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As small as he was, David defeated Goliath, the great champion, 

He trusted in God’s power and not the power of a mighty weapon, 

His ties to God were by faith, it needed no belt nor ribbon, 

Faith in God made him establish a mighty and victorious kingdom. 

David became king after Saul and united all twelve tribes, 

Unity in God is key if we want to live successful lives, 

Love is found when we unite with God, not marrying many wives, 

For God’s love cuts deep in our hearts, without using razors and knives.  

David wrote many psalms of worship and praise to God, 

He always asked God to forgive him to stay on track on the narrow road, 

David was victorious not by trusting in spear and sword, 

A faithful life to God, makes you never to get bored. 

David loved his enemies and showed kindness to them, 

Tit for tat and an eye for an eye was not his chosen game, 

Through the line of David, Jesus Christ came, 

If we have faith in God, our lives will never be the same.  

Hebrews 11:32-35 (KJV) – “³²And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: ³³Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. ³⁴Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.” 

The History of David 

David was born from the genealogy of Ruth (Ruth 4:18-22). Boaz, the husband of Ruth, was David’s great grandfather. Boaz begot Obed, who begot Jesse, who begot David. According to the Strong Exhaustive Concordance, the name Boaz means fleetness. The name Obed means serving. The name Jesse means I possess. The name David means beloved. David was from the tribe of Judah and Jesus was born from the genealogy of David.  

1 Samuel 17:13 (KJV) – “And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.” Three of David’s brothers are mentioned. Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah. Eliab means “my God is father”. Abinadab means “my father is noble” or “my father is willing”. Shammah means “astonishment”.  

David lived a life of faith ever since he was young until he died. As a human being, he made various mistakes, but he never gave up on God. Whenever he sunk, he would lean on the mighty hand of God to pull him from the depths of the sea of sin. We can learn various lessons from David and apply them in our lives today.  

God wants us to be victorious and to never lose a battle like David that is why He wants us to lean on Him.  

David Versus Goliath the Champion 

Who was Goliath? 

1 Samuel 17:4-7 (KJV) – “⁴ And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. ⁵ And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. ⁶ And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. ⁷ And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.” 

“For forty days the host of Israel had trembled before the haughty challenge of the Philistine giant. Their hearts failed within them as they looked upon his massive form, in height measuring six cubits and a span. Upon his head was a helmet of brass, he was clothed with a coat of mail that weighed five thousand shekels, and he had greaves of brass upon his legs. The coat was made of plates of brass that overlaid one another, like the scales of a fish, and they were so closely joined that no dart or arrow could possibly penetrate the armor. At his back the giant bore a huge javelin, or lance, also of brass. “The staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and one bearing a shield went before him.”” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 646.2, Ellen G. White.  

Goliath was a giant whose height was six cubits and a span equivalent to. Goliath was a giant whose height was six cubits and a span equivalent to. The name Goliath is believed to be of uncertain origin, but it may derive from a root meaning “exile” or “splendor.” It could signify someone of great prominence or strength, as Goliath was described as a giant and a fearsome warrior.  

The name Gath means “winepress” in Hebrew, suggesting a place of agricultural productivity, particularly in winemaking. Gath was one of the five major cities of the Philistines. The Bible often mentions it as part of the Philistine territory. 

Not only was Goliath a giant but he was also a champion. He had fought many battles and won. Those who fight will tell you that in fighting size does not really matter, it is the fighting skill that matters. Goliath was huge in size with tremendous fighting skills. In addition to his fighting skills, he had the best and the heaviest weapons. We can say that he had triple advantage. He was well prepared for war as he was well covered everywhere from his head to his toe.  

In military prowess, Goliath was equivalent to the greatest army commander of the best army now. In these modern times, he could be the equivalent of the army commander of the American, Russian or Israeli army. In business, Goliath is equivalent to the best businesses in the world worth trillions of dollars that have been there for years, have all the systems in place and that seem highly secure to invest in.  

David against Goliath was like a small village shepherd boy against the commander of the American army. David versus Goliath can be compared to a startup with no capital and little experience versus a multinational corporation that has been there for years with the best structures, the best policies, the best employees, the greatest number of customers and the highest amount of capital and revenue. David fighting Goliath was like a baby boy fighting a grown-up man. In the eyes of human beings, he stood no chance to win that battle.  

Are there battles in your life that you feel you stand no chance to win? Romans 8:37 (KJV) – “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” Through Christ, we have conquered all battles. If we truly believe this, the power of the Omnipotent One will work through us to give us victory over all mountains.  

Genesis 18:14 (KJV) – “Is any thing too hard for the Lord?” What is difficult to us is not difficult to God. Nothing is challenging to God. Sometimes God may allow certain circumstances to challenge us for a long period of time so that He can build our faith in Him. David’s battle with Goliath was not meant to weaken him. It was meant to strengthen him and to make him believe that if God has enabled him to conquer that tough battle, he can surely make him conquer other subsequent battles.  

1 Samuel 17:15 (KJV) – “But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.” 

By faith, David did not neglect home duties. We often see home duties as less important. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see diligent people out there to make ends meet while neglecting to care for their homes. Our focus should not just be on the ‘big’ things, it should also be on the minor things. If we take care of the minor things, the big picture will be complete and more beautiful than we can imagine. David taking care of his father’s sheep did not make him a lesser person. While trusting in God, the activity came in handy to develop him as one of the greatest leaders in Israel, a man after God’s heart.  

David did not stay for long in Saul’s palace. He had a choice to stay there and admire the majestic royal splendor that was in the palace. He had a choice to stay there and feel the good feeling that most of us would have when communing with a king. Instead, he left the palace to look after his father’s sheep. One of the major lessons he learnt while in the field was the lesson of responsibility as he had to ensure that no single sheep was lost.  

Responsibility is a divine quality that leaders should have. Resources entrusted to them must be properly handled and managed. God desires that through His power, they should increase what they have been entrusted with. He desires that the ability and the faculties that each person has been blessed with should be dedicated to Him so that the person may bring forth much fruit (John 15:5).  

“If you can’t do little things right, you will never do the big things right.” – Admiral William H. McRaven. In the book Make your bed, William McRaven emphasizes that if one wants to change the world, they should start by making their beds. When you make your bed in the morning after you have prayed before going to do other duties, it gives you a sense of accomplishment. You feel more competent and encouraged to accomplish bigger tasks. David was going to battle with Goliath, that was a big thing, but before that He had to ensure the minor duties like attending to his father’s sheep were properly done. 

A common saying goes, “Charity begins at home.” The University of Texas at Austin has a famous quote that says, “What starts here changes the world. What starts here can be a new idea in the mind of a single student. What starts here can be a work of art that enriches lives or a discovery that saves them. What starts here can be a new way of doing things, a new perspective on a global challenge. What starts here changes the world.”  

It is a noble practice if one attends to simple house chores before getting out of the house in the morning. For example, one can ensure that their room is neat, breakfast is prepared for the other family members and that the dishes are washed. Doing that keeps the mind clear and makes one focus on the tasks that lie ahead. If you fail to do that, you may hinder your productivity at work because while working you will keep on thinking of the tasks that are left undone. You will be wondering how you will be able to do them in the evening when you have gotten home feeling tired.  

Genesis 2:1-2 (KJV) – “¹ Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. ² And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.”  

God rested on the Sabbath after He had completed all that He had to do. Diligence and accomplishing given tasks give you rest. Your mind will relax after it knows that there is nothing left undone.  

It is an act of faith to do little things right. It is an act of faith to serve people at home before serving the public. 

The Power of Rising up Early 

1 Samuel 17:20 (KJV) – “And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.” 

David rose up early in the morning to fervently carry out his father Jesse’s commands. He honored his earthly father as well as his heavenly father. He had respect for God and respect for his parents. Before going to the battlefield, he left the sheep with a keeper. Had he not risen early in the morning, he probably would not have had enough time to do all that.  

Rising early in the morning makes one accomplish much more than he would have if he had woken up late. Your day will be immensely blessed when you wake up early in the morning to pray and study the Bible. Communicating with God as the first thing in the morning will make your day successful as you will be reliant on the Ultimate Guide who knows no failure.  

“Front-loading my day (getting a whole bunch done in the morning) is my productivity secret.” – Celeste Geadlee. In the quiet hours of the morning (between 3 am to 6 am) the majority of people are asleep. Therefore, there is quiet peace. One can use those hours and do some productive work. There will be minimal to no distractions, and it is a great time to concentrate.  

Lindsay Champion says, “I am always craving that dreamy creative energy I can only get when the rest of the world is asleep.” Sometimes and often, waking up early can be difficult. You were dreaming your best dream which did not end, and you go back to sleep hoping that you can dream it again. Sometimes you miss the warmth of the bed. As Life Coach Robert Burale says, “The warmer the bed, the colder the future.”  

Ellen G. White said that one’s first thought in the morning should be centered on God. One struggle that I have sometimes, and some people do, is not waking up early, it is getting out of bed. Many of us when we wake up the temptation to check on our phones cannot be avoided. Sometimes, we may lie to ourselves that we are only replying to one text. Unfortunately, we end up wasting so much time on our phones, time which we are supposed to give an account to our Master, the Creator of time.  

David Saluted His Brethren 

1 Samuel 17:22 (KJV) – “And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.” 

David knew that he was going to fight the battle even if no one in Israel fought it. Nevertheless, he was not arrogant about it. He respected his older brothers and greeted them before engaging further with them. Question: How often do we greet our brothers and sisters from home? Some people treat outsiders like kings and their family members like trash.  

Sometimes familiarity breeds contempt and we undervalue those whom we come from the same home with because we know them too much, their strengths and weaknesses. David saluted his brethren. Many brothers and sisters from the same home can go for years without talking to each other. They only meet at events, mostly funerals. It is an act of faith to greet our family members and socialize with them. It is an act of faith to greet other people as well.  

God is Bigger than Your Problems 

1 Samuel 17:23-24 (KJV) – “²³ And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. ²⁴ And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.” 

Goliath is first addressed as a champion. The word champion is synonymous with the word conqueror. The word champion is used to describe Goliath. This means that Goliath was famously known to win battles. His record of winning battles and his physical stature caused the men of Israel to flee as they were frightened by him. They were frightened by Goliath probably because they were comparing themselves to him. When we compare ourselves to our challenges, we can get frightened the same way because we have no might over the turbulent problems that come against us. The same will happen when we compare ourselves to those who are doing better than us. Thus, doubt piles up in our hearts, leaving no room for faith to stay. However, when we compare our problems to Jesus who lives in us, we become more confident because God is bigger than everything, including the giant Goliath.  

1 Samuel 17:25 (KJV) – “And the men of Israel said, have ye seen this man that is come up? Surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.” 

The man who would kill Goliath was promised tremendous gifts like great riches, the king’s daughter and freedom to his father’s house. These gifts were offered because the task of killing Goliath seemed impossible. God wants us to trust in Him because He wants us to do the impossible. Surmounting impossibilities was not meant for people in the Bible times alone. It is also meant for us, that is why God wants us to have faith.  

When faced with a challenging task that is beyond our skills and abilities, we should trust God to help us through it instead of cowering and avoiding the task. Turning impossibilities to possibilities should be the most ordinary task for any Christian because they rely on the power of the Mighty One who knows no impossibility.  

The value of the reward of a task is often proportionate to the level of difficulty of performing that task. If a task is easy and can be done by everyone, don’t expect to get paid much to do it. Expect to get paid for a skill that is rare and can barely be done by anyone. The king offered such a great price to the man who would defeat Goliath because defeating Goliath seemed so difficult and impossible to the majority of people in Israel.  

Going by this particular verse, we can clearly see that a genuine Christian is bound to be rich and successful. Here is why. The man who would kill Goliath was not the man who trusted in his own strength and physical ability because Goliath was more enormous and stronger than all the other men. Therefore, anyone going to battle with him would need extra power. The only power that is given freely to men and women with an intention to make them succeed is God’s power.  

The king promised to give great gifts to the person who defeated the Philistine champion. The only person who would defeat the Philistine champion was the person who trusted in God and not in his own strength. Therefore, the king would give those gifts to the one who trusted in God. In other words, he would give those gifts to a genuine Christian.  

Genesis 14:21 (KJV) – “And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.” 

The king of Sodom was willing to give great riches to Abram because he conquered them in battle. Abram had defeated five armies with only a few men by his side. Through faith in God, Abram did the impossible. The king of Sodom was willing to give him great riches because he had done the impossible. However, Abram refused, probably because he was content with what he already had.  

Genesis 41:39-44 (KJV) – “³⁹ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: ⁴⁰ Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. ⁴¹ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. ⁴² And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; ⁴³ And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. ⁴⁴ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 

Pharaoh was convicted and he acknowledged that it was God who had given Joseph the interpretation of the dream. As a result of properly interpreting the dream and giving a sound solid solution to the problem that Egypt was going to face (the years of drought), Pharaoh took him from the dungeons of prison and gave him the highest position in Egypt after him. Nobody in the entire land of Egypt could interpret the king’s dream, only Joseph could. 

A genuine follower of Christ was the only one able to interpret Pharaoh’s dream that troubled him. When Joseph committed his God given gift to do God’s work and followed God’s direction, it caused him to be elevated and to be given a position of authority. It caused him to gain riches as well. When you elevate God by having faith in Him, God elevates you and when God upgrades you nobody can degrade you. Joseph was not doing it for riches, he was doing it for the glory of God as he had always done in his entire life. God always pays and He pays in ways that no other man can pay. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). 

Faith in God guarantees success. A genuine Christian is meant to be successful than everybody else because God can give them the ability to do what other people can’t.  

When People Misunderstand You 

1 Samuel 17:28 (KJV) – “And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.” 

Sometimes when pursuing the purpose that God has set for you, people especially unbelievers can misunderstand you. Unbelievers don’t have to be necessarily atheists. Unbelievers can be people who regularly go to church but don’t take enough time to study God’s Word. They don’t create time to engage in a personal worship session with God. Sometimes, they can be actively participating in church with top leadership positions in the church but are unaware how to effectively conduct their given responsibilities because they have not allowed the Word of God to do an active service in their hearts. 

Some of these people, as in the case of David, can be your family members. Eliab, David’s brother misunderstood David. Since David was his younger brother, he probably saw him as a little brother who was weaker than him, smaller in size than him and as he thought, less knowledgeable and experienced than him. What he did not know is that when one commits themselves fully to God, God fills in for their weakness, their expertise, their knowledge, their experience among other things. Faith in God goes beyond your limitations. Where your strength, capacity and effort end, the power of God begins. 

Eliab’s words did not alter David’s mind from focusing on the main goal of defeating the Philistines. Normally, Satan uses various people to discourage you so that you can get distracted from moving forward because. This is because the enemy does not want you to get the treasure of victory that God has placed for you at the end. The Devil knows how good and loving God is and he knows that God has the best for everyone in store. That is why Satan will do all he can to make you not access what God has in store for you.  

Matthew 16:21-23 (KJV) – “²¹ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. ²² Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. ²³ But He turned, and said unto Peter, get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” 

Peter was not Satan, but he was being used by the Devil to deviate Jesus from His mission. Peter probably had the best intentions for Christ for he did not want to imagine his master dying. People being used by Satan to drive you astray don’t always have bad intentions. Sometimes they have the best intentions for you, but their good intentions do not always align with God’s will.  

Your parents may discourage you from going to mission for Christ in a particular area because you do not have medical insurance cover, or the area is unsafe, and they don’t want you to get harmed. Your friends may buy you expensive alcohol so that you can enjoy yourself and feel good. Peter wanted the best for Jesus and Eliab probably wanted the best for David. However, the best from your best friends and your closest relatives is not better than what God has in store for you.  

Yes You Can 

1 Samuel 17:33 (KJV) – “And Saul said to David, thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” 

King Saul discouraged David from fighting Goliath, proving a possible defeat of David by citing Goliath’s experience in war. Goliath might have had 20 years of experience in war, but he did not have more experience than God who reigns from everlasting to everlasting. King Saul was the king of Israel at that time. In other words, he was the highest person in the land of Israel while David was a young shepherd boy. 

Normally, when a peasant is being given advice by a king or when someone not learned is being advised by someone who is highly educated, they are quick to follow every word that they are told. What many of us forget is that all human beings, no matter the level of their wealth, societal status, or education, are limited. Nobody knows everything, nobody has everything, nobody is all powerful, only God.  

David seemed to understand more of the omnipresence, omniscience and omnipotence of God more than everybody else in the Jewish army. If you met David on the way and you were worrying where to get the next meal and he tells you that God is the provider, he would not be saying that as mere cliche words. Instead, those words would be coming from a heart that totally believes in them.  

Do you know how many people say that God is the Creator, but they don’t believe it? Many people loudly pronounce God’s attributes that they have known through studies in school and in church. Very few proclaim them from a point of one’s heart conviction. David did not take heed to Saul’s words, instead he hearkened to God’s Word because he fully believed in the powerful Words of Life. He knew Goliath was experienced but his God was more experienced.  

David was told by Saul; he cannot go to war against the Philistine Giant. Do you know how many people give up because of being told they can’t? Do you know how many people look down on themselves after being told they can’t? David neither gave up nor looked down on himself for he did not put trust in himself, he trusted God. He was firmly convicted that nothing is impossible with God. 

Former United States of America President Barack Hussein Obama has a famous slogan that says, “Yes we can.” Excellence coach and mentor Joseph Obwanda has a quote that says, “Yes we must.” Faith is the substance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1). With God, we have everything we need. No amount of evil should overcome us.  

Knowing The Results Before The Test 

1 Samuel 17:34-36 (KJV) – “³⁴ And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:  ³⁵ And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. ³⁶ Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.” 

David first listened to Saul without interjecting him. After Saul had finished speaking, David proceeded to talk. He talked of his real experience as a shepherd. The work of a shepherd may be looked down upon by many, especially when one is telling it to a king. In business, it is often taught that if one wants to attract large corporations, they need to tell them about other large corporations that they have worked with. Drawing from this teaching, David needed to tell Saul of other battles that he had successfully fought.  

Some businesspeople fake their portfolios to get clients. Some use fake reviews to attract more clients to them. Those tactics don’t work. Evil may appear to succeed, but its success leads to destruction (Proverbs 14:12). When evil business tactics work and one gets to develop a relationship with a client, one may start feeling guilty of the lie that they told in the beginning. In case they don’t work one may view it as a waste of sin and wonder why they didn’t tell the truth in the beginning.  

David had never been on a battlefield but that does not mean he did not experience difficult challenges in the field as a shepherd. While he had never met Goliath before, he had met a bear and a lion and God had given him victory over those menacing, predacious, ferocious, and lethal animals. David believed that the God of yesterday is no different from the God of today. Therefore, he believed that the God who gave him past victories was able to give him present and future victories. If God caused him to defeat the lion and the bear, He would make him defeat Goliath.  

The victory over the lion and the bear happened on two different occasions. The battle that lay ahead against Goliath was only one battle. In other words, the challenges in the past were more in number than the one that was about to happen, and God had made him overcome them. They were two against one. We forget too easily. If we remember the way that He has brought us through in the past and all the battles He has helped us to win, we will have no fear of any present or future challenge that is making a scary, mons-terrific face to us.  

Students get scared of one exam, not remembering the numerous exams that God has made them to pass in the past. Sometimes when I look at the load of work that it might take to write my next Christian article, I fear. At that moment of fear, I do not remember the articles that I’ve written, edited and published in the past are more than what I’m fearing to write. Sometimes, I get stage fright when going to speak, not remembering that I have successfully delivered talks in the past.  

Sometimes, I get scared to embark on a software project, not remembering that the projects I have worked on in the past are more than the ones that are lying ahead. A scarecrow is meant to scare harmful birds, not human beings. Challenges and obstacles are meant to frighten unbelievers, not people who are made in the image and likeness of the Highest and only God. A righteous man should be afraid of nothing. 

David knew that despite Goliath’s magnanimous stature and successful record in battle, he could not win because he defied the armies of the living God. Being close to God is a powerful sign of victory. Staying far away from God and defying Him is beyond proof a sign of losing. Proverbs 4:19 (KJV) – “The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.” When you distance yourself from God, you will fail, and you won’t understand why you are failing. The wicked know not at what they stumble because they are traveling on a dark path.  

The Lord Delivers 

1 Samuel 17:37 (KJV) – “David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.” 

A risk of getting severely scratched was what David had to face when going to save the sheep from the lion’s and the bear’s paw. Through Faith, David faced his fears. By Faith David took a deadly risk. Taking risks is an act of faith. The bigger the risk, the greater the returns. Don’t expect much to come out of your life if you are the type of person who likes playing it safe, waiting for everything to be perfect before you start. If you are the person who waits till you have figured out how everything is going to work out before embarking on something, you will never start or you will start too late when the returns won’t be as great as they would have been if you had moved by faith earlier on.  

As long as you are guided by God, risk taking has tremendous benefits. Those who invest in companies at the early stage take enormous risks because there is little to no proof that shows the company is going to profit. However, if it profits, they end up receiving very huge returns, sometimes twenty times the amount of money they had invested, other times a hundred times the amount or more.  

