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Be of Good Courage: Trusting God's Direction in Battle
June 3, 2026 · 15 min
An exhortation to seek the Lord before acting—like David—so God's guidance brings victory and preserves His people.
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David's Military Victories and Seeking God's Direction 0:09 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Thanks for joining me this morning as we look at second Samuel chapters 8 through 10, verse 12 of chapter 10. Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for0:21 the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in his sight. Alright. Before we jump into today's study, I wanna extend an invitation to, to those of you who are on this journey through the Bible to join0:33 us for the Prevost Stand Summit coming up September the 20 fourth through the 20 sixth in Leesburg, Virginia. It's at pastor Gary Church, Cornerstone Chapel. We actually have0:45 an early, bird registration available for 69 dollars from now until June the fifteenth. It's gonna be a great event. A lot will be happening that weekend just outside of Washington DC. So0:57 text the word summit, that's s u m m I t, to 6 7 7 4 2. That's 6 7 7 4 2 to find out more information or to register. Alright. Today, we have1:08 David fulfilling his promise to his friend and spiritual battle buddy, Jonathan, who was killed along with his father at the battle, with, at Gilboa. Now1:20 we, we read this in chapter 9 with the account of Mephibosheth, which is sandwiched between 2 chapters dealing with the military exploits of David. In chapter 8, we1:32 begin to see the expansion of David's kingdom. He defeats Philistia, Moab, Zobah, Syria, and Edom. And the success the key to his success is actually detailed in verses 61:44 and 14. Let's look at that verse 6 of chapter 8. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became David's servants and brought tribute. So the lord preserved David wherever1:56 he went. Verse 14. He also put garrisons in Edom. Throughout all Edom, he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David's servants, and the lord preserved David wherever he went. So what was the key to2:08 David's success? It was the lord. The lord preserved or gave victory to David wherever he went. Now why did that happen? Well, keep in mind that as we read last time in chapter 5,2:20 before David acted, he inquired of the Lord. Let's go back. Verse 19 of chapter 5. So David inquired of the Lord saying, shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?2:32 And the Lord said to David, go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand. We see that again in verse 23. If We see that again in verse 23 of chapter 5. Therefore, David inquired of the lord and2:41 said, you shall not go up. Circle around behind him and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. Now here, the second time that David inquired in chapter 5, the lord used a different strategy.2:54 Now the reason I point this out is that we cannot expect god to bless and prosper whatever we decide to do. God's blessing follows his direction.3:07 Okay? That's why David was I think that's why David saw early success that he was he was pressing in, staying close to God, listening, and obeying. Now let's go back to chapter 8 verse3:19 15. We see the main mission of civil government here. It's that's it doesn't have neon lights, but it's in this passage, and I want us to see it. Verse 15. So David reigned over3:31 all Israel, and David administered judgment and justice to all his people. Now some versions translate that passage as justice and equity.Courage in Battle: Faith and Action 3:43 This should be civil government's main function beyond national security is ensuring equal justice for all people, not social welfare programs, not government funded3:54 entertainment. Those are actually often used to divert attention away from the injustice because government is not pursuing justice and equity. Alright. Let's skip to4:06 chapter 10. We're gonna come back to chapter 9 in a moment. But since we're focused on military exploits, we're gonna continue with chapter 10. So we have more of David's military success as he feed defeats the4:17 army of Ammon. Joab and his brothers are facing a combined army of Ammon in Syria. Kind of these groups had come together to come against David, in Israel because of their4:29 success. They were, I guess, jealous, fearful. I don't know. But they came up against him. So what Joe Joab had to do was to divide their forces. Now that's never really a good thing. You always want4:41 overwhelming forces, but they had to divide their forces. It was a strategy that Job uses, and this is what he tells his brother in verse 12. Be of good courage, and let us be strong4:53 for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what is good in his sight. Now this is a great call to action. I love it. It kinda reminds me of Nehemiah's charge to5:05 the inhabitants of Jerusalem who were facing this unrelenting army or enemy that was coming against them constantly as they were trying to rebuild the walls. Let me just read it. Verse 14 of chapter5:17 4 of the book of Nehemiah. We'll get to that later in our journey. But and I looked and I arose, and I said to the nobles and to the leaders and to the rest of the people, do not be afraid of them. Remember the lord,5:28 great and awesome, and fight for your brother and your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses. Be courageous. Be strong. Take courage. There is a cause. Let's do5:40 our very best. Let's fight with all that we have and leave it into the hands of the Lord. Faith and action. Right? This is good stuff.5:52 Faith and action. David prayed. He inquired of the Lord, but then he stepped out. It's not enough just to stay in our prayer closet. It's where it needs to start, but then we need to listen, need to6:04 obey, and we need to act. Alright. Now we see here in this passage, it's not over. Okay? They have an initial victory, but the Syrians regroup. They expand their army,6:16 and they try again. Verse 15 of chapter 10. When the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together. K? They ran. They retreated, but then they6:27 regrouped. The enemy doesn't give up easy. Right? Doesn't give up easily, and and I'm talking about our spiritual enemy. Okay? Remember, the Old Testament speaks to the physical where the New Testament6:39 speaks to the spiritual. So the enemy doesn't give up. What does that mean? It means we shouldn't give up either. We shouldn't stop. We should keep praying. We should keep pressing in and pressing6:51 on. Verse 19, and when all the kings who were servants of Hadad ezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel7:03 and served them peace through strength. Weakness never leads to peace. Okay? Spiritual weakness never leads leads to peace. If we're7:15 if we're not spiritually strong in the Lord, be strong in the Lord and the power of his might, Paul wrote in Ephesians chapter 6. If we're not strong in the Lord, the enemy is going to just hound us. I'm talking about7:26 our spiritual enemy. Now we often use his people, but it's our spiritual enemy that's behind it. Be strong in the Lord and the power of his might. Alright. So the Syrians, theyThe Power of Covenant: Grace to Mephibosheth 7:38 made they they made peace, alright, with Israel. