DAVID ENLARGES THE TERRITORY OF ISRAEL

PROCLAMATION

“And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them; and David took Metheg-Ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.”  2 Samuel 8:1 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  In the course of time after The Lord God made His covenant with David, he went out and subdued the Philistines and took back control of Metheg-Ammah. (2 Samuel 8:1)  Then David defeated the Moabites, killing two thirds of them and making slaves of the rest of them.  David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, and captured a thousand of his chariots and twenty thousand of his foot soldiers. (2 Samuel 8:2-4)  When the Arameans came to help the king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them and put the rest of them in garrisons and used them as slaves. (2 Samuel 8:5-8)  Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated Hadadezer and he sent his son Joram to greet and congratulate David and brought him articles of gold, silver, and bronze.  All of these gifts and the plunder from his victories was dedicated to The Lord. (2 Samuel 8:9-12)  David also defeated the eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and he put garrisons throughout Edom and made them his slaves. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went. (2 Samuel 8:13-14)  The remainder of the chapter listed the names and titles of the officials who served with King David. (2 Samuel 8:15-18)

 

APPLICATION

The Lord God was with King David and he expanded the borders of Israel to the northeast (into Syria), the southeast (into Moab), and the south (into Philistine).  The Mediterranean Sea was the western border.  The Lord God can enlarge our territory today and expand our sphere of influence.  If we are doing His will and pursuing kingdom building efforts, He can increase the effectiveness of our soul winning activities and increase the reach of our efforts to spread His Holy Word.  The Bible says the harvest, the world of lost souls, is truly great, but the laborers, those working for The Lord, are few. (Matthew 9:37 and Luke 10:2)  If we are willing to work for Him, He can use us.  Each of us has a God-given gift, talent, or ability, the question is: are we using it to glorify God?

 

GOD MAKES A PROMISE TO DAVID

PROCLAMATION

“… I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own … rest from all thine enemies.  Also The Lord telleth thee that He will make thee an house … I will set up thy seed after thee … I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build an house for My name …”  2 Samuel 7:10-13 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  After the king was settled in his palace, The Lord gave him rest from all of his enemies.  David said to Nathan the prophet that he was living in a house of cedar while the ark of God is in a tent. (2 Samuel 7:1-2)  Nathan told David to do whatever he wanted to do because The Lord God was with him.  However, The Lord appeared to Nathan that night and corrected him saying that while He appreciated David’s desire to build Him a house, He would not let him do so.  That honor would go to David’s son.  However, The Lord said that He would build a house for David. (2 Samuel 7:3-16)  The remainder of the chapter is David’s prayer to The Lord in response to what Nathan had told him. (2 Samuel 7:17-29)

 

APPLICATION

There is an old saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” (Henry G. Bohn)  It is not what we intend to do, but what we actually do that counts.  However, in this text, The Lord God gives King David credit and also a reward for his desire to build a house for the ark of God. (2 Samuel 7:11)  The Lord knows our thoughts, intentions, and motives. (Hebrews 4:12)  He knows our hearts. (Luke 16:15)  For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7)  So, we need to ask The Lord God to create within us a clean and righteous heart. (Psalm 51:10)  Additionally, when we ask God to forgive us of our sins, we should ask Him to forgive our sinful actions, words, and thoughts.

 

 

THE ARK OF GOD IS BROUGHT TO JERUSALEM

PROCLAMATION

“… So David went and brought the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with gladness … And David danced before The Lord with all his might … and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of The Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.”  2 Samuel 6:12-15 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  King David gathered together thirty thousand young men and went to the house of Abinadab in Gibeah to get the ark of God and bring it to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 6:1-3)  They placed the ark on a new cart and the sons of Abinadab, Uzzah and Ahio, went along with them to guide the cart.  Along the way, one of the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out and touched the ark.  The anger of The Lord was kindled against Uzzah and He struck him down and he died right there. (2 Samuel 6:3-7)  David was both angry with and afraid of The Lord God and was not willing to take the ark to Jerusalem.  Instead he took the ark to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.  The ark remained there for three months and The Lord blessed him and his entire household. (2 Samuel 6:8-11)  When David was told how The Lord had blessed the household of Obed-Edom, David went and got the ark and brought it to Jerusalem.  The Israelites rejoiced, shouted, and sounded the trumpets as the ark entered the city.  David was leaping and dancing before The Lord.  They placed the ark in the midst of the tabernacle, then David sacrificed the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, blessed the crowd, fed them, and then they went home.  When David got home his wife Michal, the daughter of Saul, told him that she saw him dancing around shamelessly and she was displeased.  David responded to her that in the future he would become even more undignified and he would humiliate himself before The Lord God. (2 Samuel 6:19-23)

 

APPLICATION

When we get seriously into praising The Lord, it is not important what the people think.  Our focus should be on praising The Lord and not on entertaining the people.  Our praise should be sincere and individualized, and not a copy of someone else’s dance or praise.  We should not be quiet to avoid embarrassing our family or friends; if we lose friends, then so be it.  Christ said that if His followers are quiet and don’t praise Him, then the rocks will cry out. (Luke 19:40)  No rock will have to speak for me; I will praise The Lord. 

