06/06/2026
From 17th Dec. 2020
Let's study again..........
A NEW BEGINNING TO USHER US INTO A GREAT ENDING
Case Study: David
Bible Study: 2 Sam Chapters 19,20,21&22.
This was the coming back of David to the throne after Absalom's rebellion. Before then, David passed through some hardships, like shame in the book of 2 Samuel 16:12-13 “And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.
So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.”
He also experienced betrayal because in the midst of rebellion, Ahithophel, his best friend was also among them. 2 Samuel 16:15 “Meanwhile, Absalom and all the army of Israel arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel.”
2 Samuel 15:30 “David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill”.
Your life might be similar to David's where everything was going smoothly but suddenly turned sour, you were betrayed and you wept/weeping bitterly. However, Psalm 30:5 says “...Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning”. The "night" may be in years, months, weeks or even days but no matter how long it lasts, joy will come in the morning.
David's "morning" was found in 2 Samuel 19: 16-18 “Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin, hurried across with the men of Judah to welcome King David.
A thousand other men from the tribe of Benjamin were with him, including Ziba, the chief servant of the house of Saul, and Ziba’s fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan to meet the king. They crossed the shallows of the Jordan to bring the king’s household across the river, helping him in every way they could. As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei fell down before him”. In his "night" time, Shimei stoned and cursed him but when he was returning, the same Shimei brought a thousand men with him and also Ziba's fifteen sons and twenty servants to welcome David.
When it is time for your joy in the morning, even your enemies will rejoice with you. When the table turns, mockers will become the announcers.
Revelations 21:5 “And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”
God does not change His purpose and intention for people's lives.
THINGS TO NOTE WHEN COMING BACK TO THE THRONE.
1. Do not repay evil with evil, do not be the reason for the death of the ones who betrayed you: 2 Samuel 19:21-22
“Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, ‘Shimei should die, for he cursed the Lord’s anointed king!’ ‘Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah!’ David exclaimed. ‘Why have you become my adversary today? This is not a day for ex*****on, for today I am once again the king of Israel!’
Then, turning to Shimei, David vowed, ‘Your life will be spared’ ”.
2. Immediate Restructuring: Not repaying evil with evil does not mean that evil should be allowed to stay. You need to know those who should stand by your side and those who should stay far away from you.
Do not forget those who made fun of you when you fall because they must not stand with you when you rise up. 2 Samuel 20.
3. Never allow rebellion or betrayal take root before you uproot them totally: 2 Samuel 20:1-2,6-22
1-2 “There happened to be a troublemaker there named Sheba son of Bicri, a man from the tribe of Benjamin. Sheba blew a ram’s horn and began to chant: “Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Come on, you men of Israel, back to your homes!” So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed with their king and escorted him from the Jordan River to Jerusalem”.
6-22 “Then David said to Abishai, “Sheba son of Bicri is going to hurt us more than Absalom did. Quick, take my troops and chase after him before he gets into a fortified town where we can’t reach him.” So Abishai and Joab, together with the king’s bodyguard and all the mighty warriors, set out from Jerusalem to go after Sheba. As they arrived at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa met them. Joab was wearing his military tunic with a dagger strapped to his belt. As he stepped forward to greet Amasa, he slipped the dagger from its sheath. “How are you, my cousin?” Joab said and took him by the beard with his right hand as though to kiss him. Amasa didn’t notice the dagger in his left hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach with it so that his insides gushed out onto the ground. Joab did not need to strike again, and Amasa soon died. Joab and his brother Abishai left him lying there and continued after Sheba. One of Joab’s young men shouted to Amasa’s troops, “If you are for Joab and David, come and follow Joab.” But Amasa lay in his blood in the middle of the road, and Joab’s man saw that everyone was stopping to stare at him. So he pulled him off the road into a field and threw a cloak over him. With Amasa’s body out of the way, everyone went on with Joab to capture Sheba son of Bicri. Meanwhile, Sheba traveled through all the tribes of Israel and eventually came to the town of Abel-beth-maacah. All the members of his own clan, the Bicrites, assembled for battle and followed him into the town. When Joab’s forces arrived, they attacked Abel-beth-maacah. They built a siege ramp against the town’s fortifications and began battering down the wall. But a wise woman in the town called out to Joab, “Listen to me, Joab. Come over here so I can talk to you.” As he approached, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he replied. So she said, “Listen carefully to your servant.” “I’m listening,” he said. Then she continued, “There used to be a saying, ‘If you want to settle an argument, ask advice at the town of Abel.’ I am one who is peace loving and faithful in Israel. But you are destroying an important town in Israel. Why do you want to devour what belongs to the Lord?” And Joab replied, “Believe me, I don’t want to devour or destroy your town! That’s not my purpose. All I want is a man named Sheba son of Bicri from the hill country of Ephraim, who has revolted against King David. If you hand over this one man to me, I will leave the town in peace.” “All right,” the woman replied, “we will throw his head over the wall to you.” Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off Sheba’s head and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and called his troops back from the attack. They all returned to their homes, and Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem”.
