2 Samuel 23:1-12 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 23:1-12. As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first. See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
2 Samuel 23:1 (NIV)
1 These are the last words of David: “The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs:
On verse 1: In the past God used David in many different roles:
– as a shepherd to protect sheep,
– as a king to lead His people,
– as a warrior to defeat giants and a military commander to defeat armies,
– as a priest who leads the people in worship,
– as a writer and singer of His songs.
But in this chapter and the previous chapter, we see God using David in another way: as a prophet who speaks words inspired by the Holy Spirit.
What can we learn from this? Don’t limit what God can do through you. Don’t type cast yourself. Don’t think that just because you are accustomed to serving God in a certain way, that God cannot use you in other ways. In different seasons God could very well want to use you in different or additional ways to help others.
Also, the fact that David served as a prophet, priest and king foreshadows how Jesus the Son of David would later serve as God’s greatest prophet, our great high priest, and the King of kings.
2 Samuel 23:2-3a (NIV)
2 “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God,
On verses 2-3a: In the past when David would inquire of the Lord, he would often do so with the help of priests and prophets who would inquire on his behalf and then tell David what they heard. But here David tells of an experience where he sensed God speaking His word directly into David’s heart, what we call a rhema word from God.
I pray that as you grow closer in intimacy with the Holy Spirit, as you get more of the Bible in your heart, you will hear Him speak not only through preachers and teachers or through godly people you consult, but that you would hear the Holy Spirit speaking His rhema word directly to your heart. Some of the most powerful and important things God has ever spoken to me — words that have sustained me through my toughest times — were rhema words that the Holy Spirit spoke directly to my heart.
If you desire to hear more of God’s rhema word spoken to your heart, then make studying the Scriptures, memorizing them and spending quality time with the Holy Spirit your priority. That’s because the Holy Spirit uses the language of Scripture to speak to you. He will never say anything to you that contradicts His Word. So the more you have God’s Word in your heart, the more equipped you will be to hear the voice of God speaking to you.
One more tip about hearing God’s voice: Especially if you’re still learning to hear the voice of God, it helps to check what you think you might be hearing with a godly Christian friend in your life, to help make sure you are on the right track.
2 Samuel 23:3b-4 (NIV)
3 The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God,
4 he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.’
On verses 3b-4: What is the meaning of these verses? Here David is sharing a powerful leadership lesson that the Holy Spirit spoke to him: when a leader seeks to do what is right and to honour God with his decisions, it affects his environment, his home, his kingdom, and his territory of influence in an incredibly positive way. That positive affect is like a sunrise on a cloudless morning or like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after the rain (v3-4). A just, God-fearing leader brings life, light, hope and warmth to those around him.
You too have been given a sphere of influence, a territory over which God has made you ruler for His glory. It could be your home, your workplace, children in your care, a team you lead, a ministry God has entrusted to you, people God has given you influence over. Seek to rule the territory God has given you with justice, in a way that honours God. Do what is right. When you lead this way, the glory of God will shine on everything and everyone in your territory.
2 Samuel 23:5 (NIV)
5 “Is not my house right with God? Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire?
On verse 5: The covenant God made with David is like the covenant God made with you and me in Christ: it is everlasting, arranged and secured in every part. Praise God! Like David we are so blessed in Christ!
2 Samuel 23:6-7 (NIV)
6 But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand.
7 Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie.”
On verses 6-7: In verses 3-5 David said that when a leader seeks to honour God, he will experience God’s hand of blessing on his life. In contrast, verses 6-7 talk about how when men are evil, God will withhold His blessing and His presence from them. His hand will not get close to them because He is too holy. Like thorns they are destined to perish. It is only because of God’s mercy expressed through Jesus Christ that sinners like us can escape the fate of evil men and have the hand of God’s blessing on our lives.
2 Samuel 23:8 (NIV)
8 These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.
On verses 8-12: Who were David’s mighty men? They were a group of over 30 men who fought closely alongside David and who were valiant and accomplished warriors in their own right. Verses 8 to 12 mention Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah. Notice that each of them fought bravely against incredible odds and “the Lord brought about a great victory” (v10, 12).
What can we learn from this? If your back is against the wall and you are facing what seems like an impossible situation, be brave like Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah and trust that God will bring about a great victory.
Father, thank You for all the lessons we can learn from Your Word today. Thank You that You rule over us in righteousness and justice, and as a result there is light that shines on us every day. Thank You that the covenant You make with us is everlasting, arranged and secured in every part. Therefore, though we may face difficulties today, we can fight bravely and not be afraid because we know that in Your time You will bring about a great victory. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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