2 Samuel 8 Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Amen. God is good.

He sang beautifully tonight. I was edified and I am excited

to be at a fight in the word with you, but before we begin.

Let's see who remembered from last Friday.

I issued an assignment. In relation to the promises of

God in the word of God that you and I would familiarize

ourselves much more with the goodness of God pertaining to

his particular assurances to us. And so, your assignment was to

look for something that genuinely touch your heart.

And then you can hold onto in stormy seasons and Times of

Temptation and not just to console yourself but to even

bless somebody else at the word would be on the Tip of your

tongue and so I'm not going to call anybody out.

That's that's not a way to teach.

I'm just going to invite those who took that to heart and said

you know I'm going to do this by next Friday.

I'm going to give a verse and not just to show that I

memorized suddenly but to show that I really want to know God's

word for myself, anybody have a verse that they want to share.

Well, there was memorize or something that you've having

your Bible that you're trying to really embed in your heart.

Sure. Beautiful, Philippians, 1:6

Christ Assurance to us that he will work on us and keep us till

the end. What?

A beautiful promise anything else?

Yes. Beautiful, Psalm. 91, powerful

powerful scripture. Yes.

Thank you brother. Any other scripture?

Yes, yes. Amen.

That repeated phrase. Yes, his Mercy doesn't do her

forever. Yeah, sure.

Beautiful Romans 6, powerful chapter.

Yes. Any other scriptures?

Yes. Beautiful.

Some, some 30, you said, yeah, look at the reference, trying to

find the reference. It's important to know the

reference to so that if we don't have a Bible in hand that we can

help others find it, That is a beautiful promise, anything

else? Yes.

Yes, amen. Amen.

Maybe a couple more. Sure.

Amen. Well, we can tell that it really

touches your heart sister. Any other scripture?

Beautiful. Yes, we're using then Phoebe and

then we'll continue our study. Yes, amen.

Wonderful. Wonderful.

Insurance. One more.

Yes, Phoebe. And then you can and okay yes

got it. Yes.

Yes, one of my favorite verses on repentance acts 3:19 repent.

Acts 3:19

That times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

Wonderful May challenge you further.

I know that we live busy lives. Take those verses and etch them

on your soul so that you can say it from memory that will come in

handy. When you don't have a Bible in

hand or when your battery runs out on your iPhone.

That you would have it, ready? You can wield that sword and you

can engage in Warfare with the preparedness.

So, those are wonderful promises.

I hope that you will grow in your hunger to know the promises

of God. We come to 2nd Samuel now.

Chapter 8, Turn your Bibles there with me.

We have an interesting passage before us tonight.

It may not be as gripping as what we studied in the previous

chapter, but it is an intriguing passage nonetheless.

And the reason why I think it is intriguing is because the

content will demand meditation. It's not something that you can

just easily read and, and, and pick up certain truths from a,

from a, just a face value kind of thing.

But it's going to demand. It's going to demand you to

actually think with every verse what is it?

That the Lord is trying to say in this text, what is the

spiritual Insight? What is the nourishment that I

can acquire from this portion of scripture?

I'm going to read these verses but as I read them again, pay

attention. You can easily lose focus

because there's a lot of details to you and it seems like there's

nothing much that this text has to offer.

But that is not true because I hope you and I've studied the

Old Testament long enough to know There's not one piece of

the Bible that has nothing to say to us.

There's something here for us so it's going to be it's going to

be quite a few verses and I can read the whole chapter but

perhaps the first 14 verses so we can have just a framework of

what we're going to uncover tonight.

So keep keep with me here. If you're watching this on a

later time on the recording or if you're with us even now

online also follow along with us and I'm going to ask what stood

out to you. We'll see what we can do from

there. Second Samuel, 81 after this,

David defeated the Philistines and subdued them.

And David took meth a gamma out of the hand of the Philistines

and he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line,

making them lie down on the ground, two lines, he measured

to be put to death and one full line to be spared and the

moabites became Servants of David and brought tribute.

David also defeated had that as ER the son of her hope king of

Zaba and he went to restore his power at the river.

Euphrates and David took for him Seventeen hundred Horsemen and

twenty thousand foot soldiers and David hamstrung all the

Chariot horses but left enough for a hundred chariots and when

the syrians of Damascus came to help had a desert king of Zorba,

David struck down. 22,000 men of the syrians then David put

Garrison's and I removed Damascus and the syrians became

servants to David and brought tribute and the lord gave

Victory to David wherever he went.

And David took the shields of goal that were carried by the

Servants of had that as ER and brought them to Jerusalem and

from beta. And from bharath I cities of had

a taser King. David took very much bronze went

away. I king of Hamas heard that David

had defeated the whole Army of had a taser.

So I sent his son Jesus. Ram to King David to ask about

his health and to bless him because he fought against had as

ER and defeated him for had as their had often been at war with

toe. I injure ambra with him,

particles of, silver of golden of bronze.

These also King David dedicated to the Lord together with the

silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations.

He subdued from Edom, Moab the ammonites the Philistines emelec

and from the spoil of had it as of, the son of rohini, Hope king

of Zaba and David made a name for himself.

When he returned from striking down 18,000 edomites, in the

valley of salt, some translations would say syrians

there's a reason for that. Then he put Garrison's in Edom,

throw all Edom, he put garrisons and all the edomites became

David's servants and the lord gave Victory to David wherever

he went. Did you stick through?

I hope so. Now with that overview, is there

anything that you feel like is And if there's details there

that, you noticed, make make mention of it.

Yes. Yes.

So God is continually assisting David as David's heart has

continually said on glorifying him.

