2 Samuel 24:3-4 Vainglory!

 ”And Joab said to the king, “Now may the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times more than there are, and may the eyes of my Lord the king see it. But why does my Lord the king desire this thing?” Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the army. Therefore Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king to count the people of Israel.“ II Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Why does my lord the king desire this thing?Joab wasn’t afraid to speak to David when he thought the king was wrong. With the best interests of both David and Israel in mind, Joab tactfully asked David to reconsider this foolish desire to count the nation.

i. Joab also hinted at the motive behind the counting – pride in David. This thing that David desired was the increase of the nation, and he perhaps wanted to measure the size of his army to know if he had enough force to conquer a neighboring nation. “He did it out of curiosity and creature-confidence.” (Trapp)

ii. So late in his reign, David was tempted to take some of the glory for himself. He looked at how Israel had grown and prospered during his reign – it was remarkable indeed. The count was a way to take credit for himself. “The spirit of vainglory in numbers had taken possession of the people and the king, and there was a tendency to trust in numbers and forget God.” (Morgan)

b. Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the army: It wasn’t only Joab who tried to tell David not to do this – the captains of the army also warned David not to count the soldiers in Israel. But David did so anyway. (Guzik)

Vainglory!

I suspect we all have been guilty of vainglory at one time or other just as king David was, trusting in numbers and forgetting God!

I am reminded of this story Jesus told!

”“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”“

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭10‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I’m have been guilty of exalting myself, what about you?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 24:1-2 Assume

 ”Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Now go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people.”“ II Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. The anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David: The translators of the New King James Version believe that “He” in this sentence applies to God, because they capitalize it. Yet 1 Chronicles 21:1 tells us, Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. The best explanation is that Satan prompted King David and is the “he” of 2 Samuel 24:1. Yet the LORD expressly allowed it as a chastisement against David.

i. “Now the ‘he’ there, we assume would be the Lord. But as we find out in 1 Chronicles 21, it was Satan that moved David’s heart to the numbering of the people. So God opened the door, and allowed Satan to move in and tempt David.” (Smith)

b. Go, number Israel and Judah: This was dangerous because of a principle stated in Exodus 30:12: When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them.

i. The principle of Exodus 30:12 speaks to God’s ownership of His people. In the thinking of these ancient cultures, a man only had the right to count or number what belonged to him. Israel didn’t belong to David; Israel belonged to God. It was up to the LORD to command a counting, and if David counted he should only do it at God’s command and receiving ransom money to “atone” for the counting. (Guzik)

Assume!

You know what they say about the word assume, ass out of you and me! Satan is good at tricking us and twisting the word of God! Satan was successful in tricking Adam and Eve and in these verses he was successful in tricking king David in performing a census! David should have prayed to God about it and waited for an answer, instead of assuming that he wanted a census.

What will God do because of David’s sin?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 23:24-39 Life and Character

 ”Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heleb the son of Baanah (the Netophathite), Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite (of the sons of Jashen), Jonathan, Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah), Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, and Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.“

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭23‬:‭24‬-‭35‬, ‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Eliam the son of Ahithophel: This man is notable among the mighty men because he was the father of Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:3) and this shows that Ahithophel was Bathsheba’s grandfather.

b. Uriah the Hittite: He is notable among the mighty men because he was the husband of Bathsheba. When David heard of Bathsheba’s relation to Uriah and Eliam and Ahithophel(2 Samuel 11:3) he should have put away every idea of adultery.

c. Thirty-seven in all: These remarkable men were the foundation of the greatness of David’s reign. They did not come to David as great men, but God used his leadership to transform them from men who met David back at Adullam Cave: men who were in distress, in debt and discontented (1 Samuel 22:1-2). (Guzik)

i. “More than all his victories against outside foes, the influence of his life and character on the men nearest to him testify to his essential greatness.” (Morgan)

Life and Character 

The other day I watched Erika Kirk address the public after her husband was assassinated while giving a public speech on a campus at an Utah university. It was very moving and took unbelievable strength. 