 

DAVID BECOMES KING OVER ALL OF ISRAEL

PROCLAMATION

“So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and King David made a league with them in Hebron before The Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel.”  2 Samuel 5:3 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  After the death of King Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, all of the tribes of Israel came to Hebron and the elders anointed David king over all of Israel. (2 Samuel 5:1-3)  Soon after he became king over Israel, David led his men and the Israelite army to attack the Jebusites who controlled Jerusalem.  They thought that their fortress was impenetrable but David captured the city, took up residence there, built it up and the area around it, and called it the city of David. (2 Samuel 5:6-9)  As time passed, David became more and more powerful because The Lord God Almighty was with him. (2 Samuel 5:10)  When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed King of Israel they went up in full force to seek after him.  David inquired of The Lord whether or not he should attack the Philistines.  The Lord told David that He would deliver the Philistines into his hands and David defeated them. (2 Samuel 5:17-21)  Soon thereafter the Philistines again came up against David.  Once again David sought The Lord and He gave him a different strategy to employ.  David did as The Lord had commanded and again he struck down the Philistines. (2 Samuel 5:22-25) 

 

APPLICATION

David was a young man when The Lord chose him and had the prophet Samuel anoint him in front of his brothers. (1 Samuel 16:11-13)  Quite some time had passed before he was anointed king over Judah. (2 Samuel 2:4)  Even more time passed before he was anointed king over all of Israel. (2 Samuel 5:3)  Whatever The Lord God has in store for us will be ours, but we will only receive it when He is ready to give it to us, and when we are ready to receive it.  We need to be patient and wait upon The Lord.  Good things will come to them that wait upon The Lord. (Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37:9, and Isaiah 40:31)  So, “… wait, I say upon The Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)  If God is for us, then no man can stand against us, block us, or stop us. (Romans 8:31)

 

 

THE KING OF ISRAEL IS MURDERED

PROCLAMATION

“For when they came into the house, he lay on his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.”  2 Samuel 4:7 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  After the death of Abner, commander of Saul’s army, Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul and now king of Israel, lost his courage and became alarmed as did all of Israel. (2 Samuel 4:1)  The nurse who cared for Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, who was lame in both feet, was also alarmed and picked him up and fled, but in her haste she dropped him injuring his legs even more. (2 Samuel 4:4)  Rekab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, were the leaders of raiding bands in Saul’s army and they set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth.  They found him in bed taking a noonday nap and they killed him and cut off his head and slipped away. (2 Samuel 4:5-7)  They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David saying here is the head of your enemy.  David told them what he did to the man who thought that he was bring him good news regarding the killing of Saul.  Then David told them that their reward for killing an innocent man in his own bed would be that their lives would be required of them.  David gave the order to kill them and cut of their hands and feet, and hang them by the pool in Hebron.  The head of Ish-Bosheth they took and buried in the tomb with Abner. (2 Samuel 4:8-12)

 

APPLICATION

Subordinates and coworkers may turn against you, or leave you for what they perceive to be a better opportunity.  To some people the grass always appears greener on the other side or in another yard.  This may not be true, but perception is nine tenths of reality and when they leave you will be left high and dry.  The best that we can do is to water our grass regularly.  Make sure that their responsibilities are clear to them.  Create a positive encouraging environment for people.  Give out frequent compliments, gifts, rewards, bonuses, and incentives for good work.  People tend to stay where they feel appreciated.  This also applies to our personal relationships.

 

