2 Samuel Chapter 22
📝 Today’s Bible reading passage consists of three sections:
I ) David’s Deliverance from the hands of his enemies (v 5-20 ).
II ) God’s Favour in protecting David (v 21-30)
III ) God’s Help that enables David to stand upright (v 31-46).

📌 While recollecting God’s favour , David sang :
💫 “He rescued me from my powerful enemy …” v 18
💫 “With your help I can advance against a troop..” v 30
💫 “It is God who arms me with strength…” v 33
💫 “He trains my hands for battle ; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. ” v 33-35
💫 “I crushed them ( enemies ) completely, and they could not rise..” v 39
💫 “Therefore I will praise you , O Lord, among the nations..” v 50

📌 The old saying goes , “The larger a man’s roof , the more snow it collects ” . Yes , David had to face a number of challenges beginning with his sons, his military commanders, rebels , battles and liars.

David’s family life was miserable :
🔖 Amnon – David’s first born son, raped his sister Tamar ( 2Sam 13:23-29 )
🔖 Absalom- David’s third son, avenged the rape of his sister by killing Amnon, and later on conspired against David in an attempt to make himself king ( 2 Sam 15 )
🔖 Adonijah- David’s fourth son , had attempted to take over the throne before Solomon could be crowned ( 1Kings 1 )

David was also insulted and threatened :
🔖 Shimei the Benjamite cursed and accused David for murder . He threw stones at David ( 2Sam 16 : 5-8 )
🔖 Sheba , an agitator from Benjamin , threatens to break the kingdom into two. The account tells us that ” all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba ” ( 2Sam 20: 2)

📌 In response to these challenges there was a time when David was :

Silent
Proactive
Fleeing away from his son
Sad and wept
Ready and fought back .

📌 Yes , David was that man who fits in the Persian proverb : “Draw not your bow before your arrow is fixed”.
📌 At last the Lord restored David’s kingdom ( v 51 )
💕 Beloved Church , let us learn from David :
🎈 to Forgive those who wrong us ( Shimei )
🎈 to Accept people whom we are likely to ignore ( Ziba & Mephibosheth )
🎈 to Appreciate those who stand with us in crisis ( Ittai & Barzillai )
🎈 be ever Grateful to those who even take risks for us ( Zadok , Abiathar , Hushai , Ahimaaz and Jonathan )
🎈 to Keep ourselves at a distance from some difficult people ( Joab ).

BE THE BEST AND GIVE THE BEST.

Glory to God 🙌
✍🏾 Mark Boje
Arunachal Pradesh, India 🇮🇳