Most importantly she explained why he was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ and the influence of his life and character on the men and women he met and debated with respect and dignity.

I encourage you to watch it. I teared up just watching it. Please lift her family up in prayer.

When our life is over and our flame is extinguished what will people say about our life and character?

Blessings 

Erika Kirk Speech

2 Samuel 23:18-23 Mighty Men

 ”Now Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of another three. He lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three. Was he not the most honored of three? Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three. Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. And he killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men. He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭23‬:‭18‬-‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Abishai the brother of Joab: This leader among David’s mighty men was famous for his battle against three hundred men. His leadership is also recorded in passages like 1 Samuel 26:6-9, 2 Samuel 3:30, and 2 Samuel 10:10-14.

b. Benaiah the son of Jehoiada: This leader among David’s mighty men was famous for his battles against both men (two lion-like heroes of Moab…. an Egyptian, a spectacular man) and beasts (a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day). (Guzik)

Mighty Men

These men were known as mighty men because of their exploits during battle. This is their legacy and the Lord thought it important enough to record them in the Bible as mighty men who supported king David.

What will our legacy be? Will we be remembered for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 23:13-17 Nostalgic Longing!

 ”Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.“ II Samuel‬ ‭23‬:‭13‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Came to David at the cave of Adullam: David spent time in this cave when those who would become his mighty men first came to him in 1 Samuel 22:1-2. This passage describes something that happened either during that time or a later time of battle against the Philistines when David went back to the cave of Adullam.

b. David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem”: During this time David had a nostalgic longing for the taste of water from a well near his boyhood home.

c. The three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem: In response to David’s longing – which wasn’t a command or even a request, just a vocalized longing – these three mighty menimmediately went to fulfill David’s desire at great personal risk.

d. He would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD: David was so honored by the self-sacrifice of these three mighty men he felt that the water was too good for him – and worthy to be poured out in sacrifice to the LORD. He believed that the great sacrifice of these men could only be honored by giving the water to the LORD. (Guzik)

i. “Accounting it too dear a draught for himself, he poured it out unto the Lord, out of a religious respect.” (Trapp)

Nostalgic Longing!

There are times that I look back at my life and as David, I have a nostalgic longing for something that I once had. I have to remind myself that the Lord has placed me in this moment of time in my life and everything I have is His. So like David I will take that nostalgic longing and thank the Lord for blessing me with it and pour it out as a drink offering to the Lord.

Have you had any nostalgic longings?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 23:8-12 Hand Stuck To The Sword!

 ”These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief among the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time. And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder. And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.“ ‭‭

II Samuel‬ ‭23‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. These are the names of the mighty men: David was nothing without his mighty men, and they were nothing without him. He was their leader, but a leader is nothing without followers – and David had the mighty men to follow him. These men didn’t necessarily start as mighty men; many of them were the distressed, indebted, and discontented people who followed David at Adullam Cave (1 Samuel 22:1-2).

i. “These men came to David when his fortunes were at the lowest ebb, and he himself was regarded as a rebel and an outlaw, and they remained faithful to him throughout their lives. Happy are they who can follow a good cause in its worst estate, for theirs is true glory.” (Spurgeon)

ii. The day for mighty men and women – heroic men and women for God – has not ended. “The triumph of the church as a whole depends upon the personal victory of every Christian. In other words, your victory, your life, your personal testimony, are important to the cause of God today. What happens out in New Guinea, down in the Amazon jungle, over in disturbed Congo, is not unrelated to what happens in your own personal relationship with God and your personal battle against the forces of darkness. Victory for the church on the whole world-front depends upon victory in your life and in mine; ‘home’ and ‘foreign’ situations cannot be detached.” (Redpath)

b. Adino the Eznite: This leader among David’s mighty men was noted for having killed eight hundred men at one time.