ABNER LEAVES THE HOUSE OF SAUL TO HELP DAVID

PROCLAMATION

“So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as The Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do so to him;  To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul to set up the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan even to Beer-Sheba.”  2 Samuel 3:9-10 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  After David was made king over the southern kingdom and Ish-Bosheth was made king over the northern kingdom, there was a long and bitter war between the house of David and the house of Saul. (2 Samuel 3:1)  During this time David had six sons, one by each of his six wives. (2 Samuel 3:2-5)  Meanwhile, Ish-Bosheth and Abner, commander of Saul’s army, fell out because Abner slept with one of Saul’s concubines. (2 Samuel 3:6-11)  Abner then sent messengers to David saying that he would help him to become king over all of Israel.  David’s reply was that was fine but he must bring to him Michal the daughter of Saul who was betrothed to him for the price of one hundred Philistine foreskins. (2 Samuel 3:12-16)  Abner spoke with the elders of Israel and also the Benjamites regarding making David king over all of Israel.  Then Abner went to David and told him all that he had done on his behalf.  Then Abner left David in peace to go and make arrangements for the covenant to make David king of Israel. (2 Samuel 3:17-21)  Joab, commander of David’s army, was upset when he returned from a raid and learned that Abner had met with David and that he had sent him away in peace.  Then without telling David, Joab sent for Abner.  When Abner was brought to him, he took him to an inner chamber, as if to speak to him in private, and there he killed him to avenge the death his brother Asahel. (2 Samuel 3:22-27)  When David learned of this, he cursed Joab and his family.  David then had a public lament for Abner and wept for him. (2 Samuel 3:28-39)

 

APPLICATION

We need to be very careful how we treat and speak to our friends and supporters.  A loyal supporter can be pushed to the point that they will turn on you and then work against you.  We should treat people as we would like to be treated. (Matthew 7:12)  We should also speak to people in the same way which we would like to be spoken to. (Colossians 4:6 and Proverbs 15:1)  Our words are powerful, and they can be helpful, but our tongue can also cut people like a sword. (Proverbs 12:18)  We should think before we speak. 

 

DAVID ANOINTED KING OVER JUDAH

PROCLAMATION

“And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah …”  2 Samuel 2:4 (KJV) 

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  In the course of time after the death of Saul, David inquired of The Lord, asking should he go to one of the towns in Judah and The Lord told him to go to Hebron. (2 Samuel 2:1)  Then David and his men with their families went to Hebron and they settled there.  The men of Judah heard that David was in Hebron and they came up to Hebron and anointed David king of Judah. (2 Samuel 2:2-4)  When King David heard that the men of Jabesh Gilead had buried Saul, he sent messengers to them, blessing them for what they had done for Saul.  He said because of their kindness towards Saul that he would show kindness towards them. (2 Samuel 2:4-7)  Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner and commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth, the fourth and last son of Saul, and made him king over Israel and the northern tribes.  The tribe of Judah and the southern kingdom, however, remained loyal to David. (2 Samuel 2:8-11)  There was tension between the northern and southern kingdoms, and soon there was war between them. (2 Samuel 2:12-32)

 

APPLICATION

David was a young man when The Lord had chosen him and the prophet Samuel had anointed him in front of his brothers. (1 Samuel 16:11-13)  Quite some time had passed before he was anointed king over Judah. (2 Samuel 2:4)  We need to recognize that we will receive whatever it is that The Lord God has in store for us, but it will be done on His timeframe.  The blessings that The Lord has for us has our name on them and no one else can claim them.  We need to be patient and wait upon The Lord.  Good things will come to them that wait upon The Lord. (Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37:9, and Isaiah 40:31)  So, “… wait, I say upon The Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)

 

DAVID LAMENTS SAUL AND JONATHAN

PROCLAMATION

“And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son; Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow …”  2 Samuel 1:17-18 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  Two days after David had returned to Ziklag from the slaughter of the Amalekites, a man arrived with torn dirty clothes saying that he had escaped from the Israelite camp.  David inquired of him how the battle went and the man told him that the Philistines had defeated the Israelites.  Many of them had fled and many died, including Saul and his sons. (2 Samuel 1:1-4)  Then David asked him how he knew that Saul and Jonathan were dead.  The man said he happened to be on Mount Gilboa and saw Saul who was wounded and leaning on his spear.  He said that Saul asked him to kill him and so he did.  Then he said that he took the crown off of Saul’s head and the band off of his arm and brought them and presented them to David. (2 Samuel 1:5-10)  David and all of his men tore their clothes and wept for Saul and his son and the army of The Lord.  David asked the man where he was from and he said that he was an Amalekite.  Then David told one of his men to kill him because he had testified that he had killed one of The Lord’s anointed. (2 Samuel 1:11-16)  David lamented the death of Saul and Jonathan and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught the use of the bow.  The remainder of the chapter is the psalm of lament which David composed for Saul and Jonathan. (2 Samuel 1:17-27)

 

APPLICATION

Sometimes people brag about their wrongdoings, and maybe even exaggerate them, and they expect to be appreciated if not rewarded for their efforts, like the Amalekite mentioned above.  Everybody is not to be believed.  In the end, people get what they deserved, not necessarily what they wanted.  It is also important to note that David did not dishonor or harm the anointed man of God, even when he was wrong.  We need to learn to respect the people that God puts in charge even when we disagree with them.  We should not harm the person or the reputation of the anointed of God. (1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15)  We should pray for them.  The Lord God will deal with them in His own time and in His own way.

