I Chronicles 20
Joab led Israelite army against Ammonitesverse 1
And it came to pass – that after the year was expired
at time that kings go out to battle – Joab led forth the power of the
army and wasted the country of the children of Ammon
and came and besieged Rabbah BUT David tarried at Jerusalem
and Joab smote Rabbah – and destroyed it
David arrived for victory over Rabbahverses 2-3
And David took the crown of their king from off his head
and found it to weigh a talent of gold
and there were precious stones in it
And it was set upon David’s head
and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city
and he brought out the people that were in it
and cut them with saws – harrows of iron – axes
even so dealt David with all the cities of the
children of Ammon
And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem
Giant killed in battle at Gathverse 4
And it came to pass after this
that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines
at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai
that was of the children of the giant
and they were subdued
Giant killed in another battle with Philistinesverse 5
And there was war again with the Philistines
and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the
brother of Goliath the Gittite
whose spear staff was like a weaver’s beam
Giant killed in another battle at Gathverses 6-7
And yet again there was war at Gath – where was a man of great stature
whose fingers and toes were four and twenty
six on each hand – six on each foot
and he also was the son of the giant
But when he defied Israel – Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him
David and his army killed the giants of Gathverse 8
These were born unto the giant in Gath – and they fell by the hand of David
and by the hand of his servants
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it. (2428 “power” [chayil] means a wealth, qualified, might, elite soldiers, force, valor, strength, band of men, company, or host)
DEVOTION: David had established himself as king in Israel. He had won many battles. He was a fighting man. Because he was a fighting man, the LORD told him that his son would build the temple. David gathered the material for the temple. When he conquered nations, he took part of the spoils and gave it to the building of the temple.
In this chapter we see another time period in the life of David. Here is the first time we see David staying in Jerusalem when kings went out to war. It was common for the king to lead his troops into battle. Joab led the elite soldiers of Israel into battle against the children of Ammon and won. Once the battle was won David came to join them for the spoils.
David took the crown of the king and placed it on his head. Joab won the battle but David reaped the reward. David also make the children of Ammon his workers with harrow of iron and saws and axes. Those he conquered he used to gather material for his kingdom and for the future Temple.
Today, in our churches we need the pastors to lead the way. The pastors can’t stay at home and let the people do it all. The people can’t let the leaders do all the work either. It is a joint effort.
Pastors need to set the example for the rest of the people. Today we are at war with our atheistic society. They are taking over our schools and colleges. They are taking over the airwaves with their teaching. They are working to create laws that contradict Biblical teachings. Our children are learning more about Disney than about the Word of God.
We have a different worldview. We believe that the LORD and HIS salvation is the message our world needs. The LORD uses us to spread this message.
Our pastors need to encourage their people to visit their neighborhood to reach people for the LORD. This is the present-day army. We don’t go out with guns and swords. We go out with the Word of God and in HIS strength.
Pastors need to lead in visitation, soul winning and attendance in battle. Pastors need to be good leaders. We have observed the right way to do things.
In a large church on visitation night the senior pastor was the first to take a name of a family to visit that week. Then the rest of the members took a name. He set the example.
We are all ministers of Christ. Let us get into the battle and not stay at home!!! Let’s not stay in our office and wait for people to come to us. The cults are out on the streets but those who have the true message of the Word of God are staying home. This is wrong and we will answer for our lack of reaching our world for Christ. Our church leadership should be training an elite army to go out and face our enemy and his army.
The battle will never be won by not entering the battlefield. Our neighborhoods will not be reached that way. All leaders need to lead. Whether kings in battle or pastors in the neighborhoods.
CHALLENGE: Paul said that he had “fought the good fight.” We need to fight the good fight today. Will the LORD say “well done” to us when we meet HIM? How many crowns will we be throwing at the feet of Jesus?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. (6213 “dealt” [‘asah] means to behave in a certain manner, show a certain behavior or attribute, conduct or comport oneself, to work, to act, or put in order)
DEVOTION: Remember the Ammonites were descendants of Lot who was a nephew of Abraham. They should have been fighting with the children of Israel instead of against them. Relatives can sometimes be our worst enemies instead of our greatest asset.
