Week 9 - Day 3

June 27, 2008

 Day 3/ Week 9

The Unwelcomed Sight of an Old Enemy

Today's Treasure: 2 Samuel 21: 15
"Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines and he became exhausted."

Read 2 Samuel 21: 15 – 22. What did Abishai do for David?

A: He came to David's rescue. He struck down the Philistine that tried to kill him

Why did David's men insist he not accompany them to battle anymore?

A: So the lamp of Israel would not be extinguished

How many battles with the Philistines are mentioned in verses 15 – 22?

A: 4

Isn't it amazing to realize that even someone like King David became exhausted and needed the help of others? Beth teaches us that the original word for exhausted in Hebrew is Uwph. It means "to cover, to fly, faint, and flee away"
When was the last time you wanted to run and hide?

A: Honestly, I can remember wanting to run as far as I could the moment the doctor uttered the words to me, "I don't know how to tell you this, but you have cancer." Every ounce of feeling drained from my body in that moment. I remember standing up and just wanting to walk away from the whole situation. As a matter of fact, I did get up and start pacing the room (frantically, I might add). I guess I hoped that I could make it all go away if I didn't listen to the rest of what he had to say. I remember the doctor telling me to come back and he asked where I was going. I just remember thinking, "anywhere but here!!!" Once I gained my composure, I just sat in that room and prayed. It was all I knew to do.  

Write 2 Corinthians 2: 14

A: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him"
God will always lead us to victory, but it will be in His way. We all want to be the hero of every situation, but sometimes God uses others in our lives to help us succeed.

Read 2 Samuel 23: 8 – 39. According to verse 8, who are all these men?

A: David's mighty men

Describe how tired Eleazor became as he stood his ground against the Philistines.

A: He grew so tired that his hand froze to the sword

Why wouldn't David drink the water his mighty men drew for him?

A: Because his men risked their lives to get the water. He poured the water out to the Lord because he felt it was the spilled blood of his men.

How many mighty men did David record in all according to verse 39?

A: 37 men
Why would God bring victory to David through other men?

A: For several reasons:

1. The people of Israel did not need David to become a god to them. He would have disappointed them. God did not want the people of Israel to worship David.

2. David did not need the pressure of being so highly exalted that even he felt he could do no wrong. It was important that God make David realize how much he was in need of others in his success. God humbled David by giving him a few men that commanded his respect.

3. God also allowed others to come to David's aid so these men would not feel as if they had no importance in the kingdom. This is an important point for us to realize as believers in Christ. We all have important roles to play for the kingdom. There is not one man that can carry out all of the work the Lord needs completed on His behalf. The evangelist is just as important as the Sunday school teacher in God's eyes.

Read the following scripture and describe why we should be willing to depend on others

Philippians 2: 3 – 4

We must always consider others better than ourselves so that we can view ourselves as "servants".

We must serve our fellow believers in order to understand how to serve the Lord.

1 Corinthians 12: 21
The body of Christ is dependent on every person that makes up the whole. We must work together in order to achieve the purpose that God has for us on Earth. Each part is just as important as the other. We cannot accomplish the goal set before us without depending on every part.

What other characteristics do you consider marks of a hero of the faith?

A: Strong in knowledge of the Word of God, but humble to those around him/her. I also feel it is very important for a hero of the faith to be unwilling to waiver in their beliefs in order to please the people around them.  
 

Describe a few of your heroes; then take time to thank God for them

A: There are several people in my life that I consider heroes of the faith, and I am so blessed to have them. They have each been so important in my ability to carry on throughout this diagnosis with the confirmation that God has a plan for this. I wouldn't dare to begin listing names because I would end up forgetting someone that means the world to me. I do want to mention the characteristics of one man, in particular, though. Lewis Moore came into our lives about five years ago as a small group leader. Immediately upon meeting him, I felt so amazed by his humble nature. He is a quiet and sweet tempered man. It was very easy to want to be around him and get to know him. The more we were around Lewis, the more we benefited from the wealth of spiritual knowledge that this man has. Brian and I were amazed by the scripture that would pour from his lips each time we met together in small group. Soon, he became a man that commanded great respect from us. Over the years, I have learned what an amazing heart that Lewis has for our Lord. He is a wonderful husband and father, and he is an incredible teacher. I rest in the knowledge that each and every morning Lewis wakes up at 5 am to begin praying for the people that he loves as he feeds on scripture. My heart longs to be the kind of person that Lewis is. I want to know the Word of God in the same way that he knows it. Scripture is written on his heart and in his mind. In every situation, he turns to that scripture to guide him. That is what makes Lewis a hero to me!!!