
Now, unfortunately unless Christ returns before we take our last breath on earth we cannot escape the first death until He returns, but we will escape that second death of hell. However, our faith in Christ is all we need to be saved and to sit at our LORD’s table forever. David, actually called Ziba back and made him and his house masterbuilder’s of Saul’s land, restored the land to Mephibosheth, and made him a part of the royal table.
[2 Samuel 9:10-13 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.]
[he shall eat at my table, 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.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [2 Samuel 9:11 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.]
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. It is humbling to know that no matter what I have done or will do that You have given me a permanent place setting at Your table. Lord, while we humble ourselves to Your Word, speak to us, and give us the words You want us to speak, let us be confident, unwavering, and humble in all that we think, say, and do. Give us Your mercy and grace, and the power to overcome any sin that may be weighing us down. Open the hearts of our leaders, put Your fear in them so that they might govern with good judgment and justice, and dedicate everything to You. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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