Archives for May 2014

These also King David dedicated to the LORD, together with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek. 1 Chronicles 18:11 (ESV)

David shows us a great example of how we should be with all the Lord has given us. David was so generous and faithful to the Lord that he did not just make himself rich with the spoils of war but laid them up to be used by his son Solomon in the building of the temple.

Jesus commends this type of attitude in us as believers with both our physical and spiritual resources being dedicated to the Lord’s service in his parable about the coins (talents) in Matthew 25:14-30

So David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and equity to all his people. 1 Chronicles 18:14 (ESV)

David was more than just a military commander, this small section shows us that David reorganised the government of Israel at the highest levels with capable administrators helping to establish an efficient kingdom state.

Joab who by the way is David’s Nephew who we see proves his military ability in the next chapter was made head of the armed forces while courageous and loyal Beniah was made the head of the elite body guard detail (like the secret service).

In the body of Christ Jesus like king David has organised his kingdom giving each member it’s role to perform for the good of the whole, we need to know what our office is and function within that calling.

1 Corinthians 12:18 tells us “But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.”

Romans 12:4-8 teaches us “…so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us….”

Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him.” 1 Chronicles 19:13 (ESV)

Joab’s military leadership really shines through in this passage, this is the type of strategising we see in military geniuses like Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Julius Caesar or Attila the Hun. Joab shows his heart for the Lord in this call to rally his troops as they enter battle.

Like Joab said let us use our strength for the body of Christ and the kingdom of God. Paul knew this and so worked harder than all the other Apostles in 1 Corinthians 15:10. Paul also reminds us in 1 Timothy 4:10 that we are called to toil and strive for God’s kingdom.

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army and ravaged the country of the Ammonites and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. And Joab struck down Rabbah and overthrew it. 1 Chronicles 20:1 (ESV)

Here we start to see the slow burn of complacency and compromise with David, it was the time of the year when kings go to battle, but instead David stayed home and sent Joab his military ace, they got the victory but this behaviour set the precedent for the fall David would have with Bathsheba.

We must not be caught out by complacency, laziness or compromise, as in David’s case we may not see the result of the rot straightaway but it will soon become apparent, so we must be sober on our guard and not give the enemy an inch in our lives.

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 reminds us to not sleep but to stay awake and alert. We must not get drunk on our own pleasure and comfort, we must stay sober.

Peter in his call to holiness proclaims in 1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended from the giants. 1 Chronicles 20:6 (ESV)

This giant with his 24 digits can be seen symbolically for the giant enemies we face each hour of the day. We should identify the giants that come to torment us and like David and his men, kill every last one of them. Jesus told us to take up our cross daily and follow him in Luke 9:23

and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

This is the first of four analogies (Teacher, Soldier, Athlete and Farmer.) Paul uses to speak of the Christian life and ministry, each pointing in some way to the need for whole hearted devotion in spite of difficulty.

As a teacher Paul encourages timothy to pass on what he has learned from him (Paul) to faithful men who could teach others also. We see 4 generations here (Paul, Timothy, Faithful Men, Others).

Although the context tells us this is in regards to the continuation and spread of the ministry, each of us is called to pass on what we have learned to the upcoming generations. We must grow and be mature as Christians so we can pass down what was passed down to us, we don’t need to make up something new, our faith is not novel, it is our duty to pass down the historically orthodox Christian faith to each generation.

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 2 Timothy 2:4 (ESV)

The second analogy for the Christian life is life as a soldier. As soldiers we endure harsh conditions, we are disciplined and willing to lay our lives on the line for our King, we obey commands, we show discipline, we fight, we defend, we protect, we have lives dedicated to duty

We must not be short sighted, only concerned with life now, we must see the greater vision of the army and our commanding officer and seek to please Christ in faith.

An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 2 Timothy 2:5–6 (ESV)

The next two analogies are of an Athlete and a Farmer.

Athletes need to be very disciplined, they need to watch what they eat and be disciplined in exercise and practise. We need to be careful about what we eat spiritually and we need to constantly exercise our spiritual senses.

Athletes also have a drive to win, to gain the prize, to finish the race well. We can apply all of this to our walk with the Lord, we should run to win.