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore. So so the peace was accomplished there with the the7:50 Ammonites. Now let's look at chapter 9, which is a tremendous illustration of the strength of covenant and the power of grace. Verse 1, chapter 9. Now David said, is8:02 there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? The initiative here is on David's part, and it was the result of8:14 the covenant that he had made with Jonathan. So don't forget that. We're gonna return to that. Verse 2. And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. And8:26 so when they had called him to David, the king said to him, are you Ziba? Something like that. He said, at your service. Then the king said, is there not someone still the house of8:38 Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God? And Ziba said to to the king, there is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet. So the king said to him, where is he? And Ziba said to the8:49 king, indeed, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Amiel in Lo debar. So this is Jonathan's son living in obscurity in a place called Lo9:01 Debar, which means land of nothing. He is lame in his feet, unable to walk or care for himself. Now you see where this is going? Alright. Pay close attention. Verse 5. Then King9:13 David sent and brought him out of the house of Makir, the son of Amiel from Lo debar. Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his9:25 face and prostrated himself. Then David said, Mephibosheth? And he answered, here is your servant. Mephibosheth was probably9:38 expecting to die. His grandfather, Saul, had tried to kill David, and David now had the power. Okay? And to ensure that he kept the9:49 throne, all descendants of Saul needed to be eliminated. At least that's the way the system worked. But look what David does. He's not on a revenge tour.10:01 He calls Mephibosheth first by name, Mephibosheth. He calls him by name. So David said to him, do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness.10:13 Listen to this. For Jonathan, your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul, your grandfather, and you shall eat bread at my table continually.10:25 Now I'm just gonna tell you, we can take this 1 verse and spend a week on it. The kindness of David toward Mephibosheth had nothing to do with him, nothing to do with Mephibosheth. It was10:37 all because of the covenant promise between David and Jonathan. And look what he receives as a result. The land of Saul was restored to him. But not only that, he10:49 would sit at the king's table for all of the public meals and events, a place of elevation, a place of honor. Verse 8, then he bowed11:01 himself and said, what is your servant that you should look upon such a dead dog as I? And the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, I have given to your11:13 master's son all that belong to Saul and to all his house. You therefore and your sons your servants shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest that11:24 your master's son may have food to eat, but Mephibosheth, your master's son, shall eat bread at my table always. Now Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants. We're gonna hear more about him later. Verse11:36 13. So Mephibosheth dwelled in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king's table, and he was lame in both his feet. Let me repeat how this chapter ends. And he11:48 was lame in both his feet. David, being a type of Christ, provides a vivid12:00 grace of God toward us. You know, we're spiritually lame. We are. We are unable to care for ourselves. We're unable to walk to carry ourselves where we need to go. Living in a land of nothing12:12 and the Lord on his initiative, it was his initiative, reached out to us to restore what was lost because of the rebellion and sin of mankind. And12:24 he has seated us at his table as sons and daughters. Of course, Mephibosheth in his humility and his reverence, knowing that he was totally12:36 unworthy of this, accepted David's offer. And we too we too must must accept the grace of God that is extended to us through the redemptive12:48 work of Jesus Christ on the cross where he died for us. What What an amazing chapter we have here. Father, thank you for your word. And, Lord,13:00 I I just pray that our minds would be opened by the Holy Spirit. As Jesus said, he is sending the spirit to teach us all things that we might understand how to apply your word to our lives in this world in13:11 which we're living. Thank you for your grace, your amazing grace. We thank you, and we pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning. Hey. Let me,Prayer and Invitation to God's Word 13:23 just, give a put put a bug in your ear. Next month, July, actually, the very end June thirtieth going into July, we're gonna begin the book of Psalms. Alright?13:35 Great time to invite someone to join you in this journey through the word of God. If you've been blessed by this reading of God's word, this journey13:47 through the word, stand on the word, be thinking. I'm gonna give you some, some ways to invite people, but be thinking. Make a list of people that you could invite to join you on this13:59 journey. It's a great place for people to jump on in the book of Psalms. So be thinking about about that. Until next time, keep standing on the word.14:11 Today's study comes from the stand on the word bible reading plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you14:23 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 David's Military Victories and Seeking God's Direction3:43 Courage in Battle: Faith and Action7:31 The Power of Covenant: Grace to Mephibosheth13:21 Prayer and Invitation to God's Word16:48
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