King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: A Special Assignment
Date: Sunday April 08, 2012
Today's Chapters: 1 Kings 1-2

Hello My Friend,

A charge is a person committed to your care, it is a special assignment given to a person, or a formal statement of a command to do something. Part of being a Christian is keeping the charge that God has placed before you, in other words, He has given you a special assignment and He expects you to follow through with it. Since God gives something for us to do you can be sure that there will be someone out there trying to get you to go against His will. But we must not let anyone, under any circumstances, persuade us to compromise our beliefs or position with God. “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.” - 1 Timothy 5:20-22.

The book of 1 Kings is the eleventh book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains twenty-two chapters. The author of the book is Jeremiah and it was written to the Israelites. The timeline for these events took place approximately 1015 BC to 897 BC. The purpose of the book was to record God's dealings with His people from King Solomon's reign, through the division of Israel, through the reigns of Ahab in the north and Jehoshaphat in the south. What we are to learn from the book is that compromise may seem the best thing to do, but it is always costly later. “Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.” - 1 Kings 11:11.

King David was growing old and his health was diminishing rapidly, presuming that since he was the oldest son of David, Adonijah, the forth living son of David and Absalom's brother, took it upon himself to make himself king. Now, Adonijah as well as everyone in the kingdom, knew that God had already appointed Solomon to be the next king, however, with David being near death he thought it was the opportune time to take the throne before David found out about it. “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. And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants: But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.” - 1 Kings 1:5-7,9,10..

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. Adonijah exalted himself, meaning he praised, glorified, and honored himself. When men exalt themselves, God very often leaves them to themselves until they are corrected with a chastening of their own making. We can feel good about doing a job well done, but it is a sin to think of ourselves so high that we put ourselves upon a throne. When you live your life for God, people may never exalt you, but God exalts you Himself, and when God exalts you people will know it came from God. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” - 1 Peter 5:6.

Adonijah knew that serious consequences would arise if anyone found out about his plot, therefore he did everything under lock and key. However, word got out about what he was about to do, Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba went to David in hopes that he would be able to do something before Adonijah gets anointed as king. “And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou? And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne. And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:..And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?..And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.” - 1 Kings 1:16-18,24,29,30.

When both Bathsheba and Nathan came to David he knew that Adonijah was trying to take the throne from Solomon. David assured Nathan and Bathsheba that Solomon would be anointed king that day. When going before someone to expose deception or even truth it is wise to have a witness with you, if two or more gather together it is more believable and safer for us too. “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” - 2 Thessalonians 2:1,2.

After Solomon was anointed king, David gave him some words to live by. “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.” - 1 Kings 2:1-4.

David was telling Solomon to stand his ground and not allow himself to compromise his position. God promised David that the Messiah would come from his descendants, but He did not promise that there wouldn't be any suffering in the House of David should a king fall away from God. If he walks before God in sincerity, God will always be with him. This same condition still stands, while all who call upon Jesus Christ to save them are promised eternal life in heaven, those who do not walk before God in sincerity will deal with a lot of suffering here on earth. “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” - 1 Peter 4:1,2.

No matter how powerful or cunning a person thinks himself to be, God is more powerful than anyone, none can overthrow God's will. Therefore, follow the advice David gave to Solomon, keep the charge, and do not let anyone stop you from fulfilling the commands God has given you. Not only will you save yourself some grief you may even show them they error of their ways. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” - 1 Peter 4:12,13.

Today's Psalm: 27:12 - “Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.”
Today's Proverb: 14:25 - “A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.”
Today's Prayer: (Taken from Psalm 25) God, Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. In Jesus name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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