Farmers need to work hard, they get up earlier than everyone else, they need to show patience and perseverance in all seasons as they work ploughing the fields, planting the seeds and tending to the crops. We are called to perseverance for our own lives but also as we work to see fruit in others

for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 2 Timothy 2:9 (ESV)

Nothing can stop the word of God! Even though Paul was in chains the word of God cannot be put in chains, this is why God allowed his word to be recorded in written form, this ensures the message goes where men cannot go and can be passed from person to person.

Thank God we have the unstoppable word of God, we should seek to see the word spread to every corner of the earth so God’s elect may obtain the salvation that is in Jesus.

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85:10 (ESV)

This is seen in full on the cross where Jesus was sacrificed in our place, making peace between us and God

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! 1 Chronicles 16:10 (ESV)

Like king David, we should sing and give praise to God, we should give glory to God. The thanks we see David giving to God here are taken from some of his many psalms first we see Psalm 105:1-5, followed by Psalm 96 and then parts of Psalm 106

As we seek the Lord we should do it in joy, we should rejoice from our hearts as we read and study God’s word.

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. 1 Chronicles 16:24–27 (ESV)

This great declaration proclaims God as sovereign, he is the only God and all the false gods are worthless nonsense.

We are called to proclaim God’s greatness as the true king to all nations, we do this through the proclamation of the Gospel and upholding the truth that God created the entire universe and deserves our praise and allegiance.

See Matthew 28:18–20 for the account of the great commission.

And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the LORD will build you a house. 1 Chronicles 17:10 (ESV)

God knew David’s heart was to build him a house of worship and because of this God blesses Davids family declaring they will always be on the throne, this will find its ultimate fulfilment at the return of Christ. See Luke 1:32, Romans 15:12 and Revelation 22:16

We should have a heart like David to build up God’s house, the body of Christ When we seek to build the body from our hearts through the gifts God has given us, God will reward us as he does here for David. See Ephesians 4:16

For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you. 1 Chronicles 17:25 (ESV)

When we consider God’s promises to us in his word, it should give us confidence to approach God in prayer. Hebrews 4:16 and Romans 4:20-21

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)

As Paul writes this to encourage the young Pastor Timothy to not be timid in the proclamation and defence of his faith, we too can be encouraged that we have been adopted by God and have the gift of God himself in the Holy Spirit.

The 1st mark of the Holy Spirit is that we have power to be witnesses and to undergo suffering for the Lord.

The 2nd mark is Love, without love we are not authentic disciples of Jesus Christ which allows us to serve others in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The 3rd mark is self control, The Holy Spirit enables us to respond rather than react to the sort of opposition and resistance Timothy is experiencing

who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV)

God saved us and gave us our callings in ministry not because of any good we did, not even because we choose to trust in Christ. He saved us before the universe began, according to his own purpose and grace.

This is the mystery of election, God choose us and we do not know why. We praise him for the love and grace he has shown to us. The fact that God choose us before the world began should fill us with confidence as we stand and minister in his name.

which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 2 Timothy 1:12 (ESV)

When we give our lives to the Lord we are entrusting him with our lives and he keeps us, this is why we can have confidence in our salvation, we know who we believe in and he is able to keep us and come good on his promise. Because of Jesus our salvation is eternally secured.

By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. 2 Timothy 1:14 (ESV)

This is the other side of eternally security, we don’t just trust God to keep us and then spend the rest of our Christian life in a rocking chair.

We need to guard what has been given to us, we have been given the Gospel, we are taught the bible every week and have the Holy Spirit, it is down to us to guard what we have and to hold on to it with the Spirits Power.

Our lives are not those of rich brats waiting to come into their inheritance, we are soldiers in a very real fight, in the army of our Commander, The Warrior King, Jesus.

My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Psalm 84:2 (ESV)

We should love coming together at church to serve and worship our God, the Living God. We will sing for joy today.

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Psalm 84:3 (ESV)

God is our King, we live by his decree, we live under his protection, serving in his kingdom, rejoicing in his reign

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. Psalm 84:10 (ESV)

Our preference should be God’s house. Our appetite should be for God’s presence and to fellowship with God’s people

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 (ESV)

The Devil has lied to people saying God does not want good for them and wants to take the enjoyment out of life. This is a lie, God wants our lives to be full and enjoyable in him.