Here we find that David did not kill them all but put them to work to help with the building of the nation of Israel. They were put in service of the LORD in spite of their false beliefs. They had to help Israel become a great nation under the leadership of David.
It would be nice if we could do the same with those who oppose us when we try to move forward for the LORD. Turning those who fought against our growth in the LORD, into individuals who helped us grow in the LORD.
Our relatives need to know the LORD and understand what we are doing for the LORD. It is hard to get the message across to them but it is our responsibility to try.
Realizing that our enemies are not understanding our position in Jesus Christ makes it hard to communicate but it is something that we need to continually try to do. It might be that we can really reach them for the LORD and help them to understand that we are servants of the only true God.
: 6 And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were for and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant. (4060 “stature” [middah] means size, measurement, length, or unit of measure as a spatial dimension)
DEVOTION: Each of the brothers of Goliath was unique. They each faced a different servant of David who defeated them. Here we have one that had extra fingers and toes. It was something that was unique but it didn’t help him to win a battle against the servants of the LORD.
We are going to meet many unique individuals in our life. None of them might have extra fingers and toes but they will be unique in one way or another and we need to face them without fear.
Giants can scare most people who think they have to fight them alone. This is not true of genuine believers. Each battle we fight for the LORD has HIS presence with us to help us defeat whatever giant we face. If we just look at the size of the individual or problem we will think we can’t win but if we look at the individual or problem through the LORD we know we can win if the battle is righteous.
One smooth stone is all it took to defeat Goliath in the time period of David and his men. Our armor is the LORD Jesus Christ and we are commanded to put it on each day. We have the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God to use to defeat any enemy we face.
CHALLENGE: Our responsibility is to learn the Word of God on a daily basis because what we are learning that day will help us with the battle the LORD is going to allow into our life.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 7 But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him. (2778 “defied” [charaph] means to treat with contempt, taunt, to annoy, ridicule, reproach, blasphemed, insult, or speak words which harm another)
DEVOTION: Here we have someone who didn’t think too highly of the Israelite. He thought that because of his size he could do or say anything he wanted because no one could defeat him.
He was wrong. He was going against the Creator of the Universe who had picked the children of Israel as HIS representatives on earth. HE was the power behind the children of Israel. HE was going to give them victory no matter who was against them.
So, we find that this one who ridiculed the children of Israel was defeated.
Today we have “giants” that think they can say or do anything against the church of Jesus Christ. They say things like this giant. The do things that hurt the church of Jesus Christ. They think that because they say or do or make laws against the teachings of the Word of God that they will win in the end. They are wrong.
God gives HIS enemies who are the enemies of the genuine church of Jesus Christ enough rope to hang themselves with their comments against the genuine church. HE will come one day in judgment just like HE judged the children of Ammon here.
HE is longsuffering and not willing that any should perish or spend eternity in hell but will still one day come in judgment because some chose to go against HIS church and those who are genuine believers.
Those against the teachings of the Word of God will spend eternity in hell with the devil and his angels. It is a righteous judgment because everyone has an opportunity to make a decision to follow the LORD. Everyone will hear the message of salvation and either accept it or reject it.
We are the instruments that the LORD uses to spread the message of salvation. Are we doing our job while we are here on this earth? Do we genuinely believe that all those who reject Jesus will spend eternity in hell?
CHALLENGE: This truth is what the Bible teaches regarding those who reject the message of salvation while they are alive.
: 8 These were born unto the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. (7495 “giant” [rapha] means Rapha, Rephaim, invigorating, Canaanite descendants of Rephaim, or figurative of a ghost)
DEVOTION: It is thought that Goliath had four brothers and that is why David took five stones with him to battle Goliath. During the course of the lifetime of David we find that the four other brothers were killed in battle as well by the men of David’s army.
We all tend to face Rapha in our lifetime. There are times when we see our circumstances as facing large problems, we cannot solve ourselves. We look for a solution but it doesn’t seem to come.
