Category: OLD TESTAMENT

Altar(s) appear in the Holy Scripture about 1628 times.
There are 3 Hebrew words and 2 Greek Words translated Altar(s):

• Ari’eyl             the Altar of the Temple (3 times)    Ezekiel 43:15, 16, 18
• Madbach        a sacrificial Altar  (1 times)    Ezra 7:17
• Mizbeach       an Altar  (1600 times)
• Bomos             an Altar  (1 times)     Acts 17:23 (false Altar)
• Thusiaster     place of sacrifice & Altar  (23 times)

From Adam to the Flood (1656 years) the word Altar is NOT found in the Scripture. Offerings were made to God (Cain and Abel) and an Altar is assumed but not named.

The 1^st mention of an Altar is after the flood.

Genesis 8:20 – Noah built an Altar and offered sacrifices three hundred and seventy five plus years later, the Altar is mentioned again after the call of Abram.
Genesis 12:7 – Abram arrives in land of Canaan and builds an Altar when God appears to him. After Lot separates to Sodom and Gomora, Abram moves to Hebron.
Genesis 13:18 – Abram builds an Alter (2^nd) 30+ years later
Genesis 22:9 – Abraham builds (3^rd) Altar to offer his only son Isaac as sacrifice.
— Eighty five years pass during which Abraham dies.
Genesis 26:24 – Isaac builds an Altar after God reaffirms the Abrahamic Covenant.
— Sixty nine years pass before Jacob has stolen blessing from Esau and fled to Uncle Laban.
Genesis 33:20 – Jacob builds (1^st) Alter after serving Laban 20 years and before seeing Esau. Returns to Bethel from Haran.
Genesis 35:1-7 – Jacob builds (2^nd) Altar.
— Six Hundred and 10 plus years pass.
Exodus 17:15 – Moses (80 years old) leads Israelites out of Egypt and builds an Altar.
— Forty years of wilderness wanderings pass and the Altar is established as part of the Tabernacle and an orderly worship of God is established.
Joshua 8:30 – Joshua builds an Altar after the defeat at Ai.
— Thirty plus years spent possessing the land. Tribes of Rueben, Gad & ½ Manasseh return to other side of Jordan.
Joshua 22:10 – And they build an (great) Altar, which causes much concern for Israel.

200 years later the Altar is mentioned again

Judges 6:25 – Gideon builds an Altar unto the Lord (after tearing down father’s false Altar).
Judges 21:24-25 – plays an important part in the next Altar that is built.
Judges 21:4 – The people of Israel build an Altar.
Samuel is Judge, people want a King.
1 Samuel 7:17 – Samuel built an Altar in Ramah.
Several years pass and Saul is the King of Israel.
1 Samuel 14:35 – Saul built an Altar (1^st) unto the Lord.
Samuel has died, Saul and Sons are killed.
2 Samuel 24:25 – King David builds an Altar to avert a plague.
David turns kingdom over to Solomon, who serves 4 years and then spends 20 years building Temple/Palace.
1 Kings 9:25 – Solomon builds an Altar unto the Lord.
Solomon dies. Kingdom turned over to Rehoboam who sets high taxes and total dictatorship.
Israel rebels and follows Jeroboam.  Judah follows Rehoboam.
1 Kings 12:33 – Jeroboam builds an Altar in Bethel (not unto the Lord).

There are still many references in the Old Testament to Altars being used, torn down or built up unto the Lord as well as False. The New Testament, other than references in Revelation, refer to the Old Testament.

Matthew 5:23,24; 23:18-20,35,  Luke 1:11; 11:51,  Acts 17:23
1 Corinthians 9:13; 10:18, Hebrews 7:13; 13:10, James 2:21

It would appear that the Altar is currently in Heaven:
Revelation 6:9; 8:3,5; 9:13; 11:1; 14:18; 16:7.

It also appears that the “Cross” is the final altar (Hebrews 13:9-16).
Remember the final words the Lord said, “IT IS FINISHED” (John 19:30).

Checkout Alter in the Church (under CHURCH)

⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

Twelve men to search out the land of Canaan.

One from each tribe, a leader in their tribe, heads of Israel. Numbers 13:2-3
Their commission: be of good courage! Numbers 13:18-2

Their job: (1) See the land, what it is. Good or Bad. Fat or Lean. Wood therein or not. Fruit, bring some back. (2) See the people who dwell therein: Strong or Weak. Few or many. (3) See the cites. Camps or Strongholds.