As we walk in his ways there is no good thing that God will withhold from his people. God gets to define what is a good thing for us, not man.

And David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David fathered more sons and daughters. 1 Chronicles 14:3 (ESV)

As mentioned in the note on 1 Chronicles 3:5, God never intended any man to practice polygamy (having multiple wives) and specifically instructed kings against this abuse of power in Deuteronomy 17:17.

David’s disobedience to this command has a terrible affect on his children as a brother rapes a sister, that brother is killed by another brother who eventually usurps David.

As Christians we must defend and uphold the biblical model and mandate for Marriage for life between one man and one woman.

And he went up to Baal-perazim, and David struck them down there. And David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. 1 Chronicles 14:11 (ESV)

David did not just go up to fight, he asked God first and God answered him, not just in a spiritual sense but in the actual battle, God allowed them to defeat their enemies.

God is the God of breakthrough for our lives too, if we seek him he will show us how to get breakthrough and see our enemies defeated. 2 Corinthians 10:4

Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister to him forever. 1 Chronicles 15:2 (ESV)

One of the things we love about David’s example to us is that we see a real man with a real life full of mistakes who does not sit in the mess of his mistakes in pride forever but seeks God in repentance.

Like David we must be quick to repent when we make mistakes and seek to live in accordance with God’s word as David now seeks to minister in line with God’s law. Acts 17:30

Because you did not carry it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.” 1 Chronicles 15:13 (ESV)

God is the Lord of the Breakthrough in two ways, he will empower us to overcome our enemies but he will himself breakthrough against our flesh in loving discipline so we can learn to walk according to his word.

Jesus reminds us in John 15:2 that “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

and with them their brothers of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. 1 Chronicles 15:18 (ESV)

Obed-edom’s name comes us a few times in todays reading, he is serving all over God’s house because he loves Gods presence.

Loving God’s presence can not be disassociated with loving God himself. Serving God should not be done or even considered apart from loving the Lord too.

To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 2 Timothy 1:2 (ESV)

Thank God today for the grace, mercy and peace that come from God. These are three wonderful graces we should think about and be thankful for today, here are some short definitions.

Grace: In Christian doctrine, this term refers to unmerited divine favor. In summary form, the Christian message is “the gospel of God’s grace”

Mercy: Compassion or leniency shown to another, especially an offender.

Peace: Safety, prosperity, well-being; intactness, wholeness; peace can have a focus of security, safety which can bring feelings of satisfaction, well-being, and contentment

Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O LORD. Psalm 83:16 (ESV)

This is a strategy we can use in prayer

For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God. 1 Chronicles 12:22 (ESV)

We are called to be in Gods great army, here are some things we pick up from this chapter about what we should be like as fighters in God’s Army.

From verse 1 we should love the Lord with all our mind, soul and strength using our energy to help in the cause of our king. Mark 12:30

From verse 2 we should be flexible and adaptable in ministry and work for the Lord. 1 Corinthians 12:18 and Ephesians 4:16

From Verse 8 our experience in life and walk with the Lord should help us as we fight the good fight, we should use the shield of faith, Let the Lion of the tribe of Judah shine through and be quick to follow the Lord, repent and do good. Ephesians 6:16

From verse 14 we must remember that we are more than conquerers, our faith should be in God and we should be encouraged that greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world. Romans 8:37

From verse 18 we should be clothed in the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18

Lets fight in the King’s Army today. 1 Timothy 1:18 and 2 Timothy 4:7

Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. 1 Chronicles 12:32 (ESV)

Jesus taught us to watch and pray in Mark 14:38 and he rebuked Israel for not seeing the signs and missing it’s time of visitation in Luke 19:44.

We should be like the men of Issachar who had understanding of the times, as Christians we need to engage with the world around us and keep ourselves informed on current affairs in the news.

We should understand what implications the news, law and cultural movements have from a Christian worldview and what the potential Spiritual impact is.

We have agencies and resources to help with this, these include Open Doors, CSW, Release International and Christian News/Trend analysis like Christian Concern and “The Briefing” by Albert Mohler to name just a few.