So from what I understand, what you're saying is that the Lord

is the one who's helping David do what he's doing here.

Correct. Yes.

And we were told that a couple of times in this chapter.

Yes. Okay.

Interesting. The moabites remember who they

were remember how they related to David?

We're going to discover that in the moment.

Some of them were spared is there a reason for that?

Well, don't fall asleep. In the Bible study.

Find out anything else. Okay, yeah, so he's dealing with

them in a specific way. It may seem cruel to us

Yeah. So is there a prophetic

fulfillment here? That Esau would serve?

Jacob. I think there is a partial

fulfillment there. Absolutely, yes.

So we see some prophetic accomplishments here so to

speak. Any other observations?

It's a challenging text isn't it?

But it's important to meditate on.

Yes. Yes.

So, our brother here, made a good observation, connecting

chapter 7 with what's happening in chapter 8.

Now, here's an important lesson for you.

When you look at the Bible and you read the Bible, some of the

Bible is written chronologically, right?

So there's a sequence of things happening in a linear timeline,

but the authors of the scripture inspired by the Holy Spirit,

we're not limited to a chronological writing style.

Most of them, many of them, depending on the context wrote

thematically. Thematically.

So all the events in chapter 8, it's throughout the span of

David's Reign, right? And it's placed here right after

chapter 7 for that very purpose, that we just heard that God is

fulfilling his promise that he gave to David about blessing his

household and keeping him and preserving him and prospering

him. So it's important to see chapter

8 as a partial fulfillment of the promises that we studied in

chapter 7. Very good.

Any other observations? Yes.

Oh Lord, you're helping me here is all of this for you all the

bronze, all the gold, all the silver.

What did he end up doing with all that?

By the way, He's going to he's going to use those resources to

build the temple. Yes, good.

Yes, somebody else. Somebody else had their hand up.

I saw somebody else with their hand up.

Okay good. Anything else?

The overview of chapter 8 if we want just a summary of what's

Happening Here. This is really a catalog of the

major Conquest that David accomplished during his Reign

and it's really to showcase the faithfulness of God and one of

the promises among the grand promise of chapter 7

specifically verse 9 of chapter seven, look at it very quickly.

God promised David to make a great name for him.

And that's happening as David is expanding his military presence

and power. A great name is being made for

him. He's becoming a renowned King,

an esteemed ruler and leader a respected man, not just a man,

but man of God. And so that's really the

overview of all of this and when you look at it you can almost

say this could have been summarized in one verse or two

maybe. We could have just looked at the

different enemies that he defeated by name and then we

could have just moved on, perhaps with a footnote that

says, yes, God is fulfilling his promise.

But instead, the Holy Spirit wants to expand on David's

campaigns and dealing with these different enemies and give us

some measure of detail in a neatly listed way, for a reason

to pull us in to have a closer look and to kind of kind of look

for what this might mean for us in our New Covenant context.

This chapter when I read it, it reminded me of our study in the

Book of Joshua, for those who were there.

You know, that the Book of Joshua has heavily emphasizing

of Israel's Ancient Warfare with God's enemies.

And there's a lot of this happening, just like a highlight

reel of how Joshua and the Israelites took over this region

and took over this enemy. And we come here again.

And we might be tempted to deal with this chapter the way many

fall into temptation. When it comes to handling the

Book of Joshua just Skimming over it to hopefully found

something on the surface that could apply to us in a relevant

way. But again, you and I've studied

the Old Testament long enough to know there's much more in here.

There are rubies of Revelation if we just, but excavate, take

our time and meditate to see what it is that the spirit of

God is saying. And I think the best way to

approach this chapter is to establish from a framework point

of view that David here, arguably has conquered a total

of Seven Nations, right? And we read some of them and

we're familiar with some of them.

Whether the Philistines the moabites we have Syria, we have

amalek Edom. Geographically, where do you

think these enemies were placed? On all sides.

West-east north-south, they are surrounding David.

And yet David Is Able by the enabling grace of God to

overcome all of them and we sang it, right?

And one song that this is a prophetic picture of the son of

David, who will come and Rule and Conquer every corner of the

earth and he will inherit the nation's and he will subdue all

of his enemies. And a total A knot in a

partially like David but in a complete way and so we're almost

getting just a taste of what's to come.

What we are anticipating for the physical Rule, and reign of

Jesus Christ, who will actually bring Kings and countries and

Nations to their knees and they will adore him, whether they

want to or not. But is there more than that?

Do we move on just with that? No, I don't think we move on.

I think what we do is we look at how David deals with these

different enemies and we applied the same way we did with the

Book of Joshua. God has made Israel promise

concerning their land, that it would require Faith to know what

God, purchased for them in a physical sense.

Jesus purchased a promise many promises for us and it requires

War to be able to know and experience and abide where he

wants us to be. And so, with New Covenant

lenses, we come to this text and we look at from one point to the

next two, different nations and see how this will enrich our

understanding of how How We Do Warfare in the spirit.

So we look at verse 1 after David defeated the Philistines

and subdue them, David took meth agama out of the hand of the

Philistines Philistines Ancient Ancient enemy to Israel, are

they not? They were persistent aggressors

against the people of God ever since the day of judges.

And now, when we come to this point, we realize that David is

completing what? God raised up Samson to do.

God, raised up Sansone to begin to bring deliverance from the

Philistines, and it was Saul's job to finish it and he didn't.

So David would do it to some degree and so he does show.

Interestingly, he goes to meth egg AMA and he takes it out of

the hands of the Philistines. This is where you have to do a

little extra effort to say, okay what is, is there anything in

that name that might help me understand what's going on here.

