May 10, 2014 - Saturday

Start Time: 5:44 A.M.

End Time: 6:28 A.M.

Title: David’s Victories

Scripture: 2 Samuel 8:1 – 15

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines. David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute. Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his monument at^[a] the Euphrates River. David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers^[b] and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

NOTES:

Ø Our victories come from God alone!  God made sure that all of David’s enemies are either dead or subject to him.  The Moabites who were allowed to live brought tribute for David.  This is how God wants our enemies in the end, defeated and seeking for our favor.  God does not only eliminate the threat, at times, He allows the threat to become an asset to us to serve a deeper purpose and will for His majestic plan.  So why else would we want to fight our own battles when we can side with God and be assured of our victory in Him in accordance to His will?  Only a foolish would do the first.

Ø God also taught David not to be greedy and know when to stop acquiring things for himself.  When David defeated the Moabites or Hadadezer, he could have kept them all as slaves or all the charioteers and foot soldiers he captured but then he only kept a hundred.  God wants to be blessed but not greedy and we have that tendency when we have everything coming our way.  Know when to stop by seeking God’s guidance and will.  Thank You Lord coz again this is a wise lesson from You to me J

→ When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went. David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. From Tebah^[c] and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze. When Tou^[d] king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, he sent his son Joram^[e] to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze. King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued:  Edom^[f] and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites^[g] in the Valley of Salt. He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

NOTES:

Ø God gave David victory wherever he went!  And he can and will do the same for us.  Hallelujah!  No matter who or wherever David was, the Lord just poured victory upon victories in his life.  This is how we should be living in life.  We should be reigning in life as this is God’s desire.  He wants us to succeed on whatever tasks we set our focus to.  He wants us plundering from every side.  He wants us receiving wealth and success at all times.  But note that when David experienced this, he never forgets that all these things are God’s and not his.  David dedicated everything back to God because He was set to build Him a house in His Kingdom on earth with His people.  So all the plunders, all the victories, David knew that it was possible because of God so all the spoils belong to Him and Him alone.  Let us have the same mindset and make sure to give God what belongs to Him.

^→  David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.^[h]

NOTES:

Ø God wants us to reign in life by doing what is just and right for us and others!  Through David, God literally became King to His people.  God is our King no matter what but with a ruler who has a heart after His, God was able to become Israel’s king and so Israel was well taken care of especially the physical representation of God as the king of the nation, David.  Know that we can only reign in life when we allow ourselves to represent Him in this life.  Allow God to use us and see how we can reign and become victorious in everything we do!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, praise-worthy and honorable God!  Wonderful and magnificent Father, my Lord, thank You because every day You show Your works in my life through Your Words.  Thank You because You opened my eyes to see the truth and You seek to bless and surrounds me with Your love, favor and grace at all times.  Thank You Lord because all my victories come from You.  This week alone, I have so many victories and blessings and today, You gave me an important lesson to learn whenever I’m in the peak of my success.  You reminded me that these successes are not only because You love me, but because I represent You on earth and these successes truly belongs to You.  Let me remember that always Lord that I may not become greedy or boast of anything at all because all victories come from You.  Thank You Lord because You want me to reign in life and You want me to have victories upon victories wherever I go.  Help me Lord to have a heart after You own and use me.  Remind me Lord that by becoming Your representation here on earth means pursuing Your will and doing what You want not my own desires.  And by doing so, I know that victories upon victories will come my way because it will be Your victories in my life Lord, which becomes my testimony.  Again, thank You Jesus.  Everything in me wants to praise You for Your goodness and never ending love.  I love You Lord.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!