LOYALTY
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 23
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Acrocorinth above ancient Corinth was first a Greek acropolis, then a Roman citadel. Later, it became a Byzantine fortress. The Franks captured it in 1210, and it then fell into the hands of one of the rulers of Naples. An arms manufacturer and banker then owned it, followed by the Knights of Rhodes, the Turks, the Venetians, then the Turks again, and finally the Greeks once more…phew! The kingdoms of men are temporary, but God’s Kingdom is forever.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 2 Samuel 23:3b, 4
He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray for my pastors, those who have the primary responsibility for spiritual oversight in my life. I pray for those who have civil authority as well. Please grant Your strength so that I will be loyal, not in a blind way, but in praying for these leaders, in paying my tithe and my taxes, and grant me opportunity for input into the lives of those who lead. In Jesus’ Name I ask these mercies, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
When my sons were on football scholarships at an American University, I was given the opportunity to address the team and the coaches. My message was from today’s reading, 2 Samuel 23. I highlighted the stories of David’s mighty men. Some fought an offensive battle, and some were on defence. Most of all, they were loyal to their leaders. The result was victory! My sons, over 30 years later, remind me from time to time of that message. I don’t remember the results of the game following my talk, but I do remember that they were fired up to win.
“The first three” of David’s mighty men are singled out for honourable mention. Peter, James, and John were singled out by Jesus. I’ve often wondered why. I’ve come to believe that they were the most fervent, the most loyal, and had developed character traits that Jesus knew would be effective in leadership. Jesus responded directly to their level of commitment. His choices were not based on favouritism.
Yours for loyalty, integrity, wisdom and all those qualities that we want in our leaders and in ourselves,
David
P.S. Have you watched the video version of my blog lately? It’s a short, two-minute summary of each day’s key verse, commentary and prayer, and it airs daily on YES-TV during commercial breaks. My son Ron and I have recorded them together lately. You can find these “vlogs” HERE.
What grabbed me in today’s scripture was when David longed for water: “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” Abishai, Benaiah and a third unnamed warrior broke through the lines, got him the water and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.” How earnestly David longed for the water of the well of Bethlehem. From Matthew Henry’s commentary, Bishop Patrick speaks of some who think that David hereby showed it was not material water he longed for, but the Messiah, who had the water of life, who, he knew, should be born at Bethlehem, which the Philistines therefore should not be able to destroy… “Let us not undervalue the blood of the covenant, as those do that undervalue the blessings of the covenant.” How rich is that, fellow saints in the Lord? Praise You God, for Your Word is alive and true!!! Amen, amen, and amen!!! Wishing all saints a blessed and Holy Saturday!!
Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.” 1 Chronicles 28:20 ESV
Hosanna – Hillsong with lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoM0AT8fBvs
Today’s vlog reminds me how loyal ‘our David’ was to us as he grew……as his body grew weaker from disease.I thank god for his extra time to teach us (and to reach us).He was a champion too.I’ll thank him some day.
This is the day the disciples lost hope and faith forgetting or not understanding what Jesus meant.Jesus told them “Later on you will understand” for He knew,as with Peter’s denials,that their faith would die with Him but it too would be resurrected with Him. Yall have a great day.God bless
A Kiss By Love
The vastness of the sins we wrought
Was cancelled by one wooden cross,
For there alone forgiveness was bought
By the Gift of His Son who took our loss.
He lived among us most lowly
While spreading seeds of truth to us,
For He was born our King,most holy;
This One we proclaim as our Lord Jesus.
What caused this Man of holy reign
To take our sins of unholy shame
And with His blood give hope again,
When He was least of all to blame?
This King of kings who rose above,
Broke the serpent’s strangle hold,
For hate was given a kiss by Love
In the greatest story ever told.
G W(Bill) Marshall / June 08, 2013
This Living Rose
Long ago there grew a Flower
That had a fragrance to cherish,
Such that greed could not devour
And in death refused to perish.
This fragrance grew and then spread wide,
It’s scent still borne by so many,
And found it had never died;
It’s wealth worth not a penny.
Like the wind that you can not ride
And a river that keeps flowing,
This Scent of love will not hide
But is a Rose that keeps growing.
Kings and angels had bowed to greet,
The aroma of this tender seed,
For they knew none could defeat,
This living Rose that fills all need.
G W (Bill) Marshall / Dec10, 2012
Beverlee:Good thoughts about David not drinking the water, seems right to me. God bless you and keep you in His Care.❤️ Eleanor M.
Happy Easter to you and all Blog friends, looking forward to celebrating the Resurrection tomorrow.
Beautiful, thank you for sharing!
Thank you Lord Jesus for shedding your precious blood for us thus providing salvation and eternal life, the blessings of the covenant. Thanks to David who as you say William gave his all to the very end and providing a legacy for all to enjoy. Thank you Ron for sharing it with us with your Dad. Thanks Beverlee and William for your postings today! Enjoyed another good Easter service this morning. A woman evangelist from Saskatchewan spoke on Deut. 30:19, choose life which was excellent.
A great blog today. Thinking of how it would feel to be thirsty & to pour out the offered drink. I don’t seem to see the movie of The Ten Commandments on tv this Easter. Always enjoyed that each year. Have a Wonderful Easter Sunday – He is risen indeed!
Oh 10 Commandments on YES TV now! 7:00 pm – Saturday
on Global also!
also on Global TV
From Suffering to Glory By Charles Spurgeon
“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.” Psalm 22:14
“Did heaven or Earth ever witness a sadder spectacle? In soul and body, our Lord felt Himself to be weak as water poured out on the ground. Placing of the cross in its socket shook Him with great violence, strained all His ligaments, pained every nerve, and more or less dislocated His bones. Burdened with His own weight, the glorious sufferer felt the strain increasing every moment of those six long hours. His sense of faintness and general weakness were overpowering. As He began to lose consciousness, His physical body became a mass of misery and swooning sickness.
“The prophet Daniel once saw a great vision, prophesying Jesus’ suffering hundreds of years later, which he describes like this: “So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.” (Daniel 10:8) The pain our greater Prophet Jesus felt must have been incomprehensibly more dire as He felt it throughout His own soul. To us, sensations such as our Lord endured would have been unbearable. In His case, though already wounded, and still felt the sword. He drained the cup and tasted every drop.
“As we kneel before our now ascended Savior’s throne, let us remember the way He prepared it as a throne of grace for us. Let us in spirit drink of His cup, that we will be strengthened for our hour of distress whenever it comes. In His natural body every part suffered, and so must it be in the spiritual body of which we are all now a part. But just like how out of all His grief and suffering His body came through uninjured to glory and power, so too will His spiritual body of the church here on Earth come through all its hardships and pain without so much as a blemish.”
Amen Beverlee, thanks for sharing!
Thank Ron and Ann for posting this blog daily; Your Dad’s obedience to the Lord!
Today’s scripture, David’s prayer and Personal comments, thank you!
HALLELUJAH, HE IS RISEN, AND HE LIVES FOREVER MORE! PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!