The impact of going for mission in a place that previously had no Christianity is greater because the risk is higher compared to a place that already has Christianity. People fear the work it takes to convert such people; therefore, they resolve to minister to those who already have an idea of who Jesus Christ is.  

A person from a different religion especially none of the Abrahamic religions, an atheist or someone who was a hard-hearted criminal, usually has greater impacting testimonies than those who were already Christians. Such people when they give their testimonies, more people get pulled to Christ compared to the ones who did not require much work to get convinced. God loves it when we take risks that are in line with His commands. Witnessing to non-Christians in an environment that is unfriendly to Christians is an enormous risk that is in line with God’s Word.  

Genesis 1:28 (KJV) – “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” 

God has given us dominion over everything on the land, air and sea. He expects us to take good care of all living things, plants and animals. He has entrusted us with this environment and expects us to be faithful stewards to Him. Therefore, it was in accordance with God’s will when David saved his father’s sheep from the paws of the lion and the bear. God was with him when he took that risk. God was also with him when he took the risk to fight Goliath because Goliath had defied the armies of the living God.  

David goes for Battle 

1 Samuel 17:38-40 (KJV) – “³⁸ And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. ³⁹ And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. ⁴⁰ And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.” 

“Though Saul had given David permission to accept Goliath’s challenge, the king had small hope that David would be successful in his courageous undertaking. Command was given to clothe the youth in the king’s own armor. The heavy helmet of brass was put upon his head, and the coat of mail was placed upon his body; the monarch’s sword was at his side. Thus equipped, he started upon his errand, but erelong began to retrace his steps. The first thought in the minds of the anxious spectators was that David had decided not to risk his life in meeting an antagonist in so unequal an encounter. But this was far from the thought of the brave young man. When he returned to Saul he begged permission to lay aside the heavy armor, saying, “I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them.” He laid off the king’s armor, and in its stead took only his staff in his hand, with his shepherd’s scrip and a simple sling. Choosing five smooth stones out of the brook, he put them in his bag, and, with his sling in his hand, drew near to the Philistine. The giant strode boldly forward, expecting to meet the mightiest of the warriors of Israel. His armor-bearer walked before him, and he looked as if nothing could withstand him. As he came nearer to David he saw but a stripling, called a boy because of his youth. David’s countenance was ruddy with health, and his well-knit form, unprotected by armor, was displayed to advantage; yet between its youthful outline and the massive proportions of the Philistine, there was a marked contrast.” = Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 646.4, Ellen G. White.  

Saul gave David military armor to wear. David took it off because he was not comfortable enough in it. He knew that God was able to make him victorious without the proper military gear and weapons. As a small young boy, Saul’s armor might have been too heavy for him, and he felt that he might lose the battle if he wore it. He resolved to don his simple shepherd gear, and the weapons he was accustomed to in fighting the battle.  

Sometimes people may give you strategies of preaching and teaching that you are not accustomed to. Most times when you follow those strategies, they may fail to work because they are uncomfortable or unpleasant to you. You might be the type of person who preaches short sermons for ten to twenty minutes and someone advises you to preach for one hour so that your sermon can be more detailed. You try that and you end up losing more people because you are not used to it.  

God has given everyone different interests and different abilities and we should learn to respect them. Some might be interested in preaching sermons with presentation slides while some presentation slides don’t work for them. Some can preach sermons with Bible verses from memory like Pastor Randy Skeete, while others cannot. The most important thing in preaching is preaching the truth and not really the style of preaching. Some people will like your style of teaching while others will like someone else’s style. God has different servants for a reason.  

Some people are interested in expensive luxurious things while some are interested in simple modest things. God has created us differently with different interests for a reason. Some like vintage old cars, while some like new ones. Some like manual transmission vehicles while some like automatic transmission. Some like affluent, leafy suburban neighborhoods, while others like densely populated neighborhoods. 

Conflict arises when we try to make people like us instead of letting them be who they want to be or who God has created them to be. The good thing about Saul is that he did not force David to put on his armor after David had refused it. I get various criticisms, for example how I hold my pen. I hold my pen in a way that many consider unique. Especially with elementary school teachers and students, many would tell me that was not the correct way of holding a pen.  

According to me, the aim is to write, how the pen is held is not important. The objective for any driver is to drive to the required destination whether the driver uses a manual or an automatic transmission vehicle is not important. The aim of a graphic designer is to design a finished product, whether he uses Adobe software or simple Canva software is not important. The objective of any software, mobile application or website developer should be to develop a finished software, mobile app or website, whether he uses no code tools or hard coding platforms is not important.  

What needs to be done is more important than how it should be done. The goal is more important than the methods used. As long as the methods used are not breaking God’s commandments, you should proceed and do what you are supposed to do. Like David, we should go ahead to use the simplest means possible to achieve our goals. Hard work and complexity do not always guarantee success. I am not advocating for short cuts; I am advocating for doing things in the way you find most comfortable.  

Someone may not be able to write like me, but he may be able to speak and through his speaking many people get converted. Someone may not be able to speak physically in front of a physical audience, but he can speak in front of a digital audience like TikTok, YouTube, Zoom or Google meetings platform.  

While growing up I used to have a false belief that the more complex subjects you do in school the richer and more successful you will be. It is quite common to see students in high school and university fail in exams as a result of taking complex subjects that they don’t like and don’t easily understand because they believe that for one to be successful one must do what is complex and difficult. With simple tools that he was accustomed to, David proceeded to fight Goliath. He trusted not in the tools but in the all-powerful, perfect and excellent God.  

More Powerful Than All Battle Tools 

1 Samuel 17:45 (KJV) – “Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” 

“There was a ring of fearlessness in his tone, a look of triumph and rejoicing upon his fair countenance. This speech, given in a clear, musical voice, rang out on the air, and was distinctly heard by the listening thousands marshaled for war. The anger of Goliath was roused to the very highest heat. In his rage he pushed up the helmet that protected his forehead and rushed forward to wreak vengeance upon his opponent. The son of Jesse was preparing for his foe. “And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in the forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.”” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 648.1, Ellen G. White.  

A sword, spear and shield are powerful weapons particularly in ancient times, but God is more powerful than all past, present and future weapons combined. David had weapons with him, he had a sling and a few stones. However, David did not praise the weapons he came with, instead He praised the name of God. He knew that earthly weapons stood no chance to win a battle against the omnipotent God. He knew that God was not by Goliath’s side not because Goliath was a Philistine but because Goliath had defied God.  

Some people assume that they are bound to be victorious just because they call themselves Christians. They feel that no matter what they do, they will still win because they call themselves after Christ’s name. That is not true. God’s blessings go to those who do His will whether Jew or Gentile. God gave the Israelites to be taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan king (Daniel.1:1-2) because of their defiance of God’s Word.  

Galatians 6:7-8 (KJV) – “⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” 

Goliath could not win because he mocked God. David praised God and trusted in God to make him win the battle.  

An Easy Win 

1 Samuel 17:48-50 (KJV) – “⁴⁸ And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. ⁴⁹ And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. ⁵⁰ So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.” 

In ancient times a sword was like a gun or a bomb in this present age. It is not easy to find a soldier now going to fight a war without an offensive weapon such as a gun to counter the enemy. It is also very rare for a soldier to agree to fight an entire army by himself. Goliath and the Philistines were expecting a huge number of soldiers in the Israelite army to go fight them, prepared with the best weapons. When they saw David coming forward to battle them with no weapon or battle gear, they were probably reluctant and might have thought within themselves that they had already won that battle.  

Before the war, the Philistines might have spent hours upon hours practicing for that war. On the other hand, David spent most of his time worshipping and obeying God, serving his family, and in the fields of nature taking care of God’s creation. In the eyes of any normal ‘logical’ person who places little to no value on faith, David stood no chance to win since he was not as prepared as those who spent hours practicing how to fight. It is logical to say that a person who spends more time studying for exams and has no time to pray or worship God will do better in exams than the one who spares some time to worship God.  

Psalm 127:1-2 (KJV) – “¹ Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. ²It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so He giveth His beloved sleep 

It is not God’s will for you to spend sleepless nights pursuing the things of this world. God does not want you to fail to attend church service because you are busy preparing for exams. He does not want you to work sixty hours a week and fail to study your Bible and pray because you are looking for money to feed your family. God does not want you to fail to volunteer in a church program because you are preparing an important report at the workplace. God gives his beloved sleep.  

Matthew 6:31-33 (KJV) – “³¹Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ³²(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. ³³But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” 

In Matthew 6:32, the Gentiles represent unbelievers. Unbelievers are the ones who should worry about material things because they have placed their dependence on them. Believers should understand that even though we need material things, our dependence is not on them but on God alone. Matthew 11:28 (KJV) – “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” All who go to God are promised rest.  

God gives His beloved sleep. Those who spare time to study God’s Word from the hours that they are meant to study for school will be accelerated in all knowledge and wisdom because they have sought the source of all true knowledge and wisdom. While having a conversation with 9-year-old Ethan, he told me, “You adults have so much to worry about, I have nothing to worry about.”  

Most children care less about how they are going to get money for school fees, food, rent etc. They leave all those cares to their parents. Matthew 19:14 (KJV) – “But Jesus said, suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to people that are like little children. In other words, He meant that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who portray child-like faith, those who cast all their worries and cares to their Heavenly Father.  

I read a story of an American man called Edgar Cayce (you can look him up and read his story too). Edgar Cayce was a devout Christian and Sunday school teacher who lived from 1877 to 1945. Edgar claimed to be speaking from his higher self while in a trance-like state. He would answer questions on various subjects such as healing, dreams, past lives, nutrition, and future events as he was sleeping. While he was sleeping, he could prescribe various cures for incurable and strange illnesses.  

Cayce developed this ability after he was introduced to church when he was ten years old. For two years (from age ten to twelve), he read the Bible from cover to cover twelve times. While highly educated medical researchers spend years upon years trying to find cures for certain illnesses to no success, Cayce, who was not formally educated in the medical field, could find a cure for those illnesses while sleeping. If Edgar’s story is true and if he got those powers from God (since nothing is impossible with God) then that is clear evidence of God giving His beloved sleep.  

A secular musician can spend hours researching the type of song to write. He can spend days trying to sing and produce a perfect song. He can spend a lot of money trying to market his music, looking for platforms to perform. Sometimes, they may succeed and other times, they may spend an entire lifetime trying with no success.  

While the secular singer is spending a huge amount of time trying to come up with a hit song, God may choose to give powerful songs to a gospel musician in a dream or during a Bible study session. Sometimes God does this because He does not want those who serve Him diligently to be ashamed. He knows that the world delights in mocking and ridiculing those who dedicate time to worship Him. Therefore, He does His best to ensure that those who spend time with Him are above only and not beneath. He does his best to ensure that the time they spent with Him is not wasted and they will not be a laughingstock as people expect them to be.  

David’s family, the Israelites and the Philistines might have thought that David was not well prepared as he was seen spending most of his time taking care of his father’s sheep. They might have wondered how he would defeat Goliath, and he never set foot in a martial arts class while Goliath was an experienced warrior. He who spends time with God learns way more than the world suspects. Ellen G. White said (and I agree) that the Bible is more profitable than all earthly books combined.  

If you were to depend on earthly books alone to make you successful, you would have to read very many of them. Secondly, not all concepts written in those books are true. Therefore, you will struggle a great deal with trial and error because you will experience failure that has come as a result of applying concepts that don’t work. The Bible is not like that. If you follow everything that is written in the Bible to the latter, success will be your only choice. While reading other books, I come across some good powerful concepts which are explained in a very complex manner that is incomprehensible to the normal reader. All those good concepts are in the Bible and are expressed in very simple ways. God’s education is easily accessible, affordable and it is the best education.  

People of the world often look down on God’s people and portray them to be less intellectual and less reasonable. Sometimes Christians are seen to be weak physically, mentally and emotionally. People confuse humility with weakness. God has no weak point for He is the source of all strength. He is the Creator of knowledge, wisdom and understanding. He is a God who wants His people to reason as He bids them in Isaiah 1:18 (KJV) – “Come now, and let us reason together.”  

God created us in His image because He desires that we possess all these magnificent qualities that He possesses. He may take you through a humble training that may seem insignificant in the eyes of the world but in that training you end up acquiring lessons that even the most noble universities have never taught. While David communes with God in the fields, he learned lessons and he experienced victories that probably nobody knew about.  

God’s education proved to be more than worthwhile when David prevailed over Goliath with a sling and a stone. It was a remarkable sight for everyone who saw that victory. They might have asked among themselves, “how did he do that?” God wants us all to live lives of constant spectacular victory. He wants unbelievers to ask among themselves, “how did he do that?” A life that has faith as its constant factor, is a life that has spectacular miracles as its constant results. The keyword is not miracles, the keyword is spectacular. 

If the Israelites army had won Goliath with the proper military weapons and experienced battle men, it would have been a miracle. However, it would not have been a spectacular miracle. God wants to do things in your life that will compel people with the best optical vision to put on spectacles to confirm that what has just happened is real.  

God wants you to rest should not be confused with God wants you to be lazy. God wants you to rest but He does not want you to be lazy. He wants you to work for Him and to do everything as if you are doing it for Him and not for fellow men (Colossians 3:23-24). When you labor for God and not for men, your labor will cease from being painful. It will be tireless. You will receive new strength and energy to do more than you usually do. When you commit everything to God and follow His direction you will be able to accomplish more in a lesser time when compared to those who trust in themselves and their own abilities. Your life will be well balanced.  

David’s life was well balanced. He didn’t fail to serve his family because he was busy preparing for war. Some of the world’s richest men are divorced. I do not know the full details about their divorce, but it might be because they did not have time for their families as they were busy building their empires. God does not want that. God wants you to thrive in your finances and have family unity at the same time. When you give yourself to God, like David, He will show you how to balance all that.  

Whose Son is This Youth? 

1 Samuel 17:55 (KJV) – “And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.” 

“Saul strove to turn David from his purpose, but the young man was not to be moved. He replied in a simple, unassuming way, relating his experiences while guarding his father’s flocks. And he said, “The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.”” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 646.1, Ellen G. White.  

Saul did not understand how the frightening battle had been won by someone whose family was not well known to him. Being a king, he expected to know every great and noble person in the land because kings usually have access to the best the land has to offer. Earthly kings can have the highest authoritative position in the land, but they are not omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. No king on earth knows everyone under their jurisdiction by name, age, personal problems and abilities among other factors.  

God knows us more than we know ourselves, that is why He is the King of kings. Saul did not know David but God knew them both. God knows the people to connect you with and He will connect you at the right time He chooses to. God connected David with King Saul. Saul was amazed by the young lad David as he was able to do what no one in Israel had faith and courage to do.  

Faith in God makes you do what cannot easily be done. Faith in God makes you special. Faith in God impresses everybody including kings and queens. Faith in God elevates. Faith in God makes you great. Faith in God turns imaginations, dreams and fantasies into reality. Faith in God creates abundance where there was scarcity.  

“It was the providence of God that had connected David with Saul. David’s position at court would give him a knowledge of affairs, in preparation for his future greatness. It would enable him to gain the confidence of the nation. The vicissitudes and hardships which befell him, through the enmity of Saul, would lead him to feel his dependence upon God, and to put his whole trust in Him. And the friendship of Jonathan for David was also of God’s providence, to preserve the life of the future ruler of Israel. In all these things God was working out His gracious purposes, both for David and for the people of Israel.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 649.3, Ellen G. White.   

Proverbs 22:29 (KJV) – “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” 

As a shepherd in the field where nobody was watching, David was diligent. Integrity is very important as it defines who you truly are. Many of us do things to receive recognition from men. When dressing up for church, the first thing that comes to our minds is how certain people view us, not how God will view us. In social circles and in public we try our best to say what is politically correct and not what we genuinely believe.  

Our sermons lack power because they are not backed up by a genuine conviction from the heart. These habits may protect our names but bring shame to God’s name as many may wonder how comes our lives seem cursed and we are faithful children of God. Many have been driven out of religion because of such people. Someone may say, “Brother X is always faithful in church, but he is always poor and has more problems than everybody else.” It is until we do a diligent background check and realize that Brother X is not as faithful as he portrays himself to be.  

God was working on David and with David in secret, knowing that He will announce him at the right time. God saw David taking genuine care of his father’s sheep as if they were his. He saw David taking good care of sheep and knew that he would be able to take good care of men. He saw David risking his life to fight a bear and a lion and knew that if He gave him leadership, he would put other people’s lives above his own. God saw it unfair for a great youth like David to be undercover and decided to pronounce him to the entire country before he pronounced him to the whole world and to future generations.  

In whatever position God has given you, be diligent in it. Human beings may not recognize your efforts but God will always recognize them. Human beings judgement is typically based on what they see but God’s judgment is based on truth. In the workplace, corruption and office politics can get you ahead for a short while but it will not sustain the little success that it has given you.  

Cheating exams can give you good grades but cannot sustain a career where you will need the expertise to use those skills. Cheating in exams and assignments in school may put a good grade on your certificate that is not in line with the knowledge in your brain. Studying to merely gain certificates may give you those certificates but will not give you the required skills. Not everybody who owns a driving license is a good driver and a certification of a certain skill is not full proof of the true retention of that skill. Cheating on your spouse may feel good for a short time but it will eventually break the divine marriage relation and the blessings that come with it.  

God wants to reward you openly that is why He is asking you to have integrity in public and in secret. Like David, Joseph, Esther, Mordecai and many others, God wants you to stand before kings. That is why the Lord is asking you to faithfully take a firm stand on Him as the solid rock. What you want for yourself is not good enough. God wants the best for you. By faith, make Him your first, last and best.  

It is commonly believed among many people that for you to have a big name, your earthly father must be a renowned man with an equally big name. A prince is a prince because he is the son of the king and whether he is brilliant or not or diligent or not he is bound to be a prince. In some countries, especially those with monarchial systems, the position of king or queen is hereditary.  

Some people believe that they have not been successful because they don’t have a godfather. Some believe that they are not rich because they were not born in rich families. Some believe that because their parents are great musicians, actors or leaders they will automatically turn out great. We may cheat earthly systems, but we cannot cheat God. One may rise to inherit the position of king and queen after the death of their parents but if God sees them unfit and unworthy for that position, they will not rule that land. David’s father was unknown to Abner and Saul but that did not stop David from being great.  

Saul asked Abner whose son David was because he did not know David’s father. Abner too had no knowledge of Jesse and his family. Through God, David’s name was great even though his father’s name was not great. God created the world ex nihilo. He made it out of nothing. God can make you to be something out of nothing. He created man from the dust (that is, stepped upon) of the ground (Genesis 2:7). He can make you somebody and prove wrong those who think you are nobody.  

The Anointing of King David 

2 Samuel 2:1-4 (KJV) – ^“1 So it happened after this that David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up into one of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” And He said, “To Hebron.” ²So David went up there [to Hebron] with his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel [in Judah]. ³And David brought up his men who were with him, each one with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron. ⁴Then the men of Judah came and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. Then they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” 

David was anointed king in Hebron. Hebron means the seat of association. He probably had a feeling of going up into one of the cities of Judah (whereby Hebron is one of them) but was unsure whether to go there or not. Since he was a young man who yielded to God’s control, he did not pursue his desires immediately before asking God. God wants you to travel. God wants you to visit various places but at the right time. He may want you to visit San Francisco next month and visit Nairobi next year. God understands best why He wants you to visit a certain place at a particular time.  

David asked God for permission to go up into one of the cities of Judah. He asked God to confirm his inner desire. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit can put the desire of certain things in our hearts and sometimes our selfish hearts can cause us to have certain desires. Sometimes the Holy Spirit can give us certain ideas, strategies, goals and plans and sometimes our selfish souls can cause us to have those ideas, strategies, goals and plans. It is important when you set a goal, when you get an idea or when you get a desire to do something to ask God first before embarking on it.  

Business experts will advise you to do market research for a certain product or service to see if what you want to sell is viable to the market. Market research is important but God’s approval over something is the most important. The market and the legal laws of various countries can approve an alcoholic or tobacco brand. But such an idea is not approved by God since God cannot approve products that are harmful to people’s mental and physical health. David did not ask anyone else whether he should or should not go to Hebron. He asked God.  

Indecision can bring confusion. The more one delays before deciding, the more confused one becomes. Sometimes, you may delay or fail to make a certain decision only to realize later that there was something good that would have come out of the decision that you missed. Sometimes you may fail to make a particular decision only to thank yourself later after you realized that there was harm awaiting you in that choice. People struggle with making choices because they cannot differentiate between a good and a bad choice.  

Some choices are easy to make and some are not. For example, when one is presented with a choice between attending a prayer night and going to a night club, a converted Christian will easily choose to attend that prayer night. That is quite an easy decision to make. A converted Christian who has studied the Bible when presented with a choice to attend a church service in their host church or go preach in another church, will choose to go preach in that other church. This is because he has read that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). The difficulty in making such a decision can be considered midrange to most Christians as it is not so easy, neither is it very hard.  

