Absalom

Absalom

Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King's Valley. For he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom's Monument.   2 Samuel 18:18

Now ...

It is important for each of us to take time to consider 2 things NOW. Each unit of time, whether a moment, an hour, a morning, an afternoon an evening, a night or a season in your life represents a piece of your life which when past can never be retrieved. It may also be the last unit of your time on earth! Therefore you need to wisely and carefully live this precious NOW!!

NOW is WON if it is lived for JESUS!!

In his lifetime...

The direction you set for your life and what you do in this lifetime will not only determine your eternal destiny but also the remembrance that you will leave of yourself on this earth.

As someone said, " There is only one life, and it will soon be past: Only what is done for JESUS will last!"

had taken and set up a pillar for himself...

If you are busy setting up a pillar for yourself, it will not benefit you nor anyone else in this life or in eternity.

The pillar you should set up for yourself is:

P - Prayer   
I - Intimacy with GOD   
L - Learning   
L - Leading   
A - Altar of sacrificial living   
R - Resting in GOD

which is in the King's Valley...

Even if you are a King's Kid, your life will be one of defeat.

For he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance."...

If you have not imparted of yourself to anyone, your life has been unprofitable.

He called the pillar after his own name...

Your name will disappear as a vapour.

And to this day it is called Absalom's Monument...

You will only be remembered for your self-centred life!

Absalom

Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And when he cut the hair of his head--at the end of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him--when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king's standard.  2 Samuel 14:25-26

After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 2 Samuel 15:1,5-6

And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, but did not see the king's face. 2 Samuel 14:28

As the people of Israel praised Absalom for his good looks, he became self-centred, puffed up and self-seeking. He conspired against his own father, King David, to turn the hearts of the people to himself. As he was so consumed with his own motive, not only did he lose his relationship with his father, but worked and fought against him!

To Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.  2 Samuel 14:27

The remembrance of Absalom is his outward beauty which was passed on to his daughter. Although 3 sons were born to him, he said  "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He probably lost his 3 sons.

Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on.  2 Samuel 18:9

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),  Galatians 3:13

Here we see the handsome body of Absalom, carefully maintained without blemish, while battling against his father, hanging on a tree. Centuries later, not far from here, we see another body hanging on a tree - the body of JESUS CHRIST, whipped, bruised, torn and pricked beyond recognition. He had no form or comeliness and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. The former instance is the consequence of sin and selfishness leading to the curse. The latter is when all the curse in the earth is taken on by the Perfect, Selfless Saviour, releasing the Blessing of salvation to all mankind.

Then Joab said, "I cannot linger with you." And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom's heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. And ten young men who bore Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him. So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people. And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent.  2 Samuel 18:14-17  

And they made His grave with the wicked-- But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.  Isaiah 53:9  

The resting place of the body of the handsome prince was a pit in the woods! Although the Prince Of Peace did not even own a tomb, His body was laid by Joseph, in his own tomb in a garden!

GOD'S memorial

Exodus 3:14-15

14 And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

15 Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.'

Proverbs 18:10

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.

What will be your memorial?

Proverbs 31:30

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Genesis 24:60

60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her: "Our sister, may you become The mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess The gates of those who hate them."

Deuteronomy 4:9

9 "Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,

Matthew 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

ABIGAIL - A Beautiful Story!

Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.

 When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep, David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. "And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: 'Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have! 'Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel. 'Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.' "

 So when David's young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, and waited. Then Nabal answered David's servants, and said, "Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. "Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?" 

So David's young men turned on their heels and went back; and they came and told him all these words. Then David said to his men, "Every man gird on his sword." So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies. Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, "Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he reviled them. "But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields. "They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep. "Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him." Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys. And she said to her servants, "Go on before me; see, I am coming after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal. So it was, as she rode on the donkey, that she went down under cover of the hill; and there were David and his men, coming down toward her, and she met them. Now David had said, "Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good. "May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light." Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. So she fell at his feet and said: "On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant. "Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent. "Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, since the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal. "And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. "Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the LORD will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the LORD, and evil is not found in you throughout your days. "Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling. "And it shall come to pass, when the LORD has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, "that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant." Then David said to Abigail: "Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! "And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. "For indeed, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!" So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person." Now Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was, holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; therefore she told him nothing, little or much, until morning light. So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. Then it happened, after about ten days, that the LORD struck Nabal, and he died. So when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept His servant from evil! For the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head." And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife. When the servants of David had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her saying, "David sent us to you, to ask you to become his wife." Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, "Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord." So Abigail rose in haste and rode on a donkey, attended by five of her maidens; and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife. - 1 Samuel 25:2-42 

In this story, Nabal depicts Babylon which is symbolic of the systems of the world.

                     David depicts GOD - The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

                   Abigail depicts the people in the world - you and I.
                 
                The servants of David are the servants of GOD.

             The messengers of David  - The Holy Spirit.

The people of this world are under the control of the systems of this world. The worldly traditions and ways are self centred, selfish and carnal. GOD, Who loves the people of the world, sent His servants and His own Son to receive from the world what belongs to Him. He is interested in the hearts of people who are created in His own image. GOD'S way is humility and selflessness which is diametrically opposite to the way of the world. The whole world lies under the wrath of GOD because of its rebellion. GOD'S grace is revealed to us through His Son, JESUS. Those who accept JESUS come under His covering of grace and are able to extend that grace to others through intercession. As we humble ourselves and approach GOD in the name of JESUS, we see His glory. When we see Him, we are brought to our knees in worship. As we find favour in His eyes, we plead for His mercy and grace asking for forgiveness for ourselves and for the sins of those around us. When we turn away from the systems and ways of the world, the LORD woos us to Himself and proposes to us to become His wife. The bride of CHRIST offers herself to her LORD in humility to be an intercessor for the servants of GOD. She follows the guidance of the gentle Holy Spirit to become His bride.

