Month: December 2019

2Samuel 4, David kept his word!

2Sa 4:1, When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, HE LOST HEART, AND ALL ISRAEL WAS TROUBLED.

Abner was the strength behind Ishbosheth, so when he was killed, he saw no future as king!  WHILE DAVID TRUSTED IN THE LORD, ISHBOSHETH TRUSTED IN MAN!

Psa 118:8, IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN. 

2Sa 4:5,7, THEN THE SONS OF RIMMON THE BEEROTHITE, RECHAB AND BAANAH, set out and came… to the house of Ishbosheth… THEN THEY STRUCK HIM AND KILLED HIM, BEHEADED HIM AND TOOK HIS HEAD…

Ishbosheth was killed by his two captains seeking a reward or position from David!

2Sa 4:11, …, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and remove you from the earth?” 

DAVID HONORED HIS VOW TO SAUL NOT TO CUT OFF HIS DESCENDANTS (1Sa 24:20-22)! NOW ONLY 12-YEAR-OLD MEPHIBOSHETH THE SON OF JONATHAN WAS LEFT FROM THE FAMILY OF SAUL!

Psa 25:21, LET INTEGRITY AND UPRIGHTNESS PRESERVE ME, FOR I WAIT FOR YOU. 

DAVID NEVER FORCED HIS WAY TO THE THRONE BECAUSE HE TRUSTED GOD TO DO THAT FOR HIM!

2Samuel 3, A messy start to David’s reign!

2Sa 3:2, Sons were born to David in Hebron:

David was a man after GOD’s own heart, yet he had 6 wives and would take another wife who was already married to another man?

Deu 17:17, NEITHER SHALL HE MULTIPLY WIVES FOR HIMSELF, LEST HIS HEART TURN AWAY; NOR SHALL HE GREATLY MULTIPLY SILVER AND GOLD FOR HIMSELF. 

Abner, the real strength behind Ishbosheth, turns on his king to make David the new king over all of ISRAEL not just Judah! But, Abner was murdered by Joab for Abner had killed his brother! JOAB WAS AN AVENGER OF BLOOD!

This was a chaotic start to the reign of David but, David would not be king until the people of Israel SUBMITTED TO HIM FREELY!

2Sa 3:17-18, Now Abner HAD COMMUNICATED WITH THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL, saying, “IN TIME PAST YOU WERE SEEKING FOR DAVID TO BE KING OVER YOU. NOW THEN, DO IT! FOR THE LORD HAS SPOKEN OF DAVID, SAYING, ‘BY THE HAND OF MY SERVANT DAVID, I WILL SAVE MY PEOPLE ISRAEL

There can only be one KING and that KING is the KING of kings and LORD of lords! JESUS, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD WHO GAVE ALL FOR HIS PEOPLE! HE BECOMES OUR KING WHEN WE FREELY SUBMIT OURSELVES TO HIS WILL AND REIGN! NOT BY FORCE BUT BY LOVE!

Rom 8:14, FOR AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THESE ARE SONS OF GOD. 

2Samuel 2, A Divided house!

David inquired of the LORD where should he go now, and the LORD said “To Hebron”

2Sa 2:4, THEN THE MEN OF JUDAH CAME, AND THERE THEY ANOINTED DAVID KING OVER THE HOUSE OF JUDAH.…

2Sa 2:8-9, BUT ABNER the son of Ner,… TOOK ISHBOSHETH … AND HE MADE HIM KING OVER GILEAD…AND OVER ALL ISRAEL.

A Divided house with 2 kings!

Mar 3:25, … A HOUSE IS DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF, THAT HOUSE CANNOT STAND. 

2Sa 2:31, But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died. 

Joab and Abner, the commanders of the two kings went to war against each other.  While David’s commander Joab lost 20 men including his brother; Abner lost 360 men!

Jos 24:15, And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.” 

NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS, SO IT’S EITHER KING SELF OR THE KING OF KINGS! JESUS! THE CHOICE IS YOURS!

2Samuel 1, Snared by his own words!

2Sa 1:9-10, He (Saul) said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, … SO I STOOD OVER HIM AND KILLED HIM…

This young Amalekite was lying to David trying to get a reward from him for killing Saul and bringing the crown to David! But, David killed him instead!