One can be presented with a choice to go and preach in Switzerland and get another opportunity to preach in Finland at the same time. Such a decision might be very difficult since both countries are in Europe, and both are well developed. Such a choice will need careful consideration and guidance from God. It will need one to diligently hearken to God’s voice. David placed God’s will above his. Therefore, he asked God if he should go up into the cities of Judah. God approved. He proceeded to ask God which specific city he should go to and God directed him to go to Hebron. By faith, David sought God’s will and submitted to the Almighty’s will.  

After following God’s direction of going to Hebron, David was anointed king. We are often reluctant to follow God’s will because we think our will is better than God’s will. Sometimes because of false interpretations of the Bible from various preachers, we think that God wants a low life for us. Some men may not seek God’s will when looking for a wife because they think God wants them to have a wife who has good character but not good looks.  

Eleazar sought God’s will when finding a wife for Isaac and God directed him to a woman who had both character and beauty. Some people have been misinformed that God does not want them to have a lot of money. Therefore, they do not seek God’s guidance about their financial lives. The standards you have set for your life are as high as your eyes can see and your mind can perceive. God’s standard for your life is as high as heaven is from the earth (Isaiah 55:8-9). My experience with God has made me realize that God wants better for me than I want for myself.  

Involve God in every decision that you make, including the ones that seem insignificant. If you do that, you will gain massive success more quickly because there won’t be trial and error. Many people take a long time to be successful because they spend so much time on trial and error. Jonah wasted time in the fish’s belly because he had gone in the opposite direction. If he had gone directly to Nineveh, he would have gained quick success.  

The people building the tower of Babel wasted time building a tower in vain. If they had yielded to God’s will and asked God to show them what He intended them to do, they would have achieved success in their endeavors sooner. If you introspect your life carefully, you will realize that it is sin which has caused most of your delays and stagnation if not all.  

You Are Not Too Young 

2 Samuel 5:4-5 (KJV) – “⁴David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. ⁵In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.” 

Not many presidents and kings in the world started ruling at the young age of thirty. Some make it to the presidency in their 50s, some in their 60s, 70s and 80s. David started ruling Judah when he was thirty years old. Jesus started His ministry when He was thirty years old. Joseph too became a ruler in Egypt when he was thirty years old. King Josiah in the Bible started ruling when he was way younger than all these. He became king at the age of eight.  

There is a common misunderstanding that a leader in any sphere must be old because old age equates to experience. The older you are, the more experienced you are perceived to be. When I volunteered to teach kindergarten class (3 to 5 year olds) class at the Camp Meeting of Syokimau Central Seventh Day Adventist Church we had such a discussion one day with some friends. The discussion was about whether it is correct to anoint young people as church elders. Among those friends was Pastor Geoffrey Kinyumu.  

Pastor Geoffrey said, “Success in anything does not depend on the level of experience.” While I was in university in my Computer Forensics and Investigation class, a guest was invited to speak to us. He had a company in the Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics field. He said, “Sometimes it is your inexperience that is needed to change the world.”  

Experience is a beautiful thing if it is well utilized. One purpose of experience is to enable one not to repeat the same mistakes that they once did. However, experience won’t amount to much success if it is not evaluated. Leadership Coach and Author John C. Maxwell says, “Experience is not the best teacher but evaluated experience is the best teacher.”  

Some people have been doing the same thing over and over again for many years getting minimal to no results and they keep doing it because they have not taken time to evaluate their experience. It is more common than you think. Some have seen their grandparents and their parents ruin their families because of alcohol and they still indulge in alcohol. Sometimes, experience can make one proud.  

Some people have no room for learning new things because they have experience. The pride that they possess makes them stagnate and fail in their lives. Some do not want to accept that they do not know everything. So, they are not willing to be advised or pick a solution from a younger person no matter how sensible the proposed solution is. This leads to failure in the organization or jurisdiction that the person is leading.  

We will be amazed how far we can go if we open our minds and hearts to collaborate and listen to the input of others. I was teaching a poem to the PowerPoint class (10-12 year olds) at the Nairobi South Seventh Day Adventist Church. I was teaching them the words and the actions at the same time. Even though I was the one who had written the poem, I wasn’t able to get the actions for most of the lines.  

At first, I did not want to ask the students to suggest the actions because I felt that I would lose my credibility as a teacher as I may look like I don’t know what I’m doing and as a teacher, one needs to have all the answers. I thought within myself (through the guidance of the Holy Spirit) to lower my pride and ask them. I decided to ask them. I was amazed because they gave really wonderful suggestions. The actions stuck in their minds more because they were the ones who suggested them. When it was time to perform the poem, they gave a stellar performance. As a created being, you cannot have all the answers. It is a tremendous thing to be open enough to get help from other people.  

When I started the internship mentoring program (which eventually led to some of the interns being the first employees) in my company Real Biz Digital, I used to conduct the communication via email. One hardworking and knowledgeable intern suggested that email communication is not the best mode of communication for an organization.  

He suggested that we use an organizational communication application like Microsoft Teams and Slack. When we used these two, communication in the organization became easy and seamless. Now we have developed our own application which also acts as a project management software that is artificial intelligence driven called Anchor 360.  

At first, I was hesitant to take a suggestion from him because he was younger and he was a subordinate but when I took it, his suggestion proved to be highly beneficial. God has created us in a way that nobody has everything. So, we need one another, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, young and old.  

Many people also believe that it is not possible, especially as a man to be successful at a young age. Various studies have been done and have shown that men seldom succeed before the age of forty. That might be the reason behind the common saying, “life begins at forty.” Some people have commented and said that the reason why that is the case is because men below forty years spend most of their time heavily indulging in alcohol, drugs and immoral activities.  

A certain YouTuber said that he was given a job as a managing director of a certain company when he was around thirty or thirty one years old. He said he spent most of his money and time drinking alcohol and having sex with various women. He said that when he lost his job is when he realized he should have invested the money and at least bought a piece of land, but he did not. This is common with many men.  

Many men start engaging in alcoholism when they have finished college and have gotten a job. When they were in college they probably did not have the money to party and to maintain a significant other. Some of them were probably very serious in church. After college is when they realize that there is a life full of ‘fun’ that they had been missing. As a result, many people have wasted their youthful vigorous years engaging in such habits.  

A few who devoted their youthful years to honorable pursuits proved that it is possible to succeed when one is young.  

Bill Gates 

According to various sources such as the Encyclopedia Britannica, William Henry Gates III also known as Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft Company, has been mentioned at least fifteen times in Forbes Magazine as the world’s richest man from 1995 to 2017.  

He started coding software programs at the tender age of thirteen. He spent most of his time learning coding and started the Microsoft Company in 1975 when he was around twenty years old. He became a billionaire in 1986 when he was thirty one years old when his company Microsoft went public and since 1987 he has been included in the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires.  

One may admire him for attaining success at such a young age and some may think that success came easily to him because he succeeded when he was young. Unknown to them is while other teenagers were living and enjoying their teenage years, he was busy working. It is possible to succeed when you are young.  

Alexander the Great 

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Alexander the Great became King of Macedonia when he was twenty years old. This is a very young age for one to be king. Alexander was taught by Aristotle when he was between the age of thirteen to sixteen, who inspired him with an interest in philosophy, medicine and scientific investigation. He began conquering territories from the age of sixteen and became king at the age of twenty.  

When Alexander was thirty, he achieved a significant milestone in his military campaign, building one of the largest empires in history that stretched from Greece and Egypt in the west to Persia and parts of India in the east. He sacrificed pleasure in his younger years and as a result, he became successful at a young age. Unfortunately, he began indulging heavily in drinking and died at the age of thirty-three. It is possible to succeed when you are young.  

Mark Zuckerberg 

Mark Zuckerberg started learning computer programs when he was young. He started Facebook in 2004 when he was 20 years old. In 2007 at the age of 23 he was the world’s youngest self-made billionaire at the time. For several years he has been listed by Forbes in the top ten list of the richest people in the world. It is possible to reach the highest pinnacles of success when you are young.  

Some people may debate and say that most of these well-known billionaires are not devoted Christians. They may not be professed Christians, and they may not even be believing in Christianity but some of the works that they do are supported by the Bible. For example, most of them engage in philanthropy. Helping the needy in society is a Biblical principle.  

Zuckerberg created Facebook. One can use Facebook to evangelize and reach billions of people worldwide. I started posting Godly materials on Facebook before I opened my blog. Using technology to add value to people’s lives is more effective and efficient compared to not using it. Therefore, someone who is taking his time, energy and resources to come up with a beneficial technological idea has blessed the world and in return he would be enriched.  

John Davison Rockefeller Sr. 

John Davison Rockefeller Sr., who lived from 1839 to 1937 is known to be the wealthiest American of all time and the richest person in modern history. He was a devoted Christian. He was born to a mother who was deeply religious and disciplined and had a major influence on him in religious matters. His mother would urge him to contribute his few coins to the church during church service.  

According to Rockefeller’s documentary, a Baptist preacher once encouraged him to “make as much money as he could, and then give away as much as he could.” According to the same documentary, Rockefeller recalled later in his life that it was at that time that the financial plan of his life was formed.  

He used to read the Bible daily, attend prayer meetings twice a week and lead his own Bible study with his wife. Burton Folsom Jr. has noted, “[H]e sometimes gave tens of thousands of dollars to Christian groups, while, at the same time, he was trying to borrow over a million dollars to expand his business. His philosophy of giving was founded upon biblical principles.  

His actions showed that he truly believed in the biblical principle found in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (NIV)” 

John Davison Rockefeller started book keeping at the age of 16 and made several business partnerships beginning at age 20, concentrating his business on oil refining. God wants Christians to succeed at a young age.  

Say not that you are a child 

Jeremiah 1:7 (KJV) – “But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” 

God told Jeremiah not to say that he is too young. Many people have wasted their highly precious golden but fleeting youthful years through this dangerous statement. Many youths believe that they are too young to take life seriously. I have often heard young people saying that the years before thirty are meant for having fun and one should start taking life seriously when they are past the age of thirty. The people who say that assume that they will be alive when they reach thirty. God says, “Say not, I am a child.” 

You are not too young to be successful. You are not too young to achieve your dreams. You are not too young to live in your dream house. You are not too young to be a millionaire or a billionaire. You are not too young to be the top most leader in your country. You are not too young to purchase your dream car.  You are not too young to serve God. You are not too young to be what God wants you to be.  

God did not tell Jeremiah that he (Jeremiah) was not a child. He told him not to say that he is a child. In Jeremiah’s present situation when God was calling him, he was a child. God understood that Jeremiah was very young and there was a reason why God called him when he was still a child.  

God knows the weaknesses you have. He knows all the current problems that you are facing. Therefore, like Jeremiah, He compels you to speak by faith. He urges you not to speak of your weaknesses and obstacles in your present situation but to do what He has called you to do.  

If you want to succeed early, start early, put God first and be careful to listen and to obey everything He tells you to (Deuteronomy 28:1). 

From Mockery to Majesty: David’s Triumph over the Jebusites 

2 Samuel 5:6-10 (AMP) – “⁶ Now the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You shall not enter here, for the blind and the lame [even the weakest among us] will turn you away”; they thought, “David cannot come in here [because the walls are impenetrable].” ⁷ Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold (fortress) of Zion, that is, the City of David. ⁸ Then David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him go up through the [underground] water shaft to strike the lame and the blind, who are detested by David’s soul [because of their arrogance].” So [for that reason] they say, “The blind or the lame (Jebusites) shall not come into the [royal] house [of Israel].” ⁹ So David lived in the stronghold and called it the City of David. And he built all around [the surrounding area] from the Millo [fortification] and inward. ¹⁰ David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts (armies), was with him.” 

The Jebusites did not believe in God. Instead, they believed in their impenetrable walls. They thought that no human being could capture their fortress. They mocked David by telling him that if he attempts to enter that city, he will be defeated even by the weakest people among them, the blind and the lame.  

Matthew 5:11-12 (KJV) – “¹¹ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” 

When you are a righteous man doing a righteous act and someone mocks you, insults you, falsely accuses you or does any evil thing to harm you, they are giving you blessings. The Greek word Makarios used for blessed in the beatitudes is the same word for happy, supremely blessed, fortunate and well off.  

Makarios means happy. The one persecuting you is actively yet unknowingly contributing to your happiness when they are persecuting you. You may not be happy when they are doing it but their actions will bring happiness somewhere in your life in the future (future may be a few seconds going forth). Someone may lead you to an opportunity that you have been longing for in your life which in turn will make you happy through their persecution.  

Makarios also means supremely blessed. When somebody comes and mocks you because of your Christianity, trying to make you feel less important, you should not lose confidence. You should be more bold because that circumstance has enabled you to be supremely blessed. The word supremely is used to attribute to the highest level of something. It can also mean excellently. 

People who call you names or treat you with contempt because of going to church, talking about Jesus or any other form of Godliness have taken a leader and placed you at the highest point of that ladder, making it easier for you to access the highest point which you were longing to access. They have put you at the summit of the mountain you wanted to surmount. They have acted as elevators in your life and have taken you to the highest floor of your most desired building where there is the best view.  

Makarios also means well off and fortunate. When someone sees you spending lots of time praying and studying the Bible and they belittle you for doing those activities, they have brought more fortune or luck to you. Persecution brings high level favor in the life of a Christian. It opens doors that were once tightly locked. This might be because when you persist to do right in the midst of persecution, whatever you have done is considered more valuable compared to if you had done it in comfortable circumstances.  

For example if you have free internet access, have the best food with you, have a computer and all tools to create content and edit, and have a peaceful environment, it is easy for you to evangelize digitally to people because the situation is favorable. God will surely bless you because you have used what He has given you how they are supposed to be used.  

However, when one of these things are lacking it becomes challenging for you to evangelize effectively. The more things that you lack, the more difficult it is to efficiently conduct God’s mission. Therefore, persist on your purpose even when strife and contention burns fervently from the unbelievers (people who don’t believe and those who partially believe) around you. As a genuine Christian you will often find yourself being a sheep in the midst of wolves. Do not be frightened and do not lose hope for that is an opportunity to be blessed.  

Sometimes you may do something good for someone, and they fail to appreciate it. Some may say thank you, but their words of gratitude don’t come from the heart. They might have said them out of mere formality in an attempt to outwardly appear polite. Such people don’t take much time before they get betrayed by their actions and you are able to realize that their words of appreciation were not honest.  

Others will not even say thank you. Lack of appreciation either by words or thoughts or actions is a form of persecution. Don’t stop doing good because people are not appreciating, take their ungratefulness as a motivational fire to do more acts of righteousness.  

Some husbands will never appreciate their wives, no matter what they do. Some wives will go to great lengths to even research how to prepare the best meal. Some will still complain, and some will choose to keep quiet and not say thank you. Some wives will never tell their husbands thank you no matter the magnitude of the gift they receive from them. Some intentionally fail to appreciate it as a psychological tactic to make their husbands do more. Some might even pretend that they are angry or sad to emotionally trigger their husbands or boyfriends to give them bigger gifts.  

I know some of you reading this are wondering how that works. A man who gives something to his wife and fails to get appreciated may be deceived to think that the gift they have given is too small and they need to give something bigger. A person who does not appreciate small things will never appreciate big things. If your spouse does not appreciate you, you should thank God for making you supremely blessed and highly favored through that painful experience.  

If you live longer, you will realize that God has blessed, you more than all who persecuted you. People who have gone through all this undeserved sorrowful and heart-breaking experiences while doing the right thing are the ones who enter big organizations to look for a job and they get the job immediately without anyone being interested to look at their resumes and academic papers. Such people are the ones who strike big deals seamlessly. This is because the persecution they went through brought them great favor. Therefore, as hard as it may seem, we need to gladly laugh out loud or even have a party whenever we face persecution. Persecution is like someone giving you a bag full of money, or precious stones or any other gift that you highly desire.  

When the Jebusites persecuted David by mocking and discouraging him, they made it easier for him to capture Jerusalem. The majority of people think that persecution is a stumbling block, but it is actually a steppingstone. We think of it as a challenge meant to toughen things up, but it is actually meant to make things easier. David was a man after God’s own heart. God had to come in handy and give him victory over his enemies. Their mockery of David probably triggered God to make the battle effortless.  

Like most of us who get discouraged to walk the narrow path when others attempt to push us out of the way, David did not. By faith, David used his God-given wisdom to enter Zion, which he later called the City of David. He devised a plan to enter through the underground water tunnel. Some Bible scholars say it is the Bronze age vertical Warren’s shaft that was used as a channel for water from Gihon Spring (fountain of the virgin). According to various sources it was the main source of water from the Pool of Siloam in Jebus.  

Thus, the Jebusites deceived themselves by thinking that nobody could enter their city because it had high level security. What they did not know is that no system built by men is perfect. No matter how majestic and advanced the things we build seem to be, they cannot be without flaws. We are imperfect beings in an imperfect world with imperfect resources. We may combine with great and highly intellectual minds to come up with an invention and think that we have built the best only to later realize that there are innumerable loopholes in our invention.  

The Jebusites were probably expecting David and his troop to attempt climbing the high fortified walls. What they did not know is that God who is the way (John 14:6) has infinite ways to get where He wants to go, and He is willing to show us those ways.  He tells us to follow Him (Matthew 16:24). God showed David the water tunnel way.  

I’m imagining the Jebusites sitting comfortably in their homes and their leaders dwelling delightfully in their castles or palaces, then suddenly they see David. The first question that would come to their minds is, “How did he get here?” That is how unbelievers (those who don’t believe and those who partially believe in God) are going to be amazed when God blesses you. They are going to ask themselves, “How did he get here?”  

The ones who are going to ask, “how did he/she get here?” are the ones who were probably higher than you in life and they did their best to block every opportunity that would cause you to advance in life. They will ask how you got to the level where they are as their wish was for you to remain in the pit that you are currently struggling to get out of.  

When David defeated the Jebusites, some got killed and I believe that others were driven out of the city. Those who were driven out of the city probably went to a place that was worse or in better terms that was not as good as Jerusalem. I’m imagining them when they are outside Jerusalem, pointing to it and asking within themselves concerning David, “How did he get there?”  

A time will come if you remain faithful to God, worshiping Him and diligently serving Him that you will be ahead of the unbelieving ones that are currently ahead of you. Some of them thought they were unbeatable. The pride in their minds made them treat you harshly and cruelly. A time will come when they shall ask within themselves, “How did he/she get there?” 

The Bible records in 2 Samuel 5:10 that David became greater and greater because the God of hosts was with him. When God is with you, you can only become better. You can only become greater and greater when you have the Greatest One as your companion. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of improvement and constant victory. God’s greatness is infinite. Therefore, when you abide by Him, the great ever-fruitful vine, there is no limit to the amount of quality fruit you can bear. The staircase that God puts you on has no final step.  

David’s House is Built 

2 Samuel 5:11 (KJV) – “And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.” 

The name “Hiram” is of Phoenician origin, meaning “brother of the exalted” or “my brother is exalted.” In the Bible, Hiram is most notably associated with King Hiram of Tyre, who played a significant role in supporting King David of Israel. 

King Hiram of Tyre holds significance in biblical history due to his alliance and friendly relations with King David and later with King Solomon, David’s son. Tyre was a prominent Phoenician city-state known for its maritime trade and wealth, and King Hiram’s support was instrumental in various construction projects, including the building of the Temple in Jerusalem. 

2 Samuel 5:11 (KJV) mentions how King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees, carpenters, and masons, to aid in the construction of David’s palace. This collaboration between Tyre and Israel reflects both political alliances and trade partnerships that were common in the ancient Near East. Overall, King Hiram’s support and cooperation with King David and King Solomon contributed to the prosperity and stability of both kingdoms. It showcased the significance of diplomatic relations and international cooperation in biblical narratives. 

Proverbs 21:1 (KJV) – “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will.” 

Everything is in God’s hands including the king’s heart. When you please God, He turns people’s hearts towards you. Building someone a house is a grand thing. King David didn’t build his own house. God used King Hiram of Tyre to build David a house.  

When you honor God, God will work in the hearts of people to do for you things that you cannot do for yourself. God will also work in the hearts of people to do for you things that you can do for yourself but He doesn’t want you to do for yourself. When you sit down with an earthly ruler, chances are high that he will give you something as you leave. Now, let’s answer this question, if carnal earthly rulers do that, how much more can God do for you when you spend time with Him?  

The problem with us is that we want to spend time with everybody else except God. We go out there begging worldly people to be our mentors because we know the value that they can give to us. A few of them are open to be accessed but the majority of them cannot be easily accessed.  

God is the one who created all those earthly mentors, and He has infinitely greater knowledge, understanding and wisdom than all of them. He has ideas that they don’t have. He has resources that they don’t possess. The best place to get mentorship from the Most High is the Bible. The more time we spend in the Bible, the better we will become.  