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The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. - Psalms 33:13-15 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16 


"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." - John 3:36  

"but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony." - Numbers 1:53  

"So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. "Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord GOD. - Ezekiel 22:30-31

"I and My Father are one." - John 10:30 

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. - Matthew 16:24  

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." - 1 Peter 5:5 

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:5-11 

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. - Isaiah 53:7 

but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, - 1 Corinthians 1:23 

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. - 1 John 2:15-17  

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. - 1 Timothy 6:6-12  

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. - James 4:4 

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. - Colossians 2:6-10 

After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury." And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. "For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. ... "The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, "standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' "And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: "merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; "and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. "The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. "The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, "and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 'For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.' Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance "and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like this great city?' "They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.' "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!" - Revelation 18:1-5, 9-20

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. - Revelation 19:11-16 

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, - Ephesians 5:25-26 

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." - Revelation 21:9 

Spiritual Warfare - 13

David and Goliath (1 Sam 17)

 Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines –

 Unity in the army

 The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them –

Stand together against (facing) the enemy. The battle is fought and won in the valley. Victory is in the valley. The enemy will honk you from the opposite mountain until and unless you fight and overcome him in the valley.  

 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span – 

The enemy appears BIG. (1 John 4:4)

 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze – 

Bronze helmet depicts a carnal mind which is in enmity with God. Put on the helmet of Salvation. Coat of mail is like fish scales (worldliness) which can be overcome with the breastplate of righteousness.  (no scales)

Worldliness goes hand in hand with 'sel-fishness' while godliness goes with selflessness!

And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.”  And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”  --

 (Deut 28:47-48) Even as the enemy is asking for a man to fight against, God is also looking for a man for Himself, for His kingdom. (Ezekiel 22:30-31). Which Goliath has God chosen you to fight?

 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening – 

The enemy presents himself regularly, causing fear which becomes a foothold for him in our lives.

 Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them.” Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle –

 Prepare yourself each morning because you do not know what battle you will have to face that day (Luke 22:46, Matt 6: 33,34, Matt 11:28-30, Prov 16:3). Release your burdens to the Keeper and be free to take up your Heavenly Father’s errand.

 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers – 

Make use of the keepers – our supporters who help us in various practical ways and intercessors. (Heb 12:1-2)

 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them – 

Do you hear the words of the enemy?

  And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. So the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.” – 

Seeing the enemy leads to the fright, flight, or fight reaction.

 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” – 

Recognize the enemy. It is the one who defies the armies of the Living God. He brings reproach to Israel. Let him be despised in your eyes. (Ps 15:4a)  Look forward to the reward. Don’t ask “Have you seen him?” but ask “What will be the reward?” Like Preshan, who set  himself to excel in the exam when he was offered a bicycle as a reward!

 And the people answered him in this manner, saying, “So shall it be done for the man who kills him.”  Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”  And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?"  Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did. Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”  And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” – 

We may be despised or we may despise others looking at the outward appearance.

 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,  I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.  Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” - 

Faith to see the spiritual truths from the natural situations. Usually the natural comes before the spiritual thus preparing for the spiritual.

 Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” – 

Focus on the Lord. Saul saw God’s hand on David as David focused on the Lord.

 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. – 

Do it confidently, the way the Lord has taught you, even if it is totally different and unconventional. 

 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. – 

You don’t have to be trendy. Be confident in what the Lord has prepared you with. It is a unique call. Don’t worry what others think of you. (Rom 8:31-37)

 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him.  And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”  Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. –

 (Ps 121:1-2)

 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. – 

‘WILL’ – Absolutely confident of victory because God’s name has to be glorified in all the earth. We can be confident of victory in our pursuit if our motive is glory to God and profit for His kingdom. Speak with confidence.

 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” – 

The assembly of God's people need to be strengthened in their faith.

 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. – 

Meet the enemy face to face and attack quickly. 

 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. – 

(2 Cor 10:3-6/ Jer 1:9-10).

 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. – 

Sword- the Word of God is the only offensive weapon in the spiritual armor of God. Turn the enemy’s own sword against him, like how Jesus did when He was tempted.

We need to posses the gates of the enemy by being offensive against him (proactive). In this manner we gain territory- i.e. People. Set the captives free from within the gates of the enemy. When our focus is on the enemy, we are defensive, protecting our gates. But when our focus is on the Lord, we are offensive against the enemy and posses his gates. (Gen 22:17 & 24:60). In the former situation, we are under ‘house arrest’. In the latter, we keep the enemy under ‘house arrest’!

When the enemy is not attacking you, attack the enemy, progress and gain his territory. When he attacks you, stand firm and don’t lose ground.

The blessing of possessing the gates of the enemy is pronounced to the descendants of Abraham and then to Rebecca. In obedience to the Lord, Abraham sacrificed Isaac and Rebecca said “I will go” to the servant (Holy Spirit). This step of obedience caused them to possess the gates of the enemy spiritually. Their descendants are those who carry their characteristics. Are you a descendant of Abraham and of Rebecca?