II SAMUEL

It is Friday, and the weekend will begin as this work day finishes.  A full day but a great day awaits me.  Praise the LORD!  Here are some thoughts from II Samuel. 2) USE THE BOW- In II Samuel chapter one, we see that not only was Saul slain,but his son Jonathan as well. Jonathan used the bow.  You remember when he and David met in the field and Jonathan shot an arrow a long way and told his servant it was much further to tell David that he should flee from his father, Saul.  Well, here in verse 18, David had the children of Israel learn the use of the bow because of Jonathan.  It would be a way that he would be remembered, and it worked.  Later, we see that the children of Benjamin, (Jonathan's tribe), could shoot an arrow within an hairs breath.  That is pretty good shooting!! 3) UP TO A CHALLENGE? Well, David was!  In II Sam. 5:6, the Jebusites said that David could not take their city because it's walls were so great.  They said that even the lame and blind could defend their city, and that "David cannot come in hither."  But... in verse 7, we read: "Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David."  He was up for the challenge.  Are we?  Certainly there are challenges that face us each day as well. Now, alone, we are not up to many challenges, but with Christ and through Christ we can conquer the hard challenges before us.  Let us be a people who are up to the task!! 3) DAVID INQUIRED- One of the things that made David so special in God's sight, was that David inquired of the LORD when ever he was faced with a difficult situation.  In II Sam. 6: we see this in verse 19 and 23.  He kept asking God for wisdom and direction and God gave it to him.  Do we inquire of the LORD?  We need to keep asking for His help! 4) LET US PLAY THE MEN- I love this verse!  It is found in II Sam. 10:12.  Joab is the one speaking and he is talking to his men who are out numbered in the battle.  He divides them up into two groups with his brother leading one group and he another.  He tells his brother that if he is being overpowered, that he will help him and if Joab is being overpowered, then his brother is to help him.  (I like this helping each other!!)  But, before they go into the battle, Joab gives one great speech:  vs. 12 "Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God:  and the LORD do that which seemeth him good."  Any man likes being told to act like a man!  It puts strength in us when there is sometimes very little.  It causes us to rise to the occassion.  Let us play the men for God! 5) WHEREFORE WENTEST NOT THOU WITH ME, MEPHIBOSHETH?  This was asked in II Sam. 19:25.  Mephibosheth was the lamb son of Jonathan that David had sit at the King's table and eat.  He gave him his father's property and took good care of him.  But, when Absalom had David run out of the kingdom, Mephibosheth stayed home.  David asks the question.... where were you?  God has saved us from an eternity in Hell.... I wonder if He asks where we are sometimes???   Food for thought!! Have a blessed day.   Pastor Mike Mutchler