Month: July 2024

A Light to David #7

Thursday, July 11, 2024

“And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there” (1 Kings 11:36 KJV).

What is this “light” the LORD God has for David in Jerusalem?

Re-read today’s Scripture and its analogous verses. “And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there” (1 Kings 11:36). “Nevertheless for David’s sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:…” (1 Kings 15:4). “Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children” (2 Kings 8:19). “Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever” (2 Chronicles 21:7).

The “light” or “lamp” was how King David would have a successor or heir who would maintain his royal bloodline until Messiah Jesus would be born. This is the LORD’S fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16; cf. Psalm 132:10-14,17), Israel and Jerusalem having a perpetual King. “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). “…JESUS… shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:31-33).

In Middle Eastern culture, the light or lamp was hung in the dwelling (tent, house) to indicate life—someone was home, alive and well, occupying the place. See the opposite: “Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him” (Job 18:5,6). The extinguishing of the light meant the destruction of life!

A Light to David #6

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

“And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there” (1 Kings 11:36 KJV).

What is this “light” the LORD God has for David in Jerusalem?

The royal house of David would not be obliterated, though God would punish the sons of David for their sin. As Genesis 49:10 foretells, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah [David’s tribe], nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” The word “Shiloh” is Hebrew for “peaceful,” and is a title of Messiah (who, like David, is a member of the tribe of Judah).

“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof” (Revelation 5:5). Luke chapter 3: “[23] And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,… [31] Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,… [33] Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,….”

To better understand this “light” or “lamp” of today’s Scripture (cf. 1 Kings 15:4; 1 Kings 11:36; 2 Kings 8:19; 2 Chronicles 21:7), we need to remember that it was connected to David’s life too. “But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel” (2 Samuel 21:17). If David died in war, the “light of Israel” would be “quenched” (extinguished). This is also helpful in putting the final pieces of this puzzle together.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

A Light to David #5

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

“And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there” (1 Kings 11:36 KJV).

What is this “light” the LORD God has for David in Jerusalem?

Though sons of David would sin—and some of them grievously “committed iniquity” (such as Solomon, Rehoboam, Jehoram, Manasseh, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah), God’s covenant with David was unconditional. These members of David’s royal bloodline would be “chastened with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men” (2 Samuel 7:14)—devastating wars with enemies, for example. However, “my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul.” There would always be a son of David to carry his DNA up until Messiah’s conception (Messiah being the final son of David, the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant).

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6,7). “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:5,6).

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:31-33).

Yet, what does a “lamp” or “light” have to do with all this? Let us see….

Saints, please remember this work of the ministry requires monthly financial support to operate (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who prefer electronic giving can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. Anyone who wishes to donate by regular mail can visit https://333wordsofgrace.org/contact-us-mailing-address-for-donations/ for details. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! Unfortunately, since our ministry audience is so large and our ministry staff is so small, I can no longer personally respond to everyone. Thanks so much for understanding in this regard. 🙂

A Light to David #4

Monday, July 8, 2024

“And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there” (1 Kings 11:36 KJV).

What is this “light” the LORD God has for David in Jerusalem?

Indeed, we know the LORD God is leaving a “lamp” or “light” to King David in Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:36; 1 Kings 15:4; 2 Kings 8:19; 2 Chronicles 21:7). First Kings 15:4 defines this as “to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem.”

Seeking more cross-references, we encounter Psalm 132: “[10] For thy servant David’s sake turn not away the face of thine anointed. [11] The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. [12] If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. [13] For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation…. [17] There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.” Notice the “lamp” or “light” of verse 17!

The “lamp” or “light” to David is God’s guarantee He will leave David an heir or successor, that David’s royal bloodline continue. This is the Davidic Covenant of 2 Samuel chapter 7: “[12] And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. [14] I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: [15] But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. [16] And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.”

Let us keep studying….

A Light to David #3

Sunday, July 7, 2024

“And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there” (1 Kings 11:36 KJV).

What is this “light” the LORD God has for David in Jerusalem?

As 2 Kings chapter 8, so 2 Chronicles chapter 21 relates the activities of sinful King Jehoram, son of Rehoboam (Solomon’s son), of the royal Davidic dynasty: “[5] Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. [6] And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD. [7] Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.” Negative social influences—namely, his intermarriage with King Ahab’s idolatrous family—was the primary reason for his errors (see 1 Kings 16:29-34 about Ahab’s wickedness).

Moreover, there is another cross-reference to today’s Scripture—though it is difficult to find. It sits in the context of 1 Kings chapter 15: “[1] Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. [2] Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. and his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. [3] And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. [4] Nevertheless for David’s sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: [5] Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.”

The “lamp” of 1 Kings 15:4 is interchangeable with the “light” of today’s Scripture, the key to realizing its full effect….

A Light to David #2

Saturday, July 6, 2024

“And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there” (1 Kings 11:36 KJV).

What is this “light” the LORD God has for David in Jerusalem?

Jerusalem was the capital city of King David’s kingdom: “And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem” (1 Kings 2:11). The LORD had declared, “Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel” (2 Chronicles 6:5,6). This corresponds to today’s Scripture.

Going back to 2 Kings 8:19, we observe: “Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.” This context is how wicked Jehoram, a great-great-great-great grandson of David, was the new King of Judah (and Jerusalem) who perverted the nation with sin: “[16] And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign. [17] Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. [18] And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab [a king of Israel in the north]: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD. [19] Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.”