i. “Three hundred is the reading in Chronicles, and seems to be the true one.” (Clarke)

c. Eleazar the son of Dodo: This leader of David’s mighty men was famous for enduring with David in a famous battle and when his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. Through his tenacity, the LORD brought about a great victory that day.

i. Spurgeon saw that Eleazar, in his solitary stand until victory, was a tremendous example for believers today. “Solitary prowess is expected of believers. I hope we may breed in this place a race of men and women who know the truth, and know also what the Lord claims at their hands, and are resolved, by the help of the Holy Spirit, to war a good warfare for their Lord whether others will stand at their side or no.”

ii. “Remember Mr. Sankey’s hymn, - ‘Dare to be a Daniel! Dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known!’Dare to be an Eleazar, and go forth and smite the Philistines alone; you will soon find that there are others in the house who have concealed their sentiments, but when they see, you coming forward, they will be openly on the Lord’s side. Many cowards are skulking about, try to shame them. Many are undecided, let them see a brave man, and he will be the standard-bearer around whom they will rally.” (Spurgeon)

d. Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite: This leader among David’s mighty men stationed himself in the middle of the field when others fled, and he held the ground single-handedly until the LORD brought about a great victory. (Guzik)

Hand Stuck To The Sword!

I can relate to Eleazar, when doing some mechanical tasks the tool has stuck to my hand and I had to physically free my fingers with my free hand to release the tool! I then had to use a flat surface and force my fingers to bend in the opposite direction and hold them until they relaxed!

Oh, if only the Bible would stick to our hand when doing the Lord’s work!

Blessings 

2 Samuel 23:5-7 Genealogy

 ”“Although my house is not so with God, Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire; Will He not make it increase? But the sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with hands. But the man who touches them Must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear, And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.”“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭23‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Although my house is not so with God: David looked at the complete blessedness of a just ruler’s reign and he knew that his reign fell short of both perfect justice and complete blessedness.

b. Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant: David knew that the everlasting covenant from God was not based on David’s perfection as a ruler. It was based on God’s gracious commitment to His everlasting covenant.

c. This is all my salvation and all my desire: David only said this because the covenant was based on God’s faithfulness and not his own. David knew that his own obedience was not enough to be a foundation for all his salvation and all his desire.

i. We can say that because of his sin and its consequences, David’s light dimmed towards the end of his life, but it was not extinguished. He shined until the end. “In the Divine dealing with us, there is no mistake, no lapse. Nothing has been permitted which has not been made to serve the highest purpose. This is so even of our failures, if, like David, in true penitence we have forsaken them and confessed them. It is certainly so of all our sorrows and trials.” (Morgan)

d. The sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away: The covenant was based on God’s faithfulness, but David knew that obedience still mattered. God would still oppose the sons of rebellion and they would end in ruin. David knew he could trust the LORD to take care of his enemies and wicked men.

i. “This was the whole theme of David. The Lord is in control. Rest in Him. Don’t fret yourself because of the evildoers that bring evil devices to pass. Rest in the Lord, trust also in Him. Delight thyself in the Lord! And all of the help, and the strength, the ministry of God’s Spirit to our hearts, through the Psalms, the sweet psalmist of Israel. What a legacy he has left.” (Smith)

ii. This remarkable relationship with God is the reason why David was Israel’s greatest king, and the most prominent ancestor of Jesus Christ. The New Testament begins with these words: The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David (Matthew 1:1). (Guzik)

Genealogy 

My book of genealogy started with my father and just like king David he wasn’t perfect, but his legacy was that he raised our family in a Christian home and I know he is with Jesus in his heavenly home. 

Each one of my father’s children have to find their own way and their own salvation. You can say it’s a matter of the heart. Each one of us has to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior to have our names written in the Lambs Book of Life. 

The Lord is in control and I rest in Him!

I look forward to going to my heavenly home, do you?

Blessings