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FreeWay Foundation            September 16, 2016

 

the lord of break-throughs

(II Samuel 5:1-25)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the contents of this chapter

            1.  All the tribes of Israel came to Hebron to anoint David officially as the king

                 over the entire nation;  David became King at the age 30 and reigned 40

                 years, including 33 years over both Judah and Israel, vv. 1-5.

            2.  David and his men captured the city of Jerusalem; he dwelt in the stronghold

                 (fortress), which he called the City of David, vv. 6-9.

            3.  The Lord God was with David; Hiram, king of Tyre, sent cedar trees and workmen

                 to build David's house;  David perceived that God had established him as king

                 for the sake of His chosen people, Israel;  David married more women and

                 produced eleven children who were born in Jerusalem, vv. 10-16.

            4.  David won two great battles in the war against the Philistines: at Baal Perazim

                 and in the Valley of Rephaim, vv. 17-25.

II.  Meditation:  on God's specific answers to David's questions

            1.  "Shall I go up against the Philistines?" . . . "Go Up,"  v. 19.

            2.  "Will You deliver them into my hand?" . . . "I will doubtless deliver the

                 Philistines into your hand,"  v. 19.

            3.  David inquired of the Lord (What's the plan?) . . . "You shall not go up

                 (attack frontally); circle around behind them," v. 23.

            4.  David also inquired of the Lord (When?) . . . "When you hear the sound of

                 marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly,"

                 v. 24.

III.  Revelation:  on what God's anointed leaders should know and do

            1.  God's leader must know (perceive; comprehend) that he has been given his

                 position of responsibility and authority in order to fulfill God's purpose and

                 destiny for His chosen people, v. 12.

            2.  God's leader must be able to hear the divine voice giving him specific

                 directions, vv. 19, 23-24.

            3.  God's leader must obey His orders immediately and precisely, vv. 20, 25.

            4.  God's leader must give all the glory, honor, and praise to the Lord for the

                 victories won:  he must magnify the Lord and memorialize the event.

            (Baal Perazim" acknowledges that God is the 'Master of Break-throughs," v. 20.

            See also I Chronicles 14:11 and Isaiah 28:21.)

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian leader, I need to . . .

            1.  Perceive my divine calling and destiny in life.

            2.  Hear and understand God's voice giving me specific guidance.

            3.  Obey God's commands eagerly and totally.

            4.  Worship, praise, glorify, honor, and thank God for spiritual victories.

 

 

 

 

Jonah prays for god's help

(Jonah 2:1-10)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the elements of Jonah's prayer

            1.  Jonah acknowledged that his predicament (being in the belly of the

                 great fish) was caused by his own sin, which had brought God's

                 judgment upon him, vv. 1-3.

            2.  Jonah, even though he had been, "cast out of God's sight," looked

                 toward God's holy temple . . . turned toward the only possible source

                 of help, vv. 4, 7.

            3.  Jonah recognized his hopeless and desperate situation of certain death,

                 doom, and destruction without divine help, vv. 5-6.

            4.  Jonah renounced "worthless idols" and vowed to serve God ("sacrifice

                 to You") in obedience, realizing that he had only one hope:  "Salvation

                 is of the Lord," vv. 8-9.

II.  Meditation:  on the theological truths of this chapter

            1.  God always hears when His people cry out to Him, and He always answers

                 their prayers . . . YES, NO, WAIT, v. 2.

            2.  There is life after death . . . Sheol (the grave or the place where the soul

                 abides after death away from the presence of God) is mentioned by Jesus

                 as the tomb where He was buried for three days before His resurrection,

                 vv. 2, 6; Matthew 12:40.

            3.  God brings His people through times of trouble and danger; He keeps and

                 preserves them so that they may accomplish His purposed destiny in their

                 lives, v. 10.

            4.  The Lord is a God of mercy, Who deserves our thanksgiving, praise,

                 obedience, and service, v. 9.

III.  Revelation:  on the Spiritual implications seen here

            1.  God's people should pray; often "we do not have because we do not ask,"

                 James 4:2.

            2.  Every individual lives eternally . . . either in heaven or in hell; each person

                 makes that personal choice by either accepting or rejecting God's offer

                 of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

            3.  God may not remove the obstacles or troubles from our lives, but He always

                 gives us grace and strength to sustain us through those difficulties.

            4.  God is worthy of our worship and sacrificial service.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Pray without ceasing, I Thessalonians 5:17.

            2.  Live daily in the light of eternity, Ecclesiastes 3:11.

            3.  Trust in the Lord with all my heart, Proverbs 3:5.

            4.  Worship the Lord and serve Him only, Matthew 4:10.

 

Be the type of person you want to meet!

--Anonymous

 

 

 

 

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