If David had trusted in his effort to build a house for himself, it would have probably taken a longer time or more resources to build that house. His trust in God made God move in the heart of the King of Tyre to build him a house. God wants you to believe in Him because He wants to do for you things that you cannot do for yourself.  

Names of David’s Children 

2 Samuel 5:14-16 (KJV) – “¹⁴And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, ¹⁵Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, ¹⁶And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.” 

The above verse lists the sons of David that were born unto him in Jerusalem. First and foremost let us look at the meaning of Jerusalem for the purpose of establishing its significance. The name Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם) means “Foundation of Peace” or “City of Peace.” Sometimes Jerusalem is referred to as the city of David.  

Jerusalem is often referred to as the “City of David” because it was King David who conquered the city and established it as the capital of the united Kingdom of Israel. David captured the city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites, an ancient Canaanite tribe, around 1000 BCE. He then made it his capital and fortified it, expanding its boundaries. David’s conquest of Jerusalem is recorded in 2 Samuel 5:6-10 and 1 Chronicles 11:4-9 in the Bible. 

Under David’s rule, Jerusalem became the political, religious, and cultural center of Israel. He brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and desired to build a permanent temple there, although this task was ultimately fulfilled by his son Solomon.  

David’s reign in Jerusalem established the city’s significance in the history of Israel, and his legacy as its conqueror and builder earned it the title “City of David.” Throughout the Bible, Jerusalem is often associated with David and his dynasty, cementing its connection to him in both historical and religious contexts. 

2 Samuel 5:14-16 lists the sons of David that were born unto him in the city of peace (Jerusalem). The Bible lists a total of nineteen children born to King David (he might have had more but only nineteen are mentioned). However, out of these nineteen, eleven are listed in this particular context that were born in Jerusalem. There is a reason why things happen the way they happen. Rabbi Daniel Lapin writes that there are no accidents or coincidences.  

We may attest to this when we evaluate our lives and find out that some of the things that have happened that seem to be by mistake were actually God’s plan. There is a reason why you were given the names you were given and why you were born in the place that you were born in. Since Jerusalem means the city of peace, it signifies that eleven sons of King David were born in a peaceful environment. In other words, a peaceful environment is productive. If you have peace of mind you are going to be highly productive. Matthew 5:9 (KJV) – “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Children of God are meant to be peaceful and to make peace where there is war.  

The nineteen children of David mentioned in the Bible were: 

1. Amnon – Son of David and Ahinoam (2 Samuel 3:2). 

2. Daniel – Son of David and Abigail (1 Chronicles 3:1). 

3. Absalom – Son of David and Maacah (2 Samuel 3:3). 

4. Adonijah – Son of David and Haggith (2 Samuel 3:4). 

5. Shephatiah – Son of David and Abital (1 Chronicles 3:3). 

6. Ithream – Son of David and Eglah (2 Samuel 3:5). 

7. Shimea (also called Shammua) – Son of David and Bathsheba (1 Chronicles 3:5). 

8. Shobab – Son of David and Bathsheba (1 Chronicles 3:5). 

9. Nathan – Son of David and Bathsheba (1 Chronicles 3:5). 

10. Solomon (also called Jedidiah) – Son of David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:24). 

11. Ibhar – Son of David and Eglah (1 Chronicles 3:6). 

12. Elishua (also called Elishama) – Son of David and Eglah (1 Chronicles 3:6). 

13. Eliphelet – Son of David and Maacah (1 Chronicles 3:6). 

14. Nogah – Son of David and his wife (1 Chronicles 3:7). 

15. Nepheg – Son of David and his wife (1 Chronicles 3:7). 

16. Japhia – Son of David and his wife (1 Chronicles 3:7). 

17. Elishama – Son of David and his wife (1 Chronicles 3:8). 

18. Eliada (also called Beeliada) – Son of David and his wife (1 Chronicles 3:8). 

19. Eliphelet – Son of David and his wife (1 Chronicles 14:5). 

The Children of David Born in Jerusalem 

Shammuah (שַׁמֻּעַ) – Shammuah means “Heard” or “Obeyed.” It’s a name mentioned in the genealogy of David in 2 Samuel 5:14. 

Shobab (שׁוֹבָב) – Shobab means “Returner” or “Returnee.” It’s the name of one of David’s sons, mentioned in 2 Samuel 5:14. 

Nathan (נָתָן) – Nathan means “Given” or “He gave.” It’s a name of Hebrew origin and is the name of several significant figures in the Bible, including the prophet Nathan who served during the time of King David. 

Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה) – Solomon means “Peace” or “Peaceful.” Solomon was a king of Israel and the son of David known for his wisdom and the building of the First Temple in Jerusalem. 

Ibhar (אִיבַּחַר) – Ibhar means “Chosen” or “He chooses.” Ibhar is mentioned as one of David’s sons in 2 Samuel 5:15. 

Elishua (אֱלִישׁוּעַ) – Elishua means “God is Salvation” or “God is my Salvation.” It’s the name of one of David’s sons, mentioned in 2 Samuel 5:15. 

Nepheg (נֵפֶג) – Nepheg means uncertain, possibly “Sprout” or “Bud.” Nepheg is listed as one of David’s sons in 2 Samuel 5:15. 

Japhia (יָפִיעַ) – Japhia means “Shining” or “Bright.” It’s a name of Hebrew origin and appears in various contexts in the Old Testament. 

Elishama (אֱלִישָׁמָע) – Elishama means “God has heard” or “God hears.” It’s a name of Hebrew origin and is mentioned as the name of several individuals in the Old Testament. 

Eliada (אֶלְיָדָע) – Eliada means “God knows” or “Known by God.” Eliada is mentioned as one of David’s sons in 2 Samuel 5:16. 

Eliphalet (אֱלִיפַלְאֶל) – Eiphalet means “God is Deliverance” or “God of Deliverance.” It’s a name of Hebrew origin and appears in the genealogy of David in 1 Chronicles 14:5. 

Faith is the Victory 

2 Samuel 5:17-19 (KJV) – “¹⁷But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. ¹⁸The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. ¹⁹And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.” 

The Valley of Rephaim, noted in 2 Samuel 5:18 (KJV), was a notable geographic expanse situated southwest of Jerusalem. In Hebrew, “Rephaim” translates to “giants” or “mighty ones,” naming the valley after its ancient inhabitants, believed to be a tribe of giants. 

The valley held significant strategic value owing to its location and landscape. Blessed with fertile soil, it proved ideal for agriculture and served as a pivotal route for both trade and military maneuvers. Its vast expanse also made it a preferred spot for armies to assemble and wage war. 

In the narrative of 2 Samuel 5:17-19, we find the Philistines positioning themselves within the valley of Rephaim, spurred by news of King David’s anointment over Israel. Faced with this looming threat, David turned to the Lord for guidance before engaging the Philistine forces, demonstrating his reliance on divine wisdom amid adversity. 

When someone has gained a great victory for the first time, you will hear him attributing it to God but when victory becomes an ordinary event in his/her life, it doesn’t take long before the person starts attributing it to his own efforts and mental prowess. Therefore, God becomes less and less valued. The person reduces the amount of time that he used to spend with God. If he used to pray five times a day, he minimizes it to once. During the week he spares no time for Bible study. It reaches a point that he has completely no time for God even on the Sabbath. As a result, that person begins engaging in sins that he had never imagined.  

That is how a person subsides and all that was under their rule gradually degrades. We leave the high standards of God and start conforming to the low standards of the world. It is dangerous to be under the leadership of a person who sees no need of consulting God before he makes the smallest decision. We face a great threat when we are being led by people who think that success is a product of their own solutions and are not willing to seek solutions from God.  

David had previously defeated the Philistines. Making another million is easy for a man who has already made a million. Winning a football game against a team is easy if you had previously won against that team. Doing a test for a certain course of study is easy if you have done it before.  

Therefore, it is safe to conclude that defeating the Philistines was supposed to be easy for David since he had defeated them before. Secondly, it was easier than before because he was no longer a young boy (like he was when fighting Goliath). Before, he had less moral support because people didn’t believe in him. Before he was a shepherd with no military equipment.  

1 Chronicles 29:11 (KJV) – “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as head above all.”  

We shall significantly reduce the time we waste when doing what we are not supposed to be doing because we will be doing exactly what God intended us to do. Many people have wasted twenty, thirty, fifty years or even more doing jobs that they were not meant to do, studying things that they were not supposed to, among other various things.  

One reason why we see little to no success in our diligent endeavors is because we are not doing what God has called us to. When God gives you an assignment, He makes providence for you. God Himself is responsible for making whatever He has told you to do a success. If you do exactly what the Lord has told you to in the manner that He has commanded you, victory will be your only option.  

2 Samuel 5:20 (KJV) – “And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore, he called the name of that place Baalperazim.” 

David defeated the Philistines at Baalperazim. In Hebrew, the name Baalperazim means “Lord of the Breakthroughs” or “Lord of Breaches.” After winning against the Philistines, he did not attribute the glory to himself. Instead, he gave God the glory and said, “The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters.” When he said this he was probably remembering the promise that God gives us in Deuteronomy 28:7. Deuteronomy 28:7 (KJV) – says, “The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come up against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.”  

The battle is between God and your enemies, not between you and your enemies. You have less power to make your enemies flee before you seven ways, but God has all the power to do that. The Bible tells us in Exodus 14:14 that the Lord shall fight for us. The Bible also tells us that the battle is the Lord’s (1 Samuel 17:47). David understood that it was God who gave him victory in the battle, and he was just an instrument that was used by God to accomplish that mission.  

God will be pleased when we acknowledge Him as the giver of the victory we have obtained. If you have overcome an addiction, give God the glory. If you have been able to overcome a certain ailment, give God the glory. If you have managed to overcome poverty, give God the glory. Give God the glory at all times even when things are not going the way you had envisioned. This is because victory does not lie in your visions and your plans, victory is reliant on God alone.  

2 Samuel 5:21 (KJV) – “And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.” 

David led his men to burn all the idols that were being worshipped in that land. David did not throw away the images. Instead, he burned them completely. Do away completely with all those things that are not adding value to your life. Doing that is like removing the trash can from the entrance of your front door, hence allowing you to swiftly move in and out of the premises.  

One example can be spending time listening to secular music and watching movies that spread wickedness. You may be viewing it as a form of entertainment and saying to yourself that you cannot do those things that the media disseminates. However, when you evaluate yourself, you realize that you have spent so much time on them and have spent very little to no time doing something productive. Such things rob you of the time to read, listen and watch something productive.  

If the youth would take the trash can of evil music, movies, series and scrolling on social media out of the front doors of their hearts, and allow Jesus to enter, they will be highly valuable and productive in society. When the limitless God begins working in them, He will make them to have influence that has no limits. The God who has no end wants us to have influence and greatness that has no end. So, like David, burn everything that is adding no value to your life.  

When you are a leader, burn everything that is valueless to those whom you are leading. If you are leading a company or an organization, implement laws that honor God. At end of year parties and other ceremonies, do not buy alcohol and do not play music that adds no value to people.  

2 Samuel 5:22-25 (KJV) – “²²And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. ²³And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. ²⁴And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. ²⁵And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.” 

“God instructed David, saying, “Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.” If David, like Saul, had chosen his own way, success would not have attended him. But he did as the Lord had commanded, and he “smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer. And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.” 1 Chronicles 14:16, 17.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 704.2, Ellen G. White.  

The word “Gazer” is believed to derive from a Hebrew root word meaning “strong” or “mighty.” In biblical contexts, it refers to a city or region mentioned in the Old Testament, particularly in the books of Joshua, Judges, and 2 Samuel. Gazer was a significant city located in ancient Israel, known for its strategic importance and military significance. Gazer held strategic importance due to its location on major trade routes and its proximity to other significant cities. After its conquest by David, it became part of the territories controlled by Israel. 

After David had defeated the Philistines in the valley of Rephaim, they came again and spread themselves in the same valley. The Devil will never get tired of attacking you. God might have enabled you to overcome a certain sin such as sexual sin or alcoholism. When God does this, Satan is not happy.  

In the same way the Philistines came back to attack the Israelites in the valley of Rephaim, Satan will attempt to attack you in the areas that God has delivered you from. However, when he comes back, he will come back with stronger attacks. The Bible says that when a demon is driven out of a man, he goes back and comes back with seven demons stronger than himself (Matthew 12:43-45).  

1 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV) – “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” The Bible warns those who think that they are strong in the Lord and are unable to fall to take heed lest they fall. Some people might have witnessed this: after condemning someone for a certain sin, they end up doing the same sin. Some parents, after gossiping about other people’s teenage children’s bad behaviors, end up seeing their children with the same behaviors once they reach their teenage years.  

While doing a self-evaluation, I realized that anytime I ever talked proudly about my progress and personal development and failed to acknowledge God, I ended up downgrading instead of upgrading. Anytime I felt that I had overcome a certain sin and talked proudly about it, I ended up sinking into the same sin.  

David defeated the Philistines in the valley of Rephaim. It didn’t take long before the Philistines launched another attack in the same valley. David, in his wisdom, did not rely on his wisdom. The average person would have thought that it would be easy to defeat the Philistines in that valley the second time since they had been able to defeat them the first time. They would have used the same strategies to fight them that they had used before.  

“The Bible has little to say in praise of men. Little space is given to recounting the virtues of even the best men who have ever lived. This silence is not without purpose; it is not without a lesson. All the good qualities that men possess are the gift of God; their good deeds are performed by the grace of God through Christ. Since they owe all to God the glory of whatever they are or do belongs to Him alone; they are but instruments in His hands. More than this—as all the lessons of Bible history teach—it is a perilous thing to praise or exalt men; for if one comes to lose sight of his entire dependence on God, and to trust to his own strength, he is sure to fall. Man is contending with foes who are stronger than he. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in high places.” Ephesians 6:12, margin. It is impossible for us in our own strength to maintain the conflict; and whatever diverts the mind from God, whatever leads to self-exaltation or to self-dependence, is surely preparing the way for our overthrow. The tenor of the Bible is to inculcate distrust of human power and to encourage trust in divine power.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 717.1, Ellen G. White.    

David asked God if he should go up. The first time, God had commanded him to go up but this time round, God told him not to go up. Despite his various records of victory, David humbled himself and asked God what He would want him to do. Success should never make us think that we do not need God’s advice anymore. In fact, when you are successful that is when you need God’s counsel the most. This is because you have a lot to lose.  

The Philistines knew that David had defeated them in the valley of Rephaim, but they still attacked him in that same valley. They were not foolish to do that. They probably devised better strategies and increased the number of their military men so that they could be victorious. They had probably conducted studies of that place and carefully evaluated what caused them to lose. They chose the valley of Rephaim probably because it was already familiar to them.  

This scenario can be likened to someone who sits for the same test the second time. They are highly likely to get better grades than they did the first time because they have revised that paper and researched the correct answers. Therefore, they will probably do well than they did before.  

This scenario can also be likened to a soccer team playing against the same soccer team in the same stadium that they did before. Losing the game for the first time probably made the losing team go back and evaluate why they lost. So, when they come to play the second time, do not be surprised to see them winning against the team that had beaten them before. The team which had won before may end up losing if they use the same strategies that they had previously used to win. However, they will be afraid to use different tactics because they have not proved them.  

That is why we need God to be at the center of everything we do. That is why we need faith. God is the one who can give us the best strategies to deal with every situation that is presented to us. When we evaluate our failures, we will realize that we failed because we never asked God what to do and how to do it and if we asked Him, we never listened to the answers He gave us.  

Like broken pencils, it is pointless to ask someone something and then close your ears when that person responds or walk away before that person responds. God always responds, it is us who don’t listen. God always responds but will not always give you the answers that you want to hear. But He will always respond with the truth because He is the Truth (John 14:6).  

God commanded David not to go up. Instead, He told him to circle behind them and come at them from the front of the mulberry trees (2 Samuel 5:23). God told David to act promptly when he hears the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees because God would have gone before them to strike the army of the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:24).  

The strategies that God gave David were easy but sophisticated strategies. They were easy to the Israelites because God told them precisely what to do. They were sophisticated because their enemies could not predict those strategies as they were divinely communicated to David alone, who later on communicated them to his army. In their minds, the Philistines thought that they were attacking the Israelites, they did not know that they were fighting against the all-powerful God.  

By faith, David obeyed God’s commands without questioning. What were the results of David’s obedience? The Bible records in 2 Samuel 5:25 that David defeated the Philistines from Geba to Gazer. In other words, the result of David’s obedience was victory. The result of David’s faith was success. Faith in God leads to victory. Faith in God leads to success. Faith is the victory. Faith is success.  

The Center of Blessings 

2 Samuel 6:12-19 (KJV) – “¹²And it was told king David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness. ¹³And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. ¹⁴And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. ¹⁵So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. ¹⁶And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. ¹⁷And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. ¹⁸And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. ¹⁹And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to everyone a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed everyone to his house.” 

The name “Obededom,” mentioned in 2 Samuel 6:12-19 (KJV), has Hebrew origins and carries significance in biblical history. In Hebrew, “Obededom” is believed to mean “servant of Edom” or “servant of the red.” 

God had blessed the Obededom’s house because he had stored the Ark of the Covenant in it. The Ark of the Covenant was used to store the law of God. Nothing was inside the ark except the Ten Commandments. So, we can say that having God’s law inside Obededom’s house blessed his house. This means that when we allow God’s law to govern our homes, our homes will be blessed. Critics who oppose the existence of God may oppose this fact. Some who may not have tried obeying God’s Word fully may doubt that true obedience to God leads to blessings.  

Those who may question the ancient story of Obededom need to hear the modern story of an American soldier called Desmond Doss. The 2016 movie, titled Hacksaw Ridge, was acted in honor of that American soldier. He was born in a Seventh Day Adventist home and in their house the Ten Commandments hung on the wall. Every day, he would look at those Ten Commandments and as time went by, they sunk deeper in him.  

It reached a point during World War 2 that Desmond had to enroll in the military to defend his country. He joined the military but said that he would not kill because it was against God’s commandments to kill. People ridiculed him and said that he would not be successful in the military if he doesn’t kill. He stood his ground and said instead of killing, he would use his medical knowledge to treat those soldiers who are bruised in the war.  

Desmond would carry his Bible every day to work and put it in his pocket. True to his word, he did not kill but he assisted in saving the lives of many. His fellow soldiers who had once mocked him realized that they could not go to war without him because of the great deal of help he had offered to them. He was obedient to God but courageous. He would risk his life and pass through the enemy’s bullets to go and save lives.  

At one point he was shot but he did not back down, he did not wait to heal, instead he continued with his work of saving lives. His acts of bravery and fidelity to God’s law made his name great and made him receive numerous honors. How did he achieve all that? He achieved all that by having God’s law govern his life. How did he know of God’s law? He knew about God’s law by seeing it hung on the wall at home.  

When David was told how God had blessed the house of Obededom because of having God’s Ark in his house, he went and took it from Obededom’s house to the city of David so that God would bless the city as well. The Bible says in Romans 10:17 (KJV), “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 

When David heard how God had blessed Obededom’s house, he did not delay. Instead, he acted immediately by faith and brought that ark to the city. This deed which he performed showed wisdom. Once they discover the truth and the blessings that come with it, some people will still not apply it. They will try to form ‘intelligent’ arguments around it while some would try to justify their wrongdoings. They will do everything else but obey it.  

David brought the ark to the city and when he blessed it, he rejoiced and danced. He could not hold back his happiness. The law of God should make us rejoice. Each commandment is meant to make us joyful. For example, if you obey God’s commandments you will not feel guilty. Therefore, you will not experience the gloom that comes with the doom of guilt. We should all be exceedingly glad when we encounter the truth.  

When you realize that Saturday (the seventh day) is the Sabbath, you should not feel sad and wonder how you are going to switch from keeping Monday as the Sabbath to Saturday. Instead, you should be glad and if it seems challenging to you, ask God to help you overcome that challenge. Once you read the Bible and realize that gossiping is bad, instead of feeling sad by wondering what stories you would be talking with your friends, relatives or spouse, you should be excited. Don’t worry, God will give you valuable and productive topics to discuss.  

The name “Michal,” which appears in 2 Samuel 6:16 (KJV), has Hebrew origins and carries significant biblical connotations. In Hebrew, “Michal” is believed to mean “who is like God” or “gift from God.” 

Michal was the daughter of King Saul and the first wife of King David. She is known for her role in the biblical narrative surrounding David’s ascent to kingship and her reaction to his exuberant worship before the Lord. 

In the passage mentioned, Michal observes David joyfully dancing and celebrating as the ark of the Lord is brought into the city of David. However, she despises him in her heart, possibly due to feelings of jealousy or embarrassment over his display of worship. Despite her royal status, Michal’s attitude toward David’s worshipful expression contrasts with his wholehearted devotion to God.  

When Michal Saul’s daughter saw David leaping through a window and dancing for the Lord, she despised him in her heart. Some people will despise you when they see you showing commitment to God. The majority of those who will despise you will not tell it to your face. Instead, they will think thoughts of contempt towards you in their hearts. They will think that you are boring, foolish, old-fashioned among many other bad things. They will despise you when you are worshipping God because they don’t know God.  

