Archive for September 2009

Internal Conflict


Hello:

 

Our text today is quite lengthy but it describes an internal conflict or a civil war between the house of David and the house of Saul.  From our text below, you will discover that Abner the captain of Saul’s army takes Saul’s son Isbosheth and makes him king over Israel.  We already learned earlier that David is king over Judah.

 

The group of men comes together and David’s men and Isbosheth’s men fight with the house of David winning.

 

At the end of the battle about 15 of David’s men are missing but over 300 Benjaminites were destroyed that day from the house of Saul.

 

As you can see in our text, there is an internal battle among Judah and Israel as to who the next king should be.

 

I have summarized it above but here are the details of the story.

 

II Samuel 2: 8 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. 9 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel. 10 Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. 11 The length of time David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12 Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. 13 Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side. 14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.” “All right, let them do it,” Joab said. 15 So they stood up and were counted off–twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. 16 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim. 17 The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David’s men.

18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. 19 He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. 20 Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” he answered. 21 Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him. 22 Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?” 23 But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died. 24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon.

25 Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill. 26 Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their brothers?” 27 Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued the pursuit of their brothers until morning.” 28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore. 29 All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the whole Bithron and came to Mahanaim. 30 Then Joab returned from pursuing Abner and assembled all his men. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. 31 But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. 32 They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

 

David anointed king over Judah


Hello:

In our text today, we learn the first move that David makes after he has learned that Saul is dead.  We ended our 1st chapter of Samuel by David having written a lament/song in honor of Saul and his sons and we know that it was recorded in a book called Jashar.

Here is our story today:

II Samuel 2:1 In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered. 2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. When David was told that it was the men of Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 5 he sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead to say to them, “The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. 6 May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 7 Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

David gets instructions from the Lord as to where he should move.  If you remember, David was on the run from Saul and had been living in the camp of the enemy.  He was living in Ziklag which originally belonged to the Amalekites but because it was given to David it became from that point on a part of Israelite territory.   David no longer needs to hide from his enemy for they are dead so he inquires of the Lord as to where he should position himself.

God instructs David to go to Hebron.   While David is there something interesting happens.  The men of Hebron come and appoint David as king over Judah.  He is not yet King over all Israel but he has been anointed king over the house of Judah.

David sends messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead and thanks them for burying Saul.  As you can see, David is still honoring his king and you can see the love David had for Saul and his family though they made his life a living hell.   

Tomorrow, we will continue our journey on David’s rise to power.  He is half way there.  He is King over Judah and soon he will become king over all Israel.

Stay encouraged!!!

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

 

David’s tribute in song to Saul


Hello Everyone:

 

I hope you had a great weekend.  I love my weekends, they just seemed to go by too fast.

 

Today we are returning to our study of David’s reaction to Saul’s death.  Our last study dealt with David learning from an Amalekite that Saul was dead.   The Amalekite informs David that the reason he knows Saul is dead because Saul had fallen on his spear yet it did not kill him and Saul asked the Amalekite to finish him off.   David and his men immediately went into mourning. 

 

David then asks the Amalekite the following; Let’s look at the story:

 

II Samuel 1: 13 David said to the young man who brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite,” he answered. 14 David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” 15 Then David called one of his men and said, “Go, strike him down!” So he struck him down, and he died. 16 For David had said to him, “Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed.’”

17 David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and ordered that the men of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar): 19 ”Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! 20 ”Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice. 21 ”O mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields that yield offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul–no longer rubbed with oil. 22 From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied. 23 ”Saul and Jonathan– in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 24 ”O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold. 25 ”How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. 26 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women. 27 ”How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!”

As you can see from the text, David instructs his men to kill the Amalekite for finishing Saul off even though it was at the request of Saul.   David then writes a song that has been recorded in a book called Jashar.

 

The book of Jashar does not physically exist today.  There are two references that were made concerning it in the Old Testament.  The first reference is in Joshua 10:13 and then in our text today 2 Samuel 1:18.      In the Joshua reference it is used after Joshua declares the sun and moon to stand still so that they can finish defeating their enemies and it is stated:  “Is this not written in the book of Jashar.” 

 

The Hebrew word Jashar has been translated to mean “book of the upright” or “book of the righteous one.”  Some scholars believe it was an ancient hymnbook containing nationalistic songs. 

 

The Samuel reference seems to suggest that this collection of songs were compositions designed to celebrate great battles and notable characters in Israel’s history.  Some scholars also suggest that the book might have been used as a training text for Israel’s armies. 

