Daring Devotion
2 Samuel 23:13-17
A)Let’s begin our study time with a little Bible trivia.
1)Their names were Shammula – Shaphat – Igal – Palti – Gaddi and Ammiel.
These 6, along with 6 others, were involved in one of the most familiar Old Testament stories, a story that even many of our children are familiar with.
A story that produced a strong leader for Jehovah God.
Still not sure?
How many of you think you might be able to come up with the answer if I tell you that 2 of the other 6 were Joshua & Caleb.
With that clue, a number of you knew that I was talking about the 12 men chosen to explore the land of Canaan, as we read about it in Numbers 13.
These men played a big role in the future of the Hebrew people.
B)Turn to the 23rd chapter of 2 Samuel.
1)These are thought to be some of the last words of one of the most well-known men of the Old Testament, David the youngest son of Jesse, the most notable King of Israel.
2)Most all of us here have heard the story of David the shepherd boy killing the 9 foot giant Goliath, the champion fighter of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 17.
This same David had musical ability.
This same David was befriended by Jonathan.
And yes it was this same David who committed adultery with Bathsheba and then went as far as to have her husband killed – hoping to hide what he had done.
And in 2 Samuel 18 – we see the gentle loving side of this man David – the father of Absalom – his rebellious son who had gone to war against his father.
3)These are just a few of the stories written about this great man of God, who from the beginning, was known as “a man after God’s own heart.”
4)But the story I want us to spend some time with, is probably not nearly as familiar as any of the others I have briefly mentioned.
The story found in 2 Samuel 23 is thought to have taken place after a severe 3 year famine and after yet another battle between the Israelites & the Philistines.
In the 1st 7 verses of this chapter we get an idea of what was on the mind of this great man as he realized his life was drawing to a close.
In verses 8-39 – we find a list of the mighty men of David – those men David considered real heroes.
But in verses 13-17 – David is re-living something that had happened during one of his many battles against the Philistines.
5)What we have in these 5 verses, is a meeting between David and 3 of his chief leaders, maybe it was a meeting to plan their strategy against the Philistines.
As they are talking, David becomes thirsty.
And as many of us have done from time to time, he speaks of something that would really help quench his thirst.
He says, without even thinking, You know what would taste good right now – a nice cool drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem. Boy that would sure would taste good.
And notice these 3 men, whose names are not even mentioned, decided to risk their lives to please their king.
They broke through enemy lines, the very camp of the Philistines, got some water from the well and returned to David.
And here in the last part of verse 16, we see that David refused to drink it.
Instead “he poured it out, as an offering before the Lord.”
These 3 men had endeared themselves to David, by putting their lives on the line for him.
They performed a task that he really did not expect them to try.
And David is so overwhelmed by their daring devotion to him, that he pours the water on the ground before Jehovah – as a sacrificial offering, to express thanks to God for allowing the safe return of these devoted followers.
David was overwhelmed by their devotion.
C)I want to consider 3 things about the devotion of these 3 men to their king.
1)And hopefully challenge each of us to be more devoted to our King in the days & weeks & months ahead.
2)The 1st thing I want you to think about is devotion like this will always express itself.
I. Such devotion will always express itself
A)I saw a church sign some time ago that said, "Loyalty is best expressed by service”.
1)Notice nowhere in these 5 verses do we see David asking for volunteers.
Nowhere does he give orders – verbal or written –to have someone do this.
The men hear their king express a simple wish and they demonstrate their devotion or loyalty to him by going after the water.
B)If our devotion to Jesus Christ & His Church was what it should be, we wouldn’t have to ask – beg – bribe – coerce or in some cases threaten people in order to get things done.
1)What I mean by threaten is when someone tells you – if you don’t do this, it probably won’t get done.
Elmer Towns biker illustration
2)When you choose to express your devotion to Christ, it may inspire others to do the same. You may not realize how much influence you have.
C)Turn to Luke 7 for just a moment.
1)Many of you probably remember the story of the sinful woman who anointed the feet of Jesus when He was a guest in the house of Simon the Pharisee.
This incident in the life of Christ is found in Luke 7 beginning in verse 36.
She expressed her devotion in a very special way. She was willing to do the very simplest of things and she did so without having to be asked!
2)As we consider our role in the future of this church – we need to examine ourselves and see where we are as far as our devotion to Christ is concerned.
3)The 2nd thing I want you to consider is something that has always bothered me quite a bit throughout my years of ministry – and that is – it seems that …
II. Only a small percentage of people seem to have this type of devotion
A)Why don’t we see more people with the type of devotion that we see in the lives of David’s 3 men or the type of devotion we see in the life of David himself?
1)Why is there such a small percentage who are willing to give of themselves unselfishly that the work God has given us to do gets done?