Saul’s daughter might have heard about God because she was in the land of Israel. Those despising you when you are worshiping God might have heard about God but they don’t know Him. Michal was a former princess. Therefore, she was royalty. She might have been physically beautiful too.  

When you are a young man who is totally devoted to God, some ladies (not all) will want nothing to do with you.  Especially on young people, Satan likes using the opposite sex to get one into sin. He knows that when one gets despised and wrongfully influenced by the opposite sex, they will easily fall into his traps compared to when one gets tempted by people of the same gender.  

One lady in church told me, in her high school when a girl gets insulted by a boy it hurts more than when she gets insulted by a fellow girl. The Devil also likes using those who are of high status like Saul’s daughter to despise you so that you can get easily discouraged. He likes using such because those are the ones who can exert the most influence in society as the majority of the people look up to them.  

The Bible asserts that Michal saw David through a window. This means that she was not physically at the spot where David was worshiping. David was not locked up in his room or in a private place. He was worshiping God publicly. Nobody had stopped Michal from coming where David was and joining him in worshiping God. It was her own choice.  

Some people will hate you for not making them same choice as them. Looking through a window means that there was an object (the window) blocking her from seeing the view clearly. She might have despised David because she did not have full clarity in her understanding the same way she lacked full clarity in her sight as she was looking through the window.  

When the Spirit of God gets inside the heart of a person, God’s Spirit deepens and broadens the understanding of that person. Therefore, that person begins doing things that an ordinary person who has not opened the doors of his heart for Jesus, does not understand. This will cause confusion to your enemies and they will be unable to predict your next move.  

David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. In other words, he offered sacrifices. It would be a great act when you move by faith and sacrifice once you have come to knowledge of the truth. You should be willing to lose your job once you know about the Sabbath and you are required to work on Sabbath.  

I heard a testimony about a man in Eden Springs Seventh Day Adventist Church who when he heard Pastor Elizabeth Mokoro preaching about the Sabbath he decided to obey the commandment no matter the consequence. He went to his workplace and asked for permission to be leaving the workplace earlier on Friday afternoons so that he would go back home and prepare for the Sabbath.  

The man was working at a top airline company and he had a senior management position there. His workplace refused to give him permission. So, he chose to resign. He had prepared himself that when such an event happens, he will downgrade his life. He had decided that he would move from the residential area he was living in to a cheaper area and he would move his children from the school they were in to a more affordable school. In no time, he received a job offer that was paying him double or triple the salary he was receiving. That job gave him extra benefits like paying for the school fees of his children in more expensive schools. That job also upgraded him from his residential area to a more luxurious suburb. God blesses us when we sacrifice for the truth.  

David’s Covenant with God 

2 Samuel 7:8-16 (KJV) – “⁸Now therefore so shalt thou say unto My servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel: ⁹And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. ¹⁰Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them anymore, as beforetime, ¹¹And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the Lord telleth thee that He will make thee an house. ¹²And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: ¹⁵But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. ¹⁶And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.” 

In these verses, God speaks to David through the prophet Nathan, affirming His covenant with David and promising to establish his lineage and kingdom forever. God recounts how He has blessed David, lifted him from humble beginnings, and made him a great ruler over Israel. God assures David that He will provide a place for His people Israel and promises to establish David’s dynasty, ensuring that his descendants will reign on the throne forever. Despite the possibility of future transgressions by David’s descendants, God vows to remain faithful and uphold His covenant with David’s line, demonstrating His enduring mercy and grace. 

God lists some of the things that He did for David (2 Samuel 7:8-9) and what He is planning to do for him. Some of the promises He gave to David were beyond his lifetime on this earth. God’s blessings for you will overflow beyond your earthly lifetime. Therefore, David trusted that God would fulfill those promises even though he did not live long enough to see Him fulfill them. Those of us alive today can see that God is indeed faithful because He fulfilled the promises that he gave to King David.  

What God had Previously Done for David 

2 Samuel 7:8 (KJ21) – “Now therefore so shalt thou say unto My servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.” We rarely see shepherds turning to kings. It is God alone who can transition someone like that. When Satan raises you like that, he is simply fattening you for the kill, like a farmer does to a cow.  

When God transitions you, you can be sure that it is a genuine transition because He requires nothing from you. If you analyze clearly you will realize that the majority of people in this world are against your success and the Devil is against your success as well. That is why evil content is widely distributed and they try their best to submerge truth.  

For example, I have been banned from WhatsApp (a social messenger application) three times because of spreading the Word of God (Truth). On most social media platforms, if you post anti-LGBTQ material you will be banned. Fairy tales have been distributed widely to kindergartens and elementary schools more than Bible stories. The most popular cartoons and video games are secular. The most popular music is secular music. Most popular mentors are secular and real gospel mentors are quite scant. Therefore, some Christians choose to have two or more mentors, one for spiritual matters and the other one for career matters.  

The Bible covers all life facets. Therefore, a Christian mentor should strive to have knowledge in all these facets so that he may be able to mentor God’s children accordingly. As we can see, in the world that we are living in, the forces that are against your success seem stronger. They are likely going to overpower you if you try to fight them with your own strength. Many have lost in that battle. However, when you have God by your side, you will undoubtedly be successful because His power is stronger than all other powers combined.  

God was with David everywhere he went – Do you invite God to go with you everywhere you go? If we would invite God to go with us everywhere we go, we would not go to sin-filled places because God cannot mingle with sin. You cannot go to a night club or a whore house and say, “Please God go with me.” Saying that will make you feel embarrassed. It is not easy to see people pray earnestly before they drink alcohol. Some may do that jokingly. If people would earnestly pray before they drink, the alcohol business will collapse because the Spirit of God will tell them not to drink.   

When you invite God to participate in all your activities and to go with you everywhere, you will not go to some of the places you go to and do some of the things you do. This invitation will make God to go before you and block you from entering places that you are not supposed to enter. When you allow God to accompany you, He will lead you by His spirit to go to places where you will reap great benefits. One of those places that God will lead you to is the church.  

The church may not seem to you as a very attractive place to be in but it is the best place you can be in this world. It is not something that can be fully explained. It is something that one needs to experience for themselves. Psalm 122:1 (KJV) reads, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Some people often bring this argument that they don’t like going to church because there are hypocrites in church. Your focus should not be on people. It should be on God.  

When you walk with God, He will show you things that you had never seen. This is because He is the Creator of this world and He knows what is hidden in the most open places and what is hidden in the most hidden places. What you had once thought was common, God will show you its uncommon attributes/properties. Disguised opportunities will be uncovered by Him who clothes the flowers of the field in a beautiful and majestic array.  

When a child walks with his earthly father, his earthly father gives him direction, showing him the pitfalls and the dangerous zones to avoid. Therefore, the child is quite protected from danger. Having understood that, we should also understand that there is a limit to what an earthly father or any other human being can see. There is no limit to what God can see. Therefore, when you walk with God, you will be more protected as you will be under the shadow of the almighty. When you walk with God you will be more blessed as He will lead you to the greenest pastures.  

God cut off all the enemies from his sight – In the popular American sitcom, Everybody Hates Chris, the main actor Chris (Acted by Tyler James Williams) has a bully named Joey Caruso (Acted by Travis T. Flory). One day, while talking to the school principal, Chris tells the principal how Caruso makes his life in school difficult. Upon hearing this, the principal tells him, “Everywhere there is a Chris, there will always be a Caruso.” Everywhere you go, there would be someone who loves you and someone who disturbs your peace. As Myron Golden often says, “Disruption follows intention.”  

When you are trying to do something that is beneficial to your life, you will always be distracted. When you start going to the gym and you are lifting small weights because you are a beginner, someone may start mocking you or laughing at you. When they see you lifting heavy weights and your body shape does not portray that, they will question your progress and make you feel like you are doing nothing. As a man, this may hurt your ego and make you fail to go to the gym again.  

When you are at work, someone may bring a fascinating story about something that they have seen on social media which if you choose to look at, you may end up getting completely distracted and fail to finish your work. When you have chosen to fast and pray, that is the day your family decides to cook your favorite dish.  

When you have decided to change your diet and avoid all unhealthy meals, that is when you get invited to parties and gatherings (some of them are family) and when they notice how unique your diet is, they start bringing all forms of opposition and arguments. In school, when the teacher is teaching in class, the person sitting next to you starts telling you fascinating stories, or someone else within the classroom starts making funny jokes.  

When you start a business or choose to pursue your talent, someone may find a way to discourage you and you may end up being compelled to stop. When you go to church, someone may do something to you to discourage you which may stop you from attending church services.  

All these are forces working against you to stop you from succeeding and will surely overpower you if you stay away from God. God dealt with all the enemies of David. In other words, He dealt with all his distractions and obstacles. As long as you are alive on this earth, Satan will never stop fighting you. Like Chris in the Everybody Hates Chris series, everywhere you go, there will always be a Caruso. Sometimes you may get exhausted in this battle and feel like you want to give up.  

Here is the good news: God will take over more fervently when you get exhausted. The enemy will tire out before the Almighty tires out. Like David, if you have faith in Him, He will cut off all your enemies.  

God made David’s name great – Most people think that God does not want them to be great because God constantly advocates for humility.  

Genesis 2:7 (KJV) – “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” God used the dust of the ground to create a glorious being (human being) whom He made in His own image. God wants you to be great but humble.  

Various texts in the Bible reveal that one of the most crucial ingredients to greatness is humility. This special concept cannot be easily fathomed by people who don’t trust in God. From being an unknown shepherd, David’s name was made great that it was widely known from his lifetime till now. The story of David has been read and has been told to people from various language groups. It is the desire of God for all his children to be great.  

Do you know of a secular celebrity who has had his influence and popularity span over generations and a massive multitude of people as the Bible writers and the Bible characters have?  

Things That God Promised David 

God promised to appoint a place for Israel and will plant them that they may dwell in a place of their own – At the end of every month, after paying your rent, you feel a sense of relief. That is the same thing that happens when you pay your electricity bill, your water bill, your garbage bill, your security bill, your taxes, your Netflix subscription and all other bills. Those who have a house that they have bought or built feel a huge sense of relief from these many bills since the house rent is usually larger than all these others.  

Those who have dug a borehole or have solar panels for electricity in addition to the house that they own will feel more relieved. The ones who have bought stocks in the companies billing them will not only feel relieved but may also feel happy when they receive those bills.  

Having said that, this can be a good investment strategy. Before you buy an iPhone, try buying some stocks from the apple company. Before you purchase a Netflix subscription, buy Netflix stocks. You can use this stock-buying strategy to buy stocks in all the companies that you consume products from so that when you buy their products you end up profiting instead of losing.  

The good thing with this modern age when it comes to investing is that one does not need to have a lot of money to invest. Technology through the introduction of various web and mobile applications has made it simpler for one to invest very little money. Thus, investing in the stocks of the companies you are purchasing products from is something worth taking into consideration. But don’t focus so much on your earthly accumulated wealth that you have no time for God. Focus on Jesus and the heavenly treasures.  

How does this investment strategy relate to the story of David?  

God promised David that He will plant the Israelites so that they may dwell in their own place. The examples I used of the various bills not giving one a sense of relief relate to the feeling one gets when they don’t have custody over something and they have to abide by the rules of the one who has custody over it. In essence, nobody owns anything because we did not create anything.  

We are only custodians and managers of that which is in our possession. Usually, the one who shows great responsibility of taking good care of something he manages, will have more added to him. That might be one of the reasons why the rich keep getting richer.  

The best way one can show responsibility over something is handling that thing by God’s commandments which will result in bringing more value to other people’s lives. Why do you want more money? So that you can buy more alcohol for you and your friends? God might see this motive and look at your current habits and block you from accessing more money so that you don’t destroy your life.  

My friend Joseph, gave us a story of someone he knows who has become financially broke due to gambling. He told me the person told him that he is so addicted to gambling, the only thing that is stopping him from gambling is the lack of money at the moment.  One of the prayer requests that this person makes might be for God to give him more money. If God gives him more money, He will be helping in destroying that person and God is there to give life not to destroy.  

Luke 4:18 (KJV) – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” 

God wants to give people more freedom. God’s Word aims to make people free (John 8:32). When the Israelites were not in their own place, they were not fully free. God promised them to give them their own place so that they can have more freedom. They were to use that freedom to worship Him more. When God gives you freedom, use it to worship him more.  

When God moves you out of your parents’ house, don’t use that freedom to host parties and do evil things. Use that freedom to worship God. When God takes you out of prison, use that freedom to worship God. When God gives you more money, use that financial freedom to worship Him more.  

John 14:1 (KJV) – “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.”  

God does not want your heart to be troubled. He wants you to have a sigh of relief. God wanted the Israelites to be relieved. Therefore, He promised them a place of their own. In this modern times, God wants you to have your own business, have your own properties, have your own family etc. He wants you to be free from all that is stressing you.  

The more you walk with God, the more freedom you will possess. Spending time with God is like unlocking the chains that are tying you up. Each moment spent devotedly in His arms unlocks each chain that has captivated you.  

God promised to make them move no more – God promised the Israelites through the covenant that He had with David that He would give them a place of their own and make them move no more. In other words, God promised to make them more stable. It is God’s will that you achieve stability in all areas of your life.  

God does not want His children to be shaken. He wants you to achieve spiritual stability first because once you achieve spiritual stability all other areas of your life will be stable. This will cause your mind to be stable and once your mind is stable, your actions will be stable as well. Instability will cause problems in your spiritual life which will in turn cause havoc in your daily living.  

The most stable place we will be is when Christ comes back for His saints the second time. One may buy property in this world then someone ends up stealing it or it ends up breaking or rusting. In heaven, there will be no thieves to break and steal and no moth or rust to corrupt (Matthew 6:19-20).  

The more you pray, study the Bible and share what you have studied with people, the more stable you will be. Habits that used to previously shake you will shake you no more. Your mind, character and personality will have a solid-ground foundation that is stronger than the foundations that are carved in stone.  

God promised to block the children of wickedness from afflicting them– Wicked people afflict us because we allow them to afflict us by being disobedient to God’s Word. Not living a life that is fully devoted to God will bring curses and consequences in your life that will outwardly portray your unbelief in God. God desires us to be first and not last (Deuteronomy 28:13). He desires us to be above only and not beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13). Analyze the various areas of your life and ask yourself why a certain area of your life is not doing well and find out what God’s Word says about it.  

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Your life as a Christian should make non-believers – question their disbelief in God.” Unfortunately, most Christians don’t make non-believers question their unbelief. How can we say we believe in God and our personalities and habits don’t show it?  

How can we say we believe in God the possessor of earth while we are always begging and succumbing to the commands of unbelievers? For example, you profess to be a Sabbath keeper but when you are asked by your unbelieving boss to go to work on Sabbath you obey him because you are begging him to keep you at work.  

Pastor Mark Finley spoke of a certain Christian who bought an entire university in Brazil to give a few students freedom to worship on Saturday. That is how a Christian should be. A Christian should not be under the oppression of an unbeliever because he/she is backed up by the power of the Almighty and one cannot oppress and suppress the power of God.  

If you choose to do what you want instead of what God wants, God will allow you to live a life of oppression because he cannot force anyone to live a life of blessings. Sin will always result in oppression and scarcity. Obedience will always lead to freedom and abundance.  

In heaven, there will be no sinners. Therefore, the wickedness perpetrated by the wicked people of this earth will have no room in heaven.  

Through faith, David pleased God that God promised him to protect them from affliction from the wicked.  

God promised to make them a house – Through His covenant with King David, God promised the Israelites to make them a house.  

Let us look at the role of a house:  

1. Shelter: A house shields its occupants from harmful elements such as relentless rain, swirling snowflakes, biting winds, or scorching sun. It stands as a bulwark against nature’s fury and provides sanctuary from potential threats like prowling animals or unwanted intruders.  

God will build you a house means that He will provide a shelter for you to protect you from all harm and danger. This does not necessarily mean that you will not encounter adversity because we are living in a world of sin. When you choose to live righteously, you will significantly reduce the amount of problems that you are likely to encounter.  

Because the world is not perfect, one may encounter a few problems. However, when a genuinely devoted Christian faces problems, the problems won’t weigh him down compared to when a sinner faces problems. It may seem absurd but there are some Christians who rejoice whenever they go through life challenges. The Word of God has worked in them so much to an extent that it will take a crazy amount of effort to harm them.  

Acts 20:22-24 (KJV) – “²²And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: ²³ Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. ²⁴ But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” 

Paul knew that affliction was awaiting him in Jerusalem but it didn’t move him. It didn’t stop him from spreading the gospel. Christ offers shelter that is stronger than any building on earth and firmer than all the mountains of the earth combined. The closer you move to Him, the stronger the shelter will be. We will find the ultimate shelter when we go to our glorious home when Christ comes back. In that glorious city of golden streets there will be no relentless rain, no swirling snowflakes, no biting winds, and no scorching sun. We will have the most desirable shelter.  

2. Security: A house is a fortress of peace and tranquility. It is a haven of shelter where people reside to be warm and secure, shielded from the chaos of the outside world. 

Philippians 4:7 (NIV) – “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  

One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is peace. God promises to give you peace that surpasses all understanding. Invite Him into your heart and He will build a house filled with peace for you. No form of war would overcome you because the shelter God offers is a shelter of peace.  

No matter how advanced the system is, no human security is fully impenetrable. When God secures a place, He makes the place fully impenetrable.  

Job 1:10 (AMP) – “Have You not put a hedge [of protection] around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands [and conferred prosperity and happiness upon him], and his possessions have increased in the land.” 

God had secured His servant Job that the most powerful evil being (Satan) could not access him. Satan had tried to access him to no success. Satan will try to access your heart using sin. He is looking for a very tiny microscopic opening to enter. Once he finds it or once you pierce a hole for him by falling into temptation, he enters and enlarges that hole.  

God’s work is to ensure that there is no single opening for the Devil to enter. He wants to fill those holes that have already been made by the enemy. Not only does He want to fill them but He also wants to provide a hedge of protection around you. When God promised David a house, He was promising him a place of ultimate security. The mansions that Christ has prepared for us are highly secured. We should all aim to go there where there won’t be evil and there will be no need to lock the houses.  

3. Comfort: From the soothing hum of a heating system to the gentle whisper of air conditioning, houses are designed to cocoon their inhabitants in comfort. With insulation to ward off the chill, plumbing for creature comforts, and electricity to light up our lives, they ensure that our basic needs are met with ease. 

The most comfortable place we can be is in the open arms of Jesus. The house that God promised David when he made a covenant with Him is a place of serene and restful comfort. God’s embrace is more comforting than a warm hug on a cold day. It is more restorative than being nestled in a bed filled with eiderdowns. It is more solacing than the familiar melody of a favorite song.  

Matthew 5:4 (KJV) – “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” 

We mourn as a result of the affliction that we encounter in the world. Numerous times, the Israelites would mourn, especially when they were taken into captivity and displaced from their original land. Being taken to captivity came as a result of the sins they were doing. God promised to build them a home. A home is a place of comfort. Therefore, we can as well say that He comforted them.  

Our sins have made us uncomfortable and God by His love wants to comfort us. The closer we move to Him, the more comfortable we will be. He is going to make us feel comfortable even in our toughest tribulations.  

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (KJV) – “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 

When God comforts us, he expects us to comfort others. Through David He promised the Israelites that He would comfort them. He expected them to comfort people of other nations. Comforting an unbeliever who is facing tribulations may lead him to salvation.  

Someone who is not facing tribulations may not listen to you when you go to tell them about Jesus, but someone who is broken-hearted has an opening in his/her heart for Jesus that has been formed by that brokenness. When they are broken they are seeking a solution and they are humble to receive people who seem to be offering solutions. When we meet such people we should count it a blessing because it will give us an opportunity to present to them the ultimate solution which is Jesus.  

Psalm 23:4 (KJV): “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” 

From the days of David to this day, the rod and the staff are mainly used by shepherds to guide, support and rescue the sheep. They are used to lead the flock to follow the right path. God is our shepherd. He uses his rod and his staff to lead us. Sometimes, when we go astray like the sheep, He may use the rod and the staff to correct us.  

Not only does God’s rod and staff guide, support and rescue us. God uses them to comfort us as well. He may comfort us through punishments whereby we may feel a little pain but the end result will be correction of our mistakes. The pain we will feel for a while will lead to comfort in the future. The future that Christ has promised us is longer than our current lives. So, we should allow Him to secure our future by all means.  

God will always comfort us while we are on this earth. However, the most comfortable place we will be in is the home awaiting us on high.  

4. Privacy: Within its walls, a house grants the precious gift of solitude. It’s a retreat from the hustle and bustle. It is a space where individuals and families can unwind, rejuvenate, and engage in personal pursuits without fear of prying eyes or unwelcome interruptions. 

