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Topic: Turn Away From The Precipice
[DCLM Daily Manna 5 July 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: 1 Kings 12:16-24 (KJV)
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).
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
