King James Bible Study: Eternal Covenant

King James Bible Study: Eternal Covenant
For: Wednesday April 20, 2011
Chapters: II Samuel 23-24.
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-april-20

Details of Today's Reading: The last inspired words spoken of David, the deeds of his mighty men, David’s sin in numbering the people, David must choose his punishment, pestilence in the land, David's sacrifice, and the plague removed.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word transcribe is defined as a copy, a exact writing just as dictated, a transcript from an original, or an exact copy of text written in another language. The Bible was written or transcribed by the divine inspiration of forty men who were dictated by God Himself. Every word in the Bible is exactly what God instructed the author to write. The King James Version of the Bible is an exact copy of the original transcripts written in a different language. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” - II Timothy 3:16,17.

David was one of the men inspired by God to write down His Word, David is responsible for putting ink to paper for most of the Psalms. Now David is speaking about the last words that God had him write.

“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.” - II Samuel 23:1-5.

David knew that although he was a sinner God still made an everlasting covenant with him, the covenant of mercy, grace, forgiveness, and salvation, who he believed would be the promised Savior. God's faithful, regardless of whether or not they existed before or after Jesus came to earth, are depending on the everlasting covenant that God makes with all believers. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:13. The name of the Lord, is Jesus Christ, who ever calls on Christ shall be saved. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” - Romans 10:9.

David never lost a war in his forty year reign as king because he sought the Lord 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.” - II 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 did not decide what David's punishment would be, but David had choose the punishment himself. God gave him a choice between three forms of punishment.

“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.” - II Samuel 24:13-15.

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. Immediately the plague spread like a wild fire, the result, 70,000 people lost their lives. The Holy Spirit directed the writing of II Samuel to show us that everyone is under the sovereign power of God, even our nations leaders. All the problems our nations are facing today are the result of our leaders going 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. The only way we are even aware of the eternal covenant is because someone, inspired by God, transcribed God's Word in a language that we can all understand. It is up to those who know the truth to tell it to those do not know so, they too, can have the opportunity to be saved. “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.” - II Peter 3:9. Praise God!

Jesus Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the silver which David used to purchase the threshing floor (24:21) to built the altar for the sacrifice. Silver symbolizes Christ's redemption offered for all on the cross. “And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.” - Matthew 26:15.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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