I Chronicles 12
Ambidexterous Benjaminites join Davidverses 1-2
Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag
while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish
and they were among the mighty men – helpers of the war
they were armed with bows
and could use both the right hand and the left in
hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow
even of Saul’s brethren of Benjamin
List of leaders in David’s armyverses 3-7
The chief was Ahiezer – then Joash – the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite
Jeziel and Pelet – the sons of Azmaveth – Berachah
Jehu the Antothite Ismaiah the Gibeonite
a mighty man among the thirty
and over the thirty
And Jeremiah – Jahaziel – Johanan – Josabad the Gederathite – Eluzai
Jerimoth – Bealiah – Shemariah – Shephatiah the Haruphite
Elkanah – Jesiah – Azareel – Joezer – Jashobeam – the Korhites
Joelah – Zebadiah – the sons of Jeroham of Gedor
List of Gadites that joined Davidverses 8-15
And of the Gadites there separated themselves to David into the hold
to the wilderness men of might – and men of war fit for the battle
that could handle shield and buckler
whose faces were like the faces of lions
and were as swift as the roes
on the mountains
Ezer the first – Obadiah the second – Eliab the third
Mishmannah the fourth – Jeremiah the fifth – Attai the sixth
Eliel the seventh – Johanan the eighth – Elzabad the ninth
Jeremiah the tenth – Machbanai the eleventh
These were of the sons of Gad – captains of the host
one of the least was over an hundred
and the greatest over a thousand
These are they that went over Jordan in the first month
when it had overflown all his banks
and they put to flight all them of the valleys
both toward the east – and toward the west
David warns those who chose to follow himverses 16-17
And there came of the children of Benjamin
and Judah to the hold to David
And David went out to meet them
and answered and said to them
IF you become peaceably to me to help me
mine heart shall be knit to you
BUT IF you be come to betray me to mine enemies
seeing there is no wrong in mine hands
the God of our fathers look thereon
and rebuke it
Amasai’s prophecyverse 18
Then the Spirit came on Amasai – who was chief of the captains
and he said
Yours are we – David – and on your side – you son of Jesse
peace – peace be to you – peace be to your helpers
for your God helps you
Then David received them – and made them captains of the band
Men from Manasseh join Davidverse 19
And there fell some of Manasseh to David
when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle
but they helped them not
for the lords of the Philistines on advisement
sent them away
saying
He will fall to his master Saul to the
jeopardy of our heads
List of those from Manassehverses 20-22
As he went to Ziklag – there fell to him of Manasseh – Adnah
Jozabad – Jediael – Michael – Jozabad – Elihu – Zilthai
captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh
And they helped David against the band of the rovers
for they were all mighty men of valor
and were captains in the host
For at that time day by day there came to David to help him
until it was a great host – like the host of God
Followers wanted David to be kingverse 23
And these are the numbers of the bands
that were ready armed to the war
and came to David to Hebron
to turn the kingdom of Saul to him
according to the word of the LORD
List of those from all tribes that followed Davidverses 24-37
The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were
six thousand and eight hundred – ready armed to the war
Of the children of Simeon – mighty men of valor for the war
seven thousand and one hundred
Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred
and Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites
and with him were three thousand and seven hundred
and Zadok – a young man mighty of valor
and of his father’s house twenty and two captains
And of the children of Benjamin – the kindred of Saul – three thousand
for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the
house of Saul
And of the children of Ephraim – twenty thousand and eight hundred
mighty men of valor – famous throughout the house of their fathers
And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand
which were expressed by name – to come and make David king
And of the children of Issachar
which were men that had understanding
of the times – to know what Israel ought to do
the heads of them were two hundred
and all their brethren were at their commandment
Of Zebulun – such as went forth to battle – expert in war
with all instruments of war – fifty thousand
which could keep rank
they were NOT of DOUBLE HEART
And of Naphtali a thousand captains
and with them with shield and spear
thirty and seven thousand
And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand
and six hundred
And of Asher – such as went forth to battle – expert in war
forty thousand
And on the other side of Jordan of the
Reubenites and the Gadites
and of the half tribe of Manasseh
with all manner of instruments of war
for the battle
a hundred and twenty thousand
Gathering to make David kingverses 38-40
All these men of war – that could keep rank
came with a PERFECT HEART to Hebron
to make David king over all Israel
and all the rest also of Israel
were of ONE HEART
to make David king
And there they were with David three days – eating and drinking
for their brethren had prepared for them
Moreover they that were nigh them – even unto Issachar
Zebulun – Naphtali brought bread on asses – camels
mules – oxen – meat – meal – cakes of figs
bunches of raisins – wine – oil – oxen
sheep abundantly – for there was JOY in Israel
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 8 And the Gadites there separated themselves to David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes on the mountains. (914 “separated” [badal] means go over, singled out, to desert (a country or an army) often in order to join the opposing country or army, be excluded from, or defect)
DEVOTION: Here we find that there was a division on the land of Israel. There were people who were following Saul who was the present king and those who were following David who would become the future king of Israel.