They spent 40 days searching out the land. Numbers 13:25
Their Report: Numbers 13:26-29

1. The land floweth with milk and honey, very fruitful. Numbers 13:27
2. The people are strong.  Numbers 13:28
3. The cities walled and very great. Numbers 13:28

Summary: Caleb said “Let us go up at once and possess it”. Numbers 13:30 Joshua agreed. Numbers 14:6 But the other ten said “We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger then we.” And the congregation (Children of Israel, 11 days out of Egyptian Slavery) cried “Would God that we died in the land of Egypt!” Numbers 14:2  “… and let us return into Egypt.” Numbers 14:4 But all the congregation bade stone them. (Caleb and Joshua) with stones. Numbers 14:10

Who were and what became of these 12 leaders, heads of the tribes of Israel, who searched out the land?

Numbers 13:4-15 And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur. Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.  Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph. Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.  Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.  Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli. Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael. Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi. Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.

• Shammua the son of Zaccur.     He voted NO
  Name means renowned, heard-about
• Shaphat the son of Hori                He voted NO
  Name means God judges
• Igal the son of Joseph.                    He voted NO
  Name means God redeems.|
• Palti the son of Raphu.                   He voted NO
  Name means delivered.
• Gaddiel the son of Sodi.                 He voted NO
  Name means fortune of Gad.
• Gaddi the son of Susi.                     He voted NO
  Name means fortunate.
• Ammiel the son of Gemalli.          He voted NO
  Name means delivered.
• Sethur the son of Michael.           He voted NO
  Name means hidden.
• Nahbi the son of Vophsi.               He voted NO
  Name means concealed, hidden.
• Geuel the son of Machi.                  He voted NO
  Name means majesty of God.
• Caleb the son of Jephunneh                              He voted YES
  Name means dog.
• Hoshea the son of Nun.(Oshea, Joshua)     He voted YES
  (see Life and Times of Joshua)

Hoshea, Oshea means deliverer, salvation. Joshua means Jehovah is salvation.

Numbers 13:16 These [are] the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
Deuteronomy 32:44 And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.

Other than Caleb and Joshua, there is very little said of these 12 men. They were leaders of their respective tribes, their names had Godly meanings and they were the HOPE of Israel. But they came to a sad end.

Numbers 14:37-38 Even those men who did bring the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.But Joshua, the son of Nun, and Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, who were of the men who went to search the land, lived still.

⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

David, son of Jesse, King of Israel

Start reading at I Samuel 16 through I Kings 2 & I Chronicles 11-29
Time Line: BC 1040 – 970