We must stay awake, be sober (1 Peter 5:8), keep our eyes open and in response to what we see, we should pray.

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God. 1 Chronicles 13:10 (ESV)

The work and ministry of the Lord cannot be handled in whatever way we want and even our lives are not our own because it is God who is in us just like he was in the Ark. 1 Corinthians 6:19

When we seek to live before God and work in the kingdom we should do so with fear and trebling because God is God. We must be led by his Spirit and not work or try to live by our own ideas and fleshly effort which only leads to death. Romans 8:4-6 and Galatians 5:16

Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:12-13 regarding our walk and work before the Lord that…”Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

And the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had. 1 Chronicles 13:14 (ESV)

God’s presence in our lives blesses our lives and households like Obed Edom. We should have homes where God’s presence dwells

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 (ESV)

The word “Fight” is the Greek word agōnizomai (ἀγωνίζομαι) which means to compete, engage in a contest, to fight, struggle, conquer, defeat, help, agony, anxiety, make effort, contest, to contend, to exert, to be a combatant, to exert oneself and strive earnestly.

This is in line with the theme we observed in today’s OT reading of being in Gods army and working in God’s way.

We are called to struggle against sin and compromise, to contend for the purity of the faith. We are summoned to take hold of eternal life as the prize in this athletic contest.

So the encouragement is for us to persevere, to press forward despite resistance and difficulty. Our lives if we are alive to Christ will be lives of struggle, exertion, battle and contention. We are called to be good soldiers in the Army of our king Jesus like David’s mighty men.

which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:15–16 (ESV)

We should read this doxology again and again (short praise to God like the benediction we recite at the end of a service). We should meditate on the wonderful truth this early doxology affirms that Jesus is the true sovereign the only true sovereign, the King.

This is the bibles overarching story of the king in his kingdom. This is why one of the great themes of the bible is the sovereignty or kingship of God.

This affirmation also makes clear that Jesus is immortal which means he was not created and is co-equal with God

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17 (ESV)

Everything God has provided us with is so that we enjoy them in him, God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.

God wants us to enjoy our lives with and in light of him (not the flesh). This is one of the core reason God created, for enjoyment and pleasure.

We should enjoy selfless acts too like serving, giving to the poor, bearing each others burdens etc.

We should not pin our hopes on money, money is not our salvation or solution. God is the great provider and he provides richly so we can enjoy our lives so we should focus on and trust in him.

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 1 Timothy 6:20 (ESV)

We should avoid wasting our time and energy in pointless debates, we should guard what we have, the gospel that has been handed down to us.

Today we must guard our hearts and beliefs form all the false alluring stories in the world, knowing we hold the authentic story and all others are a dim reflection or blatant distortion / repudiation of the true.

I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.” Psalm 82:6–7 (ESV)

These verses have caused controversy in the church and has been picked up by modern day TV preachers to say that we are all gods, that when God created us he created us as little gods so we can create things with our words like God because we are gods too by our very nature…This is rank heresy.

Here God is addressing the judges and rulers of Israel who have been granted some power of attorney on God’s behalf to administer justice but they have not.

God makes very clear that he alone is God in the previous psalm and in this one he makes clear to these men he is addressing that although they were clothed for a while in the authority by which God judges men, they too were men, mortal and so would die, unlike the only true king who we read about today who is immortal.

We may make appeals on Gods behalf and as the body of Christ we stand as representatives of the King and his kingdom in the world today but we are not kings..we are servant. We are not gods. Only God is God!

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.1 Chronicles 11:3 (ESV)

God’s word is not like the words of man, God actively brings his word to pass. When God decrees a thing it WILL come to pass and nothing can stop it.

God spoke prophetically through Samuel and once the prophecy was decreed, God would actively work to come good on the word he had declared.

This should give us confidence with every firm prophecy and promise of God’s word. God does not lie, if he decreed it as the king of the universe he will bring it to pass. 2 Corinthians 1:20

It is worth remembering that when we read about God’s will in the bible there are two types, one is his decreed will (sovereign will) which should be thought of as decrees from his throne which always come to pass.

The other is God’s commanded will (desire), this is found in the Ten Commandments an all God’s laws and desires expressed in scripture but not enforced by royal decree and can be thought of as the law of the kingdom which when disobeyed will incur punishment on the offender.

