01/11/2024
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER (January-December, 2024)
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE
Friday, November 1, 2024
(Day of the Dead)
TOPIC:
DON'T DIE LIKE ABNER
MEMORISE
And the king sang a lament over Abner and said: "Should Abner die as a fool dies?" (2 Samuel 3:33)
READ
2 Samuel 3:31-34
[31]. Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin.
[32]. So they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
[33]. And the king sang a lament over Abner and said: “Should Abner die as a fool dies?
[34]. Your hands were not bound nor your feet put into fetters; as a man falls before wicked men, so you fell.” Then all the people wept over him again.
EXPOSITION
Abner was a mighty man whose breath and strength posed a threat to enemies from a distance. He was the Chief Commander of King Saul's army and a leading loyalist of the king's dynasty (v. 6). He eventually pitched his tent against Saul's lineage, defecting to David's camp after Ishbosheth presented a false accusation against him (v. 7). This move was welcomed by David since he longed to make his reign spread across the whole Israel and Judah, but on clear terms between him and the party involved (vv. 12-13). Alas, Abner wasn't careful enough of the prolonged, unresolved dispute between himself and Joab on the account of Asahel's death (2:24). He thought the barking dog had been laid to rest. But Joab hadn't. In fact, he fostered the unrestrained vengeance he had against Abner into a wicked plot and carried it out on him deceitfully, without David's knowledge (v. 26).
Be cautious of these 4 types of persons you may encounter in life:
[1]. Intruders: Uninvited admirers who invade your privacy can be used as tools to harm you.
[2]. Competitors: Threatened individuals who criticise you in a harmful way due to their own insecurities.
[3]. Scavengers: Exploiters who take advantage of your weaknesses to appear stronger and demand complete loyalty.
[4]. Sponsors: Supportive individuals who invest resources and time into your success without damaging your public image.
Abner wasn't taware of these people around him. He died like a fool in broad daylight. His foresight was blurred, and insight, captured. Dear reader, learn from the ignoble death of Abner, as today marks World Day of the Dead
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, grant to me wisdom to identify various kinds of people around me, in Jesus' name.
2. Lord, separate me from friends who are inimical destiny, in Jesus'name. to my life and
3. Holy Spirit, help me to be wary of the agents of destiny destruction around me and overcome their advances.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB: 711
1. Spirit of wisdom, turn our eyes
From earth and earthly vanities
To heav'nly truth and love;
Spirit of understanding true,
Our souls with heav'nly light endue
To seek the things above.
2. Spirit of counsel, be our Guide;
Teach us, by earthly struggles tried,
Our heav'nly crown to win;
Spirit of fortitude, Thy pow'r
Be with us in temptation's hour,
To keep us pure from sin.
3. Spirit of knowledge, lead our feet
In Thine own paths, so safe and sweet,
By angel footsteps trod;
Where Thou our Guardian true shalt be,
Spirit of gentle piety,
To keep us close to God.
4. Through all our life be ever near,
Spirit of God's most holy fear,
In our heart's inmost shrine;
Our souls with awful reverence fill,
To worship His most holy will,
All-righteous and divine.
5. So lead us, Lord, through peace or strife,
Onward to everlasting life,
To win our high reward:
So may we fight our lifelong fight,
Strong in Thine own unearthly might,
And reign with Christ our Lord.
Amen.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
John 6, 7, 8
AUTHOR
CAC Worldwide
Remain blessed