King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: God Knows
Date: Friday May 11, 2012
Today's Chapters: 2 Chronicles 8-11

Hello My Friend,

Quite often as Christians I image we all have times where we look back at things, scratch our heads and wonder, “How did I get out of that?” or even worse, “How did I get into that?” The truth is, God allows it all, the good, the bad, and even the ugly things in our lives. You think God did not know that we were going to go down that path and not show us how to get out of it? Of course, He does. I was talking with someone who kept crying about all his misfortunes in life. I responded by saying, “Sometimes God takes things away from us to get us to realize when need to depend on Him. As long as you have faith in God He will see you through.” He didn't like that response, guess he wanted me to wallow in his sorrows with him. Wallowing in sorrow does nothing for us, but using it to motivate us to do something about it does. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” - James 2:17,18.

Solomon was a man of great wisdom, he did not spend his days just sitting on the throne, although they were in a time of peace it was important for him to be preparing for war. Solomon gathered all the strangers that dwelt on the land and put them to work to build the city, but the men of Israel he prepared them for war. “And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion. As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel, But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day. But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen. And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.” - 2 Chronicles 8:6-10.

It's important that while things are going well in life that we never stop preparing for battle, it's coming, and if we are not ready it is going to hit us like a train. When Jesus returns, He is not going to be subtle about it, and those who are not prepared will lose that battle. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” - 2 Peter 3:9,10,13.

Solomon's success as king soon spread abroad, kings and queens came from all over the world came to Israel to meet this king to see if he was all they claimed him to be and if this living God of his really existed. We learn more about this when Solomon got a visit from the queen of Sheba. “And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built, And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom: Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard. Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.” - 2 Chronicles 9:3,5,6,8.

The queen of Sheba put herself to a great deal of trouble and expense to find out if Solomon was as successful as she heard. She discovered that his success was greater than she heard not by anything that he had done, but what God did in his life. Faith in God comes by others as we who live for God become a testimony and example of the wonderful life that can be lived with God in it. If not for our living for God many people would not know God themselves. “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” - 2 Timothy 2:25-26.

After Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king, not long after his being ordained he made a decision that would cause the division of the nation. The leaders of Israel met with Rehoboam asking that he ease up on the hard labor and punishments that his father had imposed upon them. Rehoboam sought advice from Solomon's advisers and his friends, he chose the advice of his friends, which was a harsher punishment. This caused ten of the twelve tribes to rebel against him. Now, Rehoboam is fuming, he wants to show Israel who is in charge, he gathers up an army to fight against them, just as the battle began God orders them to stop the fight.

“And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.” - 2 Chronicles 11:1-4.

God wanted the rebellion to take place, it was intended to be a punishment of the house of David for Solomon forsaking God (Explained further in I Kings 12). This event marks a great importance in the history of the nation as it is today. It is known as, a kingdom divided against itself, and one day the two kingdoms will be reunited along with every nation to form Christ's Kingdom. “And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” - Revelation 7:2-4,9,10.

Sometimes God allows a division of our families. Why? God knew where the Northern Kingdom was headed and did not want His faithful to head in the same direction. We all have to admit that we have family members that are not good for us, while we all want to see them saved, God just does not want us being corrupted by them nor fighting with them so, He will separate us from them to protect us. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” - 2 Corinthians 6:17,18.

God has a reason for everything He allows in our lives, whether it is something of His will or our own, it's not to punish us or condemn us, it's to get us to be dependent only on Him. God knows what you are going through, He just wants you to trust Him and have some faith that while you do everything in your power God is doing everything in His. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” - Romans 15:4,13.

Today's Psalm: 4:3 - “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.”

Today's Proverb: 3:6 - “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Today's Prayer: God, Your gift of free will allows me to choose whether to follow Your path or my own, both paths will have their challenges, but I know that regardless of which one I take You allow it for my own good. Thank You, God, for always being there for me, even when I chose to follow my own will sometimes, while I may be out of Your will at times I am never out of Your grace. God, I want to follow Your path as it not only saves me some tears it helps others find You as well. Lead me and guide me, let me be a testimony of just how wonderful and merciful You are, let me not forget that You will always see me through. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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

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