This also happens in churches that face difficult problems either with their building or their people. It seems like there is no way to defeat the problem but with the help of the LORD all it takes is on smooth stone to knock that giant out of our church or life.
When David went to battle, he did not fear the size of the problem only depended on the LORD to help him. He gave illustration of defeating lions and bears to show that even though he was small in stature with the help of the LORD anything could be defeated that opposed the work of the LORD.
Are we facing any large problems that we think cannot be conquered? Is that the LORD speaking or our limiting of the power of the LORD to help us overcome any obstacle the LORD allows in our life? HE wants us to look to HIM for the method to defeat whatever large problem we have in our life.
CHALLENGE: No individual or problem is too big for the LORD to help us defeat. Victory is promised to those who trust and obey the LORD.
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)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
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)
Children of Ammonverses 1, 3
Philistinesverses 4-8
Sippai – children of the giantsverse 4
Lahmi – brother of Goliath verse 5
Son of giant in Gathverses 6-8
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Defied Israelverse 7
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Spoilsverse 2
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Joab – went to battle the children of Ammonverse 1
Smote Rabbah
David – took crown of Rabbahverses 2-8
Took crown of king of Rabbah
Manner of killing recorded
Jerusalemverse 3
Elhanan – son of Jairverse 4
Slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath
Shimea – David’s brotherverse 7
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
20:3 The citizens of Rabbah were brought out and consigned to forced labor with saws, iron picks, and axes (cf. 2 Sam 12:31). One more kingdom was thus added to David’s jurisdiction, and his prestige was further enhanced. (Thompson, J. A. (1994). 1, 2 Chronicles (Vol. 9, p. 157). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
REPHAIM (Rĕphʹ ā ĭm) 1. Residents of Sheol, often translated, “shades” or “the dead” (Job 26:5 NRSV; Ps. 88:10; Prov. 9:18; 21:16; Isa. 14:9; 26:14, 19). See Sheol. 2. Ethnic designation of the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Palestine, equivalent to the Anakim, the Moabite term Emim (Deut. 2:10–11), and the Ammonite term Zanzummim (2:20–21). Despite their reputation for might and height, the Rephaim were defeated by a coalition of eastern kings (Gen. 14:5) and were later displaced by the Israelites (Deut. 3:11, 13; cp. Gen. 15:20) and their distant kin, the Moabites (Deut. 2:10–11) and the Ammonites (2:20–21). KJV regularly translated Rephaim as “giants” (except Gen. 14:5; 15:20, and some references to the valley or land of the Rephaim). NASB and RSV used the translation “giants” only in reference to individual giants in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. NIV avoided the translation “giant” completely, using “Rephaim” when referring to the valley or land, “Rephaites” when referring to the pre-Israelite inhabitants, and “descendant of Rapha” for individuals in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. The artificial distinction between Rephaites and descendant of Rapha apparently attempts to ease the tension between the designation of King Og of Bashan as the last of the Rephaim (Deut. 3:11; Josh. 12:4) and the mention of later descendants in 2 Sam. 21:16, 18, 20, 22; 1 Chron. 20:6, 8. See Giants; Nephilim. (Brand, C., Draper, C., England, A., Bond, S., Clendenen, E. R., & Butler, T. C. (Eds.). (2003). Rephaim. In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.)