They were making a decision that would make an impact on their own lives and the lives of their families. It was not an easy decision but it was one that had to be made.
David was chosen of God and those who followed him felt that he was the right man to follow even if he was not the king of Israel yet. They thought that he was one who had a proper relationship to the LORD while Saul didn’t have that relationship.
We have to make decisions regarding who we will follow and who we will not follow. Both might say that they are following the LORD but each individual has to ask the LORD for wisdom to discern who is really following the LORD.
There are many men and women who say they are following the LORD but their lives show that it is not true. Sometimes they can deceive people for a while time will show who is genuine and who is not.
God wants us to consult HIM regarding who we should follow as we want to serve HIM with our lives. It is not always easy but we have to do this through prayer and even fasting to discern who is genuine and who is not.
Sometimes even after prayer and fasting and genuine searching we can pick the wrong person or group to follow. This may happen but the LORD will give us wisdom as we continue to see what the individual is doing in their personal relationship with HIM.
CHALLENGE: Ask the LORD for discernment as to who we are to follow and support in our service to the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Your’s are we, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God help you. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band. (7965 “peace” [shalom] means safe, well, happy, friendly, health, prosperity, or welcome)
DEVOTION: Loyalty is precious. David was running from Saul for many years. Over the years many people came to join his rag tag army. This chapter lists those who joined David in his fight against the enemies of Israel, as well as, his hiding from Saul.
Each tribe had individuals who came to fight with David. The first ones mentioned are those from Saul’s own tribe, Benjamin. They were able to fight with either hand. They were able to shoot stones or arrows with accuracy.
He asked those who joined him if they would be loyal to him. If they were not going to be loyal, he told them that the LORD would deal with them. This group from Judah and Benjamin came to him and declared that they wanted him to prosper. They told him that the LORD helped him.
Here we have another example of the Holy Spirit coming upon a man in the Old Testament. He declared from the LORD that all those who help David were working with God.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit spoke through people and animals to give the word of the LORD.
Today the LORD speaks through HIS Word to us. Today the LORD speaks to us through our prayer life. Today the LORD can give us direction though spiritual leaders. Are we listening to the LORD today? David wondered if they were coming to help or hinder his work of fighting Saul. They were coming in a friendly manner.
Sometimes we might wonder about people who join our group, whether they are there to help or hinder. Trust that the LORD will send the right people at the right time to make HIS work go forward. Trust the Holy Spirit to give us the gift of discernment.
Praise HIM! HE wants us to have the safety that passes all understanding in our lives. HE keeps HIS promises of this safety in hard times. HE wants those who are faithful to HIM to prosper. That was the message from the Holy Spirit to David and the same message is for us today.
What are people telling us regarding our ministry? Are we serving the LORD? Is the LORD blessing our ministry?
CHALLENGE: Remember that we need to receive direction for the LORD on a daily basis.
: 22 For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God. (4264 “host” [machaneh] means army, a permanent organization of the military forces of a nation, body of people, or a group of people in close association)
DEVOTION: Here we have the beginning of David becoming king of Israel and people joining him in his position of king. It was a slow beginning but it grew. Each day more people joined him and it grew into a great army.
This is what has to happen in the church today. We might start small but we need to get the message of God out to the community that we live in and as they see that we are real and that we are good representatives of God they will join.
David had the slow beginning but he was a good king that the LORD blessed because of his closeness to him. He was not a sinless man but a man who loved the LORD and the LORD blessed him because he was genuine.
