Summary: David's last words are powerful as he teaches the lesson of the lentil field. It is time to take your stand and be counted faithful to the little field before us. You can make a difference when others chose to run.

I WILL STAND FAITHFUL IN MY PEA PATCH!

PAY ATTENTION TO THE LAST WORDS...

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

( I buy a bag of LENTILS at the local grocery store. I discuss value, price, worth ---

Lentils are in the pea, split pea family of plants...)

Psalm 68:1 (KJV) Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee

before him.

WE LEARN A LESSON IN SPEED READING...

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO FIRST WORDS AND THEN FOCUS ON THE LAST WORDS...

A. As we come near to the end of our journey we tend to speak what is lasting, enduring, and

important...

B. The last words speak of the total theme --- THE SUMMARY--- WHAT WE VALUE.

Thus we stress what is really important...

2 Samuel 23:1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man

who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

C. David has traveled THE JOURNEY OF TEARS and old age has made life processes

apparent. CHAPTER 23 WILL RECORD IMPORTANT HISTORY...

2 Samuel 23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling

in the fear of God.

D. GOD'S SPIRIT WARNS THE PEOPLE:

1. May your standard of correction be JUST.

2. Fear God, awl, reverent, respect...

DAVID HAS SOME VERY VALUABLE LESSONS TO TEACH IN 2 SAMUEL 23 ---

HE RECORDS THE HISTORY OF 37 MIGHTY MEN THAT SUPPORT HIM AND GOD'S PLAN...

OF THE 37, 3 STAND OUT AS VERY GODLY...

1. ADINO ---

2 Samuel 23:8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the

seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred,

whom he slew at one time.

A. Adino was a skilled, trained and faithful user of the spear...

B. Adino killed 800 men in one battle.

C. He stepped forward and became a LEADER ---

2. ELEAZAR ---

2 Samuel 23:9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men

with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men

of Israel were gone away: 10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his

hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned

after him only to spoil.

A. When all his fellow soldiers ran away in the heat of the battle, Eleazar STOOD and FOUGHT...

B. Eleazar did not complain and fuss while they ran off...

C. ELEAZAR AROSE TO STAND AND FIGHT...

D. HIS HAND CLAVE TO THE SWORD...

E. After the victory his friends return? He does not throw it up to them.

F. He learned sometimes the battle gets lonely, fight any way...

3. SHAMMAH ---

2 Samuel 23:11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were

gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from

the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines:

and the LORD wrought a great victory.

A. The enemy comes in --- THE FREINDS RUN AWAY...

B. THERE IS A FIELD --- HE HAD PLOWED AND PLANTED THE LENTRILS...

SHAMMAH KNEW --- IT IS TIME TO STAND MY GROUND...

C. THIS FIELD WILL BE THE FOOD SOURCE FOR MY FAMILY --- value, price, worth?

E. THIS BATTLE IS NOT ABOUT ME --- NOT ABOUT TODAY ---

THIS LENTILE PATCH WILL SUSTAIN US...

WHAT MAN THESE THREE: ADINO, ELEAZAR AND SHAMMAH BECOME MIGHTY

SOLDIERS IN DAVID'S KINGDOM?

1. TEAMWORK --- Often a star will not appear on the stage with other stars?

A. Jealousy?

B. Fear?

C. COMPETITION?

2. THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR LEADER ---

David longed for a drink of the WATER from the WELL at home.

They traveled all night and endangered their life... THEY BRING THEIR KING THE WATER...

HE POURS IT ON THE GROUND AS AN OFFERING --- THEY UNDERSTAND ---

3. THESE THREE MIGHTY MEN REALIZED THIS IS WAR --- AND THEY WERE READY TO

FIGHT AND DIE FOR THE KING... They were trained and prepared...

While others ran for safety they STOOD GOD'S GROUND...

4. ADINO, ELEAZAR AND SHAMMAH KNEW THE KING WOULD GET THE REPORT

OF THEIR SERVICE...

They had a DUTY to GOD, to their NATION, to their FAMILY, and to their KING.

They wanted to PLEASE KING DAVID with loyal service.

5. THESE THREE MIGHTY MEN KNEW A GOOD SOLDIER WAS SUBMITTED TO

THEIR LEADER, DAVID AND TO THE MIGHTY GOD OF THE AGES... TO BE A GOOD

LEADER YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO BE BE A FAITHFUL FOLLOWER...

6. THREE HEROIC MEN DID NOT WANT TO DISGRACE THE KING, THEY KNEW GOD

WILL STAND AND HELP, THEY TRUSTED GOD...

7. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COWARDS IN THIS ARMY, FEAR AND DOUBT AND

DISOBEDIENCE WILL BRING DEFEAT... WHEN OBEDIENT AND SUBMITTED GOD'S

PEOPLE ARE INVINCABLE...

Gideon sent those with fear home...

Goliath paralyzed GOD'S ARMY 40 days with fear...

2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and

thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of

this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see

the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow

go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

CONCLUSION: DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD?

WILL YOU RUN IN DEFEAT, OR STAND IN YOUR PEA PATCH AND LET GOD ARISE...?

WHO WILL GRAB THEIR SWORD AND STAND IN GOD'S FIELD? ARISE, O GOD!

His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com