YEAR    AGE   EVENT                              REFERENCE

1040          Born                               Ruth 4:22
                                                 I Chronicles 2:17
              Killed a lion and a bear           I Samuel 17:34-36
1025    15    Anointed by Samuel                 I Samuel 16:8,13
              Musician at Palace for Saul        I Samuel 16:18-23
              Sent to battlefield by father      I Samuel 17:17-18
1025    15    Encounter with Goliath             I Samuel 17:49
              Friend of Jonathan                 I Samuel 18:1-4
              Honored by Saul as a hero          I Samuel 18:5
              Saul tries to kill him             I Samuel 18:8,12
              Loved by Michal                    I Samuel 18:20-28
              Kills Philistines- Marries Michal  I Samuel 18:27
              Plotted against by Saul            I Samuel 19:1
              Kills more of the Philistines      I Samuel 19:8
              Helped in escape by Michal         I Samuel 19:12-13
              Flees to Naioth                    I Samuel 19:18
              Confides in Jonathan               I Samuel 20:1-23
              Flees to Nob                       I Samuel 21:1-5
              Eats the showbread                 I Samuel 21:6
              Gets sword of Goliath              I Samuel 21:9
              Flees to Gath & feigns crazy       I Samuel 21:10-15
              Lives in a cave                    I Samuel 22:1
              Commands the Rag-Tag Army          I Samuel 22:2
              Flees to Moab                      I Samuel 22:3
              On to Hereth, land of Judah        I Samuel 22:5
              Saves Keilah                       I Samuel 23:1-5
              Chased by Saul                     I Samuel 23:6-13
              Lives in caves, defends Israel     I Samuel 23:14
              Covenant with Jonathan renewed     I Samuel 23:17-18
              Spares Saul’s life                 I Samuel 24:4
              Promise to Saul                    I Samuel 24:21-22
              Samuel Dies, David goes to Peran   I Samuel 25:1
              Meets (evil) Nabal                 I Samuel 25:2-
              Abigail’s help against Nabal       I Samuel 25:14-23
              Marries Abigail, Nabal’s widow     I Samuel 25:40-42
              Marries Ahinoam, of Jezreel        I Samuel 25:43
              Loses Michal (1st wife) to Palti   I Samuel 25:44
              Saul chases David, again           I Samuel 26:1-4
              Spares Saul’s life, again          I Samuel 26:5-12
              Saul seeks peace, again            I Samuel 26:21-25
      28-?    Lives in Ziklag, 1 yr 4 months     I Samuel 27:7
              Causes problems for Philistines    I Samuel 27:
              Keeps fighting for Israel          I Samuel 29:
              Amalekites take (wives) captives   I Samuel 30:1-6
              Seeks God’s advise about problem   I Samuel 30:8
              Recovers wives                     I Samuel 30:9-20
              Shares the bounty                  I Samuel 30:21 
              Hear’s of Saul’s Death             II Samuel 1:4
              Kills messenger                    II Samuel 1:15
              Laments over Saul & Jonathan       II Samuel 1:17-27
1010  30      Appointed King of Judah            II Samuel 2:4
              War between Judah/Israel           II Samuel 3:1
              Sons and Daughters born            II Samuel 3:2-3
                                                (including Absalom)
              A league with Abner                II Samuel 3:13
              Gets (wife) Michal back            II Samuel 3:14-15
              Abner dies                         II Samuel 3:31
              Avenges murder of Ish-bosheth      II Samuel 4:9
1003  37      King over all Isreal               II Samuel 5:3
                                                 I Chronicles 11
              Takes Zion                         II Samuel 5:7
              Adds wives & children              II Samuel 5:13
              War against Philistines            II Samuel 5:17-25
              Brings Ark to Zion (3 months)      II Samuel 6:1-11
                                                 I Chron. 13:1-14
              Moves Ark to Jerusalem             II Samuel 6:12-17
              Despised by Michal (childless)     II Samuel 6:20-23
              Builds a Palace                    I Chronicles 15:1
              Desires to build a house for God   II Samuel 7:2
                                                 I Chron. 17:1-3
              Forbidden by Nathan                I Chronicles 17:4
              God’s promise to David             II Samuel 7:11
              Other Victory’s                    II Samuel 10: 
     38 ?     Over next 2 years   
              David meets Bathsheba and Murders  II Samuel 11:
               Uriah
              Son born to David & Bathsheba      II Samuel 11:27
              Nathan confronts David and His Son II Samuel 12:
               dies
1000  40 ?    A son born, Solomon                II Samuel 12:24-25
              Another war victory                II Samuel 12:29
990   50 ?    About 11 years pass 
              Absalom about 20 years old  
              Ammon rapes Tamar                  II Samuel 13:1-22
2 yrs pass    Absalom slays Ammon                II Samuel 13:23-36
3 yrs pass    Absalom in Geshur                  II Samuel 13:38
2 yrs pass    Absalom returns Jerusalem          II Samuel 14:28
                                                (doesn’t see David)
4 yrs pass    Absalom plots against David        II Samuel 15:7
979   61 ?    Loses kingdom to Absalom           II Samuel 15:
              Mephiboshet’s sevant Ziba Lies     II Samuel 16:1-4
              Ahithophel plots against David     II Samuel 16
              Cursed by Shimei                   II Samuel 16:5
              Ahithophel commits suicide         II Samuel 17:23
              Absalom chases David               II Samuel 17:24-26
              Barzillai loyal to David           II Samuel 17:27-28
              Absalom’s Death                    II Samuel 18:1-18
              Back to Jerusalem                  II Samuel 19:15
              Shimei Pardoned                    II Samuel 19:16
              Mephibosheth sets record straight  II Samuel 19:29-30
              Sheba’s conspiracy                 II Samuel 20:1-3
              Sheba’s put down                   II Samuel 20:14-22
976   64 ?    3 yrs famine in the land           II Samuel 21:1
              The Gibeonites                     II Samuel 21:1-14
              Mephibosheth                       II Samuel 21:7-8
              War with Philistines               II Samuel 21:15-22
              Mighty men who served with David   II Samuel 23:8
              Tempted by Devil to count people   I Chronicles 21:1
975   65 ?    9 months 20 days                   II Samuel 24:8
              Builds Altar                       II Samuel 24:13-25
              Prepares for Temple                I Chron. 22:1-5
              Appoints Solomon his Successor     I Kings 1
              Gives charge to Solomon            I Kings 2
              Makes Solomon King of Israel       I Chronicles 23:1
              His last words                     II Samuel 23:
970   70      His death                          I Kings 2
                                                 I Chronicles 29:26

