Day 100

The Help of God and the Help of Man

Read: 2 Samuel 23-24

Once again, in a psalm, David recognizes the help of God. God spoke through him. God blessed him for ruling justly. God made a covenant with him. There is also a list of the many people who had helped David by serving him faithfully as king.

The help of God is foremost. But we also need people to help us. God uses people. There was Shammah who took his stand against the Philistines. There was Benaiah who killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day. The pit and the snow were factors which made his task difficult, but he did not flinch. Many today are more interested in their ease and comfort than in fighting the Lord’s battles with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Again David sins. In his pride, he wants to number his fighting men to show how great he is. This time Joab gives good advice, but David does not heed it. Then he recognizes his sin. But the deed is done and consequences follow. When allowed to choose what his punishment will be, he chooses the plague over famine or foes, realizing God will be more merciful to him than his enemies would. Obedient to God’s prophet, David builds an altar at the cost of personal sacrifice. The final word of the book is “The LORD heeded supplications.”

PRAYER
Father, we need you and we need to learn to work with others. Forgive us. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.