Reprobate Mind

Posted by Christina Scovone on Saturday, April 16, 2011

King James Bible Study: Reprobate Mind
For: Saturday April 16, 2011
Chapters: II Samuel 15-16
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-april-16

Details of Today's Reading: Absalom convinces ten of the tribes of Israel to follow him and rebel against the king, David flees from Absalom in fear, a false servant of Mephibosheth, Shimea curses David, and Absalom takes control of Jerusalem.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
The Bible says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;..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 1:18,22,28. The word reprobate means corruptible, God will give a person so many warnings before He gives them up to their own corruptible minds. Time and time again you will hear people ask the question, “How can God allow this to happen?” The answer, God allows it to happen because it's what they allowed to happen themselves, the consequences that follow come from the result of giving into their reprobate mind.

David never thought that his one moment of passion with Bathsheba would result in so many consequences. Nathan, the prophet, warned David of the repercussions of his sin, “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.” - II Samuel 12:10-12.

The evil raised up out of his own house began with Amnon, David's oldest son, who raped his half-sister, then out of revenge Amnon was killed by Absalom. Now, thinking everything was reconciled between him and Absalom David had no idea that the entire time Absalom was conspiring to take the throne from his father.

“And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!” - II Samuel 15:1-4.

Absalom wickedly got the disgruntled and rebellious people to trust him over David, ten tribes sided with Absalom, even David's trusted advisers were walking away from him to join Absalom. This is just the wickedness of politics, tell the right people what they want to hear, show up with gifts, and before you know it they are elected and destroying everything. This is the reason why God says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” - Romans 16:17,18.

Soon the shocking news that Absalom had the trust of the people reached David, all David could think to do was go to a place where there would be no war in Jerusalem. He gathered everyone up and headed for the hills.

“And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword... And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house...And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.” - II Samuel 15:14,16,25,26.

It is sad to read about king David, the man who single handedly defeated Goliath as a boy, fleeing in fear of his own beloved son. Brokenhearted, running barefoot down the rocky, rugged hills and up the Mount of Olives, weeping, David knew where he was going though, he was going to the one place where he could reach safety and avoid bloodshed in Jerusalem, which was the City of God. Something amazing happened though during that time, David never blamed God, never asked why all this was happening, and simply said, “His will be done”. This is the same response that Jesus gave when He knew the time had come for Him to be betrayed and captured. “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” - Matthew 26:39.

There is a time to fight and there is a time to lay low, we can not try to defend ourselves out of anger or hurt, doing so will only make things worse. We must wait until we are calm and have thought about things before taking any action. David could have questioned God, but he knew that all this was the result of what had happened when he sinned with Bathsheba and was now suffering the consequences as Nathan had prophesied. As David was fleeing Jerusalem, Absalom was heading for it.

“And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him...Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do. And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.” - II Samuel 16:15,20-22.

Ahithophel gave wicked counsel to Absalom in order to render himself so hateful to his father that he would never be reconciled to him. This also being done in a public manner fulfilled the prophecy, which Nathan said it should be done in the sight of the sun, and of all Israel. God will chasten His children, but God's correction is not condemnation, it's for growing us and teaching us discipline as well as holiness. “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” - Hebrews 12:5-7.

God gives all the free will to choose whether or not they will allow Him to be Lord of their lives or give into their own reprobate minds. Regardless, He still loves us all, He still hates sin, and all will suffer the consequences of their own actions, but He never stops loving us. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:9. So, while His wrath is revealed upon the unrighteousness through chastening, His love forgives and cleanses all unrighteousness through repentance. Praise God!

Jesus Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through David, as he humbled himself to accept the punishment given by God. Jesus Christ humbled Himself as a sinner, accepted the punishment for all mankind, and sacrificed His life to save all mankind. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” - II Corinthians 5:21.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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