Pro 11:18, The wicked man does deceptive work, BUT HE WHO SOWS RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL HAVE A SURE REWARD. 

Psa 105:15, …”DO NOT TOUCH MY ANOINTED ONES, AND DO MY PROPHETS NO HARM.” 

2Sa 1:16, So David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed.’ ” 

EVEN THOUGH SAUL WANTED TO KILL HIM; DAVID WAS A FAITHFUL SERVANT WHO RESPECTED HIS POSITION AS THE ANOINTED KING OVER ISRAEL!

Pro 6:2, YOU ARE SNARED BY THE WORDS OF YOUR MOUTH; YOU ARE TAKEN BY THE WORDS OF YOUR MOUTH.

HE WILL JUDGE EVERYONE ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY HAVE DONE; GOOD OR BAD!

1Samuel 31, the death of Saul!

1Sa 31:3-4, The battle became fierce against Saul. THE ARCHERS HIT HIM, AND HE WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED BY THE ARCHERS.… Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.

Saul had a humble start but never submitted to the LORD! He chose to follow his own will rather that of the LORD!

1Sa 31:9-10, AND THEY CUT OFF HIS HEAD AND STRIPPED OFF HIS ARMOR, … Then they put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they FASTENED HIS BODY TO THE WALL OF BETH SHAN.

As they stripped Saul of his armor so does our enemy want to strip our armor from us!

Eph 6:13, Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

1Sa 31:12, all the VALIANT MEN arose and traveled all night, and TOOK THE BODY OF SAUL AND THE BODIES OF HIS SONS FROM THE WALL OF BETH SHAN; AND THEY CAME TO JABESH AND BURNED THEM THERE. 

SAUL AND HIS SONS ARE DEAD, YET THE LORD WILL ALWAYS HAVE VALIANT MEN TO DO HIS WILL! NOT TO FALL ON THE SWORD, BUT TO STAND IN THE TRUTH WITH THE SWORD IN OUR HAND (THE WORD)

Eph 6:13, Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

1Samuel 30, Strength in the LORD!

1Sa 30:3, So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, BURNED WITH FIRE; and THEIR WIVES, THEIR SONS, AND THEIR DAUGHTERS HAD BEEN TAKEN CAPTIVE. 

David was rejected by the Philistines, rejected by Israel and now he came home to his family and found a burnt ghost town!

1Sa 30:4, Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 

Everything he thought he had was taken from him. This is David’s lowest point in life; a broken man!

1Sa 30:6, NOW DAVID WAS GREATLY DISTRESSED, … BUT DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD. 

DAVID STRENGTHEN HIMSELF BY REMEMBERING THE LORD AND WHAT HE HAD DONE IN THE PAST! THOSE GREAT VICTORIES HE HAD GIVEN DAVID! HIS CALLING, HIS PROMISES, HE REMEMBERED THAT HIS STRENGTH ONLY CAME FROM THE LORD!

1Sa 30:8, SO DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD, SAYING, “SHALL I PURSUE THIS TROOP? SHALL I OVERTAKE THEM?”….

Pro 3:5-6, Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

A BROKEN MAN CAN BE GREATLY USED BY GOD; FOR HIS STRENGTH IS NOT HIS OWN BUT COMES FROM THE LORD!

1Samuel 29, Between two camps!

1Sa 29:2, And the lords of the Philistines passed in review by hundreds and by thousands, BUT DAVID AND HIS MEN PASSED IN REVIEW AT THE REAR WITH ACHISH. 

David finds himself ready for war against his own people Israel! 

1Sa 29:5, IS THIS NOT DAVID, OF WHOM THEY SANG TO ONE ANOTHER IN DANCES, SAYING: ‘SAUL HAS SLAIN HIS THOUSANDS, AND DAVID HIS TEN THOUSANDS’?” 

Even the enemy knew this was wrong; David could turn on us!  David finds himself between two camps who have rejected him! Saul (Israel) rejected him and now the philistines!

Jos 1:9, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.” 

