KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, April 05, 2016
Chapters: 2 Samuel 16-18
Message: 2 Samuel: By The Power Of God

Hello My Friend,

If you read through the Old Testament you will come across things that people have done and the first thing you think of is how did they not know that what they were doing was wrong. All you have to do is look around today and you will get your answer. Our human mind cannot comprehend right from wrong because we are only doing what we think is right in our own eyes. If you ever wondered why evolutionists are so set on trying to convince us that we evolved over time from animals, this is the reason, they do not want to be accountable for their actions. The truth is this for everyone, we will be accountable, we all have boundaries, the only way we can stay within those boundaries is by the power of God. “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.” - 1 Corinthians 6:12-14.

If you read through the Old Testament you will come across things that people have done and the first thing you think of is how did they not know that what they were doing was wrong. I am not talking about David's sin with Bathsheba, he knew what he did was wrong. I am talking about the incest, fornication, and backstabbing that went on within their own family. Here is Absalom trying to take the throne from his father, thinking he has done so with the majority of Israel siding with him, laying a tent on top of the roof of his fathers house and sleeping with all the women there. All the while David is in the woods somewhere trying to figure out how to keep things from getting any worse. As David and his group pass over a hill he comes across one of Mephibosheth's servants only to be cursed and stoned by a man named Shimei. David did not fight the man, he just let him talk.

“And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.” - 2 Samuel 16:7-12.

“It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction,” You see, for the first time since all this happened, David acknowledges God. When we know we have done something wrong it can be hard to come to God, even if we confessed our sins, it is as if we know we deserve the punishment. Do you know how many times I replayed things I have done and beg God to forgive me for something I did well before I got saved? We must understand that we are forgiven, God has already forgotten what we confessed, it is up to us to let it go and move forward. It is actually a sin to keep hanging on to the guilt of past sin. It is only by the power of God that we can remove the guilt and shame of sin that haunts us. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;” - Psalms 103:2-4.

Tender mercies, God may get angry with us, but He mercy always endures, and when we turn our eyes back on Him He will show those tender mercies and His grace. For a while it looked as though Absalom had everything going his way, he even won the favor of David's advisers. Everything was about to change when Absalom asked for advice from Ahithophel, his trusted advisor, who had his own wicked plan for making Absalom king and David's advisor Hushai, who was there in secret. Hushai suggested that all the forces of Israel be gathered and that Absalom, the commander-in-chief himself, be at the head of his great army. Absalom gladly takes the advise of Hushai, meanwhile, David and his army found refuge in Mahanaim to prepare for battle, where they received provisions from the Ammonites.

“Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.” - 2 Samuel 17:24,27-29.

“The people is hungry,” No Christian goes hungry when they turn to God, He feeds us with more than food for our physical bodies, when we turn to Him, through His power we get fed spiritually, mentally, and physically. “Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” - Psalms 107:17-20.

The wicked are often successful for a season, and it may even appear that all their plans have been fulfilled and they are getting what they want. Ahithophel, upon finding out that Absalom did not follow his advice hung himself. Absalom got himself tangled up in a tree and was killed.

“For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. 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. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak. 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. And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him. And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.” - 2 Samuel 18:8-10,14-17.

“and all Israel fled every one to his tent.” People act down right foolish when they think they can get away with it, but once their leader is gone they scour faster than you can blink your eyes. The truth is, the world has more to worry about than we do, think about it, a drug dealer must live every step they take under the shadows out of fear that someone will come after them. All sin comes with consequences, even when we think that what we are doing is not sin. It is only by the power of God that we can escape those consequences, and it is only through Christ that we can obtain the power of God to overcome any sin. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” - 1 John 1:7-10.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Mahanaim, the city of refuge where David went, (17:27). Jesus Christ is our refuge. “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” - Psalm 91:2.

Today's Prayer: God, Just as the seasons of the year come and go so do the seasons of life, we laugh, we cry, we find joy, we find pain, but through it all You are right there with us, leading us and guiding us. Lord, help me to endure the seasons of life, give me Your power to endure them all, keep me under Your wings, and help me let go of any guilt or shame I have from past sins so I can move forward with You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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