David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. 1 Chronicles 11:6 (ESV)

Joab is a frustrating character sometimes his stand and faith is impressive and at other times he makes some awful decisions. In this case he made a name and position for himself by boldly standing up and going first like Peter.

We can learn from this bold attitude to God and his work, Joab was not someone who suffered from procrastination or cowardice, he was zealous, bold and would strike first. We should be like this too. At the same time we should learn from his life that these qualities need to be balanced with obedience, humility and stillness before God too. See Matthew 11:12

Now these are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. 1 Chronicles 11:10 (ESV)

We should give God our strong support, one of the ways we can do this practically is to give strong support to God’s ministers and leaders in our lives. We should give strong support to our Pastors as they lead us forward in Gods great kingdom and the war on the kingdom of darkness.

In Hebrews 13:17 we are reminded to “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

As Pastor Dennis preached in 2012 we should have the Heart of the King. The DVD of this message is available from the Church bookstore and a video from the 1st Heart of the King Men’s Gathering in 2013 can be watched here https://www.wwmf.org/2013/01/05/media/video/the-heart-of-the-king-dvd/

But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and killed the Philistines. And the LORD saved them by a great victory. 1 Chronicles 11:14 (ESV)

Take your stand today, don’t give a foothold to the enemy, don’t give him any ground. Stand your ground! Fight! God is with you! Be bold, Stand your ground!

Ephesians 6:13 encourages us “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

Ephesians 4:27 reminds us “and give no opportunity to the devil.”

and said, “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men. 1 Chronicles 11:19 (ESV)

When we pour out our lives for the ministry, our work and risk is not wasted, God does not take our service lightly, Our faith and work pleases God and God graciously and abundantly rewards us. See Galatians 6:9 and Matthew 25:23

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two heroes of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. And he struck down an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver’s beam, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 1 Chronicles 11:22–23 (ESV)

Pastor Dennis preached a powerful message from this passage focusing on the Character of Benaiah. Some key points highlighted were that the heroes of Moab spoke of killing sin and the flesh.

The Egyptian speaks of the world and we need to take the worlds weapon of media / technology (the spear) and use it against the ways of the world.

The Lion in the pit is the Devil who comes like a roaring lion, the pit and the snow makes the circumstance hard but Beniah had the heart of the king, the heart of a true servant of God and so slew the Lion, Pastor highlighted the point that Beniah chased the Lion down.

We can learn so much form Beniah’s life and exploits for our walk of faith. The DVD is available from the church bookstore and here is a message reflection from the website https://www.wwmf.org/2012/08/04/resources/benaiah-the-heart-of-the-king/

He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard. 1 Chronicles 11:25 (ESV)

Beniah became the chief bodyguard and proved loyal all the way through to Solomon’s reign unlike Joab

Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, 1 Chronicles 11:41 (ESV)

It is worth noting that Uriah, the man that David had killed to cover his adultery with his wife, was one of David’s elite soldiers, one of the thirty. This makes the betrayal even worse

But godliness with contentment is great gain, 1 Timothy 6:6 (ESV)

As Gods people we are called to be content. It seems the false doctrine being taught in Paul’s day was similar to the prosperity gospel today with it’s focus on material wealth.

When we live a goodly life and are content in our hearts with Gods provision for us we have more than the man who may have more money but is never satisfied and is constantly driven by the compulsion for more.

False teachers are prideful when they speak, they love controversy, always claim never before heard revelations and cause friction among people. We must hold to the true faith passed down to us (it is not new or novel, it has been passed down)

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:9 (ESV)

Despite western ideals, we should not desire to be rich, we should desire God and chase God not money. Our appetite should be for God not more money.

If we have a job we should work well, and be good stewards of what God has given us but we should not desire to be rich, think about this today, have you been infected with the spirit of the age to keep up with the Jones’?

We should live our lives in service and mission to our king, like Beniah seeking his good and the good of the kingdom, not seeking to build our own kingdom.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV)

Loving money is the root of all sorts of evil and a focus on it can draw us away from trusting in Christ.

Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, Psalm 80:14 (ESV)

As we read this lets remember to pray for the salvation of the Jewish people today.