2 Samuel 24:1

2 Samuel 24:1 says, And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.  Matthew Henry says that God was angry because David was going to number the people and later verses seem to bear this out.  God was once again angry with Israel, and it seems He told David to go and number Israel and Judah.  Matthew Henry says David’s arrogance and not God led him to do this.  Though they were called God's people, they were often His people in name only.  We today cannot afford to be the same way.  Verse two adds, For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.  David told Joab, the captain of his army, to go and number all the people of Israel, though David didn't tell Joab why he wanted him to do this.  Verse three continues, And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?  Joab, who seemed to question David’s authority a good bit, asked David why he wanted to do this, since David’s God, as Joab referred to Him, would add to the people as He saw fit.  David still didn't give Joab a reason as to why he was doing this.  Leaders of the church today may not always feel the need to tell us why they are doing a particular thing, but we need to pray that it is always because God has commanded them to.  Verse four concludes, Notwithstanding the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.  It seems that Joab and the captains of the army all questioned David, but David’s will prevailed.  David may have truly believed that he was doing God's will, but it would seem that this really wasn't the case.  Verse five states, And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:  Though he questioned David, Joab and those who were to help him passed over Jordan to begin counting the people.  If we truly believe that religious leaders are calling on us to do something that we believe is against God's will, we should not only question them, but should refuse to do what they ask.  Verse six adds, Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,  Matthew Henry points out that they began the count in the most distant parts of Israel.  Verse seven continues, And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.  They continued their count throughout Israel.  Verse eight says, So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.  It took them nine months and twenty days to complete the count, by which time it was likely no longer accurate.  Some people where they first counted would have been born and others died by the time over nine months had passed.  Though I see no problem with counting attendance and membership in the local church today, we need to pray that after over nine months that it will have increased.  Verse nine adds, And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.  Joab took the count to David, and from the way it is stated, these must have been the men over twenty capable of going to war.  Though the count was divided between the people of Israel and the people of Judah, they were all part of the same nation in God's sight.  We as followers of Christ may divide ourselves by country or denomination here in the world, but we are still all a part of the same family of God. 

2 Samuel 23:24

1 Samuel 23:24 says, Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, These next several verses are a listing of the thirty military leaders who were under the three main rulers.  Joab’s brother Asahel was one of them, though Joab himself was really not listed anywhere, though he was over the whole army.  Matthew Henry says he was a great general but not a good man, having murdered two of David's friends.  Even if we do great things for God, if we have not accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we still are not a part of the family of God and will not have our name written in the Book of Life.  Verse twenty-five adds, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,  Verse twenty-six continues, Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,  Verse twenty-seven states, Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,  Verse twenty-eight adds, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,  Verse twenty nine continues, Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,  Verse thirty says, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,  Verse thirty-one adds, Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,  Verse thirty-two adds, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,  Verse thirty-three continues, Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,   Verse thirty-four states, Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,  Verse thirty-five adds, Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,  Verse thirty-six continues, Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,  Verse thirty-seven says, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,  Verse thirty-eight adds, Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,  Verse thirty-nine concludes, Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.  This concluded the mention of all those who served as leaders of David's army.  We need to hope that one day our name will be written down as one of those who served in God's army.

2 Samuel 23:18

2 Samuel 23:18 says, And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.  David then spoke of Abishai, Joab’s brother, being the chief of the three.  He had slain three hundred Philistines at one time.  Verse nineteen adds, Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.  David said for this reason Abishai was the captain over the forces, but not of the first three.  Though he ruled over most, some were still equal to him in position or rank.  Some people are still placed by God in positions of power over others, but none will ever be equal to God.  Verse twenty states, And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:  Next, David referred to the actions of Benaiah who killed two lionlike men of Moab and a lion in the time of snow.  These acts were not noted because of the number of people or even animals that Benaiah killed, but because of how powerful they were.  Sometimes, it is not how many enemies of God we defeat but how powerful they are in the world that sets us aside from others.  Verse twenty-one adds, And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.  We are told of another time when Benaiah took a sword away from an Egyptian and killed him with his own sword.  As long as we remain faithful to God, we don't have to have superior weapons to defeat our enemies.  Verse twenty-two continues, These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.  Though he was not a part of the three mighty men, he was noted by them.  Matthew Henry says for these acts that David preferred Benaiah as captain of his life-guard or standing forces.  As we engage in war against Satan and his forces today, some of us may need to guard the home front more than going out to meet them on the battleground.  Verse twenty-three concludes, He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.  David said Benaiah was more honorable than the thirty, the next group in order of power but he was not equal to the three.  No matter where we rank in God's army, we need to boldly face the enemy.  We should never seek self-glorification for serving God. 