 

THE DEATH OF KING SAUL

PROCLAMATION

“Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, ‘Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me.’  But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid.  Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.”  1 Samuel 31:4 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  After David and his men had been sent home, the Philistines fought against the Israelites.  Losing the battle, the Israelites turned and fled with the Philistines in hot pursuit.  Three of Saul’s sons were killed and Saul himself was critically wounded by an archer.  Saul told his armor bearer to kill him but he was terrified and would not do it.  So Saul took his own sword and fell upon it and died.  Seeing that Saul was dead, his armor bearer then took his own sword and fell upon it and died.  Saul and his sons and all of his men died on the same day as the prophet Samuel had predicted. (1 Samuel 31:1-6)  When the Israelites saw that their army was defeated, they abandoned their towns and fled.  The Philistines came and occupied them.  When the Philistines found the bodies of Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa, the cut off Saul’s head and stripped him of his armor.  They put his armor in the temple of Ashtoreths and hung his headless body and the bodies of his sons on the wall of Beth Shan. (1 Samuel 31:7-10)  When the men of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, they went at night and took their bodies off of the wall.  They took their bodies to Jabesh and burned them, then they buried their bones and fasted for seven days. (1 Samuel 31:11-13)

 

APPLICATION

There are those among us who are more concerned with how they die than they are with how they live.  They want to die with dignity, even though they did not live with dignity.  There are a lot of people who want their homegoing service to be held in the church even though they were not active members of the church.  They want to be respected, in life and in death, even though they did not respect others.  The Bible says, “… for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)  Whatever we give out is what we will get back in return.

 

SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE

PROCLAMATION

“Then said David, ‘Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which The Lord hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.  For who will harken unto you in this matter?  But as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff; they shall part alike.’ ”  1 Samuel 30:23-24 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  After being sent home from the battle with Israel, David and his men returned to Ziklag to find that the town had been raided and burned.  Additionally, all of their women and children had been taken captive by the Amalekites. (1 Samuel 30:1-3)  The men wept and then became very distressed with David.  Then David inquired of The Lord if should he pursue the Amalekites and The Lord told him to pursue them. (1 Samuel 30:4-8)  David found a sick Egyptian slave whom the Amalekites had left behind to die.  They fed him and nourished him back to health and he led them to the Amalekites.  Then David attacked and defeated them, except for four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. (1 Samuel 30:9-17)  David recovered everything that the Amalekites had taken and he brought everything back.  Some of his men did not want to share the plunder with the two hundred men who had been left behind.  However, David insisted that all of them share alike. (1 Samuel 30:20-25)  David also sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, and additionally he sent some to all of the towns where he and his men had stayed when they roamed about. (1 Samuel 30:26-31)

 

APPLICATION

Those who fought and those who stayed behind to guard the possessions will share equally in the spoils of victory.  Everybody on the team will share in the rewards of the championship, those who played in the game and those on the bench and the practice squad.  Everybody on the team gets the same championship ring.  The Good Lord blessed the team with the victory and it is a team victory.  Everybody on the team played a part in the preparation for the game, even if they did not play in the game itself.  The victory belongs to all, so share and share alike.

 

DAVID IS KEPT FROM FIGHTING ISRAEL

PROCLAMATION

“And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, ‘Make the fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle …’ ”  1 Samuel 29:4 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  As the Philistines gathered all their forces to do battle against Israel, David and his men were at the rear with Achish and his men. (1 Samuel 29:1-2)  The commanders of the Philistines asked Achish, “What about these Hebrews?”  Achish replied that David had been with him for over a year and had served him well.  The commanders said he cannot go into battle with us, send him back to his home.  Then they said, “Is not this David, of whom they sang … Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?” (1 Samuel 29:3-5)  Achish then told David that while he was pleased with him, the commanders were displeased with him and they will not let him join them in the battle against Israel.  Achish told David to leave in the morning as soon as it is light so as not to upset the Philistine commanders.  The next morning David and his men did as he was told and left and returned to Ziklag. (1 Samuel 29:6-11)

 

APPLICATION

Once again The Lord God “moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.” (Hymn by William Cowper)  He kept David from fighting and killing his own people.  There are times when The Lord closes a door in front of us to protect us from an unseen danger or sin.  “… He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.” (Revelation 3:7)  There is no need to stay and continue to look at the closed door.  Move on to the door that He has opened.  If by chance there are no open doors for you, then praise Him in the hallway or wherever you are until a door opens for you.  Then thank Him for opening the door and for protecting you from whatever it was that He kept you from.

