{"id":34243,"date":"2025-01-16T22:00:23","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T05:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/2-samuel_23_1-12-copy\/"},"modified":"2025-01-07T12:53:24","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T19:53:24","slug":"2-samuel_23_13-39","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/2-samuel_23_13-39\/","title":{"rendered":"A worship offering"},"content":{"rendered":"

2 Samuel 23:13-39\u00a0 \u00a0 (CLICK HERE FOR\u00a0BIBLE VERSES)<\/a><\/p>\n

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Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is 2 Samuel 23:13-39.\u00a0 As usual,\u00a0I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.\u00a0 See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!<\/p>\n

2<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Samuel<\/em><\/strong>\u00a023<\/em><\/strong>:<\/em><\/strong>13<\/em><\/strong>-17 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n13<\/sup>\u00a0<\/em>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.\u00a0<\/em>
\n14\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.\u00a0<\/em>
\n15\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”\u00a0<\/em>
\n16\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD.\u00a0<\/em>
\n17\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>“Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses\u00a013-17:\u00a0 David is hiding in the cave of Adullam.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Who knows if this was just a passing wish or a deep, heartfelt desire, but David\u2019s famous three warriors \u2013 Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar and Shammah \u2013 took David\u2019s request seriously.\u00a0 So much so that \u201cthe Three\u201d break through the Philistine camp just to get water from the well that David spoke of and carry the water back to David.<\/p>\n

David is so touched by the Three\u2019s willingness to risk their lives just to satisfy his wish for water.\u00a0 He feels it would be taking their courage and love for granted if he drank that water.\u00a0 Instead, he pours it out before the Lord as a worship offering.<\/p>\n

Why did David pour this water out on the ground instead of drinking it?\u00a0 Wasn\u2019t that a waste of water, not to mention a waste of the Three\u2019s efforts?\u00a0 No.\u00a0 David realized that the water he held in his hand was no ordinary water.\u00a0 The water in his hand had become immeasurably precious because three of David\u2019s mightiest warriors risked their lives to get it.<\/p>\n

David did not feel it was right or appropriate for him to drink this water and to accept this sacrifice for himself.\u00a0 Instead, by pouring it out, he was offering it to God, as if to say, \u201cGod alone is worthy of this kind of sacrifice.\u201d<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?\u00a0 Two lessons.\u00a0 First,\u00a0never take for granted the way others sacrifice themselves for you.<\/strong>\u00a0 That includes the Lord Jesus, who broke through enemy lines and gave his life so that you could have living water.\u00a0 That includes the people in your life who have given of themselves sacrificially so that you would be blessed.\u00a0 Treasure the ways they put your interests ahead of their own.<\/p>\n

Second, some things are too precious for us to keep for ourselves.\u00a0 Some gifts we receive are so great that the only appropriate thing to do is to offer them to God.\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t keep what is most precious for yourself. \u00a0 Give what is most precious in your hand to God.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0That’s always the best use of the treasure God has given you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Samuel<\/em><\/strong>\u00a023<\/em><\/strong>:18-19 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n18\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three.\u00a0<\/em>
\n19\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 18-19:\u00a0 Abishai was Joab\u2019s younger brother.\u00a0 Joab was a bigger talker and more charismatic than Abishai, but Joab was also much more selfish and ruthless.\u00a0 Though Joab initially rose up as the more prominent, \u201csuccessful\u201d leader, in the end Abishai was included among the Thirty and even became commander of the Thirty, whereas Joab is not even mentioned among David\u2019s mighty men.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Abishai turned out to be one of David\u2019s best team players, and at the same time no one in David\u2019s army is credited with more individual military accomplishments than Abishai.\u00a0 What can we learn from this?\u00a0\u00a0Team success and individual success go hand in hand.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>When you play hard not just for yourself but for your team, your team will accomplish more and you will accomplish more than if you had only focused on yourself.<\/p>\n

2<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Samuel<\/em><\/strong>\u00a023<\/em><\/strong>:20-<\/em><\/strong>23<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n20\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab’s best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.\u00a0<\/em>
\n21\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.\u00a0<\/em>
\n22\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men.\u00a0<\/em>
\n23<\/sup>\u00a0He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 20-23:\u00a0 Benaiah was famous for killing a lion (v20) and an Egyptian (v21).\u00a0 Scripture sometimes uses the lion as a picture for Satan (e.g. 1 Peter 5:8) and the Egyptian as a picture for the world (e.g. Revelation 11:8).<\/p>\n

Just as Benaiah boldly defeated the lion and overcame the Egyptian, Jesus defeated Satan and overcame the world.\u00a0 As children of God, through our faith in Christ we have overcome Satan and the world too<\/strong>\u00a0(see 1 John\u00a02:13-14 and 5:4-5).<\/p>\n

2<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Samuel<\/em><\/strong>\u00a023<\/em><\/strong>:24-39 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n24\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem\u2026<\/em>
\n39\u00a0<\/sup><\/em>and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 24-39:\u00a0 Notice that David\u2019s mighty men came from different backgrounds, yet they all served with courage and excellence toward one common goal: the protection and expansion of David\u2019s kingdom.\u00a0\u00a0You too are among those whom Jesus the Son of David has selected to help protect and expand His territory.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Like David\u2019s thirty, may you fight for Jesus courageously and serve Him with excellence.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finally, it is appropriate that Uriah the Hittite, who fought valiantly for David and yet was murdered by David, was included among David\u2019s mighty men (v39).\u00a0 No one gave up his life for David quite the way Uriah did.\u00a0 It is fitting that he was honoured after his death for his sacrifice.<\/p>\n

Father, thank You for all the mighty men and women You have used in my life, people who gave themselves sacrificially so that I could have living water and be well protected.\u00a0 May I never take their Christ-like sacrifices for granted.\u00a0 In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n

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opyright \u00a9 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is 2 Samuel 23:13-39.\u00a0 As usual,\u00a0I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.\u00a0 See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!\u00a0<\/p>\n

2\u00a0Samuel\u00a023:13-17 (NIV)\u00a0
\n13\u00a0During 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.\u00a0
\n14\u00a0At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On verses\u00a013-17:\u00a0 David is hiding in the cave of Adullam.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Who knows if this was just a passing wish or a deep, heartfelt desire, but David\u2019s famous three warriors \u2013 Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar and Shammah \u2013 took David\u2019s request seriously.\u00a0 So much so that \u201cthe Three\u201d break through the Philistine camp just to get water from the well that David spoke of and carry the water back to David.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34245,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34243"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34247,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34243\/revisions\/34247"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}