And thankfully, there is something in this name that

could help us understand David strategy.

Here, meth a gamma simply means mother City.

Or Bridle of the mother City. This is a key region for the

Philistines. This is an important location,

clearly, it had some kind of support system.

It's supplied and energized, it, it equipped the rest of the

Philistines. And so they really dependent

upon that City to either through survive or Thrive.

David knew that he didn't waste his time going to other towns

before he got there. Because you realize if I don't,

if I don't go for the Allure. Then everything around that is

just going to continue to be strengthened by methane gamma.

So let's just go right for the heart.

Let's go for the mother City and then we'll be able to overcome

her children, so to speak. And so David, really is coming

here with a strategy. He's not coming recklessly is

not just coming with wishful thinking.

And here's what I present to you based on that Revelation that

you and I are called to do the same with our war against sin,

we are called to be Tactical. Okay.

We are called to be mindful. We are called to be careful.

We're not called to just have this desire to overcome sin,

it's going to require more than that.

There needs to be a sense in which we understand why certain

things are happening. Where temptation is coming from

how to limit ourselves from influences, that will encourage

the impulses of the Flesh. And then to deal with it, right?

Unfortunately, many people don't think this way because they

don't consider that there is a war going on.

Every single day with their flesh.

And because of that, they are not wise, nor are they forceful

enough to deal with the things of the flesh.

If David's attitude is teaching us anything, it's that wishing

to be wholly is not enough to be holy, right?

Wishful thinking is not going to do it.

Your desire to be a godly man or a godly woman is not going to

bring you to that place. It's going to require calculated

effort while we partner with the spirit of God to get there.

Then Jesus give us so many hints and to that kind of mindset.

What did he say? Matthew 5:29, and and 30 you'd

Matthew 5:29

have to turn there. You know, it very well if your

right hand causes you to sin. What do you do tear it out?

Tear it out for this better that you lose one of your members and

your whole body be thrown into hell.

And if your right hand causes you to sin, do the same thing,

cut it off, tear it off, throw it away because it's better to

have one less member of your body then to have all of it and

to be thrown into hell. It's Jesus encouraging literal

mutilation of the flesh. For Holiness as a means of

Holiness, know some people over history did think so.

This is a figurative way of trying to illustrate a powerful

point in terms of practical Holiness.

Okay? Anybody here want to sell one of

your eyes for a billion dollars? No, you cherish your vision,

don't you? You won't even.

Give up one of your eyes. You want to give up half of your

one eye. You cherish your eyes, you

cherish your ability to see you, cherish your Mobility, your

agility, the the the design that God is giving it to be able to

do maximum movement and strength.

You want to give up your right hand for anything.

And yet Jesus, here is using the things that we prize and cherish

on a day-to-day basis to say, even the most valuable things

that you hold to in life are worthy to be given up for the

sake of preserving your righteousness.

And evading sin. It's worth Extreme Measures to

cut off things in life with dramatic, desire and force.

In order for you to be liberated from anything that would try to

drag you into a place that can do damage to your soul.

So so even that Jesus is trying to say when you see the very

thing that's moving you in a direction that you don't want to

go deal with it. Notice it study, it realized, I

understand who you are, right? Look At yourself, look at your

patterns. Look at your habits.

Is there anything that is inspiring you to be less in love

with the Lord. Will kill it.

Go for that and I think because of this, this lack of desire and

seriousness is causing people to have just prolonged unnecessary

battles for years, right? Because they're dealing with the

fruit. They're not getting to the root.

they're just again just wishful thinking and they're waiting for

the next convicting sermon to make them cry to inspire them

long enough to last for tomorrow, by lunchtime ain't

going to work There's got to be, there's got to come a time,

where you sit down, look at your life, examine your life.

Seeing where is, where are things going wrong here?

Am I lazy? And am I just careless?

What I put before my eyes. What's going on for me?

Not gaining strength, spiritually.

And in Jesus, once you identify it, take it out.

And I'm sure. David here is inspiring Us in

that sense calls for a mindfulness of the elements.

I would encourage us. It calls for us to look at the,

the lifelines of things that are keeping us away from fullness in

Christ and then going for it, dealing with it.

By the way, this is going to be surface-level things as we touch

on each of these different nations.

So now we come to the moabites in verse 2 and he defeated Moab

and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on

the ground, two lines, he measured to be put to death and

one full line to be spared and the moabites became servants to

David and brought tribute. unlike the Philistines, the

nation of Moab was not always an enemy to David, How do we know

that? What, what's one instance, that

we know that David's relationship with Moab is a

little bit more complicated? It's not clearly defined like

the Philistines, okay, Ruth? Yeah.

But more than that, something happened during David's life.

Exactly. When David was initially an

exile and fleeing from Saul's murderous plot, he entrusted his

parents into the hands of the king of Moab remember that.

And he has to please take care of Mom and Dad, and the

reasoning for that is as we heard David, had some Mo B blood

in him. And I'm sure the moabites knew

that about David as well, for them to be willing to open their

doors for David to have his parents come and stay with them.

But what David experience with Marvin and David's history with

mob is not the same as Israel's history with Moab because mob,

as long as Israel was a nation harassed, the people of God and

severe ways. What are the two most prominent

ways? Notorious ways?

That Moab proved to be an enemy to the nation of Israel?

What's that? Yeah, they worship false gods

but directly with the nation of Israel.

What did they do? okay, so there is that where

they try to pass through Moab, which is just before the Border

going into the nation of Israel, but even before that What did

what did the moabites do? Okay, think think Wilderness

Journey. Okay, that's one.