2)I remember a poster that hung on the office door of a church years ago that said, “When it comes to work, everyone around here is willing. Some are willing to work and others are willing to watch them.”
Unfortunately that is true in many churches – a few people are willing to work and the rest of the folk are willing to let them.
3)Webster uses words like – loyalty – dedicated – faithful and very loving – to describe the word devotion.
Devotion seems to be an easy word to define or describe – yet it is not an easy word to be daring with.
B)Throughout the Old & New Testaments we see pictures of what is so easily visible today in so many of our churches.
1)The fact that there are a lot of people there – but only a small percentage of folk are willing to step up and get involved – only a small percentage who does more than just say, “Sure, I’ll help – I’d like to see that done.”
2)During His years of ministry Jesus had a lot of people who followed Him from time to time.
In Matthew 14 there are more than 5000 who are interested in what Jesus has to say.
But as most all of us are aware – there were only 12 men who followed Jesus from city to city – town to town.
Only 12 who seemed to possess the loyalty, the dedication, the devotion to be apostles.
3)In Judges 7 we read of the story of Gideon that shares a similar thought.
Gideon starts out with 32,000 but goes into battle against the Midianites with 300 men.
4)And that small percentage is evident again in our scripture text.
David had more than 400 warriors with him in the cave.
Yet we are told of only 3 who had the devotion to “break through” for their king!
C)Now here’s where the lesson gets a little tricky.
1)Let’s consider the number on our roll books compared to those who worship faithfully every week compared to those who are involved in ministry.
2)Most church experts tell us that 80% of the work in the church is done by 20% of the people.
Right now our percentage is about 42% involved in ministry.
3)It may be time to ask yourself – Am I a part of the 80% watching or the 20% working?
4)If you are a part of the 80% who are simply letting others do the work – I want to challenge you to demonstrate your love – your gratitude – your devotion to Christ through some area of ministry.
5)The 3rd and final thing about their daring devotion is …
III. It was the boldness of their devotion that touched David’s heart
A)It was the boldness of their devotion that touched David’s heart and it will be our boldness for Christ that will touch His heart and the hearts of others.
1)These 3 men would not allow anything to stop them from accomplishing the mission they had set out with.
They were devoted to David, they demonstrated their devotion while others just watched, and David was deeply touched by their expression of love and loyalty.
2)Turn to the 2nd chapter of the Gospel of Mark for a moment.
The devotion of David’s men reminds me of an incident from the ministry of Jesus.
It’s the healing of a man who had been paralyzed.
The story is recorded in 3 of the 4 gospels so it must have made quite an impression on the people in Jesus’ day.
Jesus was in Capernaum and all the people of the area had heard he had returned.
We see in verse 2 that the home in which Jesus was teaching was filled to capacity.
But we read of 4 men who had traveled a long way to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus.
And even though there was a huge crowd – they were not about to give up easily.
Their devotion to their friend would not allow them to do so!!
In verse 5 the scripture says – 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Notice it says, when Jesus saw their faith, their devotion, then He healed their friend.
It was their boldness that made the difference!
3)It was also the boldness of the Apostles that made the difference in the beginning of the church.
It was the boldness & devotion of men like Peter & John (Acts 4) – Paul & Silas (Acts 16).
B)Daring devotion. Boldness. Loyalty.
1)From the standpoint of scripture – we’ve seen it in the lives of David’s soldiers – we’ve seen in the lives of people during the ministry of Jesus – we’ve seen it in the lives of those in the early church.
2)Such devotion will always express itself – unfortunately it seems as though there is only a small percentage who are willing to be so bold – but their boldness most assuredly touches the heart of the one they are devoted to.
C)In the story of David and his men, when they returned with the water they had risked their lives by crossing enemy lines to get, we see that David poured it out as an offering to God, an expression of gratitude.
1)David so valued these men, he so valued their loyalty & devotion, that he poured out their gift as an offering before the Lord.
David realized this water could have very easily been the blood of these devoted followers.
They risked their lives for David and he felt unworthy to drink of the fruit of their labor.
2)Love does not count the cost.
Loves does not consider the amount of time or energy.
Rather, because of love, because of devotion, we set forth without question.
3)We as Christians need to break through the lines – those things that keep us from doing the things we should be doing for the sake of the kingdom –to the glory & honor of the King of Kings.
CONCLUSION:
A)Jesus put it like this, “The greatest commandment is this, that you love God with all your heart, and the 2nd is like it, love your neighbor as yourself.”
1)Someone was said “God loved you first, now you just love him back.”
1 John 4:10 says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live thru him.”
2)You and I have the opportunity to demonstrate our love & gratitude to Him by surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ as Savior --