Though the nation or kingdom of Judah was evil under Jehoram, God would spare it so as to leave a “light” to David and his descendants….

A Light to David #1

Friday, July 5, 2024

“And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there” (1 Kings 11:36 KJV).

What is this “light” the LORD God has for David in Jerusalem?

Three times we read of how the God of Israel has given a light for King David in the city of Jerusalem. Its first occurrence is today’s Scripture: “And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there” (1 Kings 11:36). Next, there is 2 Kings 8:19: “Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.” Finally, 2 Chronicles 21:7: “Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.”

When analyzing a Bible verse, we should try to collect related passages. In this case of the “light” the LORD God has for David in Jerusalem, we have located three statements that will prove useful in defining the term. We know, for example, how Jerusalem is said to be the place where the LORD God (JEHOVAH God) has put His name (1 Kings 11:36). To wit, Jerusalem is God’s capital city for Earth, the city where He Himself will one day reign: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:2,3).

This prophecy of Isaiah is also connected to David….

Liberated to Serve

Thursday, July 4, 2024 🇺🇸

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13 KJV).

Today, as we in the United States celebrate the 248th anniversary of our nation’s independence, we invite our Christian brethren worldwide to rejoice with us concerning our freedom in Jesus Christ.

When we proclaim Romans 6:14—“Ye are not under the law, but under grace”—people tend to assume “loose living.” Does “grace living” really mean we can now live any way we want? Lest anyone be misled in that regard, God the Holy Spirit moved the Apostle Paul to write in the next verse, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid [May God never let that happen!]” (Romans 6:15). Grace living is not Law-keeping, but it certainly is not Law-breaking either.

God still cares how we live, albeit He is not operating the “weak and beggarly” system of “bondage” (Law) that He once did with Israel (Galatians 4:9). God proved to the entire world that since Israel could not keep His commandments perfectly, no other sons of Adam (the Gentiles) could either: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them [Israel] who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world [Gentiles] may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19).

We sinners cannot keep the Law. However, God in His grace provided us a way to escape that condemnation by sending Jesus Christ to offer Himself on Calvary’s cruel cross to pay for our sins. By simple faith in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as the fully-satisfying payment for our sins, we can now be “made the righteousness of God in [Christ]” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We can be delivered from the penalty of sin (hell and the lake of fire) and the power of sin (flesh-walking).

Why are we Christians free? To selfishly live any way we want? NO! Today’s Scripture says we are liberated to now serve others, especially our Christian brethren, just as Jesus Christ selflessly served His Father and selflessly died on our behalf. That is grace living!!!!

Please see our 2011 Fourth of July Bible study “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land,” which can be watched here or read here.

Cramming for Finals!

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13 KJV).

One joke features an elderly Christian woman spending a great deal of time reading her Bible. Her young grandson’s friend asks him, “What is your grandmother doing so often with that book?” The grandson replies, “She is cramming for finals!” Although comical, it does prove a valid lesson—and fosters some ignorance too.

Students who procrastinate, such as putting off studying for an exam, will wait until the night before the test to do their most intensive examination of their textbook and class notes. This is especially true of college people who are busy working jobs, partying, and so on. In the above joke, grandma is assumed to be closer to being with her Lord in Heaven by virtue of her advanced aged, so she is getting better acquainted with her Bible before she soon meets Him.

However, in real life, people much, much, much, MUCH younger than grandma leave this world for Heaven or Hell. Perhaps it is a 50-year-old pastor’s wife dying after a long battle with cancer; a 45-year-old man suffering a sudden, massive, and fatal heart attack; a 20-year-old mother perishing in a violent automobile crash; a 20-year-old jogger killed by lightning; a 10-year-old departing by suicide; a two-year-old accidentally run over by a car; and a child just a few months old succumbing to a fatal congenital disease. Then again, people live well beyond grandma’s age too. The deceased might be 105 or 110 years old, or maybe even 120-plus!

Certainly, placing our faith exclusively in the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour guarantees us a place in Heaven: “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Yet, once we get to Heaven (whenever it is), what will we say when the Lord Himself asks us why we believe this or that? Will we be familiar enough with the Bible to be able to point to a chapter and verse for support? After all, “My church told me…,” “Tradition says…,” and “My priest or preacher taught me…” will not be valid answers.

We should all “cram for finals” in the spiritual realm—because finals just might be much, much, much, MUCH closer than we think!

The Roller-Coaster of Life #8

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV).

In this roller coaster called “life,” who is truly “faithful?”

When the disciples learned how they would desert Jesus, they disputed it and called Him a liar! “And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all” (Mark 14:27-31). Of course, it came to pass exactly as Christ foretold: “And they all forsook him, and fled” (verse 50), including boastful Peter denying Him three times (verses 66-72)!

It contradicts humanism (“man is his final authority!”), is at variance with “feel-good” Christendom, and offends our ego. Yet, the fact remains that, because of sin, none (!) of us are faithful. Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul, was raised in Judaism (works-religion). Such “Judaizers” or denominationalists constantly promoted “the goodness of men” amongst his grace believers. Now, as a Christian, he composed these words: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:…” (Philippians 3:3,4). Indeed, Saul had “trusted in the flesh”—his religious performance—yet that was “but dung” (verses 5-8). “And be found in him [Christ], not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:…” (verse 9).

Never forget: Father God does not trust us, but He does trust Christ in us, so we may we trust Christ in us too! 🙂