 

YOU MAY NEED THE PERSON YOU PUT AWAY

PROCLAMATION

“… And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. … Then said Saul unto his servants, ‘Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her.'  …”  1 Samuel 28:3-7 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  Once again the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare to fight with Israel. (1 Samuel 28:1)  When Saul gathered all of Israel together to fight against the Philistines, he saw that he was greatly outnumbered and he was afraid and terrified. (1 Samuel 28:4-5)  Saul called upon The Lord but The Lord did not answer him.  Then he sent for a medium who could speak to the spirits. (1 Samuel 28:6-7)  There were none in the city because earlier, after Samuel had died, Saul had expelled all of the mediums and spiritists from the land. (1 Samuel 28:3)  However, there was one in the town of Endor and Saul disguised himself and went to see her.  When he got there he had to promise her that no harm would come to her for helping him. (1 Samuel 28:7-10)  Saul asked her to contact the prophet Samuel, and when she did she realized who Saul was and she knew that the king had deceived her. (1 Samuel 28:11-12)  Again Saul told her that no harm would come to her.  Then Saul told Samuel why he had contacted him; and Samuel told Saul that his kingdom would be given to David, that he and Israel would be captured by the Philistines, and that he and his sons would die the next day. (1 Samuel 28:13-19)  Saul was devastated by Samuel’s words and he fell on the ground.  His strength was gone.  The woman offered him food but he initially refused to eat.  The men who came with him convinced him to eat, and after they ate, they left. (1 Samuel 28:20-25)

 

APPLICATION

There is an old saying, “You never miss the water until the well runs dry.” (Author unknown)  Only when someone or something is gone do we truly appreciate them or it.  People are in our life for a reason, some of them are a blessing, and some of them are a lesson.  We need to be very careful about putting someone out of our life.  Sometimes we burn a bridge that we may later need to cross.  The person that we put down in our youth, may be the very person that we need in our old age.  The Lord God made all of us in His image, so we should be careful how we treat people, especially believers.

 

LIVING WITH THE ENEMY

PROCLAMATION

“And David arose, and he passed over with six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoh, king of Gath.  And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household …”  1 Samuel 27:2-3 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  After David had spared Saul’s life a second time, he did not believe that Saul would stop seeking to destroy him.  So he took his six hundred men and went to Gath in the land of the Philistines.  He settled with Achish son of Maok king of Gath. (1 Samuel 27:1-3)  When Saul heard that David had fled to Gath he stopped searching for him. (1 Samuel 27:4)  David asked Achish if he and his men and their families could settle in one of the small country towns on the outskirts of Gath.  Achish gave him the town of Ziklag and David lived there for a year and four months. (1 Samuel 27:5-7)  While he was there, David led his men against the Geshurites, the Gezrites, and the Amalekites.  These were the old inhabitants of Canaan, the remains of the Amorites whom Manasseh had never fully expelled from the land.  Whenever David attacked an area he did not leave a man or woman alive.  However, he took their livestock, clothing, and any valuables that they have had. (1 Samuel 27:8-9)  When Achish questioned David regarding his raiding activities, his answer pleased him. (1 Samuel 27:10-12)

 

APPLICATION

While we do not think of them this way, our enemies can be helpful.  The Lord God can use one enemy to protect us from another enemy.  People do not have to be believers in order to be used by God.  He can also have our enemies fighting among themselves, or fighting each other, for our benefit.  The Lord God “moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.” (Hymn by William Cowper)  He protects His own, however He chooses to do it.  It does not matter what situation we find ourselves in, “The Lord will make a way somehow.” (Hymn by Thomas Dorsey) (1 Corinthians 10:13)  Don’t question Him, just thank Him.

 

DAVID SPARES SAUL'S LIFE AGAIN

PROCLAMATION

“So David took the spear and the curse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked; for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from The Lord was fallen upon them.”  1 Samuel 26:12 (KJV)  

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  The Ziphites again went to Saul and told him where David was hiding. (1 Samuel 26:1)  So Saul gathered three thousand men and went down to the wilderness of Ziph to search for David.  When David learned that Saul had followed him there, he set out for the place where Saul had camped. (1 Samuel 26:2-5)  He asked Abishai to go with him into Saul’s camp and he agreed.  They went by night and found Saul sleeping, with Abner, the commander of the army, and the soldiers all around him.  Abishai wanted to kill Saul but David stopped him.  David took the spear and the water jug which was near Saul’s head and they left without being seen. (1 Samuel 26:6-12)  When David was some distance away from the camp, he called out to Abner questioning his protection of the king. (1 Samuel 26:13-16)  Saul recognized David’s voice and responded to him.  David questioned Saul to ascertain why he was pursuing him.  He let Saul know that again he could have killed him but didn’t.  Saul again admitted that he was wrong and had sinned.  He thanked David for again sparing his life and said that he would not harm him.  David told Saul to send one of his young men over to him to get his spear. (1 Samuel 26:17-22)  Then David said, “As surely as I valued your life today, so may The Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.” (1 Samuel 26:24)

