DAVID A man after God's own heart.

Good morning.  Sabbath is such a wonderful time.  Last Sabbath I had the privilege of being with the women of Main at the Northern New England Conference. I listened to powerful messages brought by Lynn Ortel and sang praises with Carolyn.  What a blessing it was.  However nothing beats being home in my home church with my church family.

Question of the Day:  What is your favorite movie about war?


READ: 2 Samuel 8:1-18

David’s Military Victories

8 After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath, their largest town.[a] 2 David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared. The Moabites who were spared became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money.

3 David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when Hadadezer marched out to strengthen his control along the Euphrates River. 4 David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers,[b]and 20,000 foot soldiers. He crippled all the chariot horses except enough for 100 chariots.

5 When Arameans from Damascus arrived to help King Hadadezer, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 Then he placed several army garrisons in Damascus, the Aramean capital, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money. So the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

7 David brought the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers to Jerusalem,8 along with a large amount of bronze from Hadadezer’s towns of Tebah[c]and Berothai.

9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had destroyed the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Joram to congratulate King David for his successful campaign. Hadadezer and Toi had been enemies and were often at war. Joram presented David with many gifts of silver, gold, and bronze.

11 King David dedicated all these gifts to the Lord, as he did with the silver and gold from the other nations he had defeated— 12 from Edom,[d]Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek—and from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 So David became even more famous when he returned from destroying 18,000 Edomites[e] in the Valley of Salt. 14 He placed army garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. In fact, the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

15 So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people. 16 Joab son of Zeruiah was commander of the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian. 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were the priests. Seraiah was the court secretary. 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard.[f] And David’s sons served as priestly leaders.

Well isn't this an uplifting passage.  Reading passage after passage of war is exhausting.  It isn't my favorite part of this amazing story.

In verse one, the first few words tell us we need to review chapter 7.  What is this chapter coming after?  

David had just been told by God that he wasn't going to build the temple, but that his offspring would. He was told no by God to something he thought was to be his mission.

When we first met David who was he?

What had he done as a shepherd boy?

When David was crowned king what did God say about who he was?

Here in this passage David is going back to what he was born to do.  David fought the lion and the bear to protect his flock and now as the shepherd of Israel he was protecting his new flock from the lion and the bear.  

David was a warrior.  The best kind of warrior.  

What made David a good warrior?

1. Motive
2. Who or What
3. Plan 
4. Skill
5. Fight
6. Glory

I said earlier that I wasn't a warrior.  Yet I think it is safe to say that we are all warriors.  So let's take a moment and look at the list above.  It is vital that we understand first our motive, then who we are fighting, we need to develop a plan, understand our skill set, develop skills as needed, dive in and fight, and in the end, give all the glory to the one who gives us victory... God!!!

1. MOTIVE

Why is motive important? 

This story makes me sick to my stomach if the motive is just about David getting richer and making his kingdom stronger.  It is wrong and evil.  Yet if it is that he is protecting God's people, that he is keeping those safe that he is in charge of, then... then it is admirable.  There is no place for war to glorify and build up self!  David was a shepherd.  He was fighting against those who were trying to destroy God's people. His motive, to serve God by doing what he was called to do, Shepherd. 

Are we fighting for self? 

Are we fighting for our own ambition or glory?

What are you fighting for?

Understanding our motive can help us clear up what the fight is all about and will either give us the strength to  fight or the humility to stop the fight.

What is our motive?

2. WHO OR WHAT 

Next it is important to understand who or what we are fighting!

Identifying it can be powerful.

Are we fighting against evil?

Are we fighting against each other?

In the movie the war room, identifying what she (the main character) was fighting against helped her to know how to  change her tactics and develop her skills.  It is important we understand who we are fighting and why. Too many times we are fighting against the wrong thing, the wrong person.  Too many times we forget the real enemy and just fight. 

If you find yourself in a relationship where you are fighting all the time.  I want to challenge you to stop the fighting, don't engage, don't participate in it until you spend some time with God helping you understand who and what you are really fighting. 

Who are you fighting?

3. PLAN

It is always best to have a plan.  Battle plans and strategies are extremely important.  It keeps us from just flying off the handle, or flaring around like a crazy person.  

How should we devise a battle plan?

Pray

Spend time with God reading his word.

Talk to someone you trust who demonstrates they have a walk with God.

4. SKILL

Sometimes we don't have the skill needed and we need sometime on the hillside watching the sheep and letting God help us develop the skills needed.  Be willing to wait on God's time and work on the skills he is asking you to work on.  

David was a great warrior because from a very young age he was working on his skills with God's help.  

5. FIGHT

We have to actually do the fighting.

Too many times I plan, develop skills and then fall through on the follow through.  There is no power in talking about, dreaming about, or planning on fighting.  We actually have to be willing to fight! We have to step out onto the battle field. 

6. GLORY

Give God the glory!!!!!!!  We must always remember that no battle is ever won unless it is God doing the work!  He and only He wins wars and battles.  If we have him fighting with us, through us, for us, then victory will come, and victory will be HIS!

David gave God the glory as a shepherd boy, as a young man facing the skilled warrior, as a king.  No matter how talented you are, and no matter how skilled you are at battle, it is all nothing if we don't give God the glory!

Are you ready to fight?

We are living in an environment where battles and wars are necessary.  Some battles are private and in our own hearts and minds, and some will be public.  Some will be short and easily won and others like the Philistines will keep coming back again and again and we will have to keep fighting.

Are you ready to be a warrior?