Today's Video Devotion

Wednesday 4/26/23

Don't Give Up on the Brink of a Miracle

📺️ 1 Chronicles 11 🔊

¹Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

 ²And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.

 ³Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.

 ⁴And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.

 ⁵And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.

 ⁶And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.

 ⁷And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.

 ⁸And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.

 ⁹So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him.

 ¹⁰These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.

 ¹¹And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.

 ¹²And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.

 ¹³He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.

 ¹⁴And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance.

 ¹⁵Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

 ¹⁶And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.

 ¹⁷And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!

 ¹⁸And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD.

 ¹⁹And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.

 ²⁰And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.

 ²¹Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.

 ²²Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.

 ²³And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

 ²⁴These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.

 ²⁵Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.

 ²⁶Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

 ²⁷Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

 ²⁸Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite,

 ²⁹Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

 ³⁰Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,

 ³¹Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

 ³²Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

 ³³Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

 ³⁴The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,

 ³⁵Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,

 ³⁶Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

 ³⁷Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,

 ³⁸Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,

 ³⁹Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,

 ⁴⁰Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

 ⁴¹Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,

 ⁴²Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,

 ⁴³Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

 ⁴⁴Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,

 ⁴⁵Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,

 ⁴⁶Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,

 ⁴⁷Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Ezra

Date Penned: (430 BC)

Overview: A History of God's Chosen People (c 1-29)

Theme: The Reign of David (c 10-29)

Message: David Conquers Jerusalem (v 1-47)

1 Chronicles 11 Commentary 

(11:1-2) God's Will on Display - The details of how David came to power are given more completely in the book of 2 Samuel. Chronicles emphasizes that God was the one who declared David to be the ruler, although he used the efforts of many people, including some members of Saul's own family. God is still sovereign over history, directing events to accomplish his will. The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles demonstrate that no matter what people may do to try to hinder God's work, God still controls all events and works his will in them

(11:3-4) David Rules Judah and Israel - David was king over Judah for seven and a half years before he captured Jerusalem. When David was finally anointed king over all Israel, more than 20 years had passed since Samuel had anointed him (1 Samuel 16:1-13) God's promises are worth waiting for, even when his timetable doesn't match our expectations or desires.

(11:4) Jerusalem is Chosen as Capital - David chose Jerusalem as his capital for political and military reasons. Jerusalem was near the center of the kingdom and, because it rested on a tribal border, was in neutral territory. Thus, its location decreased tribal jealousies. Jerusalem also sat on a high ridge, making it difficult to attack. (For more information on the city of Jerusalem, see the first note on 2 Samuel 5:6-7.)

(11:9) David's Power Increased - David's power increased as a direct result of his consistent trust in God. In contrast, Saul's power had decreased because he had wanted all the credit for himself and ignored God ( Samuel 15:17-26). Those who are concerned about building a name for themselves risk losing the very recognition they crave. Like David, we should pursue righteousness, honesty, and excellence, and leave the results to God.

(11:12-14) Eleazar is Saved by the Lord - Eleazar's action changed the course of a battle. When everyone around him ran, he held his ground alongside David and was saved by the Lord. In any struggle, fear can keep us from taking a stand for God--and from participating in God's victories. Whatever your situation, face your fear head-on. Find other believers along the way who are worth standing beside through thick and thin. If you are grounded in God, victory will come when you hold that ground.

(11:15-19) David's Men Come to His Aid - These three men risked their lives just to serve and please David. David recognized that their loyalty to him was inspired by their devotion to God, so he poured out the water as a drink offering, demonstrating that only God is worthy of such devotion. Just as these men gave of themselves to serve David, we should put aside our own interests to serve other Christians (Romans 12:10). When we serve others, we are also serving God.

(1:15) The Thirty Captains - The thirty captains were the most courageous and skilled of David's fighting men.

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of 1 Chronicles with Chapter 11. In our text today we see David Conquers Jerusalem and David's Bravest warriors. What catches my eye is how Eleazar actions changed the course of the battle in verses 12-14. When everyone around him ran, he held his ground and was saved by the Lord. In making application we see how when we stand in the midst of life's battles the Lord can use us to bring about His Will. It reminds me of those who faithfully pray and witness to others the world gives up on to see the Lord use us to bring about salvation in their lives. The simple application is to not give up on the brink of a miracle. I am reminded of how I received Christ. What if the one who witnessed to me gave up and quit witnessing to me thinking it was a hopeless cause. I am glad that there was one who stood in the gap when others stopped trying, How about you? Do you stand and fight for God even when others quit? Let us learn from our text today and the life of Eleazar to stand for the Lord even when others quit so we too wont give up on the brink of a miracle.