E-pistle for October 21, 2016
Posted by: info <info@...>
e-pistle
FreeWay Foundation October 21, 2016
shaved beards and cut-off robes
(II Samuel 10:1-19)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Nahash, the king of Ammon, died, and David sent ambassadors to
express his sympathy; Hanun, son of Hahash, listened to his advisors
who accused the emissaries of being spies; the men were arrested,
their beards were shaved half-off, and their robes were cut short; at
David's orders, these embarrassed men waited at Jericho for their
beards to grow back before returning to Jerusalem, vv. 1-5.
2. The Ammonites, realizing that their actions had been viewed as a
declaration of war, elisted the Syrians to fight as their allies; David
dispatched Joab and the Israelite army to attack Ammon, vv. 6-8.
3. Joab observed that the enemy forces were preparing to attack him on
two fronts, so he divided his forces, putting some of the troops under
the command of his brother, Abishai; Joab attacked the Syrians and
and Abishai attacked the Ammonites; those enemy armies fled from
the field of battle and Israel's troops returned to Jerusalem, vv. 9-14.
4. The Syrians gathered reinforcements and marched against Israel; David
took charge of the army, crossed the Jordan River to attack the Syrians,
and won a great battle; the nations formerly under subjection Syria came
under the domination of Israel, vv. 15-19.
II. Meditation: on some significant events seen in this chapter
1. The advisor's cynicism and suspicion led to grave misunderstandings.
2. Hanun's insulting words and actions led to conflict and violence.
3. Joab's brilliant plan of mutual defense (v. 11) brought victory.
4. David's personal involvement in defending the nation made the crucial
difference between defeat and victory.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of these events
1. Attempting to judge another person's motivation usually is risky business,
often causing persons to "jump to conclusions."
2. Evil thoughts and angry words can quickly escalate into physical violence.
3. In spiritual warfare, it is good to have trusted allies who also are engaged
in the battle.
4. Spiritual leaders should be engaged personally in the spiritual warfare.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Be careful in my "judging" of others, Matthew 7:1-5.
2. Always work as a peacemaker, Matthew 5:9, 21-23, 44.
3. Join with others in fighting our common enemy, Satan, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.
4. Function not merely as an "armchair general," but as a front-line warrior!
II Timothy 4:7; I Timothy 6:12.
Advice to god's chosen leaders
(Deuteronomy 17:1-20)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Capital punishment by stoning was required for idolaters on the testimony
of at least two witnesses, vv. 1-7.
2. Local disputes could be appealed to the priests, Levites, and judges "in
the place which the Lord chooses" (later revealed as Jerusalem, the
capitol of the nation), and persons refusing to accept the judgment of the
high court were to be executed, vv. 8-13.
3. The establishment of the monarchy was foreseen, and kings were forbidden
to multiply horses, wives, silver and gold . . . prohibitions which were violated
by many of the kings of Judah and Israel, vv. 14-17.
4. Kings were ordered by the Lord to write personal copies of God's law for their
own study, meditation, and guidance, vv. 18-20.
II. Meditation: on the advice to God's chosen leaders (vv. 18-19)
1. Write for yourself in a book a copy of God's word.
2. Keep this hand-written copy with you.
3. Read it every day.
4. Record the points of your spiritual journey in a journal, Numbers 33:2.
III. Revelation: on the beneficial results of this discipline (vv. 19-20)
1. God is worshipped reverently.
2. God's word is obeyed carefully.
3. The heart is humbled genuinely.
4. The life is guided righteously.
5. The family is blessed abundantly.
6. Man's service is prolonged significantly.
7. His reputation is remembered eternally.
IV. Applications: as a Christian Leader, I need to . . .
1. Daily read, study, meditate, and write God's word; keeping a spiritual
journal of His personal revelations to me.
2. Faithfully obey God's word as an act of worship.
3. Live in a humble, spiritual relationship with God, seeking and following
His divine guidance for my life.
4. Know that such discipline brings spiritual blessings . . . upon me
personally, upon my family, and upon my ministry.
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment
before starting TO IMPROVE the world.
Anne Frank
--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: epistle2equip-unsubscribe@welovegod.org