When God promised the Israelites through David a home, He promised them a place of privacy. He promised them a place where they could enjoy rest without unwelcome interruptions and distractions. God is a God who respects privacy, that is why He gives us free will. When we choose to follow the broad wicked path, He will feel sad but He won’t tamper with our foolish decision.  

God wants you to spend private communion time with Him through prayer and Bible study so that He can give you special instructions that are specific to your life. Most of us, particularly young people, are often confused and do not know what to do. They do not know their purpose in life. Some do not know their gifts and talents.  

Unfortunately, the majority of these people do not know what to do because they do not know what direction to take in finding themselves. They seek advice from everyone else except God. What troubles them is that the advice they have gotten does not satisfy them for they always feel like something is missing.  

Mark 1:35 (KJV) – “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” 

Luke 6:12 (KJV) – “And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” 

Matthew 14:23 (KJV) – “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone.” 

In the above Bible verses we can see that Jesus treasured private time with God. Set a time and a place daily to spend with God. If you do that you will be on the winning side because it is a decision that you will relish.   

5. Storage: A house is also a repository for our lives. It provides ample storage for our treasures, from cherished mementos to everyday essentials. It helps to maintain order and banish clutter from our living spaces. 

God promised the Israelites to build them a house because He wanted to make room for them to store His blessings. Usually, when God blesses you, He makes room for the blessings before He gives you those blessings.  

John 14:1-3 (KJV) -” ¹ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” 

Jesus told His disciples that He is going to prepare a place for them. Sometimes, when God seems to have delayed to give you blessings, it is because He is preparing room for those blessings. The most essential room He begins to prepare is your heart to enable it to accommodate His rich treasures. He does that by decluttering your heart, removing every form of evil and every stain of sin so that the blessings He has in store for you will fit in.  

We may build large mansions on earth but the best mansions will be the mansions that Jesus has prepared for us when He comes to take us home. They will be bigger and more beautiful than the best mansions that have ever been created by human beings.  

6. Socialization: A house serves as a hub for human connection. It plays host to gatherings, shared moments, and celebrations, fostering bonds between family members, friends, and neighbors, and weaving the intricate fabric of community life. 

God wants us to socialize. He wants us to commune with one another because He understands the power of collaboration. He has given us different gifts and abilities so that we use them to enrich others and others in turn use theirs to enrich us.  

Exodus 20:8-11 (KJV) – “⁸ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰ But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” 

Exodus 20:8-11 lays out the Sabbath as a vital social institution aimed at fostering communal rest, reflection, and reverence. By mandating a day dedicated to rest and worship, it underscores the significance of shared values, community cohesion, and spiritual renewal. 

First and foremost, the Sabbath acts as a unifying bond within the community. It establishes a balanced rhythm of work and rest applicable to everyone, regardless of their social standing or occupation. From masters to servants, natives to strangers, all are called to honor the Sabbath, fostering equality and solidarity among society’s members. 

Moreover, the Sabbath prioritizes the collective well-being by emphasizing rest and rejuvenation. In a world where ceaseless labor can lead to exhaustion, the Sabbath offers a chance for individuals to recharge physically, mentally, and spiritually. By dedicating a day to rest, it promotes a healthier, more balanced lifestyle for individuals and the community at large. 

Additionally, the Sabbath serves as a sacred time for reflection and spiritual growth. By commemorating God’s creation and resting on the seventh day, individuals are encouraged to pause and ponder the divine order of the universe. Through prayer, worship, and the study of scripture, the Sabbath becomes an opportunity for individuals to deepen their relationship with God and fortify their faith. 

In essence, the Sabbath commandment not only mandates the observance of the Sabbath as a religious duty but also highlights its role as a social institution. By adhering to the Sabbath, communities can cultivate a culture of rest, reflection, and reverence that enhances both individual lives and collective well-being. 

The Sabbath commandment leads us to commune together and worship God in fellowship with one another. It offers a tremendous institution for socializing whereby even the animals we keep at home are commanded to rest together with us.  

Psalm 133:1 – “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” 

When Christ comes back for us, He shall come to take us to our true home where we will enjoy communion with one another, fellowshipping together.  

7. Expression of identity: More than mere bricks and mortar, a house is a reflection of its inhabitants’ aspirations and personalities. It’s a canvas for creativity, allowing us to imprint our unique stamp on the world through interior design, decor, and landscaping choices. 

In essence, a house is more than just a structure. It’s a place where we can carve out our own little corner of the world, surrounded by the warmth of family, the comfort of familiarity, and the security of belonging. 

Our homes express who we are and who we are is expressed by our homes. Our homes serve as a canvas upon which we paint our identities. The way we decorate, organize, and maintain our living spaces reflects our tastes, preferences, values, and personalities. For example, someone who values simplicity and minimalism may have a home adorned with clean lines and neutral colors, while someone who is more eclectic and adventurous may opt for vibrant hues and eclectic decor. In this way, our homes visually communicate aspects of our inner selves to the outside world. 

Our daily routines and habits are mirrored in our homes. The layout, amenities, and functionality of our living spaces are tailored to accommodate our lifestyles and needs. For instance, a home office may signify a commitment to work and productivity, while a cozy reading nook may indicate a love for literature and relaxation. Our homes adapt to support and facilitate the activities that define our lives, whether it’s cooking family meals in the kitchen, hosting gatherings in the living room, or finding solitude in a personal sanctuary. 

The way we care for our homes often reflects our emotional state and well-being. A tidy and well-maintained home may suggest a sense of stability, security, and contentment, while a neglected or chaotic environment may signal stress, disorganization, or unrest. Our homes become extensions of ourselves, absorbing and reflecting our emotions, moods, and experiences. 

The beauty of heaven – Revelation 21:18-21 (KJV) – “And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.” 

Just as our earthly homes reflect our identities, so does our heavenly home. Our earthly homes are not perfect because we are not perfect. Heaven will be perfect because we will be perfect. The majestic display that it will possess is a reflection of the majestic status that Christ has given us which will be fully seen in us when we get there. The twelve precious stones that lay the foundation of heaven that are extremely rare symbolize how precious we are in the sight of God. The city being made of pure gold like clear glass symbolizes the purity of our character when we get there. We will truly realize that the reward was worth waiting.  

Therefore, the home that God promised the Israelites through David and by extension us as believers will be an expression of our true identity.  

God’s Promises to David’s Seed 

God promised David to set up his seed after him – When God tells David that He will “set up his seed” in 2 Samuel 7:12 (KJV), it refers to the establishment of David’s lineage and the continuation of his family line. In this context, “seed” is a metaphorical term referring to David’s descendants, particularly his immediate offspring and those who would succeed him as rulers of Israel. 

God promises David that one of his descendants will succeed him as king and will build a house for God’s name, indicating the construction of the temple in Jerusalem. This descendant, who is later identified as Solomon, will inherit David’s kingdom and continue his legacy as a ruler over Israel. 

The fulfillment of this promise extends beyond Solomon to include the establishment of a perpetual dynasty from David’s line. Ultimately, this promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is often referred to in the New Testament as the “Son of David.” Through Jesus, who is a direct descendant of David, God establishes an eternal kingdom, fulfilling His covenant with David and bringing salvation to all humanity. 

God promised David to establish the kingdom for his seed forever – God was pleased with David, therefore, He did not want his kingship to end with him. He wanted his kingship to be established in royalty for generations. Therefore, He promised to establish the kingdom for his seed.  

The original Hebrew word for “establish” in 2 Samuel 7:12 is “קוּם” (qum), pronounced as “koom.” This word conveys the idea of “to rise,” “to stand,” or “to arise.” In the context of God’s promise to David, it signifies the action of firmly establishing or confirming David’s lineage and ensuring the continuity of his descendants, particularly in the context of kingship over Israel. 

God promised David to establish the kingdom for his seed. In other words, He promised to make David’s kingdom stand. No human kingdom can stand because human beings are imperfect. The only kingdom that can stand is the kingdom that is established by God. God established David’s kingdom by making Jesus to come out of the lineage of David. Jesus being God is perfect. Thus, through Jesus, God established David’s kingdom. Not only did God establish David’s kingdom, he established his kingdom forever.  

Philippians 2:9-10 (KJV) – “⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name. ¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” As a result of His humility, God gave Jesus a name which is above every name. Jesus is the King of kings.  

1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV) – “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 

The price of salvation is priceless. Most of us when we make huge sacrifices, we make them because we are expecting something in return. Christ did not expect anything in return from us when He died on the cross. Instead, He died for us so that we can share in His royalty and riches. Through that Sacrifice, Christ made us kings and priests. He made us a royal priesthood.  

1 Peter 2:9 (KJV) – “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 

God promised David that his seed shall build a house for God’s name – 1 Chronicles 22:7-8 (KJV) – “⁷ And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God: ⁸ But the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto My name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in My sight.” 

David wanted to build God a house. However, God refused him to do it stating that he had shed a lot of blood since he was a man of war. This should tell us how privileged we are when we are called upon to assist in contributing funds to the church for church projects and serving God. Serving God and contributing resources to the church is building God’s house. David did not get that privilege but we enjoy that privilege. Therefore, when commissioned to assist in building the church we should not take it as a burden. Instead, we should take it as a privilege.  

Even though God did not allow David to build Him a temple, His love did not allow the task and responsibility for David building Him a temple depart completely away from him. Therefore, God gave that responsibility to his son Solomon. Giving that responsibility to Solomon his seed was like giving it to David himself. Most parents usually feel the child’s emotions more than the child.  

For example, when a child is hungry and he or she complains to the parents, the parents feel the hunger more than the child. The same thing happens when a child is angry or happy. Majority of parents want their children to be successful. Some want their children to be more successful than them. Therefore, when David heard that Solomon his son was the one commissioned to build God’s house, he was joyous.  

God promised David that His mercy will not depart from his seed – 2 Samuel 7:14-15 (KJV) – “¹⁴ I will be his father, and he shall be My son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men. ¹⁵ But My mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.” 

God promised David to have a father-son relationship with his seed. Because we are living in this world, we may not be fully perfect. However, God promised David that even though He corrects his seed for transgressing His law, He will not depart from them.  

Hebrews 12:6 (KJV) – “For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” 

God punishes those whom He loves. He punishes them so that they can stop the sin that is bringing curses in their lives. His aim is for them to live a righteous life that will bring blessings to themselves and to others. When God punishes us, His mercy does not depart from us. The punishments He gives us are as a result of his mercy.  

Matthew 5:29-30 (KJV) – “²⁹ And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. ³⁰ And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” 

Jesus says, you’d rather lose an eye or an arm or any part of your body that is causing you to sin now than to lose your whole body and soul in hell. We can apply that to this context by realizing that God would want to punish us now, even though we may feel a little pain than to have our entire lives end up in hell.  

The Psalms of David 

Out of the 150 Psalms written in the Bible, at least 49 of them are known to have been written by David. This huge contribution makes him to be the one who has contributed the highest number of Psalms in the Bible. His Psalms cover various topics and work out various purposes. However, they are all written for the glory of God.  

These are the Psalms of David that are in the Bible: 

Psalm 3 – A Psalm of lament and trust in God during times of trouble. 

Psalm 4 – A Psalm expressing trust in God and seeking His favor. 

Psalm 7 – A Psalm of lament, seeking God’s justice and protection against enemies. 

Psalm 9 – A Psalm of thanksgiving and praise for God’s righteous judgment. 

Psalm 11 – A Psalm affirming trust in God’s protection in times of trouble. 

Psalm 15 – A Psalm about the qualities of those who dwell in God’s presence. 

Psalm 16 – A Psalm of trust in God’s provision and delight in His presence. 

Psalm 18 – A Psalm of thanksgiving for God’s deliverance and victory. 

Psalm 19 – A Psalm praising God’s revelation in nature and His Word. 

Psalm 20 – A Psalm of intercession for God’s help and victory. 

Psalm 21 – A Psalm of thanksgiving for God’s blessings and victory. 

Psalm 23 – Perhaps the most famous Psalm, expressing trust in God as the Good Shepherd. 

Psalm 24 – A Psalm celebrating God’s sovereignty and kingship. 

Psalm 25 – A Psalm of trust in God’s guidance and forgiveness. 

Psalm 26 – A Psalm expressing confidence in God’s righteousness. 

Psalm 27 – A Psalm of trust in God’s protection and salvation. 

Psalm 28 – A Psalm of supplication for God’s help and salvation. 

Psalm 30 – A Psalm of thanksgiving for God’s deliverance from affliction. 

Psalm 31 – A Psalm of trust in God’s steadfast love and refuge. 

Psalm 32 – A Psalm of confession and forgiveness. 

Psalm 34 – A Psalm of praise for God’s goodness and deliverance. 

Psalm 35 – A Psalm of lament and prayer for deliverance from enemies. 

Psalm 36 – A Psalm describing the wickedness of humanity contrasted with God’s steadfast love. 

Psalm 37 – A Psalm of wisdom, encouraging trust in God and righteousness. 

Psalm 38 – A Psalm of lament over personal sin and illness, seeking God’s mercy. 

Psalm 51 – A famous Psalm of repentance after David’s sin with Bathsheba. 

Psalm 52 – A Psalm contrasting the righteousness of the godly with the wickedness of the unrighteous. 

Psalm 54 – A Psalm of prayer for deliverance from enemies. 

Psalm 56 – A Psalm expressing trust in God’s protection in times of fear. 

Psalm 57 – A Psalm of trust and praise in the midst of danger. 

Psalm 59 – A Psalm of supplication for deliverance from enemies. 

Psalm 60 – A Psalm of lament over national defeat, seeking God’s restoration. 

Psalm 63 – A Psalm of longing for God’s presence and praise in the wilderness. 

Psalm 64 – A Psalm of prayer for deliverance from enemies and the wicked. 

Psalm 101 – A Psalm expressing David’s commitment to righteousness and justice as a king. 

Psalm 103 – A Psalm of praise for God’s mercy, forgiveness, and steadfast love. 

Psalm 108 – A Psalm combining elements of Psalms 57 and 60, praising God’s steadfastness. 

Psalm 109 – A Psalm of lament and imprecation against enemies. 

Psalm 110 – A Messianic Psalm about the exaltation of the Messiah as both king and priest. 

Psalm 122 – A Psalm of joy and praise for Jerusalem, the city of God. 

Psalm 124 – A Psalm of thanksgiving for God’s deliverance from enemies. 

Psalm 131 – A Psalm expressing humility and trust in God’s care. 

Psalm 133 – A Psalm celebrating unity among God’s people. 

Psalm 138 – A Psalm of thanksgiving and praise for God’s faithfulness and deliverance. 

Psalm 139 – A Psalm celebrating God’s omniscience and omnipresence. 

Psalm 141 – A Psalm of supplication for God’s guidance and protection. 

Psalm 142 – A Psalm of lament and prayer for deliverance from enemies. 

Psalm 143 – A Psalm of supplication for God’s mercy and guidance. 

Psalm 144 – A Psalm of praise for God’s deliverance and blessings. 

Life Situations and Applications of the Psalms of David 

Psalm 3 – A Psalm of lament and trust in God during times of trouble. 

Situation: Feeling overwhelmed by adversity, personal conflicts, or crises. 

Application: Use this Psalm to find solace and express trust in God’s protection and deliverance. 

Psalm 4 – A Psalm expressing trust in God and seeking His favor. 

Situation: Seeking peace and reassurance during stressful times. 

Application: Read this Psalm in the evening or when struggling to find peace, seeking God’s presence and favor. 

Psalm 7 – A Psalm of lament, seeking God’s justice and protection against enemies. 

Situation: Facing false accusations, injustice, or persecution. 

Application: Pray this Psalm when seeking God’s justice and protection from adversaries. 

Psalm 9 – A Psalm of thanksgiving and praise for God’s righteous judgment. 

Situation: Reflecting on God’s past faithfulness and justice. 

Application: Use this Psalm to praise God for His righteous judgments and past deliverances. 

Psalm 11 – A Psalm affirming trust in God’s protection in times of trouble. 

Situation: Feeling vulnerable or unsafe due to external threats. 

Application: Recite this Psalm to affirm trust in God’s protective care during turbulent times. 

Psalm 15 – A Psalm about the qualities of those who dwell in God’s presence. 

Situation: Striving for integrity and righteousness. 

Application: Reflect on this Psalm to understand and cultivate the qualities that please God and ensure His presence. 

Psalm 16 – A Psalm of trust in God’s provision and delight in His presence. 

Situation: Seeking assurance of God’s provision and presence. 

Application: Use this Psalm to express trust in God’s continual provision and to find joy in His presence. 

Psalm 18 – A Psalm of thanksgiving for God’s deliverance and victory. 

Situation: Celebrating a significant victory or deliverance. 

Application: Read this Psalm in thanksgiving after experiencing God’s help and deliverance. 

Psalm 19 – A Psalm praising God’s revelation in nature and His Word. 

Situation: Meditating on God’s creation and His laws. 

Application: Use this Psalm to praise God for the beauty of creation and the perfection of His Word. 

Psalm 20 – A Psalm of intercession for God’s help and victory. 

Situation: Praying for someone in need of divine assistance or success. 

Application: Recite this Psalm as a prayer of intercession for God’s help in others’ endeavors or battles. 

Psalm 21 – A Psalm of thanksgiving for God’s blessings and victory. 

Situation: Acknowledging God’s blessings and triumphs. 

Application: Use this Psalm to thank God for blessings, victories, and answered prayers. 

Psalm 23 – Expressing trust in God as the Good Shepherd. 

Situation: Seeking comfort and assurance of God’s guidance and care. 

Application: Recite this Psalm during times of stress, uncertainty, or grief to find comfort in God’s shepherd-like care. 

Psalm 24 – Celebrating God’s sovereignty and kingship. 

Situation: Recognizing God’s authority and preparing for worship. 

Application: Use this Psalm in worship settings or when contemplating God’s majesty and authority over all creation. 

Psalm 25 – A Psalm of trust in God’s guidance and forgiveness. 

Situation: Seeking guidance and forgiveness for past mistakes. 

Application: Pray this Psalm when needing direction and reassurance of God’s mercy. 

Psalm 26 – Expressing confidence in God’s righteousness. 

Situation: Facing false accusations or needing to affirm one’s integrity. 

Application: Use this Psalm to declare your personal integrity and trust in God’s righteous judgment. 

Psalm 27 – A Psalm of trust in God’s protection and salvation. 

Situation: Feeling fear or insecurity. 

Application: Recite this Psalm to bolster confidence in God’s protection and salvation. 

Psalm 28 – A Psalm of supplication for God’s help and salvation. 

Situation: Desperately needing God’s intervention. 

Application: Pray this Psalm when in urgent need of God’s help and salvation. 

Psalm 30 – A Psalm of thanksgiving for God’s deliverance from affliction. 

Situation: Recovering from illness or personal crisis. 

Application: Use this Psalm to thank God for healing, deliverance, and restoration. 

Psalm 31 – A Psalm of trust in God’s steadfast love and refuge. 

Situation: Seeking refuge and assurance in God’s love during hard times. 

Application: Pray this Psalm when needing to trust in God’s steadfast love and protection. 

Psalm 32 – A Psalm of confession and forgiveness. 

Situation: Feeling guilt and seeking forgiveness for sins. 

Application: Use this Psalm in confession to seek and celebrate God’s forgiveness. 

Psalm 34 – A Psalm of praise for God’s goodness and deliverance. 

Situation: Reflecting on God’s goodness after deliverance. 

Application: Recite this Psalm to praise God for His goodness and deliverance from trouble. 

Psalm 35 – A Psalm of lament and prayer for deliverance from enemies. 

Situation: Facing opposition or feeling attacked by others. 

Application: Pray this Psalm when seeking God’s deliverance from adversaries. 

Psalm 36 – Describing the wickedness of humanity contrasted with God’s steadfast love. 

Situation: Observing the prevalence of wickedness in the world. 

Application: Reflect on this Psalm to remember God’s steadfast love despite human wickedness. 

Psalm 37 – Encouraging trust in God and righteousness. 

Situation: Feeling frustrated by the prosperity of the wicked. 

Application: Use this Psalm to encourage trust in God’s justice and the importance of righteousness. 

Psalm 38 – Lament over personal sin and illness, seeking God’s mercy. 

Situation: Experiencing personal illness and guilt over sin. 

Application: Pray this Psalm when seeking God’s mercy and healing for sin-related suffering. 

Psalm 51 – Repentance after sin. 

Situation: Feeling deep remorse for a serious sin. 

Application: Use this Psalm for heartfelt repentance and seeking God’s forgiveness, especially after major failures. 

Psalm 52 – Contrasting the righteousness of the godly with the wickedness of the unrighteous. 

Situation: Dealing with malicious people or observing evil deeds. 

Application: Reflect on this Psalm to affirm trust in God’s justice and the eventual downfall of the wicked. 

Psalm 54 – Prayer for deliverance from enemies. 

Situation: Feeling betrayed or pursued by enemies. 

Application: Pray this Psalm when needing God’s deliverance from adversaries or betrayal. 