No individual is perfect but the LORD looks at the heart and blesses the one whose heart is toward HIM. HE knows the difference between the ones who just want glory for themselves and those who want HIS glory.
Today we have many men who are out to gain their own glory rather than the glory of the LORD. This is sin and those who follow such an individual are following the wrong leader.
Too many leaders are false and it takes prayer on the part of those who genuinely want to follow the LORD to discern who is real and who is looking for his own glory. Prayer is necessary to know who is right to follow and who is not.
CHALLENGE: We need genuine leaders who are interested in the glory of the LORD alone and not their own personal glory. Prayer is necessary for discernment.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 33 Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart. (3820 “double heart” [leb] means one’s inner self, inclination, disposition, determination, the locus of a person’s thought, volition, emotions and knowledge of right from wrong, character or seat of appetities)
DEVOTION: Complete loyalty is rare today. Everyone seems to be thinking of themselves more than anyone else. When you have a group of people who are completely loyal to you and what you are doing for the LORD it is great to know that someone has your back when things seem to be going south.
David was in need of this type of support from those around him and the list of those who were supporting him to be king was growing. It was an encouragement to him to continue to seek the position of king. He had been anointed by Samuel but needed the support of not only the LORD but the people who were supposed to be following him.
Remember we are in a battle each day of our life against the arrows of the devil. He is using any means he can to distract us from our work for the LORD. He will use any and every means to try to get us to walk away from serving the LORD.
Sometimes he will use friends to encourage us to walk away from the LORD and have “fun” as they call it. Sometimes family can turn us off to the LORD by being too legalistic or too lenient.
We need individuals and especially family encouraging us to grow in our relationship with the LORD. It takes work but it is worth it in the end to encourage one another with our loyalty.
If we have individuals in our corner that we know will not give up on us it is great to watch and see what the LORD can do in our lives.
CHALLENGE: Are you fully armed with the armor of God to fight the battles the LORD allows in your life? Are your friends and family in your corner with their armor on as well?
: 38 All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make, David, king over all Israel; and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David, king. (8003 “perfect” [shalem] means whole, full, peaceful, complete, at peace, uninjured, safe, or friendly)
DEVOTION: Our inner feelings are important in our relationships with others. If we show a smiling face toward someone it might mean that we like them or not. Here we have a group of men who came to David with a heart that was completely loyal to him with no reservations.
It is also stated that they had one heart toward David which mean that they had a united front against all those who were opposed to David becoming king of Israel.
When we have a proper relationship with the LORD, we can have a proper relationship with those around us as well. We have to be at peace with the LORD before we can truly be at peace with human beings around us.
Strife is part of life and there is a competitive spirit in all of us. Now we when talk about fighting men, it means, that sometimes they are only loyal to themselves.
So, when this group came to David, they were united behind him and promised that they would continue to be loyal to him if he became their king.
David had a group of men who would fight for him till the death. It was an encouragement to him to continue to seek the kingship of Israel. Today we need encouragement to continue our fight for the LORD. It can come through individuals who say they are praying for you and your ministry. It can come through other types of help as well.
Once someone commits to another individual it is great to see the LORD work in the life of that individual who is willing to be used of the LORD for HIS glory.
We need to be encouraging one another in the faith and service to the LORD in the same way that these men encouraged David. When you state that you are praying for someone it is a great encouragement for them to continue their fight against the world, the flesh and the devil.
