DCLM Daily Manna 5 July 2019 Devotional by Pastor W.F Kumuyi
TOPIC: Turn Away From The Precipice
TEXT: 1 Kings 12:16-24
16. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse; to your tents, O Israel; now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
17. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18. Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
19. So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
20. And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel; there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
21. And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
22. But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
23. Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,
24. Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel; return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
KEY VERSE:
“Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD” – (1 Kings 12:24).
DCLM DAILY MANNA 5 JULY 2019 MESSAGE:
Mankind has moved several times to the brink of a third world war according to the Doomsday Clock, a symbol said to be a measurement for the likelihood of man-made global catastrophe. In January 2018, the clock recorded the danger level of two minutes to ‘midnight’, due to “the looming threats of nuclear war and climate change…” The clock’s time has gone back and forth numerous times, depending on how grave tensions have been tamed by international intervention.
Back in time, Judah and newly break-away Israel, also found themselves at the point of war. Rehoboam succeeded King Solomon under a united nation, only to discover that a secession was building up with Jeroboam his late father’s servant as the leader. Dialogue failed and armies were raised to resolve the two nations’ differences. An emissary of Rehoboam was killed while the king himself escaped by a whisker as plans for war thickened.
When it was only seconds to the ‘midnight’ of outbreak of hostilities, God turned back the hands of the clock, demonstrating His ability to maintain peace and redeem the most hopeless situation caused by man’s disobedience. God proved to the war-bent people of Judah and Israel that He is the Sovereign Lord, “the most High (Who) ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Daniel 4:17).
The spiritual doomsday clock is also ticking towards the end time with Jesus’ irreversible imminent return for judgment. The sinner and the backslider must heed the call of God to make a U-turn or end their lives in hell. Rehoboam listened to God and saved the people of the two kingdoms needless bloodshed and suffering. How peaceful our world, nations, communities and homes would be if we follow the gospel of the Prince of Peace!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Only God can pull man back from the brink.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Kings 9-10
PREV: God Has The BluePrint
DCLM Daily Manna 5 July 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.