Psalm 56 – Expressing trust in God’s protection in times of fear. 

Situation: Experiencing fear and seeking reassurance. 

Application: Recite this Psalm to find trust and confidence in God’s protection during fearful times. 

Psalm 57 – Trust and praise in the midst of danger. 

Situation: Facing dangerous situations or overwhelming odds. 

Application: Use this Psalm to express trust and praise to God even when in danger. 

Psalm 59 – Supplication for deliverance from enemies. 

Situation: Feeling surrounded by hostile forces. 

Application: Pray this Psalm when seeking God’s deliverance from hostile situations or people. 

Psalm 60 – Lament over national defeat, seeking God’s restoration. 

Situation: Experiencing national or communal crisis and defeat. 

Application: Use this Psalm to lament collective failures and seek God’s restoration and help. 

Psalm 63 – Longing for God’s presence and praise in the wilderness. 

Situation: Feeling distant from God or spiritually dry. 

Application: Recite this Psalm to express longing for God’s presence and to rekindle spiritual fervor. 

Psalm 64 – Prayer for deliverance from enemies and the wicked. 

Situation: Encountering slander or covert attacks. 

Application: Pray this Psalm when seeking God’s protection from hidden dangers and enemies. 

Psalm 101 – Commitment to righteousness and justice as a king. 

Situation: Aspiring to or holding a leadership role. 

Application: Reflect on this Psalm and commit to personal and communal righteousness and justice. 

Psalm 103 – Praise for God’s mercy, forgiveness, and steadfast love. 

Situation: Celebrating God’s forgiveness and lovingkindness. 

Application: Use this Psalm to praise God for His merciful and loving nature. 

Psalm 108 – Praising God’s steadfastness. 

Situation: Seeking to praise God in times of distress and after deliverance. 

Application: Use this Psalm to express unwavering trust in God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. 

Psalm 109 – Lament and imprecation against enemies. 

Situation: Experiencing profound betrayal or unjust treatment. 

Application: Pray this Psalm to express deep anguish and seek God’s justice against malicious foes. 

Psalm 110 – Messianic Psalm about the exaltation of the Messiah as both king and priest. 

Situation: Reflecting on the role of Christ in Christian theology. 

Application: Use this Psalm to meditate on Christ’s kingship and priesthood. 

Psalm 122 – Joy and praise for Jerusalem, the city of God. 

Situation: Celebrating the significance of a holy place or spiritual community. 

Application: Recite this Psalm in the context of communal worship and joy at spiritual gatherings. 

Psalm 124 – Thanksgiving for God’s deliverance from enemies. 

Situation: Reflecting on past deliverances and God’s help. 

Application: Use this Psalm to thank God for deliverance and acknowledge His help in overcoming enemies. 

Psalm 131 – Expressing humility and trust in God’s care. 

Situation: Seeking simplicity and humility in a complicated or prideful situation. 

Application: Recite this Psalm to embrace humility and trust in God’s care, especially when feeling overwhelmed or proud. 

Psalm 133 – Celebrating unity among God’s people. 

Situation: Valuing and promoting unity in a community or family. 

Application: Use this Psalm to celebrate and encourage unity and harmony among believers or within any group. 

Psalm 138 – Thanksgiving and praise for God’s faithfulness and deliverance. 

Situation: Reflecting on and celebrating God’s faithfulness. 

Application: Use this Psalm to offer thanks and praise to God for His steadfast love and answered prayers. 

Psalm 139 – Celebrating God’s omniscience and omnipresence. 

Situation: Contemplating God’s intimate knowledge and constant presence. 

Application: Reflect on this Psalm to find comfort in God’s all-knowing and ever-present nature, especially during moments of doubt or feeling unseen. 

Psalm 141 – Supplication for God’s guidance and protection. 

Situation: Seeking divine guidance and protection in challenging times. 

Application: Pray this Psalm when needing guidance to avoid wrongdoing and seeking protection from harm. 

Psalm 142 – Lament and prayer for deliverance from enemies. 

Situation: Feeling trapped or oppressed by difficult circumstances or people. 

Application: Recite this Psalm when you cry out for God’s help and deliverance when feeling isolated or under siege. 

Psalm 143 – Supplication for God’s mercy and guidance. 

Situation: Experiencing distress and needing God’s mercy and direction. 

Application: Use this Psalm to seek God’s mercy, guidance, and revitalization during times of personal crisis or spiritual dryness. 

Psalm 144 – Praise for God’s deliverance and blessings. 

Situation: Acknowledging God’s help in overcoming significant challenges. 

Application: Use this Psalm to praise God for His deliverance and blessings, recognizing His role in personal or communal victories. 

David Loved His Enemies 

Matthew 5:43-45 (KJV) – “⁴³ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ⁴⁵ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” 

Here is a breakdown of Matthew 5:43-45: 

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.” 

The first part, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour,” is a direct reference to Leviticus 19:18, a well-known commandment in Jewish law. The phrase “hate thine enemy” was not a direct scriptural command but reflected a common interpretation or cultural practice. While the law commanded love for one’s neighbor, some Jewish sects, such as the Essenes, promoted enmity towards outsiders or those viewed as God’s enemies.  

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” 

Jesus calls for a radical approach to relationships. Instead of merely loving those who are easy to love (neighbors, friends), He commands His followers to love their enemies. We need to show genuine care and concern for those who oppose or harm us. After one breaks up with the person they are dating or with their spouse, they often say, “I wish the best for them.” The question is, do they really mean it?  

As Christians we should speak positively and wish good things for those who speak negatively of us. We often love people and hold them with a lot of respect before we hear of something ill that they have spoken against us.  

When we hear someone has spoken badly about us, our minds automatically shift to think of the negative aspects about them so that we can retaliate by speaking negatively about them. Sometimes we try to create lies about those who have spoken evil against us so that we can do more damage to them than they have done to us. Thus, the cycle and the endless path of bad mouthing goes on.  

Gossip is like a game of broken telephone, where the truth gets twisted beyond recognition. Gossip is like a viral meme, spreading faster than you can hit the share button. Gossip is like a pot of boiling water, bubbling over with exaggerated stories. Gossip is like a tangled web, easy to get caught in but difficult to untangle.  

Gossip is like a bad hair day: embarrassing and hard to fix once it’s out there. Gossip is like a snowball rolling down a hill, starting small but growing out of control. Gossip is like a bad smell, lingering long after the source has disappeared. Gossip is like a wildfire, spreading quickly and leaving destruction in its wake.  

Gossip is like a bad habit, hard to break and never really satisfying. Gossip is like a magnet for drama, attracting trouble wherever it goes. Gossip is like a game of telephone, where the message changes with each whisper. Gossip is like a bag of spilled marbles, rolling in every direction and impossible to gather up. Gossip is like a runaway train, gaining speed and momentum with every rumor. Gossip is like a clown car, packed with exaggerations and unlikely scenarios. Gossip is like a swarm of mosquitoes, annoying and hard to get rid of. 

We should not repay evil with evil. To most people including Christians those words from Jesus sound like foolish advice. We often think that when we treat someone who has done evil to us well, they will think that we are weak, foolish and easy to play with. Sometimes, some of them may think of us like that. However, when God tells you to do something, we should be rest assured that what God has commanded us is the best thing to do.  

Being good to those who are bad to you shows mental, personality and character strength. This is because it is not something that comes naturally as human beings. Almost everybody in the world retaliates if they have the capacity to do so. When someone hits you and you are stronger than them, they expect you to hit them back.  

So, if you hit them back, you will be preaching to them the same message that they are accustomed to, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. If you fail to hit them back and instead, do something good to them like give them a gift, most likely they will be shocked. They will question themselves. As we interact with people, we should know that we are working with people’s hearts. Changing someone’s heart is not an easy thing. God is the only one who can change hearts. In His divine love, He gives us such excellent strategies for changing hearts. Our work is not to argue with God but to apply those strategies.  

“Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” 

Intercede with God on behalf of those who mistreat and persecute you. It is easy to love people who do good things to you. One does not have to be a Christian to do that. However, loving someone who has hurt you is very difficult. We need the Holy Spirit’s power to do that. Those who mistreat us at the workplace, in church, on the streets, in school, or anywhere else, should be part and parcel of our prayers. Sometimes God may have allowed them to mistreat us so that we can be able to remember them.  

What do I mean? When someone minds their own business and does not tamper with yours, it might not be easy to remember them. But when someone mistreats us, we find it almost impossible to forget them. This is because we keep on thinking of the evil that they did to us. Now, since we have them constantly in our minds, God wants us to use our memories of them to pray for them. This will not only help them, but it will also help us to be in a better mental state.  

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” 

Children of God: By loving enemies, believers demonstrate that they are true children of their Heavenly Father God, reflecting His character and nature. If God only loved the people who please Him, we would all be dead. Romans 3:23 (KJV) – “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23 (KJV) – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that everybody is a sinner, and it also tells us in Romans 6:23 that the wage of sin is death. However, we keep on sinning, but God has not yet killed us. He forgives us time and again. As His children, who are created in His image, we need to forgive others. We should show love to our enemies.  

Impartial Goodness: God shows common grace to all people, irrespective of their moral standing. The sun rises and the rain falls on both the righteous and the wicked, demonstrating God’s impartial and unconditional kindness. John 3:16 (KJV) – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God loved everybody, believers and unbelievers. He gave His only begotten son to die for everybody. The love that God gives to us is undeserved.  

Emulation of God’s Love: Just as God extends His kindness to all humanity, God calls believers to extend love and kindness to all, including their enemies. This reflects God’s love and mercy, which is not contingent upon human behavior. 

Jesus challenges His followers to transcend conventional morality and embrace a higher standard of kindness and love. By loving enemies and praying for persecutors, believers align themselves with God, who extends grace and mercy to all people. This teaching underscores the transformative power of love and the importance of embodying God’s character in everyday life. 

Let’s look at how David loved his enemies:  

David spares King Saul for the First Time 

1 Samuel 24:4-7 (AMP) – “⁴David’s men said to him, “Behold, this is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will hand over your enemy to you, and you shall do to him as seems good to you.’” Then David arose [in the darkness] and stealthily cut off the hem (edge) of Saul’s robe. ⁵Afterward, David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the hem of Saul’s robe. ⁶He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, since he is the anointed of the Lord.” ⁷So David strongly rebuked his men with these words and did not let them rise up against Saul. Saul got up, left the cave and went on his way.” 

When Saul heard that David was in the Wilderness of Engedi, he took 3,000 chosen men out of all Israel and went to look for David upon the rocks of the wild goats (1 Samuel 24:1-2). Saul sought David every day, but God did not deliver David into his hands (1 Samuel 23:14). Prior to that, Saul had explicitly told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David (1 Samuel 19:1). Therefore, when he was looking for David in 1 Samuel 24:1-2, he most likely wanted to kill him.  

God kept on protecting David from Saul’s cruel hands. One day all the troubles that David faced seemed to come to an end because he got the opportunity to kill King Saul. Killing King Saul would mark the end of his misery as he would not have to keep on running away and hiding as he used to. He would have probably inherited the throne because he was already anointed by Prophet Samuel.  

David’s men convinced him to do it by telling David that it is God who has delivered Saul to his hands. His men perceived a message which had not come from God to have come from God. The situation at hand looked like God was handing over Saul to David’s hand. If David did not have a close relationship with God, if he did not know God’s Word, he would have killed Saul as his men suggested. If he had read God’s Word in a shallow way, he would have been convinced that it was indeed God’s will to kill Saul.  

Some counterfeits are usually very similar to the original, one might not be able to tell the difference unless they have spent enough time with the originals. Sometimes and often, Satan’s deception is usually so close to the truth that you need to have spent enough time with the truth to distinguish it from the lie.  

An opportunity that looks like it’s from God which is not from God can come to you. You need to be well acquainted with God’s Word to know if it is truly a God-given opportunity. Some try to shortcut the noble and uplifting process of studying God’s Word by seeking prophets to tell them if a certain event in their lives is the will of God or not. Such people risk falling into the hands of false prophets who may misguide them.  

It may not seem so, but it is dangerous not to study God’s Word daily. It is suicidal not to study God’s Word because God’s Word is life. Nearly all problems you face in your life are because you do not know what the Word of God says in that particular area of your life.  

David cut off the hem of Saul’s robe. He was so close to killing Saul, but he chose not to. He overcame that temptation. Sometimes we can make an effort to sin, then when we are about to sin, the Holy Spirit speaks to us, or something happens to block us from sinning.  

Saul of the New Testament (whose name was later changed to Paul) was going to persecute Christians then on his way to Damascus, he encountered Christ (Acts 9:1-6). This encounter transformed his life, and he did not continue with the journey. Sometimes, you may be going to commit fornication or adultery then while you are on the way, something happens to block you. Do not continue with the journey, just go back.  

You may be planning to rob, and you have put a lot of effort and resources into the planning and execution of it, then while you are about to do it, something happens to stop you. Do not look at the effort and resources you have wasted, obey God and retreat from executing that wicked plan.  

You may have made a bomb to destroy people and/or property but haven’t launched it and you want to launch it, but God speaks to you (in His various ways) to stop you from launching. Do not say that because you have already engaged in the sin of making it, you can also engage in the sin of launching it.  

Some people may justify their continuation in sin by saying because they have sinned in the thoughts and sin is sin, they can as well continue executing that sin. They are wrong. All sin leads to death but there are degrees of sin in the sense that some sins bring more damage to people than others. For example, if David had killed Saul, he would have brought more damage to Saul and his family than by just cutting the hem of his garment.  

David responded to his men and told them that he cannot harm Saul, and he stopped his men from harming Saul. 1 Chronicles 16:22 (KJV) – “Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm.” All leaders (believers and unbelievers) are given that leadership role by God to fulfill a certain purpose.  

Daniel 1:1-2 (KJV) – “¹ In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. ² And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.” Nebuchadnezzar was a pagan king but the Bible tells us that it was God who gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hands.  

Therefore, we should not insult, gossip, beat, kill or do anything to harm our leaders because they have been given that leadership role by God. Instead, we should pray for them and if we can access them, we can correct them respectfully. We can also find other Godly ways to assist them in making their leadership better. What God has enthroned let Him dethrone.  

1 Samuel 24:10-15 (AMP) – “¹⁰Behold, your eyes have seen today how the Lord had given you into my hand in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not reach out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ ¹¹Look, my father! Indeed, see the hem of your robe in my hand! Since I cut off the hem of your robe and did not kill you, know and understand [without question] that there is no evil or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait to take my life. ¹²May the Lord judge between me and you; and may the Lord avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you. ¹³As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you. ¹⁴After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue [with three thousand men]? A dead dog, a single flea? ¹⁵May the Lord be the judge and render judgment between me and you; and may He see and plead my cause and vindicate me by saving me from your hand.”” 

In 1 Samuel 24:10-15, we witness a profound display of integrity and mercy from David, the future king of Israel, towards King Saul, his adversary. This passage encapsulates a pivotal moment in the relationship between these two figures, showcasing David’s steadfast commitment to righteousness and his refusal to strike back despite facing impending danger. 

Despite being pursued by Saul, who seeks to kill him out of jealousy and fear, David recognizes Saul’s divine appointment as king and refrains from raising his hand against him. In this passage we can see David addressing King Saul respectfully. He calls him, “my lord.” David’s actions exemplify his adherence to the principles of righteousness and his unwavering faith in God’s sovereignty. 

David’s words to Saul reveal his innocence and his commitment to safeguarding justice. He presents evidence of his innocence by demonstrating that he had the opportunity to harm Saul but instead chose to spare his life. By cutting off a corner of Saul’s robe while he was vulnerable in the cave, David proves that he harbored no ill intent towards the king and acted with restraint even in the face of provocation. 

Furthermore, David appeals to God as the ultimate avenger and judge, acknowledging that only God has the authority to mete out justice and render judgment. Despite Saul’s relentless pursuit and David’s precarious situation, he entrusts his cause to God, confident that God will vindicate him and deliver him from harm. David’s reliance on God’s justice reflects his deep faith and his belief in divine providence. 

Moreover, David’s humility is evident in his characterization of himself as a “dead dog” and a “single flea” in comparison to the king of Israel. Despite his own rising stature and future destiny as king, David maintains a posture of humility and deference towards Saul, refusing to exalt himself above his rightful place. 

In conclusion, 1 Samuel 24:10-15 portrays David as a paragon of integrity, mercy, and faithfulness to God. His actions serve as a timeless example of righteousness in the face of adversity, reminding us of the importance of upholding moral principles even in the most problematic circumstances. David’s unwavering trust in God’s justice and his refusal to retaliate against his enemy demonstrate the power of faith and the enduring legacy of righteousness. 

1 Samuel 24:16-19 (AMP) – “¹⁶When David had finished saying these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul raised his voice and wept. ¹⁷He said to David, “You are more righteous and upright [in God’s eyes] than I; for you have done good to me, but I have done evil to you. ¹⁸You have declared today the good that you have done to me, for when the Lord put me into your hand, you did not kill me. ¹⁹For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? So may the Lord reward you with good in return for what you have done for me this day.” 

Saul (David’s enemy) blessed David because David had spared his life. It is possible for our enemies to bless us if we show faith in God. One way of showing faith in God is by loving our enemies like David did. Our enemies are there for a reason. Instead of wishing them a quick death or harm, we should love them. Saul wept after he heard how David had an opportunity to kill him but chose to spare his life. Through his righteous actions, David touched Saul’s heart. Faith in God touches hearts. Righteousness touches hearts.  

1 Samuel 24:20-22 (AMP) – “²⁰Now, behold, I know that you will certainly be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. ²¹So now swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household (extended family).” ²²David gave Saul his oath; and Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the mountain stronghold.” 

In this gripping moment from 1 Samuel 24:20-22, we find ourselves amidst an intense exchange between two of ancient Israel’s notable figures: King Saul, the current king at the time, and the future monarch, David.  

As the dust settles from their recent wilderness encounter, Saul acknowledges David’s foreseeable rise to the throne. Saul concedes, “Now, behold, I know that you will certainly be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand” (1 Samuel 24:20, AMP). It’s a deeply significant moment, as Saul, once the powerful King of Israel, acknowledges David as the new leader of Israel. 

However, amidst the swirling currents of political intrigue and personal ambition, Saul reaches out to David with a plea that transcends the immediate power struggle. He beseeches David to swear by the Lord that he will not harm Saul’s descendants or erase his name from his family lineage. It’s a plea tinged with fear and vulnerability, as Saul wrestles with the weight of his legacy and the uncertainty surrounding his family’s future.  

In response, David, known for his unwavering honor and integrity, solemnly pledges his oath to Saul. Despite years of persecution and the looming conflict threat, David extends an act of mercy and compassion. It’s a moment of profound empathy amidst the turmoil of power dynamics, as David keeps his word and extends grace to his foe. 

As Saul leaves, perhaps with a newfound sense of peace or resignation, David and his men ascend to their mountain stronghold. Their path forward remains uncertain, yet infused with a sense of purpose and destiny. It’s a moment that captures the intricacies of human relationships, the interplay between ambition and forgiveness, and the enduring strength of honor and integrity in the face of adversity. 

David spares King Saul for the Second Time 

1 Samuel 26:1-2 (AMP) – “¹ The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding on the hill of Hachilah, east of Jeshimon?” ²So Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, taking with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David [there] in the wilderness of Ziph. “ 

1 Samuel 26:3-5 (AMP) – “³Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road east of Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came into the wilderness after him, ⁴David sent out spies, and he learned that Saul was definitely coming. ⁵So David arose and went to the place where Saul had camped, and saw the spot where Saul lay, as well as Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying inside the circle of the camp, with the army camped around him.” 

1 Samuel 26:6-11 (AMP) – “⁶Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” ⁷So David and Abishai went to the army during the night, and there was Saul lying asleep inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him. ⁸Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day; now then, please let me strike him with the spear driving it to the ground with one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time.” ⁹But David said to Abishai, “Do not kill him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed [king] and be guiltless (innocent)?” ¹⁰David also said, “As the Lord lives, most certainly the Lord will strike him [in His own time and way], or his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and be carried off [dead]. ¹¹The Lord forbid that I would put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed; but now take the spear that is by his head and the jug of water, and let us go.”” 

Saul did not learn his lesson even after David had spared his life. He kept on looking for David to harm him. In 1 Samuel 26:1-2, Saul hears that David is in the Wilderness of Ziph and he goes to search for him there. Like the previous time, he goes with three thousand chosen men (the best men) to look for David. It is an army of three thousand and one people against one person.  

While in the wilderness, David saw Saul coming after him, but Saul did not see David. When you are deeply rooted in God, you shall be able to see and discern the attacks that are coming against you before they reach you. David went to where Saul had camped and saw the place where Saul lay.  

Together with Abishai, David went to the army during the night, and there was Saul lying asleep inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him. At that time, David was not yet king and he did not have an army but he was able to find Saul. He had a few loyal friends around him. Saul had an army of three thousand with him but he was still not able to find David. Lack of faith in God plus lots of effort leads to nothing.  

