Archive for category: GAMEtime Sharing

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 23:13-39.  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 23:13-17 (NIV) 
13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 
14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 

On verses 13-17:  David is hiding in the cave of Adullam.  He expresses a desire that someone get him a drink of water from a well near the gate of Bethlehem, which was occupied by the Philistines.  Who knows if this was just a passing wish or a deep, heartfelt desire, but David’s famous three warriors – Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar and Shammah – took David’s request seriously.  So much so that “the Three” break through the Philistine camp just to get water from the well that David spoke of and carry the water back to David.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 22:44-51.  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! 

Remember that God has 2 purposes in these verses.  The first purpose of these verses is to recount history, to tell of what God had already done in David’s life, how God delivered David from his enemies and made him the head of nations.  But there is a second purpose.  It’s record prophecy and tells of what God would do in the future in and through the life of Jesus Christ.  Let’s go!

2 Samuel 22:44-46 (NIV)
44  “You have delivered me from the attacks of my people; you have preserved me as the head of nations. People I did not know are subject to me,
45  and foreigners come cringing to me; as soon as they hear me, they obey me.
46  They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.

On verses 44-46:  God allowed David to suffer much at the hands of his enemies, but ultimately God exalted David as king and head over nations.  

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 22:21-30.  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 22:21-28 (NIV)
21  “The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
22  For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from my God.
23  All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.
24  I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.

On verses 21-28:  How could David, a guy who committed murder, adultery, was a habitual liar for seasons of his life, and a far from perfect husband and father, say what he says in verses 21-28 — things like…

…”I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God” (v22)
…”I have not turned away from his decrees” (v23),

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 21:15-22.  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 21:15-22 (NIV)
15  Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted.
16  And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new [sword], said he would kill David.
17  But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.”

n verses 15-22:  For decades David was known as Israel’s giant killer.  He was the only one who could defeat the Philistine giant Goliath.  Yet in a battle against the Philistines decades later, David is almost killed by a giant of a man called Ishbi-Benob (v15-16).

From that time forward, David would no longer go out to fight with Israel’s armies.  Yet in David’s place a number of David’s men would rise up and become giant killers in their own right.  These brave warriors would defeat various descendants of Rapha, men who were known for being much larger, like giants.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 20:14-26.  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 20:14-22 (NIV)
14  Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him.
15  All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maacah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down,
16  a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.”

On verses 14-22:  Being chased by David’s army, Sheba hides in the city of Abel Beth Maakah (v14).  David’s army starts a siege against the city of Abel Beth Maakah.  They build a siege ramp and use a battering ram to try to knock down the city wall (v15).  A wise woman from Abel Beth Maakah calls out to Joab, leader of David’s army, and questions him on why they are trying to destroy their peaceful city (v16-19).  The wise woman and Joab agree that Joab’s troops will withdraw from the city if the people of Abel Beth Maakah will hand Sheba over to them (v20-21). The people of Abel Beth Maakah then execute Sheba, cut off his head and hand it to Joab, who commands the troops to leave the city alone (v22).