Do Not Compromise 04.21.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Monday April 21, 2008 and today we begin our study on the book of I Kings. The book of I Kings is the eleventh book of the Old Testament and contains 22 chapters. The author of the book is unknown, but could be Jeremiah and was written to the people in Israel in order to continue the record of God's dealings with His people. The purpose of the book is to teach all to understand that compromise may seem easy but it is always costly later. Please read Chapters 1-2 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Kings%201-2&version=9

Today we will read and learn about David becoming stricken in his old age and his son, Adonijah, rebels and tries to take over a king; Joab defecting; Abiathar defecting; and King David charges Solomon to be obedient to God's Word as he makes him king. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that we need to stand firm in following God's will.

"Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat." (I Kings 1:1). David's son, Adonijah persuaded the two most influential men in Israel to join him and become traitors to David. Abiathar, the high priest, through whom Adonijah would have religious approval by the people, and the powerful Joab, commander in chief of David's army, cooperated with Adonijah in this ruthless conspiracy. "Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom. And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him." (1:5-7).

Presuming that since he was the oldest living son of David this gave him the right to the throne, and disregarding his father's prolonged illness, Adonijah ruthlessy attempted to seize the throne by force. However, God was still Soverign over Israel and retained the unchallengeable right of selecting the one who would reign over His people. Solomon had been designated by both God and David as his successor to the throne and is publicly announced. "So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon." (1:38-39).

From a human point of view, all of David's disappointments were a tragedy but, from God's point of view, they were designed to expose the selfish and greedy motives in the hearts of those "loyal" and close friends. They were also a clear revelation of the sovereign hand of God over the practical concerns in everyone's life. David's last words to Solomon revealed his greatest desire for his son, that he would live to please the Lord. David said nothing to Solomon about gaining material wealth or fame for his kingdom, instead he stressed the true values of living in obedience to God. "Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel." (2:1-4). We are to stand firm against all pressure to compromise to keep us from following the will of God.

It was important that Solomon keep God's Commandments so that he, as well as we, might please God and be an example to his and our children as well as others. David's concern was that he prosper spiritually by living in complete harmony with God's Word.

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through the oil used to anoint Solomon (I Kings 1:39). Christ (Greek) and Messiah (Hebrew) mean "The Anointed One." Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, which was poured out upon those chosen by God for special service. Jesus is God's Anointed One who declared: The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me (Luke 4:18). We also have been anointed as His chosen vessels (II Corinthians 1:21).

Today's Psalm: 1:2-3
"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Often the daily grind is not appealing as I awaken each morning to the tasks before me. Sometimes the routine seems endless and at times pointless. I find myself lacking fulfillment in this aspect of my life and yet it requires the majority of my time and focus. Jesus, please help me to find the hidden strength that only comes from seeking You to deal with the negative attitudes that tempt me daily. Help me also to look beyond the immediate to the deeper meaning of each day's task. Above all, help me to keep my eyes on spiritual truths as I meditate upon Your Word and apply its meaning to my life each new day. It is in this faithful practice of placing You at the center of my focus that I can rise above the difficulties that come my way. May You restore to me, this day, the joy of Your salvation and renew a steadfast spirit within me. In Jesus' name, I pray.....Amen.

Have a marvelous Monday and week.
God Bless,
Christina

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