Abishai asked David for permission to strike Saul but David refused and told him that one cannot put his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless. Thus, he spared Saul’s life and forgave him the second time.  

David expected Saul to honor his own words after he spared his life the first time but he did not. This is the same fate we face with God. God expects us to honor our words when He forgives us but we do not, we keep on repeating the same sin and he keeps on forgiving us. Very few human beings can forgive someone who does the same evil to them more than once. By doing that, David showed tremendous faith in God.  

1 Samuel 26:17-20 (AMP) – “¹⁷Then Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king!” ¹⁸And David said, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand? ¹⁹Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Lord has incited you against me, let Him accept an offering [from me]; but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, because they have driven me out this day to keep me from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ ²⁰Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the Lord; for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea, just as when one hunts a [defenseless] partridge in the mountains.”” 

In 1 Samuel 26:17-20, we encounter a dialogue between King Saul and David. This passage is a testament to David’s unwavering faith, his profound sense of justice, and his humility in the face of unwarranted persecution. Through this interaction, we see the depth of David’s trust in God and his adherence to divine principles, even when confronted with mortal danger and personal injustice. 

“Then Saul recognized David’s voice and said, ‘Is this your voice, my son David?’ And David said, ‘It is my voice, my lord the king!’” (1 Samuel 26:17, AMP). King Saul’s recognition and the affectionate term “my son” reveal a close relationship between him and David. Despite Saul’s intention to kill David, this address suggests a lingering respect and familiarity. David’s respectful response, “my lord the king,” underscores his continued loyalty and honor towards Saul, reflecting his faith in God’s anointed leadership, even when the leader himself is flawed. 

David’s plea follows: “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?” (1 Samuel 26:18, AMP). This question is rhetorical and it is a genuine cry for justice. David, having done no evil, cannot understand the basis for Saul’s relentless pursuit. His question exposes the irrationality of King Saul’s actions and highlights the injustice of the situation. This moment encapsulates David’s faith in the righteousness of his cause and his belief in divine justice. He trusts that truth will prevail because he is innocent before God and man.  

When you are innocent before God and man you have nothing to worry about. God is a God of justice and He sees even in the most secret and darkest places. Men’s justice may seem not to favor you but that should not make you fret because God is the judge of all judges.  

David continues, “Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Lord has incited you against me, let Him accept an offering [from me]; but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, because they have driven me out this day to keep me from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’” (1 Samuel 26:19, AMP).  

Here, David presents two potential causes for Saul’s pursuit: divine will or human deceit. If God has incited Saul, David is willing to offer an offering to Him, demonstrating his readiness to reconcile with God. However, if men have influenced Saul, David calls for divine reprisal on them. This highlights David’s faith in God’s ultimate justice and his belief that no human deceit can impede divine will.  

David feels driven away from his rightful place in Israel, equating his exile to being cut off from God’s inheritance. This separation not only impacts his physical life but also his spiritual life, as it threatens his ability to worship God in his community. David then employs vivid metaphors: “Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the Lord; for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea, just as when one hunts a [defenseless] partridge in the mountains.” (1 Samuel 26:20, AMP).  

By comparing himself to a “single flea” and a “defenseless partridge,” David underscores the futility and disproportion of Saul’s pursuit. These metaphors highlight his insignificance and vulnerability, contrasting the massive resources Saul expends to capture him. It also reflects David’s humility and his faith in God’s protection. He believes that his life, no matter how insignificant it might seem, is under divine care and that unjust actions against him are undoubtedly against God’s will. 

In this passage, David’s faith shines brightly. He stands as a model of humility, integrity, and resolute trust in divine justice. Despite the personal danger and injustice he faces, David does not waver in his respect for God’s anointed king or in his belief that God will ultimately judge rightly. His respectful plea to Saul, his willingness to make an offering if he is at fault, and his invocation of divine reprisal on deceitful men all reflect a profound faith that God’s purposes will prevail. This interaction not only underscores the themes of justice and mercy but also illustrates the deep-seated faith that guided David’s actions throughout his life. David’s faith, as depicted in 1 Samuel 26:17-20, offers timeless lessons on trust, humility, and the importance of aligning one’s actions with divine will, regardless of the circumstances. 

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth Jonathan’s Son 

2 Samuel 9:1-3 (AMP) – “¹ And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house (family) of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” ²There was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, so they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “I am your servant.” ³And the king said, “Is there no longer anyone left of the house (family) of Saul to whom I may show the goodness and graciousness of God?” Ziba replied to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan, [one] whose feet are crippled.”  

In 2 Samuel 9:1, David asks if there is anyone left from Saul’s house whom he may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake. When David rose to the throne, he thought about his enemy Saul. Not only did he think about him, he thought of how he was going to benefit him.  

Saul was dead and his son Jonathan was also dead. Therefore, he inquired if there was anyone left in Saul’s house that he could help. After making that request, he was shown Ziba who was Saul’s servant. He agreed to help Ziba. This action clearly depicted the magnanimity of David’s heart.  

How many of us think of the servants to our relatives and friends leave alone our enemies? We barely know the names of the servants to our relatives. David went the extra mile to show kindness to Saul’s servant Ziba (1 Samuel 9:3). As if that was not enough, he asked Ziba if there was anyone else left in the house of Saul that he would show kindness to.  

David did not rest from going an extra mile to benefit his enemy. He kept on going the extra mile. That is the character of God. God keeps on going the extra mile to save us. He does not get tired of helping us despite our innumerable sins. He makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45). Ziba tells David that Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth who was lame on both feet is still alive.  

2 Samuel 9:4-5 (AMP) – “⁴So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba replied to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.” ⁵Then King David sent word and had him brought from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.” 

Ziba (ציבא): The name Ziba likely means “statue” or “pillar” in Hebrew. It can also be interpreted as “station” or “standing,” symbolizing stability or an established position. 

Machir (מָכִיר): Machir means “sold” or “he who sells” in Hebrew. It could also carry the connotation of someone who is a “merchant” or “trader.” 

Ammiel (עַמִּיאֵל): The name Ammiel is a compound of two Hebrew words: “Am” (עַם) meaning “people” and “El” (אֵל) meaning “God.” Thus, Ammiel means “people of God” or “my kinsman is God.” 

Lo-debar (לֹא דְּבָר): This name is also a compound of two Hebrew words: “Lo” (לֹא) meaning “no” or “not” and “Dabar” (דְּבָר) meaning “pasture” or “word.” Therefore, Lo-debar means “no pasture” or “no word.” It denotes a place that is barren, desolate, or lacking communication. 

David (דָּוִד): This name in Hebrew means “beloved” or “friend.” It derives from the root word דּוֹד (dod), which means “beloved” or “uncle.” David is a significant biblical figure, known as the second king of Israel and a man “after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). His name reflects his beloved status both in the eyes of God and his people. 

In this particular context, the names Machir, Ammiel and Lo-debar are mentioned repeatedly. This repetition denotes that they carry some significance. Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth was dwelling in the house of Machir (a trader) the son of Ammiel (which means people of God) in Lo-debar (a barren or desolate place).  

In 2 Samuel 9:4 we are told that Machir was dwelling in Lo-debar. In 2 Samuel 9:5 we are told that Machir was from Lo-debar. Mephibosheth was dwelling with him because probably he had nowhere else to go to. He was the grandson of the former king but after his father and grandfather died he moved from the palace to go to a barren and desolate land. Another meaning for Lo-debar is “no word”. Any place that is not governed by the Word of God is barren and desolate.  

In that land, Machir must have been a struggling merchant/trader. David called Mephibosheth to come out of that barren and desolate place to his palace where there was abundance of the Word of God and as a result, abundance of everything. It was the will of God for David to do so. God intends for His children to do the same thing, to call others out of darkness into his marvelous light. He expects us to call others out of poverty to the true riches. He expects us to call others out of scarcity to abundance.  

How do we do that? By using the Word of God, transmitting it to everyone within our reach and to all in our memory scope. It will be good practice when you remember to check up on someone to pray for them before you talk to them. God might guide you on what to tell them when you talk to them. David, whose name means beloved or friend, told Ziba, whose name means stability, to call Mephibosheth out of that place.  

The Bible says that Mephibosheth was lame on both feet, meaning he would struggle to get from where he was to where David was. However, despite the struggle, he was able to reach there. We give up too easily. When we are totally determined and focused on going somewhere, we will get there no matter the shortcomings we may be having and the obstacles we encounter on the way. If Mephibosheth was able to reach where David was despite being lame, no one should have an excuse not to access the kingdom of God.  

2 Samuel 9:6-13 (AMP) – “⁶Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David and fell face down and lay himself down [in respect]. David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he answered, “Here is your servant!” ⁷David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will certainly show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall always eat at my table.” ⁸Again Mephibosheth lay himself face down and said, “What is your servant, that you would be concerned for a dead dog like me?” ⁹Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and to all his house (family). ¹⁰You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat; but Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. ¹¹Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do according to everything that my lord the king commands.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons. ¹²Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house were servants to Mephibosheth. ¹³So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he always ate at the king’s table. And he was lame in both feet.” 

David promised Mephibosheth that he will restore to him the land of his grandfather Saul and invited him to eat at the king’s table daily. King David restored to Mephibosheth everything that belonged to Saul and his family. As if that was not enough, he gave Ziba the work to cultivate the land for Mephibosheth that he may have food to eat. Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. They were all commanded to work for Mephibosheth.  

Mephibosheth felt that he did not deserve all that. Probably he might have known that his grandfather Saul was unkind to David. Being lame on both feet, Mephibosheth was to some degree helpless, thus many people might have seen him as a burden, particularly after Jonathan and Saul died. When one is left as an orphan not many people show interest in them, worse off is one who is left as a lame orphan.  

Relatives and friends will often treat you right if your parents are rich or if they have high status in society and they know that they can benefit from them. Once the parents die, no matter how rich the parent was, the children often suffer in the hands of relatives and the community at large. Mephibosheth might have gone through some dark moments, people rejecting, neglecting and treating him with contempt. Therefore, he could not believe when King David showed him kindness and invited him to eat at his table all the days of his life.  

Usually, the rich dine with the rich. Now this is a poor, lame man invited to dine with the king. David followed the Biblical principle in Luke 14:13-14.  

Luke 14:13-14 (KJ21) – “¹³ But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: ¹⁴ And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” In this narrative we see King David showing humility even after being appointed as king. Most people are usually humble before they are appointed to positions of power. Before celebrities become famous, they are often very humble.  

Before people become rich they show high level humility. They will not fight back against those who mistreat them. Once they get to positions of power and influence, they will revenge to those who once treated them with contempt before they became powerful. Not King David. King David sought to show kindness to the family of the once powerful Saul who mistreated him. When we have leaders like that, we can be sure that the jurisdiction they are leading is headed for prosperity.   

David’s Kindness to Shimei 

2 Samuel 16:5-6 (AMP) – “⁵When King David came to Bahurim, a man named Shimei, the son of Gera, came out from there. He was of the family of Saul’s household and he was cursing continually as he came out. ⁶He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; yet all the people and all the warriors remained on his right and on his left.” 

The following are the meanings of the names listed in the above verse:  

David (דָּוִד): As previously mentioned, the name David means “beloved” or “friend.” 

Bahurim (בָּחוּרִים): The name Bahurim likely means “young men” or “choice ones.” It is derived from the Hebrew word “bahur” (בָּחוּר), which means “young man” or “chosen.” 

Shimei (שִׁמְעִי): The name Shimei comes from the root word “shama” (שָׁמַע), which means “to hear” or “to listen.” Shimei can be translated as “God has heard” or “he who hears.” 

Gera (גֵּרָא): The name Gera means “grain” or “a kernel” in Hebrew. It can also imply “a sojourner” or “a stranger” depending on the context. 

When King David came to the place of young men (Bahurim), a man named Shimei (Which means God has heard), the son of Gera (which means stranger) started cursing and throwing stones at him. Because Bahurim means young men, chances are high that Shimei must have been a young man. The energy he had of throwing stones is not easy to find with an old man. David might have been his senior in years but he still did not show the king respect. After David, had been kind to the people who were shown to him of Saul’s household (Ziba and Mephibosheth), Shimei could not be grateful of what David did to their household.  

The story continues:   

2 Samuel 16:9-13 (AMP) – “⁹Then Abishai [David’s nephew], the son of Zeruiah, said to the king, “Why should this dead dog (despicable person) curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” ¹⁰But the king said, “What business is this of yours, O sons of Zeruiah? If Shimei is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ then who should say, ‘Why have you done so?’” ¹¹Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Look, my son [Absalom] who came from my own body, is seeking my life; how much more [reason] now [does] this Benjamite [have to curse me]? Let him alone and let him curse, for [it could be that] the Lord has told him [to do it]. ¹²Perhaps the Lord will look on the wrong done to me [by Shimei, if he is acting on his own]; and [in that case perhaps] the Lord will this day return good to me in place of his cursing.” ¹³So David and his men went on the road; and Shimei went along on the hillside close beside David and cursed as he went and threw stones and dust at him.” 

Abishai asked David for permission to kill Shimei. David stopped Abishai from doing it. Shimei spoke about Absalom (David’s son) wanting to kill David. David told Abishai that Absalom, his own son, wants to kill him, thus Shimei has no reason to spare his life because they are not related. He told Abishai to leave Shimei alone to continue cursing because the Lord might have told him to do it. Then he told him that maybe the Lord will look at the evil done to him by Shimei and will recompense him. That is high-level faith.  

Exodus 14:14 (KJV) – “The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”  

Isaiah 49:25 (KJ21) – “But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.” 

David trusted that God has more power to fight his battles than he has (even though he was a mighty king). He knew that God could avenge his enemies in a way that he was not able to. We waste a lot of time fighting our own battles instead of leaving them to God. David was king but he did not use his authority and power to defend himself. He let Shimei curse, throw stones and dust at him. When he fought Goliath and all the battles he successfully undertook, he was fighting for the people of Israel, not for himself alone. That showed selflessness.  

Before you do anything as a leader, ask yourself how that course of action will help other people besides yourself. If it is going to benefit you alone, it is not worth taking. This principle should guide our career choices, our business decisions and everything else in our lives. Seek to serve as many people as possible. Every businessperson should ask themselves, “How can I serve more people than I’m now serving?”  

The rewards that God gives you is proportionate to the amount of people you are serving. People want to make more money without increasing the amount of people they are serving. Thus, some of them increase the price of their products without adding value to that product instead of increasing the market base. The same happens with some of our countries’ leaders. They increase taxation without showing the value for that added tax percentage. David’s success came by seeking the good of others and not of himself alone.  

2 Samuel 19:18-23 (AMP) – “¹⁸Then they [repeatedly] crossed the ford to bring over the king’s household (family), and to do what pleased him. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan, ¹⁹and said to the king, “Let not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem, so that the king would take it to heart. ²⁰For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore, behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” ²¹But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, “Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” ²²David said, “What business is this of yours, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be an adversary to me today? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” ²³Therefore the king said to Shimei, “You shall not be put to death.” And so, the king gave him his promise.” 

Finally, Shimei realized his sin and David forgave him. Abishai, the son of King David’s sister Zeruiah was not pleased to see that. He remembered all the trouble that Shimei had caused David and concluded that he is not worthy of forgiveness, and he deserved death.  

Abishai behaved like the elder son who was angry that his father prepared a feast for the younger as he felt that the younger son was undeserving. Those two illustrations are excellent examples of the gift of grace that Christ gives us. Christ has given us grace even though we are undeserving.  

Normally, in most countries, if a person is locked up in prison and they behave well, the person is given a presidential pardon to put an end to the sentence he was serving before the sentence actually ends. Those who receive such pardons are usually deserving. Not us. God gives us gifts that we totally do not deserve.  

Through such gifts we experience a love that no other love can match. If we are genuine Christians, we shall be able to give people gifts that they don’t deserve (does not have to be material gifts). Through us, people will experience the infinite love of Christ and as they are drawn to Him, they will love righteousness (Christ) and hate sin.  

A Man After God’s Own Heart 

1 Samuel 13:14 (KJV) – “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after His own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over His people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.” 

Acts 13:22 (KJ21) – “And when He had removed him, He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also He gave testimony, and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.’” 

Twice in the Bible, David is referred to as a man after God’s own heart. Now someone may think that David was always holy and that he never made mistakes. David made various mistakes but he always repented and sought to please God even after making those mistakes. He always rose up when he fell and continued with the journey.  

The Mistakes of David 

“It was the spirit of self-confidence and self-exaltation that prepared the way for David’s fall. Flattery and the subtle allurements of power and luxury were not without effect upon him. Intercourse with surrounding nations also exerted an influence for evil. According to the customs prevailing among Eastern rulers, crimes not to be tolerated in subjects were uncondemned in the king; the monarch was not under obligation to exercise the same self-restraint as the subject. All this tended to lessen David’s sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin. And instead of relying in humility upon the power of Jehovah, he began to trust his own wisdom and might. As soon as Satan can separate the soul from God, the only Source of strength, he will seek to arouse the unholy desires of man’s carnal nature. The work of the enemy is not abrupt; it is not, at the outset, sudden and startling; it is a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle. It begins in apparently small things—the neglect to be true to God and to rely upon Him wholly, the disposition to follow the customs and practices of the world.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 717.2, Ellen G. White.   

David committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and impregnated her (2 Samuel 11:2-5). He ordered the murder of Uriah by sending him to the front lines of war and withdrawing support from him (2 Samuel 11:14-17). He took a census of Israel and Judah, which was against God’s will, and brought a plague upon the land (2 Samuel 24:1-17). He neglected his parental duties and failed to discipline his sons Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah when they committed crimes and rebelled against him (2 Samuel 13:1-39; 15:1-18:33; 1 Kings 1:5-53).  

The problem with some of us is that when we commit a sin we distance ourselves from God. We have this feeling that God sees us as people who are wicked and that He wants nothing to do with us. This thinking might be because we think that God is like us. Usually, as human beings, when someone wrongs us we want nothing to do with them. We avoid them at all costs. If we see that person moving towards us from a distance we choose another direction. God is not like that. When we wrong Him, He moves closer to us to comfort us and to help us do what is right.  

Satan would have us believe that God only wants those who are righteous. Thus he encourages us to join his camp of sinners. God hates sin but He loves sinners. Satan loves sin but he hates sinners. In fact, the Devil hates everybody.  

When you move far away from God and move closer to him, he will seem like he is welcoming you with open hands but what he will do is that he will take advantage of your vulnerability and do his best to destroy you. You may be struggling with a certain sin and you are a Christian, the more you move closer to God, the better you will be.  

David’s faith was steadfast and unwavering, exemplified by his trust in God throughout his life. Whether facing the giant Goliath with nothing but a sling and a few stones, fleeing from King Saul’s relentless pursuit, or repenting earnestly after his moral failings, David consistently turned to God for strength, guidance, and forgiveness. His Psalms reflect a profound reliance on God and a relationship with God, showcasing a deep spiritual intimacy and an unshakeable belief in God’s sovereignty and mercy. David’s faith was a cornerstone of his leadership and legacy, making him a man after God’s own heart. 

Faith wins wars. Faith defeats foes. Faith puts the enemy on toes. Faith goes beyond flaws. Faith opens doors. Faith brings goals. Faith calls the shots. Faith is the victory.  

GOD BLESS YOU! 

Prayer 

Dear God, please forgive me for all the sins that I have committed. Forgive me for lacking faith and cowering whenever I encounter an obstacle. Thank You for enabling me to learn about this shepherd boy turned king called David. I thank You for the profound faith lessons that I have learned and how he moved by faith overcoming obstacle after obstacle.  

Please help me to overcome all the obstacles in my life and make me focus on You whenever I encounter a challenging life situation. God, You are bigger than all my problems, let none of them prevail over me. God, You are more powerful than all the battle tools, no weapon formed against me will prosper. Please Lord deliver me from all evil.  

Please help me not to focus on those who misunderstand me and give me the heart to love my enemies as You have loved me. I am not too young nor too old to serve you, therefore, help me to serve You always. Please help me to cultivate the habit of waking up early so that I can have more hours to fulfill the purpose that You have given me. Above all, Lord, help me to be a man after Your own heart. In Jesus name, Amen.  

Activity 

1. Would you like to wake up early? Plan your morning schedule, present it to God and ask God to help you wake up at a specific time in the morning to fulfill your life purpose.  

2. What major and minor challenges are you facing? List them down then pray over them.  

3. Ensure you have done the necessary household duties before you step out of the house because charity begins at home.  

4. What are some of the things that you have heard from people that show they have misunderstood you? Write them down and ask God to take the burden off your shoulders.  

5. What is it that you want to do that you are finding to be so big and unachievable? Tell yourself, yes you can. It can be good to affirm yourself every morning with Philippians 4:13 Bible verse.  

6. Make a covenant with God. Ask God for a specific thing and attach a Godly promise to it.  

7. What mistakes have you made in life that are bringing you shame and guilt? Ask God to forgive you and to take those burdens away.  

Author: Mark Alex   

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