GateWay Church of Visalia
Everybody Qualifies
David's Mighty Men! Pastor Ed Kemp, July 13 & 16, 2023
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Introduction
“…man looks at the outward appearance, but the
Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7
Great men and women are built not born
A Story of Loyalty:
#1. The group willing to commit
So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard of it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him.
I Sam. 22:1-2
#1. The group willing to commit
So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard of it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him.
I Sam. 22:1-2
#2. The men with heroic competence
These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of eight hundred slain by him at one time; and after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had withdrawn. He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword, and the Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain. Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot defended it and struck the Philistines; and the Lord brought about a great victory.
II Sam. 23:8-12
These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of eight hundred slain by him at one time; and after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had withdrawn. He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword, and the Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain. Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot defended it and struck the Philistines; and the Lord brought about a great victory.
II Sam. 23:8-12
#3. The leader who possessed character
And David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David.
II Sam. 23:15-16
And David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David.
II Sam. 23:15-16
Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord; and he said, “Be it far from me, O Lord that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did. II Sam. 23:16-17
#4. The results that demonstrated chemistry
Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 In times past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and the Lord your God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be prince over My people Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord through Samuel. I Chron. 11:1-3
Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 In times past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and the Lord your God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be prince over My people Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord through Samuel. I Chron. 11:1-3
All these, being men of war who could draw up in battle formation, came to Hebron with a perfect heart to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest also of Israel were of one mind to make David king. 39 They were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their kinsmen had prepared for them. 40 Moreover those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought food on donkeys, camels, mules and on oxen, great quantities of flour cakes, fig cakes and bunches of raisins, wine, oil, oxen and sheep. There was joy indeed in Israel. I Chron. 12:38-40
So What?!
How do I cultivate loyalty?
#1. Commit yourself to be loyal.
#2. Encourage competence when you see it.
#3. Admire character whenever possible.
#4. Engage in chemistry at all times.
EVERYBODY QUALIFIES
#5. David’s Mighty Men! Pastor Ed Kemp, 7/13 & 16, 2023
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: At the end of a hard day or week with whom do you debrief? Is there a friend in whom you confide?
Read: I Samuel 22:1-2. Notice that these people gather to David because they are in distress, debt or discontent. These are all problems caused by Saul’s poor leadership of their nation, his inability to problem solve and free the nation from Philistine oppression. These people go to David because they believe he will free Israel from their enemies and establish justice. What builds hope for tomorrow in you? Without getting too political, does national leadership build hope in your heart? State leadership? Local leadership? Leadership where you work? Just leading yourself or your family?
Read: II Samuel 23:8-12. The writer is careful to repeat a few items in his depiction of this historical event. He mentions the “Philistines” 5 times, why do this in only 5 verses? He uses the term “mighty men” 3 times (there is translation differences so “chief of the captains” vs. 8 is chief of the mighty men.) “Mighty Men,” is a title of a select group like “Honor Students.” What was it like for these men to travel through Israel and have people see them and say, “There’s one of David’s mighty men!” Who do you respect and look up to and why?
The last phrase that’s used strategically is, “the Lord.” Why would the writer want us to know that the great victories of the mighty men were because of the Lord? How would one of the mighty men communicate, demonstrate and point at God’s role in their success? Would it involve worship at the Temple and public sacrifices?
Read: I Chronicles 12:38-40. The writer makes sure he communicates the attitude of the nation as David comes to be King of a united Israel. People have a perfect (shalom: whole, complete) heart, which implies national unity! People have one mind which implies national unity! People have joy which implies national unity! There is national unity because David is a man after God’s own heart and leads others spiritually, politically, militarily and yet remains loyal to Saul and his kingdom.
How can you help God create greater unity at GateWay by being a person after God’s heart? Speaking with encouragement? Serving with enthusiasm? Giving with sacrifice? Greeting with genuine warmth? Worshipping with a whole heart? What else???
Family Time: Pick one of the 4 passages in the notes. Read it to your kids. Ask them questions about the loyalty of the characters in the story. How David helped them and they helped David. Who do they have in their lives that are loyal to them and to whom are they loyal?
#5. David’s Mighty Men! Pastor Ed Kemp, 7/13 & 16, 2023
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: At the end of a hard day or week with whom do you debrief? Is there a friend in whom you confide?
Read: I Samuel 22:1-2. Notice that these people gather to David because they are in distress, debt or discontent. These are all problems caused by Saul’s poor leadership of their nation, his inability to problem solve and free the nation from Philistine oppression. These people go to David because they believe he will free Israel from their enemies and establish justice. What builds hope for tomorrow in you? Without getting too political, does national leadership build hope in your heart? State leadership? Local leadership? Leadership where you work? Just leading yourself or your family?
Read: II Samuel 23:8-12. The writer is careful to repeat a few items in his depiction of this historical event. He mentions the “Philistines” 5 times, why do this in only 5 verses? He uses the term “mighty men” 3 times (there is translation differences so “chief of the captains” vs. 8 is chief of the mighty men.) “Mighty Men,” is a title of a select group like “Honor Students.” What was it like for these men to travel through Israel and have people see them and say, “There’s one of David’s mighty men!” Who do you respect and look up to and why?
The last phrase that’s used strategically is, “the Lord.” Why would the writer want us to know that the great victories of the mighty men were because of the Lord? How would one of the mighty men communicate, demonstrate and point at God’s role in their success? Would it involve worship at the Temple and public sacrifices?
Read: I Chronicles 12:38-40. The writer makes sure he communicates the attitude of the nation as David comes to be King of a united Israel. People have a perfect (shalom: whole, complete) heart, which implies national unity! People have one mind which implies national unity! People have joy which implies national unity! There is national unity because David is a man after God’s own heart and leads others spiritually, politically, militarily and yet remains loyal to Saul and his kingdom.
How can you help God create greater unity at GateWay by being a person after God’s heart? Speaking with encouragement? Serving with enthusiasm? Giving with sacrifice? Greeting with genuine warmth? Worshipping with a whole heart? What else???
Family Time: Pick one of the 4 passages in the notes. Read it to your kids. Ask them questions about the loyalty of the characters in the story. How David helped them and they helped David. Who do they have in their lives that are loyal to them and to whom are they loyal?