 

We will continue David’s rise to power on this week.

 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

 

Righteousness brings Peace


Hello Everyone:

 

Those of you that have been following me know that every once in a while, I will break away from my studies to share a moment or scripture with you.  I have not done that in a while.

 

I was texting one of my spiritual fathers this morning and I asked him to send me a scripture so that I could just mediate on God’s word.    As many of you know because you follow me daily, I read the bible everyday but every now and then it is so refreshing when someone will just give you a scripture that is in their heart or that they have been meditating on.

 

I have had one of those challenging weeks where nothing is really wrong, but it is just life happening all over.   Sometimes those times can make you feel overwhelmed.   Things have been so busy that I have not been in God’s face as I normally do and wow can I feel the difference.

 

Sometimes we think that we are too busy to get in the face of God but actually it makes everything else flow and easier to handle when you take the time to stay before God in prayer.

 

Well, I said all that to say is that here is the scripture that he sent me this morning and it immediately calmed my spirit and just made me take a deep breath.  I hope it also gives you comfort.

 

Isaiah 32:17-20

 

17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. 18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. 19 Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, 20 how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.

 

It just taught me to just do the right thing always no matter what.  Let your actions be right and just and the fruit of doing the right thing will result in peace and the effects of it will be quietness and confidence forever.  I love it when it says that though trouble may be all around, the seeds that we have sown in righteousness will produce blessings for us.

 

Stay encouraged everyone.  Be kind to someone and always do the right thing and you’ll reap the blessings of righteousness no matter how bad it can look sometimes and no matter how long it takes.  God never forgets and there is an appointed time for the turn around.

 

Have a great weekend.  We will continue our study on Monday.

 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

 

 

David learns of Saul’s death


Hello:

 

We are making major progress.  We have finished the entire book of 1st Samuel and today we start in 2nd Samuel.  Congratulations to all that have been with me everyday.  You have now gone through the history of Israel from the beginning of the time that they wanted a king until the death of their first king.   We have finished studying the life of the first monarch of Israel and today’s lesson will deal with David’s response to Saul’s death.

 

Here is the text:

 

 

II Samuel 1: 1 After the death of Saul, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and with dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor. 3 ”Where have you come from?” David asked him. He answered, “I have escaped from the Israelite camp.” 4 ”What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.” He said, “The men fled from the battle. Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.” 5 Then David said to the young man who brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 6 ”I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” the young man said, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and riders almost upon him. 7 When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I said, ‘What can I do?’ 8 ”He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ “‘An Amalekite,’ I answered. 9 ”Then he said to me, ‘Stand over me and kill me! I am in the throes of death, but I’m still alive.’ 10 ”So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.”

11 Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. 12 They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

 

 

Tomorrow, we will discover David’s response after hearing the Amalekite was instrumental in killing Saul. 

 

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

 

 

The end of Saul

Hello: 

In our text today, Prophecy is fulfilled.  Saul dies.  Here is the story: 

I Samuel 31: 1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell slain on

Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. 3 The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically. 4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.” But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5 When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. 6 So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day. 7 When the Israelites along the valley and those across the

Jordan
saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them. 8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on

Mount Gilboa. 9 They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan. 11 When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard of what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their valiant men journeyed through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. 13 Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.

 The story is simply the account of the prophecy that Saul and his sons would die on the same day.   

Tomorrow, we will discover what David’s response will be and what will happen to the nation of

Israel after the death of their king.  Currently they are in mourning.   

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

 

David’s kindess


Hello:

Our text today picks up with David and his men return back to their Ziklag home to bring back their property and their women and children. 

Here is the story:

I Samuel 30:21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the people with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them. 22 But all the evil men and troublemakers among David’s followers said, “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go.” 23 David replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us. 24 Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” 25 David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this. 26 When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, “Here is a present for you from the plunder of the Lord’s enemies.” 27 He sent it to those who were in Bethel, Ramoth Negev and Jattir; 28 to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa 29 and Racal; to those in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites; 30 to those in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach 31 and Hebron; and to those in all the other places where David and his men had roamed.

I love David’s heart.   When he encounters the men who could not go any further with them on the journey, his men wanted them to take their wives and children and leave.   David responds by saying that because of how God has blessed them and covered them and kept them safe then they must show kindness to their brothers that stayed behind  with the supplies.

When God has blessed you and even though others may have done things that don’t deserve your kindness, your response to them should be from the relationship with your God and not from the perspective of what those people have done for you.

When God has changed your heart, then that kindness should be exemplified even among your enemies.

