May 27, 2014 - Tuesday

Start Time: 7:51 A.M.

End Time: 8:16 A.M.

Title: David’s Last Words

Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:1 – 39

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

→These are the last words of David: “The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse, the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the hero of Israel’s songs: “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.’ “If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part; surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire. But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie.”

NOTES:

Ø The best ruler works hand in hand with God in his reign!  Otherwise, the ruler’s reign leads only to destruction!  When you are in a position to rule or in a form of authority, your leadership must be in partnership with God.  For He alone is our Rock and with Him by our side, our reign will be victorious and peaceful.  Our enemies are shattered and dispersed. 

→These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth,^[a] a Tahkemonite,^[b] was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed^[c] in one encounter. Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim^[d] for battle. Then the Israelites retreated,  but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.  Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory. During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors. Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.^[e] He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them. Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard. Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth, Sibbekai^[f] the Hushathite,  Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heled^[g] son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai^[h] from the ravines of Gaash,  Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,  Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of^[i] Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar^[j] the Hararite, Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

NOTES:

Ø God provides us great men by our side!  God gives us everything we need including great men to fight with us for His battles.  David was given strong and mighty warriors alongside him as he fought the battle of God and these men were victorious and had mighty victories with them. 

Ø When you fight alongside the man of God, God gives you the victory and makes you a great warrior!  Josheb-Basshebeth, Joab, Abishai, Eleazar, and many more, there are just a few of David’s men who had great victories in their hands because they were fighting God’s battle.  They became known as great warriors because God was with them.  The same with us, when we choose our battle and we pick God’s side, we put ourselves in a position to be known as great warriors for God so men will always give all glory back to Him who is the source of everything!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus thank You because You are the source of everything.  Thank You because the battles we fight are Yours and You give us the support we need to win it.  You also give us mighty warriors and strong men to fight alongside us and You give us the opportunity to become great as Your warrior when we choose Your side in this battle.  Lord help me to see the value of choosing the right side.  Many times, I fail this and end up getting lured into the wrong side of the arena.  Lord, help me make a stand just like Eleazar who stood his ground.  Help me to stood my ground and choose Your side in every battle because then You will strengthen me and provide me the support I needed to win.  Lord show me the battle arena and let me see the obvious choice, which is You.  Thank You because You know what im going thru and You know what I needed to hear and learn from.  I choose You Lord help me to stand by my choice.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!