 

APPLICATION

The Bible teaches us saying, “Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm.” (1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15)  David knew this (1 Samuel 26:11) and for the second time he had the chance to kill Saul but did not do it.  Again I say, “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.” (Sherrilyn Kenyon)  When we know that which is the right thing to do, we should do it.  When you “Know better, do better.” (David and Meredith Liben)  This quote was taken from a book teaching the foundations so every child can read by the end of second grade.  I think that it is applicable in a lot more situations, including Christian behavior.  We should do that which we know is right, and avoid that which we know is wrong.

 

 

ABIGAIL KEEPS DAVID FROM SINNING

PROCLAMATION

“That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself; but when The Lord shall have dealt with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.”  1 Samuel 25:31 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  About this time the prophet Samuel dies.  All of Israel gathered to mourn for him, and they buried him in Ramah.  Afterwards, David then left and went down to the wilderness of Paran. (1 Samuel 25:1)  There was a certain rich man named Nabal who lived there with his wife Abigail.  David sent a few of his men to Nabal to greet him and to ask for food for his men.  When they arrived Nabal disrespected them and refused to give them anything.  David was upset when he learned of this because his men had previously protected Nabal’s flock and his shepherds.  David told his men to strap on their swords and he took four hundred men and set out to kill Nabal. (1 Samuel 25:2-13)  One of the servants told Abigail how Nabal had insulted the men.  Abigail acted quickly and had donkeys loaded with bread, and wine, and dressed sheep, and roasted grain, and pressed fig cakes, and headed with her servants to David without telling her husband. (1 Samuel 25:14-19)  When she met David, she got off of her donkey, bowed down, then asked him to pay no attention to her foolish husband Nabal.  She asked him to accept the food which she brought as a gift.  She also asked David not to avenge himself with his own hands and reminded him that he was fighting for The Lord.  (1 Samuel 25:20-31)  David thanked Abigail for keeping him from bloodshed and avenging himself.  He accepted her gifts and sent her away in peace.  The next day she told Nabal that she had stopped David from coming to kill him.  He was shocked, he had a heart attack, and ten days later he died. (1 Samuel 25:32-38)  After he heard that Nabal was dead, David sent word to Abigail to become his wife and she accepted. (1 Samuel 25:39-42)

 

APPLICATION

“… Avenge not yourselves … for as it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,’ saith The Lord.” (Romans 12:19)  We are not to avenge ourselves whenever someone does wrong to us.  We may be angry, hurt, mad, or upset, but we are to “let go and let God.”  Sometimes the best thing to do is to do nothing at all.  The Bible says for us to “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.  For evildoers shall be cut off …” (Psalm 37:8-9) 

 

DAVID SPARES SAUL'S LIFE

PROCLAMATION

“And the men of David said unto him, ‘Behold the day of which The Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee.’  Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.”  1 Samuel 24:4 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David was in En-Gedi.  So Saul took three thousand men and set out to look for David. (1 Samuel 24:1-2)  Along the way there was a large cave and Saul went into the cave to relieve himself.  Unbeknownst to Saul, David and his men were hidden deep within this cave.  David saw Saul and silently crept up behind him and cut off the corner of his robe. (1 Samuel 24:3-4)  David would not let his men attack Saul, and when he finished he left the cave.  Afterwards, David followed Saul out of the cave and called out to him.  When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and said that he meant Saul no harm.  David said that he could have killed him if he had wanted to do so but he spared his life and only cut off the corner of his robe to prove that he could have killed him. (1 Samuel 24:5-11)  David said, ‘I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.’  Then he said, “The Lord judge between me and thee, and The Lord avenge me of thee; but mine hand shall not be upon thee.” (1 Samuel 24:11-13)  Saul wept then told David that he was more righteous than himself.  David had treated him well and he had treated David badly.  Then he said may The Lord reward David for how he treated him on that day.  Saul also said that he knew that David would become the king of Israel.  He asked David to swear that he would not kill off all of his descendants and wipe out his family name.  David gave his oath to Saul and they went their separate ways. (1 Samuel 24:16-22)

 