1Sa 29:8, So David said to Achish, “But what have I done?… that I may not go and fight…

IT WASN’T THE PHILISTINES THAT STOP DAVID FROM GOING TO WAR AGAINST HIS OWN PEOPLE BUT THE LORD!  IT SEEMS THAT DAVID DEPARTED THE LORD, YET THE LORD HASN’T DEPARTED DAVID! WE SHOULD ALWAYS PRAISE HIM WHEN HE KEEPS US FROM SINNING! REMEMBER THE WORLD ONLY OFFERS DEATH, BUT HE OFFERS TRUE LIFE!

IT’S SAD THAT WHEN WORLDLY FRIENDS CAN’T TELL THAT YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN FOR WE HAVE A HIGHER CALLING!

1Samuel 28, the witch of Endor!

1Sa 28:5-6, When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, HE WAS AFRAID, AND HIS HEART TREMBLED GREATLY. And when Saul inquired of the LORD, THE LORD DID NOT ANSWER HIM, EITHER BY DREAMS OR BY URIM OR BY THE PROPHETS.

Because of Saul’s disobedience to GOD there was no answer from the LORD! Dead silence!

1Sa 28:7, …”Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her…

Lev 20:6, ‘And the person WHO TURNS TO MEDIUMS and FAMILIAR SPIRITS, to prostitute himself with them, I WILL SET MY FACE AGAINST THAT PERSON AND CUT HIM OFF FROM HIS PEOPLE. 

1Sa 28:12, When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice…

She was most likely a fraud and she didn’t expect to see anyone but she saw Samuel! THE WITCH HAD NO POWER TO CALL SAMUEL, BUT THE LORD ALLOWED IT

1Sa 28:18, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD …THEREFORE THE LORD HAS DONE THIS THING TO YOU THIS DAY. 

IT WAS OVER FOR SAUL, BUT AS CHRISTIAN WE SHOULD STAY COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THIS DEMONIC REALM!  DRAW NEAR TO HIM AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU! SEEK HIS FACE AND BE AT HIS FEAT DAILY!

1Samuel 27, David trusted in his heart!

1Sa 27:1, THEN DAVID SAID IN HIS HEART, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is NOTHING BETTER for me than that I should escape…

Trusting in his heart David said there is NOTHING BETTER? Better would be seeking GOD and HIS wisdom!  The heart is wicked!

Jer 17:10, “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” 

1Sa 27:5, Then David said to Achish, “IF I HAVE FOUND FAVOR IN YOUR EYES, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should YOUR SERVANT dwell in the royal city with you?” 

David was seeking favor from the enemies of GOD the philistines? This is what happens when you trust your heart rather than the Word of GOD! 

1Sa 27:11-12, And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, … And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel…

DAVID WAS LIVING A LIE AND HE KILL ANYONE THAT WOULD TELL ACHISH THE TRUTH!  DAVID IS NOW LIVING IN A BACKSLIDEN LIFESTYLES ALL BECAUSE HE TRUSTED IN HIS HEART!

Pro 14:14, The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. 

1Samuel 26, David spares Saul again!

1Samuel 26:8, Then Abishai said to David, “GOD HAS GIVEN YOUR ENEMY INTO YOUR HAND THIS DAY….

This is the second time that David could have taken the life of Saul, yet David would not take the life of the LORD’s Anointed!

1Sa 26:10, And David said, “AS THE LORD LIVES, THE LORD WILL STRIKE HIM, or HIS DAY WILL COME TO DIE, or HE WILL GO DOWN INTO BATTLE AND PERISH. 

David knew that it would be by the hand of GOD that remove Saul as king! Not by his own!

1Sa 26:10, And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 

Rom 12:19, Beloved, NEVER AVENGE YOURSELVES, BUT LEAVE IT TO THE WRATH OF GOD, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY, SAYS THE LORD.” 

1Sa 26:21, Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.”

Mat 10:16, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, SO BE WISE AS SERPENTS AND INNOCENT AS DOVES.

TRUST IS EARNED NEVER GIVEN. SERPENTS CONSTANTLY LOOK AROUND TO SEE WHERE THE NEXT ATTACK WILL COME FROM, WE MUST DO THE SAME WITH HUMILITY!