King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Draw Near To God
Date: Monday March 05, 2012
Today's Chapters: Joshua 5-7

Hello My Friend,

The word accursed means doomed to destruction or misery, people who live a sinful life are accursed, more often they bring it upon innocent people who seem to always get caught in the middle and suffer the most. While we do not always understand some of the things that God allows to happen to innocent people we can understand that something good will come out of it if we draw near to God. “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. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters...Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” - 1 Peter 4:12-15,19.

After Israel's miraculous cross through the Jordan river on dry land word got out real quick that they were coming to take the land God promised them. The kings of the Amorites and Caananites joined forces to build a huge wall around Jericho to keep them out, but little did they know, nothing can keep God out, God gave Joshua instructions on what to do. “And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.” - Joshua 6:2-5.

This was probably the strangest sight people have ever seen, a bunch of men marching around a wall, what possibly could come of that, but that is how God proves that He is the Almighty and with all who have faith in Him.

“And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city. And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD. So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city...And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.” -Joshua 6:16-20,25.

Remember Rehab? Just as promised, her, her family, and all that remained in her house were saved, everyone else was accursed, destroyed. Interestingly enough, Rehab turned from her false gods, left her life as a prostitute, and trusted in the mercy of the One True God, she married into the tribe of Judah, becoming an ancestor of King David, which would be the lineage from where Jesus would descend from. God can and does change the lives of every person that trusts in His mercy and grace, but unless they personally accept the invitation to be saved they will be accursed. “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” - Romans 3:22-24.

No sooner than God gave the command for them not to take any accursed things out of the city we learn of one man, Achan who not only caused himself to be accursed, but all of Israel as well. “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying,..And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!” - Joshua 7:1,2,5-7.

Thirty-six men lost their lives that day in what should have been an easy takeover. Just like every other person, Joshua questioned why God allowed the destruction of innocent people. Here is God's answer, “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.” - Joshua 7:10-13.

There was something sinful among the people that would destroy them if it remained among them, even though they had no idea it was among them, they were to search it out and get rid of it. If we draw near to God He will give us the answers to our questions, even difficult questions. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” - James 4:8-10.

I was teaching my Sunday school class yesterday about people who talk themselves into thinking that something they are doing wrong is good so they do not have to feel bad about what they are doing. A person talking themselves into believing wrong is right is still going to face consequences for their actions, sadly, they take along everyone else around them as well. It is important, as Christians, that we search out and remove the accursed things from our lives, if we do not, we and everyone else around us will face much tribulation. However, through every trial, Christ strengthens us as we draw near Him and do not worry, He will get the vengeance for you. “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” - 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10.

Today's Psalm: 73:28 - “But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.”

Today's Proverb: 13:21 - “Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.”

Today's Prayer: God, I will admit that there are some things that I just do not understand, but I am trusting You to reveal them to me when You see fit as I draw near to You. Lord, my heart feels broken, my soul feels crushed, and my body feels out of sorts, comfort me, give me peace, mend the wounds, and awaken my spirit. Help me to overcome the fiery trial before me as I draw nigh to You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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

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