Second Samuel began with the death of Saul and David, ever the faithful soldier, crying out, "How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!" (2 Sam 1:25)
The question I have today is "How, indeed, have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle?"
Well, for David, "the battle" came when the trained warrior and proven strategist least expected it, as all our waterloos will be.
The question I have today is "How, indeed, have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle?"
Well, for David, "the battle" came when the trained warrior and proven strategist least expected it, as all our waterloos will be.
2 Sam 5: David was God's choice as a teen, but only at 30 years old, he became the people's choice. Didn't know it's so hard to convinse man, huh?
2 Sam 6: after almost a century (or at least 60 years), the ark came home, thanks to David. Applause. Great job.
2 Sam 7: the king in the palace offered to build God a house but God in return made a covenant to build his house forever. Applause again. What an honor.
2 Sam 8-10: seven big battles won over his enemies (well, actually two were walk-overs). Can't beat that record, can we?
2 Sam 11: anti-climax. The mighty fell.
2 Sam 7: the king in the palace offered to build God a house but God in return made a covenant to build his house forever. Applause again. What an honor.
2 Sam 8-10: seven big battles won over his enemies (well, actually two were walk-overs). Can't beat that record, can we?
2 Sam 11: anti-climax. The mighty fell.
Where? In a "safe" place: his palace.
When? At a "safe" time: "In the spring at the time when kings go out to battle" (2 Sam 11:3).
How? Through one innocent walk and one harmless peep: at a woman having her evening bath.
When? At a "safe" time: "In the spring at the time when kings go out to battle" (2 Sam 11:3).
How? Through one innocent walk and one harmless peep: at a woman having her evening bath.
Term break.
This is when many student teams go out on mission trips.
Personally I have been approached by two teams to pray for them daily: one to Mongolia and one in a remote place in East Asia.
And I do, praying daily, asking God for their protection, for divine appointments, for victory over darkness.
But they are not on their most dangerous grounds. The field isn't where the mighty usually falls.
Personally I have been approached by two teams to pray for them daily: one to Mongolia and one in a remote place in East Asia.
And I do, praying daily, asking God for their protection, for divine appointments, for victory over darkness.
But they are not on their most dangerous grounds. The field isn't where the mighty usually falls.
So how have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle?
Where they feel safest: maybe in the office, our own living room at home, watching TV, surfing the net, letting their hair down, letting their guards down, downloading.
When they are most comfortable: confiding in a friend who understands, in the presence of someone they could be vulnerable with, perhaps even a stranger.
While no one's watching. While there is a fleeting moment of boredom and escape from reality and responsibility.
Where they feel safest: maybe in the office, our own living room at home, watching TV, surfing the net, letting their hair down, letting their guards down, downloading.
When they are most comfortable: confiding in a friend who understands, in the presence of someone they could be vulnerable with, perhaps even a stranger.
While no one's watching. While there is a fleeting moment of boredom and escape from reality and responsibility.
While everyone's off to war.