But there's something even before that, we'll get to that

one in a moment. Numbers numbers numbers, numbers

numbers, who curse or tried to curse the Israelites, huh,

Balaam? The king of Moab hired.

Balaam curse this nation. They're going to devour us.

They're going to take over us and so the king of more

attempted to actually curse the people of God, it didn't work.

So then, what did they do? Numbers 25, the moabites took

their beautiful woman and have him strut through the camp of

Israel and tempted, the men and the men were seduced.

And they begin to not just physically, but spiritually, be

seduced to worship false gods. And it caused havoc.

And that's when Finn, he's got up and he dealt with the

compromise, remember that? That's the history between Moab

and Israel. And David here though, he has a

different kind of relationship chooses to attack Moab, even

though they were gracious to him on a personal level.

Why? Why is that happening?

Something must have happened between David being shown favor,

from the moabites to take care of his parents and David,

becoming King. Here's the thing.

We have no idea. We have no idea what happened

and so there's speculation, right?

And ancient commentators to this more Jewish commentators, Jewish

commentators. A lot of times they love

bringing commentaries based on speculation.

Here's what some would say. Well, the moabites eventually

killed. David's parents.

And so David wants to take revenge upon the moabites we but

that's not told anywhere in the scripture.

So, I don't want to complicate, and I don't want to rely on just

guessing what happened, but I think what we can say here is

that mob clearly committed to their hatred for the nation of

Israel, whether or not David was King, they didn't care if David

was King. If he was the assistant to the

king even after David became king, they showed themselves to

be enemies of Israel still. And because David was King, he

had a duty He had a duty to protect the people of God and to

fulfill his role. As a king, you're going to touch

the apple of God's eye. I'm going to have to deal with

you. So he attacks the moabites and

he goes to war against them. He had a choice to make.

Listen, it's a choice that every single one of us has to make in

this life. And you know what it is.

It's simple if our duty and our allegiance to God, Will take

precedence over our preferences in our priorities, in this life.

Every single one of us has to make that choice.

David had to make the difficult choice.

I have mobile blood in me, but because the Mo B hate, my God,

they hate his word hate. His people, hate his promises

trying to thwart the promises. I have to stand against the

moabites. None of us in here are even

worthy to be a disciple if you don't hate your mother and your

father, your brother, your sister, your wife.

Yes. Even your own children.

Yes. Even your own life.

Hate actual hate. Remember, we were at a

conference and a friend share that and the pastor's son.

Lifted his hand. He says, am I supposed to hate

my dad? Are you were gonna get in

trouble? Now as Pastor son, as his

question, not literal hate. but, Your love for God should so

outshine. Every single love that you have

in this life you should make it look like hate.

That's what that's what Jesus is trying to imply in terms of

preference of Allegiance. And you have to make that

choice. We have to all make that choice.

And if we can't determine in our hearts, Lord, I will go where

you want me to go. Even if my wife doesn't go, even

if my cousins. Even if my children don't want

to go, I will obey. I will be faithful by your

grace. You're not even worthy to be a

disciple. That is how beautiful and worthy

and infinitely glorious. He is that the closest

relationships to you are nothing in light of your love for him.

now, once we walk with him though we do fulfill a

responsibility to those who are in our lives, whether they are

saved or unsaved but when it comes to making a choice of

obeying God or pleasing your family or holding on to

traditional cultures that have been passed down for centuries,

Or relationships that have provided so much for your life.

But at the same time, hate the cross.

And hate the grace of God, you have to make a choice.

And I have to make a choice, David made a difficult choice,

but it didn't seem that. He showed much hesitation, let's

go to verse 3. David also defeated.

Now we come to the third Nation had that, as ER, the son of her

hope king of Zorba, we don't know much about Zorba.

But all we know up to this point is that David has dealt with his

enemies from the West. The Philistines, he's dealt with

his enemies from the East, the moabites.

Now he's going north Now, he's going to fight against the

syrians and Zaba are syrians. There are part of A Confederacy

of other syrians. There's many kings in Syria's,

Oba is one region, had advisors the king of Zaba and David is

choosing to go to war with them. And verse 3, really piqued my

interest when I looked at it. As he went to restore his power

at the river, Euphrates. If you want to take the time to

look at where the river Euphrates is and Northbound.

It's like deep. It's like in Syria.

It's far up there. and so, when I read this, at first, I thought

to myself is David stepping out of bounds Of the promised land

to try to occupy that which the Lord did not Grant him.

That was my question. When I read that verse, does

anybody know the answer to that question?

Is David going out of bounds? He's not, why isn't he?

Very good. Do you remember the reference?

No, not before before Deuteronomy for before Joshua

Genesis, do you want to know how David is actually in obedience?

Go to Genesis 15:18? Look What the Lord said to

Genesis 15:18

Abraham in Genesis 15:18. This was the initial Covenant

Genesis 15:18

that God made with Abraham concerning the land.

And the land is much larger than what your imagination, conjures

up. When you think of the promised

land on that day, the Lord made a covenant with Abram before

Abraham became Abraham saying to your Offspring.

I I give this land from the river of Egypt.

That's pretty South. To the Great River.

The river Euphrates. Interesting.

According to promise, God's promise to Abraham.

You know what David is doing. He's believing the Lord about

what was given to Israel to begin with and David.

As long as he had the authority, and the power wanted to know the

full measure of God's will. He wanted to know the greatest

extent of what God had assured, the nation of Israel.

