King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Everlasting Covenant
Date: Saturday April 07, 2012
Today's Chapters: 2 Samuel 23-24

Hello My Friend,

Those who lived before Jesus came to earth received the same promise that we receive after He came to earth, the hope of eternal life with Him. The difference between us and them, we have His blood in us by our acceptance of Him as the only one who can give us eternal life. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God...Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” - 1 Peter 1:18-21,23.

David was one of the inspired men of God to put pen to paper the words of God, most of the Psalms were written by David, through the inspiration of God. David was not perfect, he sinned just like everyone else, but he was comforted through all his mishaps by the everlasting covenant that God had made with him, who also believed in the promised Savior. “Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.” - 2 Samuel 23:1-5.

The Rock of Israel is none other than Jesus Christ, one day He will rule, not only in Israel, but in every nation. Those who have made the everlasting covenant with Him will be saved and join Him in His earthly Kingdom when He returns. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17.

David never lost a war in his forty year reign as king because he sought God for guidance in every battle. However, David would soon lose a battle he would never forget, a spiritual battle. “And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah...So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.” - 2 Samuel 24:1,8-10.

David knew that what he had done was wrong, but the damage was done. He disobeyed the law and because of that a price would be paid. There is no record that taking a census was prohibited, but the Law did state that every person counted was to be compensated for, which David did not do. “When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.” - Exodus 30:12,13.

This time God David a choice, choose your punishment, seven years of famine, flee for three months while be chased, or three days of pestilence in the land. Can you imagine having to choose your own punishment? David did not want to spend three months being chased again nor did he want the people to suffer for seven years over something he did, so, he chose the punishment of three days of pestilence, which meant a disease would spread over the land for three days. He expected some chastisement for his sin, but what he did not expect was that 70,000 people would lose their lives over his sin. “So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.” - 2 Samuel 24:13-15.

No leader expects the wrong decisions they make to have a negative impact on others, but they do and they affect everyone. All the problems our nations face today are the result of prideful, egotistical leaders doing things their own way instead of God's way. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,..And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” - Romans 1:21,22,28.

It is only through our relationship with Christ that we can, like David, rest on the hope of the eternal covenant made between God and the believer. No matter how many times we mess up we have the a place in heaven and in Christ's Kingdom, we may have to endure some chastisement, persecution, trials, and afflictions, but those who have received Christ as their Savior are protected, not by righteousness, but by the blood that Jesus shed for you. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” - Ephesians 2:10-13.

Today's Psalm: 5:11 - “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”

Today's Proverb: 14:15 - “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.”

Today's Prayer: God, Every day I am amazed that no matter how slothful I get or how many mistakes I make You still love me, You have not forsaken me, and I still have a place with You for eternity. Lord, let me never lose hope of the day that Your Son comes and gets me, not for the good that I have done, but because I am protected and preserved by His precious blood. Thank You God for everything You do for me, whether times are good or bad, happy or sad, You are always there guiding me in the right direction. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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

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