APPLICATION

“Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.” (Sherrilyn Kenyon)  Everything that we are able to do, does not mean that we ought to do them or that we should do them.  Every situation affords us the opportunity to choose whether we will do the right thing or the wrong thing.  We have to choose to obey that “still small voice” which we hear that is the voice of The Lord God. (1 Kings 19:12)  We do not have to follow the suggestions of the crowd.  The path chosen by the many is often the road to destruction. (Matthew 7:13)

KING SAUL PURSUES DAVID

PROCLAMATION

“And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah … And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.”  1 Samuel 23:7-8 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  When David was told that the Philistines were attacking Keilah, he inquired of The Lord should he go and fight the Philistines to save Keilah.  The Lord told him yes, but his men were afraid to go.  So David again inquired of The Lord and He answered him saying that He would deliver the Philistines into his hands.  Then David and his men went and fought the Philistines.  They slaughtered them and captured their livestock, and saved the people of Keilah. (1 Samuel 23:1-6)  King Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he gathered his forces for battle to siege David and his men.  David learned that Saul was plotting against him.  The Lord told him that the people of Keilah would turn him over to Saul, so David and his men left Keilah and went into the wilderness in the hills of Ziph. (1 Samuel 23:7-14)  While he was there Jonathan came to him to encourage him and made another covenant with him.  However, some of the Ziphites went to Saul and told him that David was hiding in the hills of Ziph.  Saul told them to find out exactly where David was hiding and come back and report it to him.  Then he would go with them and capture David. (1 Samuel 23:15-23)  But Saul did not wait and set out in pursuit of David.  As he was closing in on him, a messenger came to Saul and told him that the Philistines were raiding his land.  Then Saul stopped chasing David and went to meet the Philistines.  David went up from there to the hills of En-Gedi. (1 Samuel 23:24-29)

 

APPLICATION

As believers we need to be aware of the fact that bad times will follow us wherever we go.  We can run from the devil, but we can’t hide from him.  We need to pray to God for guidance and direction.  “The steps of a good man are ordered by The Lord …” (Psalm 37:23)  The devil will always attack us.  However, in order for us to be able to withstand his attacks we need to put on the whole armor of God. (Ephesians 6:11-17)  All of the devil’s attacks are not against our flesh and blood, some of them are attacks on our spirit.  We need God’s help to withstand his attacks.

 

WE ARE ALWAYS BEING OBSERVED

PROCLAMATION

“Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, ‘I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.  And he enquired of The Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.’ ” 1 Samuel 22:9-10 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  After his visit with Ahimelech, the priest, David left Gath and went to the cave of Adullam.  He was joined there by about four hundred men who were themselves in distress, in debt, or discontented.  David left there and went to Mizpah king of Moab seeking a safe refuge for his mother and father. (1 Samuel 22:1-4)  However, David was warned by the prophet Gad not to stay there but to go to Judah.  So he left and went to the forest of Hereth in the land of Judah. (1 Samuel 22:5)  Meanwhile Saul was still searching for David.  One of Saul’s servants, Doeg the Edomite, told Saul that he saw David with Ahimelech the priest in Nob. (1 Samuel 21:7 and 22:9)  Then Saul sent for Ahimelech and all of the men of his family, who were also priests.  Saul asked him why he had helped David and Ahimelech commented on David’s loyalty and said that he was highly respected in Israel.  Then he said that he knew nothing of any problem between Saul and David. (1 Samuel 22:6-15)  Saul ordered that all of the priests be killed.  He also ordered that all of the men, women, children, cattle, donkeys, and sheep of Nob be killed. (1 Samuel 22:16-19)  One son of Ahimelech escaped and fled to join David.  He told David what Saul had done and David said that he was safe with him. (1 Samuel 22:20-23)

 

APPLICATION

As believers, we are always being observed.  Even when we are unaware of it, people are watching us.  They are frequently making judgments about us as individuals and about all Christians based upon what they see in our behavior.  Therefore we need to be cognizant of our behavior at all times, especially when we are around children.  We will be severely punished if we cause a child of God to stumble and fall into sin.  The Bible says, “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” (Luke 17:2)  However, not only is the world watching us, The Lord God is also watching us. (Psalm 139:7-12)  So, we should be on our best Christian behavior because God is always watching us.

