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: Wednesday, May 08, 2024
Chapters: I Chronicles Chapter 17, Psalms Chapters 25, 29, 33
Message: The Higher Thoughts And Ways of God
Hello My Friend,
I have been struggling all week to get up early to get in my prayers and Bible reading before heading out for the day. I did not even know what I was reading I felt like I was reading the words, but not comprehending any of it. The stress of my mom being in the hospital as well as trying to handle things at home and keep my job also is wearing out my mind, body, and spirit. I am at the point that God is the only one who can handle all of these things going on. So when I was praying this morning I asked God to speak to me and let me hear His voice. He reminded me that while we cannot always understand His plan, purpose, or reasoning behind the things that go on, we can understand that He does have a plan and His ways and thoughts are much higher than our own.
[Isaiah 55:8-11 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.]
Do you see that? The afflictions we face, the heartache, the pain, the sorrow, the grieving, the deceptions, the feelings of worthlessness and emptiness will not return void, they will come to an end and we will see great things come out of it. The hard part is enduring the afflictions, but the easy part is enduring them with Christ. Once Christ is a part of our lives strangely enough even though we feel the pain we also feel the peace that comes with it. While the world tries to find peace through crime, alcohol, drugs, or immoral behavior, saved, born again Christians find their peace through the LORD.
[Psalms 25:1-7,10 A Psalm of David. Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD. 10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.]
[according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake,] Okay, so we try to play it off that we have not attempted to find peace through the world, even if it were through things that are not sinful, but we have. This is why God’s mercies and grace are endless, and we can give a huge praise and thanks to God for not giving us what we deserve if we did fall into sin. Since God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours we can be assured that even when we fail Him He has a way of using our transgressions to His advantage as He teaches us from them, [2 Corinthians 7:10-11 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.]
As we return to the reading of 1 Chronicles, it also gives the account to David wanting to build a house of worship for God and the plan that God actually had for building a house for him. David, sitting in his beautiful house feels grief over the Ark of God just having a tent over it, he talks with Nathan, the prophet, who actually encourages him to go ahead and build a place of worship if that is what pleases him.
[1 Chronicles 17:1-6 Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains. 2 Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee. 3 And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4 Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in: 5 For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another. 6 Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?]
[Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.] Since God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours, there are just some things that are not in His will for us, even when it comes to doing something for Him, [Acts 21:4-5 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.]
[Wheresoever I have…spake I a word…saying, Why have ye not built me an house] If God wanted them to build a permanent structure for Him He would have given them instructions on how to do it, just like He did the tabernacle. Since God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours, even when it comes to doing things for Him, it has to be in His time, and how He says. He will tell us exactly what He wants us to do, and when, we just have to listen to Him. God, actually goes on to tell David of His plan to build a house for him.
[1 Chronicles 17:7,9-10 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel: 9 Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning, 10 And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house.]
[I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep,] Here was this lowly shepherd boy, who was thought to never to amount of anything, even from his own brothers. Since God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours, He will take the least likely to succeed and lift them up higher than they ever been, [1 Corinthians 12:13-14,22-24 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:]
[Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them,] Once you belong to Christ, you are planted in God’s kingdom forever. The only way that this would be null and void is if anyone received Christ in vain or believed some other form of the Gospel, [1 Corinthians 15:12-17 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.]
Since God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours, He made salvation simple, trust in what His Son has done to save you and you will be saved and David, was about to learn that as well. God, goes on to reveal to David His plan for establishing His kingdom through his son, and that he would actually be the one to build a more permanent house of worship for Him.
[1 Chronicles 17:11-14 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever. 13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee: 14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.]
[that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons;] It is customary for the oldest son born after the father’s succession to the throne to succeed him in his dignity as king. Since God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours, He is the one who chooses us, even though David had several sons before he became king, by a special ordinance and a promise from God, his successor would Solomon. We do not need to help God out, He will tell us what He wants from us. As long as we trust Him and have faith in His Word, He will bless us with so much more than we deserve, [Psalms 68:18-20 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. 19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. 20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.]