And when I looked at this, I thought the reach of David's

military campaign is an inspiration to the believer in

their eagerness to know, all to stretch your soul to know all

that some. But all that the Lord Jesus

Christ has purchased. In terms of your inheritance

spiritually, I want to know everything that Jesus has for me

in this life and it's so strange because you have so many

believers who are Content withdrawing their little

boundaries and to live and just a corner of the will of God.

And not say, I want to expand to exhibit to everything that the

Lord purchased with his blood and deposit it in my Heart by

the spirit. And I don't know why that is.

But it is, God has so much more territory for you.

And I to occupy, but the very same thing that it required

Joshua to know and what required David to know is the same thing

that you and I need to tap into two.

I even know the beginnings of these things faith.

Faith. You need to believe the Lord.

You need to believe the Lord. And that's why partly why I

encourage you. Look at the promises of God and

ask yourself, is this something that I can hold on to?

His is something I really believe in my life?

And because, you know what, you have Christians, you ask them.

Well, what are the promises that Jesus purchased?

Will he forgive me of my sins for all for all of you?

That's wonderful. That's great.

You have eternal life. That's the foundation and yet

they're Limited in that, understand it, they don't know

what else. What else, the Lord in his?

Will he signed off on and gave and put into your hands that you

can take to the bank and say this is mine and I want to know

it. Can I give you an example?

First Thessalonians 5, 16 to 18, you don't have to turn there if

you want to you can. This is what I'm trying to talk

about Rejoice always. Pay attention Rejoice always

pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Now, we took that and we put on T-shirts, We took that and we

put it on a nice writing font and we put it on a wall

somewhere. I want to know what in my life.

You know what? I take from that verse those two

verses Rejoice always pray, without ceasing give, thanks in

all circumstances because of the will of Jesus Christ.

I can no Perpetual uninterrupted.

Joy communion with God and gratitude in all things.

Now, either we're satisfied to put it on it.

T-shirt and wear it at a conference or drink it out of

our coffee or coffee cup. Whatever.

Or we can say Lord, if this is what you purchased it this is

your will I want to know it? Take me there.

Empower me to know continual Joy, continual communion with

you unending. Gratitude unto you.

This is what I'm trying to say. I hope this is coming off clear

here. That is experiential, theology.

that's something that you and I can actually tap into But if you

require Faith the same way that it required faith for Joshua to

get in and David to go beyond all the way to the border and to

live in abide where God had brought him for you.

And I are not going to grow much in the Lord you and I are not

going to grow much in the Lord. You know, it's amazing.

When you look at This is all over the scripture and this is a

verse that many mostly Prosperity preachers have taken

out of context, but I want to read it to you and 3, John

third, John, third Epistle of John, verse 2.

It's a greeting that he gives to Gaius and John says, beloved.

I pray that it all may go well with you and that you may be in

good health as it goes well with your soul other translations,

actually, most word-for-word translations, don't say may go

well with you. What would he say?

Say Scott. That you may Prosper.

That's when the prosperity preacher.

See God wants you to prosper and all things and in your health

and the focus is on the wrong thing.

What John is saying to Gaius is I want everything in your life

to be as prosperous as your soul is.

Ask yourself this question if my physical health. if there is a

reverse of the take place that my spiritual health was to

replace my physical health, how healthy would actually be That's

a good question, isn't it? Would my physical world be

prosperous if the prosperity of my soul were to translate into

that and that a wonderful question.

There are a lot of people who might be prospering physically

prospering in this, prospering even in health.

But their soul is all shriveled up and their spiritual

skeletons. But what that also shows me is

that God Longs for our souls to prosper that our walk with him.

And all the spiritual blessings would overflow.

We just overflow. That's what he desires for us.

But yet many Believers, John, wouldn't able to say that to

them? And that's a sad place to be.

And part of the reason why is because like Zaba there are

obstacles in our way, there's an enemy who doesn't want us to

prosper in such a way and we have to be willing to say,

whatever the flesh tries to do all the fears and seductions.

I'm willing to go against it just like David did with this

faux so that I can be where God wants me to be.

And so, let me give an example. How that looks, I look at

Rejoice, always, pray, without ceasing give, thanks in all

circumstances and I pray it, I pray those verses.

I said, Lord, either your Trading.

Here are my faith is not great. Either either, this is not true,

it's just poetic license or I'm satisfied in something less than

what you are bringing here before me.

And this text I want to be one who can always Rejoice.

I want to be able to walk day by day with all that I have to do

and still have my heart connected with you.

I want to be able to genuinely give, thanks in all

circumstances. Even if my health is not

prospering, even if things are falling apart, I want my soul to

prosper. Brothers and sisters be inspired

to walk in that. Don't settle for anything less

the Lord made a great purchase for it.

Now, notice what I was David did in verse 4 of second Samuel 8

and David took from him at Seventeen hundred Horsemen

20,000 foot soldiers and David hamstrung all the Chariot horses

but left enough for a hundred chariots.

Why is that important detail? So in other words, he took all

the Chariots of Zorba and he slit the back of their legs, the

horses. So they would be unable to Even

move. Insignificant detail.

No. Do you know why the Bible is

telling us that David did this? Because the Holy Spirit wants to

show us that David meticulously obeyed the law of God as a king

ring, a bell. Ring a bell.

No. Okay.

Where was probably the most explicit set of commands that

God had given for the nation of Israel concerning their kings.