God is good and his kindness causes us to be better.  It is the goodness of the Lord that causes Men to repent.

 

God Bless  and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

You Shall Recover All


Hello:

We left off on Friday talking about  how when the Philistines refused to let David go to war with them, he returned to his homeland of Ziklag which he had left unprotected  and found the camp raided with everything including the women and children gone.  David’s men wanted to stone him and he encouraged himself in God. 

Today’s story picks up with what happened about David finishing encouraging himself .

Here is the text:

I Samuel 30: 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.” 9 David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Ravine, where some stayed behind, 10 for two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the ravine. But David and four hundred men continued the pursuit. 11 They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat– 12 part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights. 13 David asked him, “To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?” He said, “I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. 14 We raided the Negev of the Kerethites and the territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag.” 15 David asked him, “Can you lead me down to this raiding party?” He answered, “Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them.” 16 He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah. 17 David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. 18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. 20 He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, “This is David’s plunder.”

David got a word from God to pursue and he would recover all.   I want you to just notice the plan of God and how God coordinates all events even involving other people to work together for our good.  One of the slaves of the Amalekites who was an Egyptian who was abandoned by his master when he became ill was left for David to encounter. 

The Egyptian led David and his men to the camp and just as God promised.  None of the women and children had been harmed.  David defeated the Amalekites and recovered all.

 

How amazing is our God.  How strategic was the plan.   The Egyptian gets ill and is left behind.  David goes in the exact direction where the Egyptian will be.   The Egyptian leads David to the enemy’s camp and David and his men are victorious and wipe out everyone except 400 young men who rode away on camels.   God is just so amazing.  What looked like such defeat for David when had returned to his camp turned into a phenomenal victory and such glory given to our God. 

God was working all along.   While the men were reading to stone David and David was there encouraging himself in God, an Egyptian slave was getting ill and the plan was already in place for victory.

 

WOW!!!!!!!  The plan is already in place for victory.  All we have to do is pursue and we shall recover all.

 

God Bless  and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

Encourage Yourself

Hello: 

In our text today,  David returns to his home

land of

Ziklag
in the Philistine territory after the Philistines refused to let him go into battle.  David took all his fighting men with him and left his camp unprotected with only the women and children.   Let’s study what happens when David and his men return.
 

Here is our text: 

I Samuel 30: 1 David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the

Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. 3 When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives had been captured–Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

 

Wow……  as you can see in the text, David and his men are beyond distraught.   Everything is gone including their families.  The men were in so much pain that they wanted to kill David.   David quickly encouraged or strengthened himself in his God. 

I love this story.   Life brings with it so much pain and despair and sometimes the situations can be so devastating you can barely breathe when you first encounter them.  The text says that David immediately through his pain strengthen himself in God while everyone else was trying to pass the blame, David looked to God.   He encouraged himself.  How do you encourage yourself in God.  You rehearse in your mind all that GOd is and has done and will do and you stand on his promises.  You rebuke every negative thought and you block out all doubt and you look to HIM for solutions.    You speak to your mind.  You say positive things to yourself and your situation though others around you are ready to throw you under the bus.   You stand on what you know, what you have experienced with God all ready and what you know GOd.

 

Whatever situation you are facing, you’re in it now.   No need to look for someone to blame or be depressed about why it happened or why you.  It’s here.   We’re in it.   Encourage/strengthen yourself in God and seek him for the solution. 

On Monday, we will find out what David does after he has strengthened himself in his God.   

God Bless you!!!!!!!! 

  

 

Have a great weekend.   

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

Philistines Prepare for War


Hello:

 

In our text today, the Philistines plan to go to war against the Israelites but there is a dispute in the camp concerning David.  If you will recall, David has been living in the Philistine camp for over a year now.  The king of the Philistines has grown to trust David and has made him his personal bodyguard.  The commanders of the army are concerned that in battle against the Israelites, David’s loyalty will shift and his heart will turn towards his master Saul.

 

Let’s look at the story:

 

I Samuel 29:1 The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. 2 As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish. 3 The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.” 4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with him and said, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? 5 Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

6 So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until now, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you. 7 Turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.” 8 ”But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 Achish answered, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ 10 Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.” 11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

 

As you can see from our story, David was not allowed to go to battle and we all know that if David had went he would have turned on the Philistines because the prior texts that we studied showed that his loyalty was always for King Saul.  God is so sovereign.   Saul’s time was up and if David had went to battle then the Israelites would have probably defeated the Philistines but God had another plan.

 

God Bless you!!!!!!!!

 

 Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.