(3.) Heb. ‘Anakim (Deut. 2:10, 11, 21; Josh. 11:21, 22; 14:12, 15; called “sons of Anak,” Num. 13:33; “children of Anak,” 13:22; Josh. 15:14), a nomad race of giants descended from Arba (Josh. 14:15), the father of Anak, that dwelt in the south of Palestine near Hebron (Gen. 23:2; Josh. 15:13). They were a Cushite tribe of the same race as the Philistines and the Egyptian shepherd kings. David on several occasions encountered them (2 Sam. 21:15–22). From this race sprung Goliath (1 Sam. 17:4). (Easton, M. G. (1893). In Easton’s Bible dictionary. New York: Harper & Brothers)
The Philistines were nearly subdued (ch. 18:1); but, as in the destruction of the Canaanites by Joshua the sons of Anak were last subdued (Jos. 11:21), so here in the conquest of the Philistines the giants of Gath were last brought down. In the conflicts between grace and corruption there are some sins which, like these giants, keep their ground a great while and are not mastered without much difficulty and a long struggle: but judgment will be brought forth unto victory at last. Observe, 1. We never read of giants among the Israelites as we do of the giants among the Philistines-giants of Gath, but not giants of Jerusalem. The growth of God’s plants is in usefulness, not in bulk. Those who covet to have cubits added to their stature do not consider that it will but make then more unwieldy. In the balance of the sanctuary David far outweighs Goliath. 2. The servants of David, though men of ordinary stature, were too hard for the giants of Gath in every encounter, because they had God on their side, who takes pleasure in abasing lofty looks, and mortifying the giants that are in the earth, as he did of old by the deluge, though they were men of renown. Never let the church’s friends be disheartened by the power and pride of the church’s enemies. We need not fear great men against us while we have the great God for us. What will a finger more on each hand do, or a toe more on each foot, in contest with Omnipotence? 3. These giants defied Israel (v. 7) and were thus made to pay for their insolence. None are more visibly marked for ruin that those who reproach God and his Israel. God will do great things rather than suffer the enemy to behave themselves proudly, Deu. 32:27. The victories of the Son of David, like those of David himself, are gradual. We see not yet all things put under him; but it will be seen shortly: and death itself, the last enemy, like these giants, will be triumphed over. (Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (pp. 573–574). Peabody: Hendrickson.)
The remainder of this chapter (20:4–8) deals with the deaths of Goliath’s kinsmen, perhaps the last of the heroic “giants” (i.e., Rephaites) among the Philistines. The meaning of the term Rephaite and its derivatives is unclear. It generally refers to older inhabitants of the land known for their large size and/or military prowess. It could also be an honorific term for the oldest strata of Canaanite or Philistine military aristocracy. Theologically the message is that, even for the ancient, formidable Rephaites, death is the consequence of opposing the covenant dynasty. (Bowling, A. C. (1995). 1-2 Chronicles. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 274). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.)
4–8. We had the account of these battles before related. 2 Sam. 21:18–22. In addition to the observations there made, I would only detain the Reader just to remark, that whether giants, or men of little stature, no weapon, nor instrument, nor creature, can prosper against Jesus, our spiritual David, and his servants in him. Every tongue that riseth in judgment against them the Lord will condemn. Oh! sweet and soul-reviving thought! Hence the believer may exult and say, Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy, when I fall I shall arise, when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me. Micah 7:8. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: 1 Kings–Esther (Vol. 3, p. 384). 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!!)
The Raging Seas
“Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.” (Psalm 89:9)
There are few things in nature more fearsome or more uncontrollable by man than a mighty storm at sea. Only the One who created the waters of the sea can really control them. But He can! “For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof . . . . He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still” (Psalm 107:25, 29).
One of the most striking demonstrations of the deity of Christ was in a storm on the Sea of Galilee when “he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm” (Luke 8:24). Note also the experience of the mariners sailing to Tarshish when they realized that the storm that was about to destroy them had been sent by the God of heaven because of Jonah. “So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging” (Jonah 1:15).
The Scriptures also compare opponents of the gospel to a raging sea. “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt” (Isaiah 57:20). Similarly, Jude says that apostate teachers are like “raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame” (Jude 1:13).
Christ used this same figure to prophesy the turmoil of the ungodly nations of the world in the last days. “There shall be . . . upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring” (Luke 21:25). But just as God the Creator can calm the raging waves of the ocean, so God our Savior can speak peace to the nations and calm each troubled soul. As our text assures us, He rules the ragings of every sea and stills them when the waves arise. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
The Power of Words
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification. EPHESIANS 4:29
Kids today take “keyboarding” rather than typing, but when I was young, we learned to type on actual typewriters. In high school I struggled in my typing class, but I made a great discovery: If I could type 60 words a minute, even with 15 errors, I would get an A in speed and an F in accuracy. Round those together, and that would give me a C for the class. I could live with that.