2 Samuel 23:8

2 Samuel 23:8 says, These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.  We are told of some of the mighty men of David and what they had done in battle, beginning with chief among the captains, Afion, who had killed eight hundred men at once.  Matthew Henry points out that we had heard nothing of these three men before, so the exploits of David may have been even greater than what we have recorded.  As stated before, many of God's great warriors may never get recognition in this lifetime, or if they do it may be long after their actual feats of bravery.  Verse nine adds, And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:  Verse ten continues, He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.  Next was Eleazor, one of three mighty men with David who were in a battle with the Philistines at a time when the rest of the army of Israel wasn't with them. He killed Philistines until his hand was weary, under God's power, and God gave him a great victory that day.  We may be outnumbered in our fight against Satan and his forces today, but by the power of God if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we will be victorious.  Verse eleven states, And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.  Verse twelve adds, But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.  Next was Shammah,  who stood against the Philistines to protect a piece of ground of the Israelites when once again the rest of the army wasn't around, having fled in fear.  Even if we stand alone, we should always stand with God and He has already given us the everlasting victory.  We really have no record of these battles except for their being referred to here, and many of the battles fought for God today may never be noted by the rest of the world.  Verse thirteen says, And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.  Verse fourteen adds, And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.  Then, we have a reference to an event that happened when David was in a hold in the cave of Adullam, most likely during the time he was hiding from Saul, and the Philistines were in the valley of Rephaim.  Verse fifteen continues, And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!   David began to desire some water from the well in Bethlehem, but the Philistines were between the well and him.  David was allowing his desire to impact Him.  We need to be careful that as Christians we don't become too desirous of the things of the world.  Verse sixteen states, And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.  Three of David's mighty men broke through the Philistines to get him some of the water.  They put themselves in danger to fulfill David’s desire, and we should never expect any of our fellow Christians to put themselves in danger to fulfill some desire that we have.  Even though David had not asked them to do this, he had shared his desire for the water with them.  Verse seventeen adds, And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.  When these three men returned with the water, David refused to drink it because it had been obtained by these men putting themselves in danger simply to fulfill his desire.  We should certainly never attempt to have other believers fulfill our desires by putting themselves in danger.  It is one thing to risk one's life in a battle that is necessary, but it is something totally different to do so simply to fulfill our desires. 

2 Samuel 23:1

2 Samuel 23:1 says, Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,  We are told that these were the last words of David, who had been raised up to a high position and anointed king of Israel by God.  He was also noted as the sweet psalmist of Israel.  Our last words may not be noted, but we are raised up high if we put our faith in Jesus Christ, and though we are not made a king, we are a child of the King, which is all that really matters.  Verse two adds, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.  David said the Spirit of the LORD spoke to him and put His words on David’s tongue.  We, as Christians, should be guided by the Holy Spirit in all that we say and do.  Verse three continues, The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.  David said that God, the Rock of Israel, told him that people must be just in ruling over Israel.  We need rulers in the world today who rule based on justice and never see themselves as above it, and justice should be God's justice and not their own.  Verse four states, And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.  David compared the leader to a sunny day and to grass shining after the rain.  I believe he was saying that a Godly leader should bring good things to those that he or she serves over instead of gloom and doom.  Verse five adds, Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.  David said that his house, his children, were not as dedicated to God as they should have been and were not going to grow.  The time of their rule here on earth was coming to an end.  Even if we are devoted to God, our children may not be, but even if they are, our days on earth are numbered.  David also said that he had an everlasting covenant with God that was all for his salvation and this was fulfilled through Jesus Christ, a descendant of David.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we enter into this same everlasting covenant with God. Verse six continues, But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:  David said that the sons of Belial would always cause problems for those who are serving God.  We as Christians need to understand that we will always face opposition from the world.  Satan and his forces will always be at work attempting to keep people from accepting salvation and trying to keep those who have from being effective in doing God's work.  Verse seven concludes, But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.  David said that those who would touch God's people to destroy them must be utterly destroyed and then burned with fire.  As I have stated before, I don't believe that we as Christians are called on to destroy our enemies, but we can also be certain that if we are faithful to God, He has spiritually fenced them in and one day they will be cast into the lake of fire forever. 