Summary: David lived for 70 years
30 years old when he became King of Judah
7 yrs 6 months he ruled Judah
33 yrs he ruled all Israel from Jerusalem
40 plus years ruling (I Kings 2:11-2?)
70 years old when he dies

IF David is 40 when Solomon is born, and Solomon reigns 40 yrs
(I Kings 11:42), then Solomon was 70 years old when he died.

Solomon started the Temple in 4th year (II Chronicles 3:2) of his reign:
7 years to build Temple I Kings 6:37
13 years to build his Palace I Kings 6:38
20 years to build both I Kings 7:1

At age 30 – Solomon takes reign over Israel
At age 34 – Starts building Temple (II Chronicles 3:2)
At age 41 – Temple complete
At age 54 – Palace complete
At age 70 – Solomon Dies

⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

Everything we know about Eli is found in
1 Samuel 1-4.

Eli was a priest, a descendent of Aaron and a Godly man.

• 1 Samuel 1:9 He was a priest in the Temple of Shiloh
• 1 Samuel 1:12-13 He condemned sin
• 1 Samuel 1:17 He spoke for God (prophesied)
• 1 Samuel 3:18 He accepted God’s will for his life

He was a believer and a Godly man

Eli was a Judge of Israel for 40 years (1 Samuel 4:18)
Eli was a husband and a father (all thought his wife is never mentioned)
His sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests (1 Samuel 1:3)

ELI – Priest, Judge, Husband, Father and FAILURE

Eli the Failure, failed to see his sons get saved.

1 Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.

And the sons became:

• Irreverent and Sacrilegious (1 Samuel 2:13-16)
• Stumbling Blocks to Israel (1 Samuel 2:17)
• Fornicators and Adulterers (1 Samuel 2:22)

Surely Eli wasn’t responsible for his sons actions.             

YES, he was! He failed to restrain them  (1 Samuel 3:13)
Deuteronomy 17:9-12, Deuteronomy 21:18-21, Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go.
TRAIN = to form by instruction, discipline, drill.

Train a child Proverbs 22:15, Proverbs 23:13-14
A BEATING? – that’s sadistic
A SPANKING? – that’s love

“But I love my child too much to spank them”.

Proverbs 13:24 says different! DAD, it’s your job, you are responsible.
ELI Failed.
Eli loved his sons —- more than he loved the Lord (1 Samuel 2:29)

Eli’s position with God: his salvation became common place.

He was chosen by God to serve (1 Samuel 2:28)
But he took it for granted (1 Samuel 2:29)
ELI – Priest, Judge, Husband, Father and FAILURE
He’s in Heaven by the Grace of God, but his sons are in Hell.

⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

Genesis 1:27-28,31 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Genesis 5:2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

Genesis 2:7-8 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.

Genesis 2:19-20 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.  So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.

Genesis 2:21-23 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;  And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

When the Lord God created man, the female was inside him. The Lord God called him (them) ADAM. He then placed the man (Adam) in the garden and had him name all the animals which the Lord God brought to him (this indicates a passage of time. As the animals were brought to Adam (probably by two’s, male and female) but Adam was alone. So the Lord God put Adam to sleep and removed the “rib” (womb) from Adam and formed the wo(womb)man. When Adam awoke and the Lord God presented her to Adam, Adam called her wo(womb)man and Adam named her Eve.

Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

2 Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Deuteronomy 23:3-6 Summarizes what happened because of Balaam.
“An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever: Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee. Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee. Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.”
Other references to Balaam:
Joshua 13:22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.
Joshua 24:9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:
Joshua 24:10 But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.
Nehemiah 13:2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
Micah 6:5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

Balaam   deceiver NOT man of God.  

