E-pistle for October 6, 2016
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E-Pistle
FreeWay Foundation October 6, 2016
david: warrior and administrator
(II Samuel 8:1-18)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. David and his army defeated the Philistines, the Moabites, the
Kingdom of Zobah, and the Syrians, vv. 1-5.
2. David received tribute from several other nations, including
Hamath, and he dedicated these gold, silver, and bronze articles
to God, vv. 6-12.
3. King David expanded his dominion over much of the surrounding
territories ("made himself a name"), and he established military
garrisons in various strategic locations to house his occupation troops
vv. 6, 13-14.
4. David's administrative officials included: Joab – military commander;
Jehoshaphat – recorder; Zodak and Ahimelech – chief priests;
Seraiah – scribe (secretary); Benaiah – captain of the king's elite corps
of bodyguards; and David's sons – chief ministers (personal advisors),
vv. 15-18.
II. Meditation: on the character of David, as seen in this chapter
1. David was a victorious military leader, but he also was a cruel "man of
blood" which disqualified him from building the temple, vv. 2, 5; and
I Chronicles 28:3.
2. David was a man who acknowledged God; he worshipped by dedicating
all the spoils of war to the service of the Lord, vv. 7, 11.
3. David's reign was characterized by the administration of righteousness
and justice to all his people, v. 15.
4. David was a wise administrator, placing only trusted men in high places
of responsibility in his kingdom, and involving his sons (one of whom
would succeed him) in the daily decisions of government, vv. 16-17.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications revealed here
1. God chooses persons with specific gifting to accomplish very different
purposes; David, the warrior, conquered the surrounding enemies of the
Lord, and Solomon, the scholarly man of peace, built the temple.
2. Whatever a man's accomplishments, they should be a blessing to all
those within his circle of influence.
3. A person who is blessed by the Lord also should be a blessing to all
those within his circle of influence.
4. Responsible leadership involves enlisting trusted personnel and
organizing them to function efficiently.
IV. Applications: as a Christian leader, I need to . . .
1. Thank the Lord for His spiritual gifts, Ephesians 5:18-21.
2. "Do all to the glory of God," I Corinthians 10:31.
3. Bless others in the name of the Lord, I Peter 3:9.
4. Choose Spirit-filled leaders to assist me in my ministry, Acts 6:3.
Jabez: "He will cause pain"
(I Chronicles 4:1-43)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the family of this man named Jabez
1. This chapter lists the genealogy of the tribes of Judah and Simeon;
Jabez's name appears unattached in the Judah list, vv. 9-10.
2. The names of his father, mother, and brothers are not mentioned.
3. His mother named him Jabez, meaning "He will cause pain" . . .
perhaps because his was a very difficult, painful birth.
4. Because his lineage is kept secret, possibly the pain Jabez
"caused" was emotional: the shame and embarrassment of
illegitimate birth.
II. Meditation: on the character of Jabez
1. His name indicates that his mother places him under a curse when
he was born by giving him a prophetic name: "He will cause pain."
2. This cruelty exhibited by his mother may have damaged his self-
esteem, yet it also may have been a factor in his strong moral character.
3. According to v. 9, Jabez was "more honorable than his brothers."
4. This refers, not to his place in the family which was dishonorable, but
to his spiritual position . . . he "called on the God of Israel." v. 10.
III. Revelation: on the prayer of Jabez
1. He prayed for God to bless him indeed, including an enlarged territory
as his inheritance; as an illegitimate son, he likely would have received
little or no property from his father.
2. He prayed for God's presence and power to be with him.
3. He prayed that God would keep him from evil . . . asking for protection,
deliverance, and guidance, such as Jesus taught the disciples to request
in the Model prayer, Matthew 6:13.
4. He prayed that he would not cause pain (not that he would not have or
experience pain) . . . asking that his life and influence would be a blessing
rather than a curse.
So God granted him what he requested
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Understand that God is no respecter of persons.
2. Know that God hears those who sincerely call upon Him.
3. Pray for the Lord's providential care and provision, His presence and
power, and His protection, deliverance, and guidance.
4. Be assured that God not only desires to bless His people; He also
desires for us to be a blessing to others, I Peter 3:9.
Although the prayer of Jabez has much to commend it, Christians should
not use it as our model. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray,
He did not point them to Jabez's prayer (although, of course, He was familiar with
I Chronicles 4:9-10). Rather, He gave them Luke 11:1-4, which is a restatement of
Matthew 6:9-13. Our prayers, for example, must always include asking God for
forgiveness and offering it to others.
"If you are always trying to be normal, you will never
know how amazing you can be!
--Maya Angelou
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