CHALLENGE: We need to dare to be a David when we have others encouraging us. It is the only way we can fight the fight the LORD wants us to fight each day.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORDverse 23
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 17, 18, 22
God of our fathersverse 17
Host of Godverse 22
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verse 23
Word of the LORDverse 23
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit came upon Amasaiverse 18
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Philistinesverse 19
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Betrayverse 17
Wrongverse 17
Double heartverse 33
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Peaceablyverses 17, 18
Helpverses 17, 18, 22
No wrongverse 17
Rebukeverse 17
Understanding of the timesverse 32
Ought to doverse 32
Perfect heartverse 38
One heartverse 38
Joyverse 40
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
David to Ziklagverse 1
Even some of the Benjaminites followed Him
Made Amasai chief of the captains
David in Hebron
Saul – Benjaminite- son of Kishverses 1, 19
List of men who followed David verses 3-15
Spirit came upon Amasaiverse 18
Said God helped David
Made him captain of his band
Children of Judahverse 24
6, 800 followed David
Children of Simeonverse 25
7,100
Children of Leviverses 26-28
4,600
Jehoiada – leader of Aaronites
3,700
Zadok – mighty man of valor
Children of Benjaminverse 29
3,000
Children of Ephraimverse 30
20,800
Half tribe of Manassehverse 31
18,000
Issacharverses 32, 40
Understand of the times
Zebulunverses 33, 40
50,000
Not of a double heart
Naphtaliverses 34, 40
1,000 captains
37,000 with shield and spears
Danitesverse 35
28,600
Asherverse 36
40,000
Other side of Jordanverse 37
Reubenites
Gadites
Half tribe of Manasseh
120,000 combined
Perfect heartverse 38
Made David king over all Israel
Joy in Israelverse 40
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
12:16–17 Others from Benjamin and Judah, evidently a group demanding special mention, joined David at the stronghold. The identity of the stronghold (fortress) is not known. The term “stronghold” is used in vv. 8, 16. Some commentators have proposed Engedi as the location (cf. 1 Sam 24:1). David was at first cautious about accepting this group and asked whether they had come in peace to help him or whether they had come to betray him to his enemies. He was eager to make an alliance with them but had been betrayed on three previous occasions—by Doeg the Edomite (1 Sam 21–22), by the people of Keilah (1 Sam 23), and by the Ziphites (1 Sam 26). So David responded with an oath, “May the God of our fathers see it and judge you” (1 Chr 12:17). (Thompson, J. A. (1994). 1, 2 Chronicles (Vol. 9, p. 124). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
12:18 the Spirit. A temporary empowerment by the Holy Spirit to assure David that the Benjamites and Judahites were loyal to him and that the cause was blessed by God. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Ch 12:18). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 17. And David went out to meet them, &c.] Out of the hold where he was; either out of respect and deference to them, some of them being persons of eminence; or it may be out of suspicion, fearing they were not his friends, being, it may be, chiefly of the tribe of Benjamin, and therefore was desirous of sounding them before he admitted them: and said unto them, if ye become peaceably unto me to help me; if they were come with a good will to him, and intention to help him against his enemy, and protect him: mine heart shall be knit unto you; they should have such a share in his affections, that their hearts would be as one, as his and Jonathan’s were, 1 Sam. 18:1. but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies; into the hands of Saul, and his courtiers, that sought his life: seeing there is no wrong in mine hands; no injury done by him to Saul, or to them, or to any other: the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it; he that sees all things, let him revenge it; and it is not only a wish that he would, but a prayer of faith that so it would be. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 24). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
16–22. David seemed to have good ground for his enquiry of the Benjamites, for Saul was of that tribe. But the Lord was better to him than all his fears. Is there not a sweet spiritual lesson veiled under this address of David to the Benjamites, and the answer of Amasai? Are we come to Jesus in sincerity and truth! Can we appeal to the God of our fathers in his covenant-love, and say, His chosen is our chosen, and God the Father’s Christ our Christ. Thine we are, blessed Jesus, and to thee we vow allegiance and love for ever! Oh! how delightful it is to feel as Ruth felt, and to yield ourselves to the Lord, as his servants, in affection. Ruth 1:16, 17. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: 1 Kings–Esther (Vol. 3, pp. 352–353). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
On Being A Pastor by Derek J. Prime & Alistair Begg
A prayerless Christian is a contradiction in that if our life is under the control and influence of Christ’s Spirit, we pray to the Father with delightful confidence. The first priority for a shepherd and teacher is to live as a Christian ought to live, and the means using prayer to the full. (p. 62)
Effective prayer in pastoral work arises from the habit of private prayer for prayer’s own sake – or, better, for the sake of fellowship with God. (p. 63)
Prayer is our principal and main work. It has priority over the ministry of the Word in that it must come first. It is by prayer that the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, is effectively unsheathed. Prayer perfectly complements the ministry of the Word. The apostles established the pattern for themselves and for us in Acts 6 when they determined that others should be appointed to do the duties that hindered their performing their most important tasks: “prayer and the ministry of the Word (verse 4). That decision had immediate consequences of blessing for the church as Luke significantly records: So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith” (verse 7). How different things would have been if the apostles had allowed themselves to be swamped by tasks that others could have done and that deflected them form prayer and the ministry of the Word. (p. 65)
Every time we find it difficult to maintain prayer, we will be helped by remembering that this is simply an indication of its key importance in the spiritual battle. (p. 67)
Prayer is one way in which we keep watch over the spiritual well-being of the lambs and sheep of the flock. If no one else prays for them, we must. It is significant that the ministry of intercession is the one ministry that our Lord continues in heaven now on our behalf. We are never nearer to HIS heart than when we bear up in our prayers the concerns and well-being of His flock. (p. 69)
THE GOSPEL OF LIGHT
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6
Are we all doomed to perpetual blindness and darkness? There is but one hope. There is but one answer. There is but one cure. According to the Gospel, Jesus of Nazareth was the only begotten Son of God. He came down to earth because of the blindness of mankind, because man had been deluded by the god of this world. He came and brought that treatment that alone can avail. He has removed by His sacrificial, atoning death and His resurrection the stain of the guilt of sin. He has given new life and power to our diseased and paralyzed spiritual optic nerves. He enables us to see God, to behold the Father’s face. And, looking at Him, the light of the eternal countenance irradiates our whole being.