AT TIMES IT IS BETTER TO FLEE THAN TO FIGHT

PROCLAMATION

“Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest; and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, ‘Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?’ …  And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.”  1 Samuel 21:1 and 10 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  When David left Jonathan to flee from Saul, (1 Samuel 20:42) he went to Nob to see Ahimelech the priest.  Ahimelech was concerned when he saw David as to why he was alone.  He told the priest that he was travelling alone on a special mission for the king and that he would meet up with his men later. (1 Samuel 21:1-2)  David asked the priest for some bread, but there was only consecrated bread so David took that.  He also asked the priest for a weapon but all that was there was the sword that David had previously used to cut off the head of Goliath, which had been wrapped in cloth and stored.  So David took Goliath’s sword. (1 Samuel 21:3-9)  Then he went to Achish king of Gath, enemies of Israel, to hide from Saul.  Because the people recognized him, David pretended that he was insane in order to be safe in their presence. (1 Samuel 21:10-14) 

 

APPLICATION

Years ago I heard this old saying, “Sometimes it is better to run away, and live to fight another day” (Author unknown)  David knew better than to fight with King Saul.  The Bible teaches us not to harm the man of God saying, “Touch not” the anointed of God and do His prophets no harm. (1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15)  The Lord God will chastise and punish His own as He sees fit and when He feels it is appropriate.  It is better for us to walk away and avoid a confrontation, especially with a man of God, than to risk incurring the wrath of God by harming one of His own.  We need to learn to disagree with people without becoming disagreeable.

 

TRUE FRIENDSHIP

PROCLAMATION

“Then said Jonathan unto David, ‘Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.’ ”  1 Samuel 20:4 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  David went to Jonathan and asked why his father Saul wanted to kill him.  Jonathan said that Saul was not attempting to kill him, remembering his father’s oath. (1 Samuel 19:6)  But David knew better and he devised a plan to confirm it and to prove it to Jonathan.  He would not show up for a feast and cause Saul to question his absence.  He gave Jonathan an excuse to give Saul when he asked about him and Jonathan would know by Saul’s reaction what his true intentions were. (1 Samuel 20:4-7)  Then they devised a means by which Jonathan could communicate Saul’s reaction to David while he was still in hiding.  He would shoot three arrows near or past the stone by which David was hiding. (1 Samuel 20:18-22)  It came to past that Saul questioned Jonathan regarding David’s absence from the feast and he replied as David had instructed him.  Saul was angry and upset with Jonathan.  He even threw a spear at him and Jonathan knew that he intended to kill David. (1 Samuel 20:24-33)  The next day he went to the field to let David know Saul’s intentions.  After he signaled him with the three arrows, they met and cried together, and then David left. (1 Samuel 20:35-42)

 

APPLICATION

There was a bond between David and Jonathan that was stronger than most friendship bonds.  Some “friends” are only our friends while things are going well, but they disappear when the bad times come.  When we really need them, some friends can’t be found.  This friendship was stronger than family connections.  This was a “Whatever you need, I will do for you” type of friendship.  As believers, we have a real true friend that “sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)  “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” and Christ said that we are His friends. (John 15:13-14)  We are His friends if we do what He commands.  “What a friend we have in Jesus …” (Christian hymn by Joseph Scriven)

 

PROTECTED BY GOD

PROCLAMATION

“And Saul sent messengers to take David; and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, The Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.”  1 Samuel 19:20 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  As Saul’s fear of David grew, he told all of his attendants and his son Jonathan to kill David.  But because Jonathan liked David, he warned him of Saul’s intentions and told him to hide himself. (1 Samuel 19:1-2)  Jonathan spoke with Saul and asked him why he wanted to kill a man who had done good for Israel and had done him no wrong.  After they spoke Saul relented. (1 Samuel 19:3-7)  Then war broke out and David went out to fight the Philistines.  After he defeated them and returned, an evil spirit again came upon Saul and again he sought to kill David with a spear. (1 Samuel 19:8-10)  Again David eluded Saul and escaped.  Saul sent men to David’s house to watch for him but his wife Michal warned him and he escaped.  She deceived Saul and his men by covering an idol in David’s bed. (1 Samuel 19:11-17)  David went to Samuel and told him all that Saul had done, then they went to Naioth and dwelt there.  Word came to Saul that David was there and he sent men to capture David.  However, when the men arrived there, The Spirit of The Lord came upon them and they joined the prophets who were prophesying. (1 Samuel 19:18-20)  Twice more Saul sent men to capture David, and twice more The Spirit of The Lord came upon them and they began prophesying. (1 Samuel 19:21-22)  Finally, Saul went himself to capture David and when he arrived in Naioth, The Spirit of The Lord came upon him and he began prophesying. (1 Samuel 19:23-24)

 

APPLICATION

The Spirit of The Lord God can use our family, our friends, or even our enemies to protect us from hurt and harm.  If we believe in Him and obey His Holy Word, He will keep a hedge of protection around us. (Job 1:10)  Under His wings will He shelter us. (Psalm 91:4)  Once we are His, we are safely within His hands and no one can pluck us out of His hands. (John 10:28-29)  The Lord God protects those who belong to Him.