Deuteronomy chapter 17, remember that you're not supposed to have

Deuteronomy 17 · chapter mention

many wives, That's what's required, much gold or silver

and there was another one You remember now, right Deuteronomy

17. 16 this was a law for kings and in Deuteronomy 17, 16 only

he must not acquire many horses. For himself or caused the people

to return to Egypt. In order to acquire many horses

since the Lord has said to you, you shall never return that way

again. David is obeying that law when

he comes to his Oba and he kills these horses, He is trying to

avoid which is encouraging and disappointed the same time

because when it came to the not acquiring many wives, he seemed

to just ignore that verse. I don't know why but he did and

it's really speaks about our willingness to pick and choose

things that we like. And that we favor David is

obeying God in this way in this aspect.

He is why did God give this command to the Kings?

Exactly Psalm 20 verse 7. You don't have to turn there but

Psalms 20:7

it just a reference David said some trust in chariots.

Some trust in horses. But we will trust in the name of

the Lord. David understood the principle

of this restrictive. Command.

Don't acquire many horses because I don't want you to

become overly dependent upon your military strength, namely

this advanced technology of the day these chariots I don't want

you to rely on that. I want you at all times to rely

on me. So so reserve the Temptation by

removing yourself from acquiring.

These things and remain in the place of dependency on me.

Now that's specific to Kings but the principle is the same for

all of us today especially in a day where things are very

unstable, right? And and the Temptation part of

spiritual warfare is for the enemy, to try to lure, you to

place, your trust in something. Other than God, it could be a

person. It can be a set of possessions.

It can be politics, that's part of spiritual warfare because the

moment, we place our faith in something else to provide to

empower We dishonor God and we cut off the the blessings that

come through the channel of Faith.

So it's a wonderful strategy on his part.

And so be careful. Believer.

Where does your rest come from in your mind?

Where's your emphasis in this time of history?

Is that money? Is that weapons?

Is it possessions? What is it?

Now it would be unwise to say that.

We're so Heavenly minded were floating through this world and

we don't touch anything on Earth.

He didn't say don't acquire horses, completely, not many

horses important. In other words, don't let the

weight of your trust fall into these things.

But in all things, keep your eyes on me and realize that I'm

the very thing that can take care of the very limited things

that you have and move you where exactly you need to be that's

the attitude of the believer. And so you and I have to

understand that though this was for Kings as Sons and Daughters

of the king is still true for us as well.

And David understood that he obeyed.

And he moved forward. Now, let's come to verse 5.

Verse 5, he deals with the syrians, right?

And when the syrians of Damascus came to help out at had as their

king of Zaba. David struck, 22,000 of them.

The connection between David's Warfare with the syrians, has to

do with the syrians in Alliance with Joe Buck tried to help them

and David's like bad move and he kills them.

Now I'm not going to elaborate on that because it's going to

complement the next, the next nation that he deals with.

So let's just move to verse 9. Out of all the list of enemies.

This one stands out the most. Tall.

I king of hamath heard that David had defeated the whole

Army of had it as her. And what does he do?

He sent his son. Joe.

I'm the king of the tooth King David to ask about his health

and to bless him because he fought against had it as, ER,

and defeated him. The reason why this king is

unique, why? Because there's no Warfare here,

there's no battle. There's no retaliation.

Toy realizes, Who David is what he's capable of doing?

And he pledges his allegiance to him by expressing gratitude, and

a desire for Peace by supplying these resources.

Wise man. Very wise man.

And he possesses a wisdom that many Unfortunately today, lack

to their own detriment. And the wisdom that he had was

the ability to recognize that no one can resist God's program.

That's what he realized. No one can resist God's purposes

on the earth, so I will surrender.

Now, I'm not going to be as silly as the syrians who thought

that they can actually put up a fight against the anointed one.

The foolishness of the syrians as we just read was that after

seeing how did Ezra fall apart and seeing that their

Confederacy was week, instead of falling on their face, he puts

up a fight and he still is Williams to actually resist

something that is in conquerable.

That is a picture of the stubbornness of Sinners today,

right? They see how the world does.

In fact, fail them how their their plans, their ideas, leave

them dry, and always lie to them.

And yet still, they're willing to fight against the truth and

they're willing to put their hand up against the Lord say, I

want nothing to do with you. You are my enemy.

And what they will realize is, they should have done what this

King did. Two, why didn't necessarily give

himself over to David out of fear?

The motivating factor was that he saw, what David was able to

do against his enemy. How did Heather was told eyes

enemy and he saw what he was able to do and he goes It's

incredible. You are the true king.

No one can actually come close to what you're capable of doing.

You were able to solve what I had a lifetime to deal with.

Take it all, that's what he's doing here.

How much more, right? Look at verse 9.

When he heard that David had defeated a whole Army.

When he heard that news, his heart was stirred to joyfully

surrender to King David, okay? That is a gospel.

Truth tucked into a war archive in the Old Testament.

That when the World Hears that the son of David in the person

of Jesus Christ has defeated the enemy of all of humanity,

namely, the king of Terrors death, the appropriate response

is this, there is no one like you.

You have the power to overcome sin and the grave.

You have my allegiance. Take all that.

I have it belongs to you. I want to be at peace with the

Prince of Peace. And so he does surrender out of

a joy and an understanding in a revelation that he is good, and

he is powerful, and he is able to subdue that which seems

impossible to us. That is the drawing power of the

Gospel. That is, it's not just you, you

want to go to hell, get out of hell here, part of it, part of

it, some do need to escape with fear from the Flames.

That's what Jew tells us. But generally it's the goodness

of God. That leads us to repentance.

It's when we realize that we are sick and broken and defeated and

here's the great physician who comes to put his foot on the

neck that seems to have their hand on our neck.

And people say, I want to worship this King, I want to

give tribute to this King and it says he blessed David.

