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Loyalty Overcomes Obstacles - 2 Samuel 23:13-17
Loyalty Overcomes Obstacles - 2 Samuel 23:13-17 [13] And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.
[14] And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
[15] And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
[16] And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
[17] And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
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INTRODUCTION
Loyalty is a beautiful trait. It leads men to do significant things for what often appears to be insignificant reasons. David, perhaps not meaning to be heard, declared his longing for a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem. Why not get a drink from any well? What was so special about the water from Bethlehem’s well? Regardless of these details, three of David’s mighty men heard the desire of their king and loyalty compelled them to go. In order to get the water from the well of David’s desire, these men had to break through the host of the Philistines. They risked their lives, and for what? Was it merely a drink of water? To them it was much more—it was loyalty!
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
- (For smaller children) Jonathan's armourbearer was loyal to him and willing to go with Jonathan to attack a garrison of the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:6-14 [6] And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
[7] And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.
[8] Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.
[9] If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.
[10] But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.
[11] And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.
[12] And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
[13] And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.
[14] And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.
See All...). Ruth was loyal to Namoi and returned with her to Bethlehem where Ruth was a complete stranger and would have to work hard to support Naomi (Ruth 1:14-17 [14] And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. [15] And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. [16] And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: [17] Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
See All...). - Loyalty for David caused the mighty men to risk their lives. What has your loyalty for the Lord Jesus Christ caused you to do? Would loyalty send you to some field of service for the Lord?
- Why did David’s men break through the hosts of the Philistines? What had David done for them that caused them to be loyal? What has the Lord done for you? Are you loyal?
PRAYER NEEDS
- Thank the Lord for dying on the cross for your sins.
- Ask God to make you a mighty man for him.
HYMN
My Jesus, I Love Thee
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Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.