King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Prospering From J O Y
Date: Monday April 02, 2012
Today's Chapters: 2 Samuel 8-11

Hello My Friend,

There is no denying that those who put God first live a prosperous life, I have seen myself and people blessed with so many things in the seven years that I have been studying God's Word and writing these devotions. Of course, those blessings were not always enjoyable, some were down right scary, but we cannot just thank Him for the good things in life, we need to thank Him for the bad and ugly things too for they are all needed to grow us and help us prosper. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” - Matthew 6:31-34.

God had given David rest from all his enemies that opposed him, but now it was time to get back to work, David sees victory after victory in their battle to not only avenge his enemies, but also claim the land that still had to be possessed since they arrived in Canaan. “And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts. David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates...Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;” - 2 Samuel 8:1-3,8.

David dedicated everything to God, the wars with his enemies, and his victories over them, all of the spoils he took from them, and the presents given to him by others were blessings from God because David first sought the Kingdom of God. We are wise to first seek God in all that we do, from our battles to our successes, we must not forget that God gave them and allowed them all to make us who we are today. “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” - 1 Peter 3:17,18.

Putting others first also helps us prosper, while it is enjoyable to receive things, most people find much more joy in being able to give than receive. David never forgot about the covenant he made with Jonathan, Saul's son, he inquired whether there was any one left of the house of Saul to whom he could show favor for Jonathan's sake. David not only restored to him his father's possessions, he also made him a part of the royal table for the rest of his life. “Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?..So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.” -2 Samuel 9:6-8,13.

Mephibosheth thanked David, humbling himself and comparing himself to a dead dog, which meant that he did not feel worthy to accept all the that David blessed him with. This is a great illustration of the grace of God and how we, who can never do enough good to earn our way to heaven, receive His gift of eternal life through our king, Jesus Christ. Just like Mephibosheth, we too will have a permanent place setting with our King when we seek Him first. “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 3:23,24.

Christians prosper through God when they put Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last, but what do they get if they get a little selfish or lazy and seek their own needs above others, especially above God's needs? A big mess, that's what they get. The strongest man or woman in faith can fall into a load of sin and corruption when they get selfish or lazy. David had everything going for him, he was one of the most godliest men of all time, he was the apple of God's eye. However, everything was about to change when David made one decision that he would regret for the rest of his life. “And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.” - 2 Samuel 11:1-4.

This one night of adultery resulted in a huge mess of more sin and corruption by David trying to get out of the mess. There were three mistakes that he made that caused him to fall into the first sin, 1. He was not walking with God, 2. He stayed home when he should have been working, and 3. He lusted over Bathsheba by keeping his eyes on the temptation. No Christian is exempt from temptation, but God will never suffer us to be tempted above anything we cannot get out of. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13.

That one day of ecstasy turned into a nightmare for David, Bathsheba ended up getting pregnant. He tried everything he could to cover up his sin, but the more he tried the worse things got. David arranged for her husband to be placed in the middle of a heated battle and he was killed. A little later he married Bathsheba, God was very displeased with the apple of His eye. However, even though God was displeased with David He was still forgiving, sin goes without punishment, we all get chastised for sin, but it does not stop God from loving us and forgiving us when we come to Him. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9.

Prosperity comes from JOY, we might get side tracked from time to time and lose some things, but we also gain much more than possessions, we gain God's favor and honor by first, admitting our sin, and two repenting of the sin. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” - 1 Peter 1:7.

Today's Psalm: 30:6 - “And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.”

Today's Proverb: 28:13 - “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

Today's Prayer: God, It is no surprise that You will give peace and prosperity to all who love You and want You in their lives. Prosperity can be dangerous when we are not walking with You at all times with it. So, God, while I do want to prosper, I do not want to lose sight of the fact that everything good and bad comes from You. Everything You do helps me grow, stay faithful to You, and keeps me from falling into temptation from boredom or laziness when things seem to be a little bit easy for me. Lord, lead me and guide me and help me to prosper Your way. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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

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