And we should bless the Lord. All the days of her life.

Look at verse 11 and 12 quickly. We're almost there.

These also King David dedicated to the Lord, And then verse 12,

we read from Edom, Moab the ammonites the Philistines

amalek. and from the spoil of had it, as of the sun, Ivory

hope, king of Zorba, we know enough about amalek To

comprehend how significant this is right.

Another ancient enemy to the people of Israel, but more

importantly, David's predecessor failed to do what David did here

and that was to subdue amalek. And to have dominion over this

enemy. And when you look at him like

listed here, you have to understand.

That there is something. To say in light of Believers

comparably. What do I mean by that?

You have two kings David and Saul who serve the same God And

went up against the same. Enemy with two totally different

outcomes in life. Right.

Two kings. Same God, same enemy to

different outcomes. In fact, do you want to know how

close? Saul had it to David's life

quickly stopped there? But go.

To First Samuel 14. I want you to see some.

It's quite amazing first. Samuel 14 and look at verse 47.

This is, this is Saul's catalog of the enemies that he went up

against, you're going to notice something.

In 1st, Samuel 1447. When saw had taken the kingship

over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side,

every side, right against Moab against the ammonites against

Edom, against the kings of soba, and against the Philistines.

Wherever he turned here out of them, are those the same?

Are they not the same? They're the same.

So, let's not get into this. David had it easier.

David hat was more of a warrior than same enemies.

Same God, same promises. Same assignment.

Different outcomes. You can have two Believers

professing Christians born again at the same time they have the

same Bible. They come to the same church.

They hear the same teaching. They have the same devil to

fight against their living in the same corrupt World in

journeying through it. They have the same Holy Spirit

and yet two different outcomes throughout the years.

Not true. It is true, right?

It is true. What's the difference?

Was amalek stronger with Saul weaker, would know.

David had a hunger, a faith, a drive, a humility.

That opened his life up to less tragedy and more treasure in

God, Saul clogged. Self-absorbed.

So busy fighting with his own Brethren.

He had little to no strength and mindfulness to fight against his

real enemy. And the trajectory of his life

was a disaster. He exited this world in a

humiliating way and it's nobody's fault except Sol's.

And I think when I look at this, as I read it even during the

break, you can have the same congregation.

They hear the same sermons. They have access to the elders

in the same way. They have the same loving,

family and yet. Over the years, two different

directions. Guess whose fault.

I say this in love. Not your leaders.

Do they have responsibility? Not God.

Not because you have a different Bible.

It's yours. You can have as much of God as

you want. You can actually grow from glory

to glory. But you have to make that

choice. And that's what I take from

this. David was able to overcome

amalek when Saul couldn't, and it's not because David had

something special. The only thing you had was a

heart that was split open and Brokenness before the Lord day

by day. That's it.

That's it. Now, we come to the final enemy.

verse 13 and 14 David made a name for himself when he

returned from striking down 18,000 edomites in the valley of

salt Then he put Garrison's and Edom through all eat him, he put

garrisons and all the edomites became David's servants and the

lord gave Victory to David wherever he went, who's Edom.

Yeah, he's so who's Esau? Jacob's brother, twin brothers.

And Esau unfortunately though he was a brother to Jacob

throughout the generations, only grew in bitterness instead of

Brotherhood. Esau Eden was known for his

pride, the prophets revealed that and that was really, his

downfall, his arrogance. And Edom was a little cruel, not

little, but actually cruel to Jacob because he was one of

those areas when the the the ones that came out of Exile,

want to pass through eating said, no way brothers and no

way. When we come here at this point,

it seems as though Edom, the reason why David goes to war

with Edom, you get a hint of why when you go to Psalm 16 you'd

have to turn there, you can read that on your own.

You get the impression that the edomites had the boldness to

actually occupy, what was promised to the sons of Jacob at

least in part. And so now they are, they're

trying to take up the regions that really Esau gave up to

Jacob. Remember he sold it all for a

bowl of Of soup. He despised his Birthright.

Jacob later, deceived him in terms of the father's blessing.

And Jacob is enjoying what God gave to him, Esau?

Perhaps because of that history, is looking at what Jacob is

enjoying and is now Crossing his own lines.

And David has a duty to protect what God had promised.

So he goes to war with Edom but what stands out from verse 14 is

the garrisons. He sets up Garrison's in Edom

but not just in Edom throughout all Edom.

So he plants these posts throughout where Edom was For

what purpose, what did Garrison's do?

And idea, what's the purpose of them?

Garrison's are really post with soldiers in it.

That's all they are. And for David to do this is for

his men to monitor supervise and ensure that there's no Revolt

that there's no Revival among the edomites to try to overthrow

David again and it keeps them in.

Check When it came to the edomites, David felt because he

was a master military genius. He knew that there was something

about the attitude and there was a feistiness with the edomites

that I have to plant my men in this region to keep watch on

them less, they turn around in a moment's time.

And we have a big issue on our hands.

The principal here in light of our spiritual warfare is the

call to watchfulness. It's the call to be aware and

alert, not just when you are are dealing with temptation.

You should be awake long before that, but even in times where

you feel like you're on cloud nine spiritually.

And to understand that, even though you might be enjoying,

what seems to be Rejoice. Always pray without ceasing

give, thanks in all circumstances.

Nothing can touch me. Nothing, can bring me down.

Even in those moments spiritually speaking.

Am I on guard? Because you have to be at all

times again. You have many Christians who

with the Philistines, they look at their sin, they're defeated.

And they come to church, and they come to talk to the

brothers. As, you know, I just it's

another day. I'm just struggling.

