City Of David

“And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, ‘Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither:’ thinking, David cannot come in hither.
Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. And David said on that day, ‘Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain.’ Wherefore they said, ‘The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.’
So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.”  2 Samuel 5:6-10  (KJB)

REFERENCES: 2 Samuel 5; Isaiah 8:9-10; 59:20; Micah 4:2; Romans 8:31; 9:33; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 14:1

When The Mighty Have Fallen

“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: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

‘The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!’ ”  2 Samuel 1:17-27  (KJB)

REFERENCES: 2 Samuel 1; 1 Samuel 18:1, 4, 8; Jeremiah 9; Lamentations 5:16; Ezekiel 39; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3-5

The LORD’S Anointed

“And David answered and said, ‘Behold the king’s spear! And let one of the young men come over and fetch it. The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed. And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.’ ”  1 Samuel 26:22-24  (KJB)

REFERENCES: 1 Samuel 24:6-7; 26; 28; 1 Kings 8:32; Nehemiah 13:14; Psalm 7:8-9; 18:20-26; 2 Corinthians 1:21; Hebrews 1:9; Luke 4:18

Respecting God’s Anointed Leaders

“And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, ‘Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.’
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. 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.
And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. And he said unto his men, ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.’
So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.”  1 Samuel 24:1-7  (KJB)

 

REFERENCES:  1 Samuel 23; 24; Proverbs 25:5; 29:12; Ezekiel 22:9; Hosea 7:3; 1 John 3:20-21; Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:14-21; 13:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:15

A King Afraid

“And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.”  1 Samuel 18:12-16  (KJB)

REFERENCES:  1 Samuel 17; 18; Mark 6:20; Luke 8:37; Acts 24:25; Matthew 28:20; Acts 18:10

The “Strength” Of Israel

And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for He is not a man, that He should repent.  1 Samuel 15:29

REFERENCES: 1 Samuel 15; 16; Deuteronomy 33:27; Isaiah 45:24; Joel 3:16; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:13; 2 Timothy 2:13; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18

Pray For Us

“And all the people said unto Samuel, ‘Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.’
And Samuel said unto the people, ‘Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; and turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. For the LORD will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you His people.
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.’ ”  1 Samuel 12:19-25  (KJB)

REFERENCES: 1 Samuel 10; 11; 12; Psalm 78:34-35; Exodus 20:19-20; 1 Peter 3:16; Jeremiah 3:1; Romans 9:13-18; 11:29; 1 Corinthians 4:7; Philippians 1:6

Give ‘Em What They Ask For

“And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
And the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.’ And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, ‘Go ye every man unto his city.’ ”  1 Samuel 8:21-22  (KJB)

REFEENCES: 1 Samuel 8; Judges 11:11; Hosea 13:11; Matthew 21:5; Acts 13:21-22; Revelation 17:14; 19:16

Religious Fear

“And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head. And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.” 1 Samuel 4:12-13  (KJB)

REFERENCES: 1 Samuel 1; 2; 3; 4; Matthew 23:37 – 24:2; 1 Corinthians 6:19

Let Fall Handfuls of Purpose

“And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: and let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.

So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.”  Ruth 2:15-17  (KJB)

REFERENCES:  Ruth 1; 2; Psalm 112;9; Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 25:40; Romans 12:13; 2 Corinthians 8:5-11; Hebrews 6:10; 1 John 3:17-18

When Hospitality Is Lacking

“And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.”  Judges 19:15  (KJB)

REFERENCES: Judges 19, 20; Genesis 18:2-8; 19:2-3; Matthew 25:35, 43; Hebrews 13:2

When God’s Word Is Not Heard

“Then said Micah, ‘Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.’ ”  Judges 17:13  (KJB)

REFERENCES: Judges 17:6; 18; 19; 21:25; Isaiah 44:20; 66:3-4; Matthew 15:9, 13; John 16:2; Acts 26:9; Romans 10:2-3

A ‘Sunny’ Day

“But the Angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that He was an Angel of the LORD. And Manoah said unto his wife, ‘We shall surely die, because we have seen God.’
But his wife said unto him, ‘If the LORD were pleased to kill us, He would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would He have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.’
And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.”  Judges 13:21-25  (KJB)

REFERENCES: Judges 13, 14, 15, 16; Hebrews 11:32; John 1:18; 5:37

Just As He Says It

“Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: and all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.”  Judges 9:56-57  (KJB)

REFERENCES: Judges 8, 9; Numbers 32:23; Proverbs 5:22; Galatians 6:7-8; Matthew 7:2; Acts 28:4; Revelation 19:20-21

From Deborah’s Song

” ‘…So let all Thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love Him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might.’
And the land had rest forty years.”  Judges 5:31  (KJB)

REFERENCES: Judges 4-5; Psalm 48:4-5; 68:1-3; 1 Corinthians 8:3; Ephesians 6:24; James 1:12; 2:5; 1 Peter 1:8; 1 John 4:19-21; 5:2-3; Matthew 13:43; Revelation 6:10; 18:20; 19:2-3