2 Samuel 5; 1 Chronicles 11-12 / April 30 (Day 121)

The following are a few scriptures and comments from today's reading:

2 Samuel 5:12 says, “So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.”

• We need to remember why God promotes us to certain positions, and gives us spiritual gifting; it's because of His love for mankind.
  

2 Samuel 5:23-2 “…it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines."

• The LORD revealed to David that he needed to wait till he heard marching (God’s angelic army) going before him; then he could proceed in battle. We should proceed in life with courage, but not presumptuously.

1 Chronicles 11:6 says, “Now David said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain." And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief.”

• If you’re going to be a leader, you need to do what others are hesitant to do, and be willing to do it first.
  

A battle of Eleazar is described in 1 Chronicles 11:14, “But they stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.”

• The LORD brings about great victories through those who “station” themselves in faith; those that won’t give up, but fight for what God says is theirs. The LORD wants to bring about so many victories, but He needs people of faith that will dare to believe.
  

1 Chronicles 12:2 speaks of some of David’s men who came to him from Saul’s army. It says they used “both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows with the bow.” These men were not all born ambidextrous, but they practiced (probably often and with much repetition) to be able to use both hands the same. This is a good example for us how we need to train for what God has ahead for us. He wants to bring about great victories through our life, so we should cooperate by training now. Of course it is important that we are built up spiritually through God's word and prayer, but there is natural skills that should be learned and cultivated also.