Pray for you. Don't really want to be set

free. It's clear.

It's obvious, right? But then you also have another

danger where somebody might be walking in growth and hunger of

the things of God, but they are not also.

In the place of strategy. And alertness and surveillance.

And that's a dangerous place to be as well.

And let me show you a verse and I think it's a wonderful place

to end. It's not in third, John, it's in

2nd John and it's in one verse and I think this is this is a

verse that I cherish in the category of my mind of warnings

of the Bible. Warnings are good, right?

Love warns. Some people say, love wins.

Have you heard of it? No, good.

Good love wins. There's no hell love wins.

Yeah, love wins. Love warns.

Love warns and into John 8. Pastor, John has a warning for

his readers. I like the way the ESV puts it.

What are the first? Two words?

Watch yourselves. Watch who Satan watch?

What your algorithm on tick-tock?

Watch yourselves, watch yourselves.

Why? So that you may not lose what we

have worked for. You know why?

David said of Garrison's? He didn't want to lose what he

worked for. Bo may win a full reward.

You have some Believers that want to just like yes sneak into

the gates. And you have other believers and

I believe, God wants every believer to come in.

Expecting a full reward. I don't want to go in with smoke

on my white garments because everything I did for the Lord

came to Ash when it was tested Through Fire.

I want to have something to bring to his feet.

At the end of it all you know what it's going to require watch

yourself, watch yourself. Watch yourself Timothy, keep a

close watch on your life, and your Doctrine, your life first,

and your Doctrine. Hey, if you're in this place and

you feel called to the ministry, you don't want Ministry.

Really is. Do you want to know what

full-time Ministry is? I'll give you a hint.

It's a very if there's like a summary statement.

Is this ministry is the extension of your personal life.

If I'm not real in real life, that what am I doing?

Is a waste of time, right? Ministry is just an extension of

your life, being put on display as example to others.

Watch yourself. What does that mean?

Let's end by conversation. How do you watch yourself?

Meditate day and night helps and the word be rude in The Witcher.

How do I watch myself? Pride.

Sure of Prides their but practically speaking.

What do I do to ensure that I am continually on watch Beautiful.

Measure your life in light of scripture.

Don't compare it to the other guy that's struggling all the

time, you're not going to get very far.

Who am I surrounded with? Who am I surrounded with?

Watch yourself, you know? Another way I watch myself I

always watch. My affections.

I always check Daniel. Where is your where are your

affections for the things of God.

I always check myself and my am I starting to get more excited

more, passionate more consumed with trivial things or am I

growing and becoming warmer and warmer to the things of the

spirit. I always that's how I always

watch myself. Watch - you know, another way.

This is just hopefully this helps.

I watch How I spend my time. I watch How I spend my time, I

look at my day-to-day schedule and from time to time, I do some

inventory. And I think to myself how much

time was I on this and how much time did I give to this?

The whole week and I actually, I watch myself you saying brother,

is that a way to live? It's a beautiful way to live.

It's a beautiful way to live. If you're walking down, I don't

know why you would be there by on the south side of Chicago.

Are you going to watch yourself? You're going to watch your

environment, you just going to stick around on your phone and

look around. No, you're going to watch,

you're going to be on alert. And this world is a terrible

place. It's filled with evil and

Temptation and deception. Watch yourself.

Watch yourself. Here's your assignment.

It's a very short one saying, when did we do assignments?

From time to time to spontaneous.

And your little Fellowship, ask yourself and ask others.

How do you watch yourself? And if you don't do it tonight,

maybe a part of your fellowship from time to time, I think.

One way we watch ourselves as our brother said, is we have

others watch over us? Brother.

Keep a watch on me. Hold me accountable.

I said I would end there but let me end it and let me end here

actually. There are two verses and our

sister brought up earlier verse 6 and verse 14 and they both say

the same thing and whenever we see repetition it's because the

Holy Spirit really wants to make a point clear?

And here it is at the end of verse 6 and the lord gave

Victory to David wherever he went verse 14, the same thing at

the end and the lord gave Victory to David wherever he

went. What's he trying to say don't be

too impressed with David. This is God.

This is God, all that David was able to do is because of God and

all the things that you just heard watching yourself

Garrison's. All these things that you all

these things that seem overwhelming know this God will

help you. God will help me, God is with us

and David was so aware of the supplying mercies of the Lord

that he could not help. But return with praise and

turned to say, Lord every spoil has your name on it.

Has your name on it. We can know such a Grace from

God in our victories, that it would be a means by which we

worship him. And I hope you believe that,

I'll be believe that we're in a war.

I'm happy that I'm in the trenches with you.

And I hope we can do that for life.

Let's pray. Lord, we are overwhelmed by the

gems. that had been uncovered today, we are Moved by how your

work can speak. with surgical precision and Lord tonight, our

flesh may be weak, but we long to still give you praise with

whatever is left and we asked, oh Lord, That you would help us

know all that you have for us. all the Great Heights and the

depths, and the breaths that have been made possible because

of the cross of Jesus Christ, And Lord, when we see those

commands that seem to be too good to be true.

Like Rejoice, always pray without ceasing give, thanks in

all circumstances. May not meet skepticism but

faith faith in our hearts to say, oh Lord, I want that.

I want to know what it means to pray for my enemies.

I want to know what it means to love.

Those who curse me. Lord, help us know these great

areas that seem foreign to us but are possible to explore.

We worship you tonight, as a church in love with your word

and love with the word. The person of Jesus.

Amen. Let's stand together and Worship

the Lord. The person of Jesus.

Amen. Let's stand together and Worship

the Lord.