Since God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours, the blessings that God gives to His children are even passed down to the children of men because of His mercies and grace upon His children. We may not understand all His ways, and we will honestly never will be able to comprehend His love toward us, and the great sacrifice He made to show that love. All we can do to thank Him is give our heart to Him, and give praise to our KING.
[Psalms 29:1-4,9-11 A Psalm of David. Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. 10 The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever. 11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.]
[The voice of the LORD is powerful;] The voice of God is so powerful that all He has to is speak and it is done. And that is exactly what David said to him, [1 Chronicles 17:16-19 And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 17 And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God. 18 What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant. 19 O LORD, for thy servant’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.]
[spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come,] God, had a plan even before He sent Samuel to anoint David to be king over His people. This was something that David figured out and because he knew that he was no better than any other sinner that made him all the more humble. Let me tell you, the more you walk with Christ the more you realize just how wretched your flesh is. As David thinks about what Nathan told him he wonders why God chose him of all people, but then just goes on to pretty much say, “Thy will be done.”
[1 Chronicles 17:22-25 For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God. 23 Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said. 24 Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee. 25 For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.]
[therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.] David, is overwhelmed by the fact that God is speaking in infinite terms, but does not disregard Him. God, kept His promise to David and used his lineage to send His only begotten Son through him because he was meek and never thought of himself as a king or ruler, just a man who needed God to get him through each day. We get nowhere with God through pride, but we get more than we ever dreamed of with humbleness, [Matthew 23:11-12 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.]
Just like our earthly fathers, God wants the best for His children, His heart truly goes out to us, His thoughts toward us are only great, and the trials we go through, many of them of our own doing, are used to prepare us for the amazing life awaiting in His Kingdom. Until He brings us home, He is our strength, our help, our shield, our protection, and with our own hearts we can rejoice in Him as He blesses us through our faithfulness to Him.
[Psalms 33:4-9,11-12 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. 5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. 6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. 11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.]
[let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.] Jesus, is the example that we are to follow, apart from being a human sacrifice (we are to be a living sacrifice), we are very capable of doing the things that Jesus has done while He was here in the flesh. God’s people are a nation of only saved, born again believers of Christ who belong to Him, He will protect, defend, and love them with all His heart.
[Psalms 33:16-22 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. 17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; 19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. 22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.]
[An horse is a vain thing for safety:] Let me tell you, nothing in this life can save us, nothing in this world is more powerful than Christ, His heart, eyes, ears, and blood is on us, all because we have hope in His mercy. God’s heart truly goes out to us, His thoughts toward us are only great, and the trials we go through, which many of them are of our own doing, are used to prepare us for the amazing life awaiting in His Kingdom, [Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.]
[he eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him…that hope in his mercy;] Let me tell you, nothing in this life can save us, apart from Christ. Nothing in this world is more powerful than Christ, His heart, eyes, ears, and blood is upon those whom have accepted Him as their Saviour. Once we accept Him, He is with us forever, whenever we feel overburdened, restless, and no peace within our soul, we need to come to Jesus, for He is our rest, [Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [1 Chronicles 17:11-12 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.]
Today’s Prayer: God, The love you have for all your creation is astounding, and yet so many are hardhearted to that love. Your heart itself is amazing, to love us so much that You sent your only begotten Son, that we might receive eternal life through our faith and acceptance of Him alone as our Saviour. Lord, there is nothing we can do to earn or keep our salvation because it has been bought and paid for by Your Son, but we can be the example that Christ gave us so that others can be saved as well. Lead us and guide us, open and tender our hearts to love as You love, teach us to have a heart like Jesus, and be willing to show them the same love as You have shown us. As we become more like Your Son, protect, and shield us from the evils that lurk about, and let us not become weary in well doing. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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