Q
4. Always ask God for directions:
2 Samuel 21:1 “There was a famine during David’s reign that lasted for three years, so David asked the Lord about it...”
When you are confronted with anything, ask God.
5. You need to have friends around you who are serious minded with you: You need friends who can pray with and for you. Most of the battles we are fighting and losing is because we are fighting them alone. Look for people of like minds. It is not advisable for opposite s*xes to choose one another as prayer partners except husbands and wives. This is because prayer is one of the greatest covenants that brings people closer. This is because secrets are revealed and shared in prayers. Prayer partners should be the same s*x or husbands and wives.
2 Samuel 21:15-22
“Once again the Philistines were at war with Israel. And when David and his men were in the thick of battle, David became weak and exhausted. Ishbi-benob was a descendant of the giants; his bronze spearhead weighed more than seven pounds, and he was armed with a new sword. He had cornered David and was about to kill him. But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue and killed the Philistine.
Then David’s men declared, “You are not going out to battle with us again! Why risk snuffing out the light of Israel?” After this, there was another battle against the Philistines at Gob. As they fought, Sibbecai from Hushah killed Saph, another descendant of the giants. During another battle at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed the brother of Goliath of Gath. The handle of his spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam! In another battle with the Philistines at Gath, they encountered a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all, who was also a descendant of the giants. But when he defied and taunted Israel, he was killed by Jonathan, the son of David’s brother Shimea. These four Philistines were descendants of the giants of Gath, but David and his warriors killed them”.
The kind of battle David fought in his youth (Goliath's) came back again. This battle came from Goliath's city. Do not think that there will not be battles when you are on the throne. The kind of battles you have once faced can come back again. David won because he had trained soldiers (sons).
6. Involve the battle with trained sons (men): David would have been killed if he did not have trained men around him.
2 Samuel 21:16-17&19
“Ishbi-benob was a descendant of the giants; his bronze spearhead weighed more than seven pounds, and he was armed with a new sword. He had cornered David and was about to kill him. But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue and killed the Philistine...”
“During another battle at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed the brother of Goliath of Gath. The handle of his spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam!”
Verse 20&21 “In another battle with the Philistines at Gath, they encountered a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all, who was also a descendant of the giants. But when he defied and taunted Israel, he was killed by Jonathan, the son of David’s brother Shimea”.
7. Always remember to sing song of praises and thanksgiving:
2 Samuel 22:1&4
“David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.”
“I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies”.
Verse 50&51 “For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name. You give great victories to your king; you show unfailing love to your anointed, to David and all his descendants forever.”
8. Never be sentimental in your warfare judgement:
Jonathan was killed because he was sentimental.
NOTE: If you see any of your relatives in your dream as the source of your problem, never mention his or her name in the prayer but pray with your strength.
Never have mercy while praying.
