I Samuel, II Samuel

Today is Thursday!  I so enjoyed the service last night as I am teaching a Walk Thru The Bible.  People are really enjoying it, and I guess I am surprised, but it is basic information that every believer needs to know about God, and His Bible.  I'm enjoying it myself!  I'm in I Samuel and read into II Samuel, so here are some nuggets of truth that I dug up this morning: 1) CHURLISH- In I Samuel 25:3, we see that Nabal was called "churlish".  This means: "severe (in various applications): - churlish, cruel, grievous, hard ([-hearted], thing), heavy, + impudent, obstinate, prevailed, rough (-ly), sore, sorrowful, stiff ([-necked]), stubborn, + in trouble."   He was not a good man!  His men said: "for he is such a son of Belieal, that a man cannot speak to him," (vs. 17)  His wife said:  "this man of Belial, even Nabal:  for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him:"  Belial, means: "without profit, worthlessness; by extension destruction, wickedness : - Belial, evil, naughty, ungodly (men), wicked."  Nabal means: "dolt; which means: "a stupid person or dunce, it's from the middle english dulte, from past participle of dullen."   So... this cruel, stubborn, obstinate, worthless, wicked, and stupid man was Nabal.  David had guarded his men and sheep, and yet Nabal would not help feed David's men.  So, David prepared his men for battle, and on the way to destroy Nabal and all that he had, his beautiful wife Abigail met David with servants and a huge spread of food and said please disregard the foolishness of Nabal.  David responded to her and thanked her.  When Nabal found out, his heart died and became as stone.  God smote Nabal for his foolishness, and after his death, David sent for her to be his wife.  All of this is found in I Samuel chapter 25.... a good read! 2) THE LORD'S ANOINTED- I Samuel 26:9 says:  "And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not:  for who can stretch forth his hand aginst the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?"  Now Saul was hunting for David to kill him, yet David would not lift a hand against Saul, for he was anointed of the LORD to be king over Israel.  In II Samuel 1, we see that an Amalekite finished off the life of Saul while he was on the verge of death.  Now, Saul asked for death and the Amalekite responded in killing him for good; but, he had lifted his hand against the LORD's anointed.  vs. 14 "And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?" Then David had one of his men put the man to death.  Friend, don't go against the LORD's anointed!  Any God called pastor, missionary, evangelist, etc.  IS the LORD's anointed.  They may not be very good at what God has called them to do (Saul wasn't) but they are still the men that God called.  Let God deal with them, and you go around them.  If you cannot follow the leadership of a man of God, leave quietly and find another man of God to follow.  Put yourself under the leadership of that man of God! 3) A PRINCIPLE TO FOLLOW- I Samuel 30:24 says: "but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff:  they shall part alike."  This became a principle in Israel, and David started it.  He had 600 men.  200 of them were too tired to keep going in the battle, so they stayed and protected the stuff.  All were given a reward from the battle.  So in a church, all cannot be in the choir, or teachers, or whatever.  God has to bless all who are working together for Christ, and He does! 4) IMPORTANT INCIDENTAL- In II Samuel 1:18 we have this incidental bit of information.  It reads: "(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)"  David had the men learn the use of the bow.  In this chapter, we see the death of Saul.  He died because of the archers of the Philistines.  David was in league with the Philistines for over a year and a half.  Here, he learned the effectiveness of the bow, and when he became the king over Judah, he taught them the use of the bow.  Now the importance of this incidental verse is that David will make Israel the most powerful nation throughout his region and all because he was a man of war!  He taught battle, strategy, weaponry, etc to his men.  He taught them the effectiveness of the bow and arrow in battle.  Forever after this, Israel will be using the bow!  Learn the tools that make us effective for Christ.  Learn to teach, learn to witness, learn to sing, learn....... Well, hope you have a blessed day!!  Pastor Mike Mutchler