He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). And that statement has been verified in countless thousands of experiences. He said that He was “the light of the world” (John 8:12) and that anyone who followed Him need no longer walk in darkness but will have “the light of life” (John 8:12). It is He alone who can reconcile us to God and enable us to see and to know God. The message of the gospel therefore to this modern, distracted world is that in simplicity it has but to offer this prayer:
Holy Spirit, truth divine,
Dawn upon this soul of mine.
Word of God and inward light,
Wake my spirit, clear my sight.
The gospel states with assurance that all who offer this prayer in sincerity and truth will be able to say with the apostle Paul that “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6) has shined into their hearts.
A Thought to Ponder
Jesus Christ alone can reconcile us to God and enable us to see and to know God.
(From Truth Unchanged, Unchanging, pp. 103-104, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Worship of Idols and Demons
“They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.” (Deuteronomy 32:17)
This terrible indictment was in the farewell song of Moses, written just before the tribes of Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land. Perhaps Moses was thinking mainly of the golden calf fashioned by Aaron, who had told the people: “These be thy gods, O Israel” (Exodus 32:4).
Aaron and the people certainly knew that the man-made calf was not “gods,” but they knew that there were many invisible spirit beings in the world and that these “devils” (actually fallen angels) could indwell images made by men as objects of worship. These evil spirits do possess certain powers, which can be used to impress their worshippers with the magical insights and abilities of the images.
This was also a problem in the early church. Paul warned his converts at Corinth, “The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils” (1 Corinthians 10:20). John’s closing word to his own flock was “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).
It is a serious problem today—not only in lands where images and animalistic spirits abound, but even in the “Christian” West, both in the proliferating New Age cults and in mainline churches that have diluted sound Bible teaching with humanism and ritualistic pantheism. And remember, too, that “covetousness” (that is, coveting money, or power, or anything more than the will of God) “is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). When the prince of these devils himself sought the worship of Jesus, the Lord answered: “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10). We need to remember and follow His example.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
Death Zone
But David remained in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:1
In 2019, a climber saw his last sunrise from the peak of Mount Everest. He survived the dangerous ascent, but the high altitude squeezed his heart, and he passed away on the trek down. One medical expert warns climbers not to think of the summit as their journey’s end. They must get up and down quickly, remembering “they’re in the death zone.”
David survived his dangerous climb to the top. He killed lions and bears, slew Goliath, dodged Saul’s spear and pursuing army, and conquered Philistines and Ammonites to become king of the mountain.
But David forgot he was in the death zone. At the peak of his success, as “the Lord gave David victory wherever he went” (2 Samuel 8:6), he committed adultery and murder. His initial mistake? He lingered on the mountaintop. When his army set out for new challenges, he “remained in Jerusalem” (11:1). David once had volunteered to fight Goliath; now he relaxed in the accolades of his triumphs.
It’s hard to stay grounded when everyone, including God, says you’re special (7:11–16). But we must. If we’ve achieved some success, we may appropriately celebrate the accomplishment and accept congratulations, but we must keep moving. We’re in the death zone. Come down the mountain. Humbly serve others in the valley—asking God to guard your heart and your steps. (By Mike Wittmer, Our Daily Bread)
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