We need help in our Battles

Read the story found in 1 Samuel 17. (Have you gone thru the David & Goliath series 1-5? If not, review them first).
David had selected 5 smooth stones as he went to face Goliath and his 4 brothers. BIG PROBLEMS.
1 Sam 17:46 is the Key verse in the story of David and Goliath. “…that all the earth may knowth there is a GOD in Israel.” Always give God the glory.
David (with God’s help) defeated Goliath.
2 Samuel 21:15-22 is a summation of the Philistine wars. David won’t have to face all the Big Problems, he gets help from others.
We also need help in our Spiritual Battles – can’t always face them alone-
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

God’s word is our strength for victory.
1 Timothy 4:11-16 These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Near the end of David’s life he wrote the song (Psalm) in 2 Samuel 22 and also Psalm 18. He gives all the glory to God!

The Key to a successful (VICTORUS) Christian life – Know God’s word.
2 Timothy 2:15-16 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
2 Timothy 4:1-4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Here’s a list of Question to ask yourself (with scriptural answers):

• How do I get to Heaven? John 14:6, Romans 10:9-13
• I Believe there’s a God, am I a sinner? Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:23
• Won’t doing my best (obeying the law) get me saved? Ephesians 2:8-9
• How do I receive Jesus as my Savior? John 1:12, Revelation 3:20, Romans 10:13
• How much do I owe God? Romans 5:8, Romans 12:2
• How do I know God will forgive my sin? Romans 5:8, 1 John 1:9
• What does God want me to do? Psalm 100, 1 Thessalonians 5:18
• How do I know I will live for God? Psalm 23, John 14:1-3
• How can I avoid temptation? Proverbs 3:6, 1 Corintians 10:13
• Is it wrong to worry? Philippians 4:6
• How do I know my life will be different? 2 Corinthians 5:17
• How do I know God wrote the Bible? 2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Peter 1:21
• Why did God write the Bible? 2 Timothy 3:16
• Is it important to study the Bible? 2 Timothy 2:15

⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛

Follow thru to VICTORY

Read the story found in 1 Samuel 17.
(Have you gone thru the David & Goliath series 1-4? If not, review them first).
Lessons learned thus far:

1. We all face Giants (Goliath).
2. God has called us to Stand.
3. Be yourself (be imitators of God).
4. Chose your weapons well.

The last lesson we are drawing upon: FOLLOW THRU
(17:28) David could have backed down when his own brothers rebuked him.
(17:30) David could have backed down when the Israel army rebuked him.
(17:33) David could have backed down when King Saul tried to talk him out of it.
(17:38-39) David could have backed down when King Saul’s armor didn’t Fit.
Then David steps (alone) onto the Battle Field, FACE TO FACE WITH GOLIATH.

v 41 even here, would anyone blame David for backing down, turning tail and running? Could anyone blame him or even accuse him?
v 42 Goliath distained him… (Christians are despised, distained by the world. If you’re a Christian and the world doesn’t despise, distain you, YOU’VE got problems).
1 John 3:13 Marvel not if the world hate you
John 15:19 You’re not of this world
John 17:14 … the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world…
Paul tells of how the world treated him (1 Cor 4:13-14) and in (1 Cor 1:27-28 we find God choosing things which are despised: foolish things, weak things, base things, things which are despised of the world.
v 43-44 Goliath puts his contempt to words,
v 45 David voices his stand for GOD. When you stand for God, you have no one to fear.
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso ever putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. (Matt 10:28)
David was trusting in the LORD. He took one look at those weapons and called upon GOD.
v 46-47 Goliath had had his say and now David gives his version.
(remember the hymn Trust and Obey? “When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word what a glory he sheds on our way. While we do his good will he abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey“).
v 48-50 THE FIGHT. David prevails. Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
But did David stop here? He had knocked down the Giant. NO, he FOLLOWED THRU.
v 51 He finished the battle, he killed the giant. He cut off his head.

When God calls us to a work, (1 Thes 5:24) He wants us to follow thru (Phil 2:12-13).
All it takes to FOLLOW THRU with God is TRUST, FAITH and OBEDIENCE. When God is with you (and He always is) YOU can have VICTORY.

⇛ continue reading David & Goliath Part 6
⇛ checkout List of Topics ⇛