Daily Bible Study

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Day 88 Promise 118 and 119 1 Kings 9:1 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do, 2 That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon. 3 And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there forever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 4 And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: 5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel forever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, ‘There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.’ 6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: 7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: 8 And at this house, which is high, everyone who passes by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, ‘Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?’ 9 And they shall answer, ‘Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore, hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil.’ Have you wondered why things happen the way they do? Why some people are more fortunate than others? Why you seem to have one problem after another? There are two answers to the trouble you face. Either God is testing you, or He is chastising you. God told Solomon, He heard the prayer he prayed and would keep His eye and favor on Jerusalem and the House of God, Solomon built for Him as long as Israel obeyed Him and didn’t turn away to other gods. However, the moment they disregarded everything God did for them, and followed after the gods of the nations they conquered, then God would take His favor away from Israel and cast them from His sight. God gave Solomon a two-fold promise. A promise of favor for obedience and a promise to cast them away from Him for disobedience. No one likes to be out of favor with their friends and acquaintances. They like to have their blessing and know everything is good between them. However, you know that isn’t always the case. People lose favor for one reason or another. As Christians, you know how easy it is to turn away and pursue selfish desires. Going to church, associating with other believers, reading your Bible and praying are habits you need to pursue daily. If you don’t, your faith becomes weak, and your memory about your close relationship with Jesus Christ, God’s Son, fades. The writer of Hebrews exhorted believers to keep the faith and not forsake getting together with other believers often. Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful who promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. You won’t know what the Bible says unless you read it. You won’t know how to pray unless you are diligent to pray every day. You won’t be a blessing to others or able to encourage others if you don’t meet together often. God wants your faithfulness and obedience. Your faithfulness and obedience will bring God’s favor and blessing on your life. Do you need to change in your life? Do you want to see God’s hand of blessing and favor on your life? Trust Him today and watch God bless you. Let’s pray: Father, my life is in Your hands. Let me be a blessing to others as I meet with fellow believers to bless and encourage others to remain strong and steadfast in You. Let Your blessing and favor rest on me as I follow You and put my selfish desires aside. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 1 November 2019 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay. Only topic-related comments accepted.