But my gray-haired typing teacher, Mrs. Whittington, didn’t like my logic.
Or my behavior. And one day in front of the whole class—exasperated with me over something I’d done—she pointed her very boney finger at me and said, “Dennis Rainey, you will never amount to anything.”
I’m sure before the day was out, she forgot her comment. But I never forgot it. And when I graduated from college, I drove over to her house and rang her doorbell. When she came to the door, I said (kindly), “Hi, Mrs. Whittington, I’m Dennis Rainey. I wanted you to know that I just graduated from college and am getting ready to go into full-time Christian ministry.”
In other words, “I’m going to amount to something, in spite of what you said.” I’m sure she wondered why in the world I came to her house to tell her that!
Now, should I have done that? Probably not. But words can hurt. They go deep and leave a mark, for good or for bad.
That’s why Paul instructed us to use our words for edification—to build up, to strengthen, to lighten the load of another, to give someone the heart to match the need of the moment. He wasn’t talking about flattery, or false praise, but about speaking words of support and encouragement.
Because when we’re not building each other up, we’re probably tearing each other down. (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
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ENTHUSIASM
Quench not the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19
A characteristic of dead orthodoxy is a dislike of enthusiasm. If you like it in more biblical terms, I could put it like this: It is to be guilty of quenching the Spirit. To dislike enthusiasm is to quench the Spirit. Those who are familiar with the history of the church, and in particular with the history of revivals, will know that this charge of enthusiasm is the one that has always been brought against people who have been most active in a period of revival.
This has been a common accusation throughout history. Read, for instance, the stories of the men of the eighteenth century. A charge that George Whitefield constantly had to answer and rebuff at the hand of bishops was this charge of enthusiasm. They said, “Look here, we’re not objecting so much to your doctrine—it is the way you are preaching it, it is the way you are doing it.” John Wesley was constantly charged in the same way, even by his own mother, Susannah Wesley. Why could he not preach like everybody else? What was he so excited about? Why all this disturbance? Susannah Wesley was a very godly woman, but she could not understand this son of hers, who suddenly had become an enthusiast. One of the things that comes out very clearly as you read the literature of the eighteenth century in terms of the Christian church is that this charge was constantly brought forward.
So, then, we must look at this subject because clearly this opposition to what is called enthusiasm can be one of the greatest hindrances to revival. And it is the particular danger of people who are in a state of dead orthodoxy. As I understand the matter, there are two great principles laid down in the New Testament for our help and guidance. The first principle is that everything must be done “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). But there is another statement: “Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
A Thought to Ponder: To dislike enthusiasm is to quench the Spirit.
(From Revival, pp. 72-73, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Whole Heart
“I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.” (Psalm 138:1)
When we sing or testify of our praise to God, it should not be perfunctory or repetitive rote praise. It should be sincere, wholehearted, personal praise. We should especially praise Him for revealing to us eternal truth, as written in His inspired Word. Further, we should not hesitate to praise our true God, even amidst all the false “gods” of this world. As verse 2 says, He has magnified His Word above all His name! The Holy Scriptures are our greatest physical possession of all the things in this world, for they alone will “not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). His Word is “for ever…settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).
This phrase, “the whole heart,” occurs a number of times in the Bible, especially in the psalm of the Word, Psalm 119. Note the testimony of the psalmist in this great psalm.
1. “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart” (v. 2).
2. “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments” (v. 10).
3. “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (v. 34).
4. “I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word” (v. 58).
5. “The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart” (v. 69).
6. “I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes” (v. 145).
Thus, we should “keep his testimonies” (v. 2), “keep thy law” (v. 34), “keep thy precepts” (v. 69), and “keep thy statutes” (v. 145) with our whole heart, for the good and sufficient reason that He is our Lord and has given us His eternal Word, magnified above all His name. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself. ~~Author Unknown~~
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