2 Samuel 22:41

2 Samuel 22:41 says, Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. David said it was God Who was responsible for his victories over his enemies, and He is still responsible for our victory over sin in the world today, and we should praise Him and give Him credit for it.  As Christians, I don't believe we should ever claim to be a self-made man or woman.  God should always be given the credit.  Verse forty-two adds, They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.  David said his enemies looked for someone to save them, but there was none who could, because they were fighting against God and His people.  There still will never be anyone who can save a person if they do not put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, yet people continue to look for someone who can.  Verse twenty-three continues,  Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.  David said by God's power he totally destroyed his enemies, and by God's power all our enemies have been spiritually destroyed today.  Still, this does not mean that we are to physically destroy them.  Verse forty-four states, Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.  David said God had also saved him from his own people and had made him the ruler over strangers, who were referred to as heathen.  Unless we are a part of God's family by faith in Jesus Christ, we can still be referred to as heathen., but God calls us to be a part of His family if we will accept salvation made available by Jesus Christ.  Verse forty-five adds, Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.  David said God had made him so powerful that strangers would submit to him simply by hearing his name.  No one will ever be more powerful than Jesus Christ, and the only way we can find forgiveness for our sins is to submit to His name.  He will never force anyone to put their faith in Him.  Verse forty-six continues, Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.  It would be nice if this was true today, but too often those who oppose God still fight against Him instead of fading away in fear.  Verse forty-seven declares, The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.  We as Christians should still be proclaiming this to the world today.  Jesus is the Rock of our salvation, and we should build our life on the Rock.  Verse forty-eight adds, It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,  As David said then, It is God Who avenges all the wrong done to His people and this means that it is not our responsibility to do so.  Verse forty-nine continues, And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.  David gave God all the credit for his success as king, and so must we today as followers of Christ give credit to God for any success we have in life.  Jesus Christ has already defeated all our enemies, so all we have to do is live faith in Him.  Verse fifty says, Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.  Like David, we need to be giving thanks to God for our everlasting salvation and singing praises to Him in the lost and dying world.  We do not need to live as though we are defeated people.  Verse fifty-one adds, He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.  David said that God was the tower of his salvation and would show mercy on him and his children forevermore.  Jesus Christ has always been the tower of salvation, but we cannot establish a relationship between our children and Him.  All we can do is share the gospel with them.

2 Samuel 22:31

2 Samuel 22:31 says, As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.  As David said, God's way is always perfect and He is a source of strength to those who trust in Him. Verse thirty-two adds, For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?   David asked who else was God bedside God Himself, and the answer is no one.  Verse thirty-three continues,  God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.   Like David, we need to acknowledge that God is the source of our strength and if we are obedient to Him He will make our way perfect.  Verse thirty-four states, He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places.  David said that God made him sure-footed in the high places where he might have slipped and fallen on his own.  If we follow Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, He will still keep us safe in  dangerous places.  Verse thirty-five adds, He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.  David said God also taught him how to be successful in war, and I believe that was by being faithful to God.  If we are to be successful in our war against sin and evil in the world today, it must be by being faithful to God.  We cannot do it on our own.  Verse thirty-six continues, Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.  As David said then, God has given us the shield of His salvation and His love and gentleness with us have made us great.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, His salvation will always be a shield to us.  Verse thirty-seven says, Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.  David said God had enlarged his steps and kept his feet from slipping.  As we serve God, we should be able to undertake even greater challenges without slipping and falling, as long as we are be directed by God.  Verse thirty-eight adds, I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.  David said that he had pursued his enemies and didn't turn aside until he had destroyed them.  Though I believe that we should destroy all the sin in our life, I believe that we should pursue the enemies of God with the gospel and not to kill them.  Jesus died for them just as He died for us and commissioned us to reach them with His gospel.  Verse thirty-nine continues, And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.  David said he wounded his enemies so that they might not rise again.  It would be nice if we could destroy sin in our life so that it would not rise again, and if we remain faithful to Jesus Christ at all times we can.  It is a daily decision to follow Him by faith though, even though we are forever saved.  Verse forty concludes, For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.  David was speaking about God giving him strength against physical enemies and destroying them, but I believe that we should apply this to spiritual enemies instead.  We may not always defeat our physical enemies in this life, but if we are Christians, God has already destroyed our spiritual enemies by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.