Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.

2 Samuel 10:1-19

In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.

When David’s men came to the land of the Ammonites, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Hasn’t David sent them to you only to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?” So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.

Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.

Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. When the Ammonites realized that the Arameans were fleeing, they fled before Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab returned from fighting the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem

When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan and went to Helam. The Arameans formed their battle lines to meet David and fought against him. But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobak the commander of their army, and he died there. When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with the Israelites and became subject to them.

So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.

Why?

Original David showed kindness to the Ammonites but their king misunderstood the purpose of David. Then a war was started between Israel Ammonites and Arameans.

This war is induced by misunderstandings or a lack of trust in each other.

Be strong and do what we should to fight bravely, The Lord will do what is good in his sight.

How?

We should make clear everything we meet and make an effort. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.

For I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan

2 Samuel 9:1-13

David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” 

Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s[a] table like one of the king’s sons.

Why?

David did not forget the covenant made with Jonathan, David took care of the living of Mephibosheth like one son of David. David showed kindness for Jonathan's sake.

David returned all Saul's belongings to Mephibosheth and asked Ziba and his family to serve Mephibosheth and his properties.

How?
David is a trustworthy man, so the Lord returns the mercy to him either.

David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people

2 Samuel 8:1-18

In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them.

 David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his monument at[a] the Euphrates River.

When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. 

King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.

Why?

The Lord has promised David ger rid of all his enemies from his land. It is the blessing of the Lord

How?

Our blessing the help is from the Lord. 

With your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.

2 Samuel 7:18-29

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

“And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.

Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

David prayed to the Lord praised the Holy Name of the Lord, and gave thanks to the blessing of the Lord to his family.

Why?

David humbled himself, came to the Lord, and prayed to the Lord for the Lord has promised his name and house will be established.

Yes, there is no one like our God who can bless his children and help us to build a house belonging to Christ.

There is no God but you, as we have heard with our own eyes. 

How?

May the Lord bless me and my family, and may the name of the Lord be great forever in Taiwan and China.

Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.,

2 Samuel 7:1-17

After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”

Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.

The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’

Why?

David loved the Lord so he wanted to build a house of cedar for the Lord. The Lord refused him but said David's offspring would build a house for the Lord.

More important is the promise your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever. This is talking about Jesus, Christ.

The Lord is full of all universal, so the Lord doesn't need any house of cedar and shape of the house.

If we build a house for the Lord, the house could be idle among us like Israel's history kept the ark of God in the tent.

God's love will never be taken away from David, this promise is how great and important to all of us.

How?

My God is a spirit, full of all universal and across space and time, beyond our imaginations.

Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window, she despised David in her heart

2 Samuel 6:12-23

As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

Why?

David said to Abner: my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins. It seems David and Michal had no real love between them.

Even David asked Michal back to him, but there was no real love, so everything David did was meaningless in her eyes.

I will be humiliated in my own eyes, this is a good manner in front of the Lord. These slave girls honored David before the Lord.

How?

Marriage needs real love among each other. It can't be exchanged for anything or profit.

Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled

2 Samuel 6:1-11

David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it,] and Ahio was walking in front of it. David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.

When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.

Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.

David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.

Why?

David made a mistake in that the ark could not carry the car of oxen. The ark has to be held by men's shoulders.

Uzzah died for David's mistake, so David was afraid the ark of the Lord came to the city of David.

Until the Lord blessed the home of Obed-Edom and the entire household, then David found God's blessing better and God's anger, so David welcomed the Ark of the Lord to come to David's city.

How?

Our Lord is full of love and righteousness, so worship the Lord with fear and closer to the for God's love endure forever.

Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. David inquired of the Lord

2 Samuel 5:17-25

Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?” The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” 

Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

Why?

David's war was not David's fighting against the Philistines, but the Lord helped him and struck the Philistines before David went on.

Doing important things, or making important decisions should inquire of the Lord. But most of us may not know which one is the way the Lord gives us. Or We can't hear the voice of the Lord, we may had the way and asked the Lord, so we may not hear the word of the Lord.

How?

Come closer to the Lord and hear the voice of the Lord, when important things need to inquire the Lord we may identify which is the word of the Lord.

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years

2 Samuel 5:1-16

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’” When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.

David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward. And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.

After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

Why?

David became the king of all Israel, conquered Jerusalem, and later became the nation's capital. Because the Lord Almighty was with him.

David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, this is the reason a few years later there were wars among his son. It has begun desolated in his life at Jerusalem.

When we fear the Lord and obey the word of the Lord comes with peace and strength, if has an easy life, and sexual behavior, then war and troubles come. 

Solomon was born in Jerusalem.

How?

Trouble and difficulty make us more trust in the Lord, deluxe and rich are easy turn to destroy and desolation.

should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you

2 Samuel 4:1-12

Now Rekab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth, and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest. They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rekab and his brother Baanah slipped away.

David answered Rekab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, when someone told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!”

So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb at Hebron.

Why?

No matter what relationship among people, we should do the right thing, instead of murder or kill an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed.

David made justice in his country, getting rid of the wicked men who killed an innocent man.

David and Ish-Bosheth are not the enemy but reigned the two different nations. David respected the inheritance of Saul, the anointed king.

How?

Respect each life in the world, men, women, and animals all creatures belong to this world.

Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day?

2 Samuel 3:22-39

Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”

Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier. They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.

All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”

Why?

David planned to let Abner be the commander of Israel, but he was killed by the evildoer, Joan's family.

David was sad that the death of Abner was real, so all the people there and all of Israel were pleased and knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner.

Joab used a trick to kill Abner, Joab's brother died in the battle, which is normal.

David became a new king and pleased all the people in Israel. This is the real good king.

How?

Joab is avenging private revenge, This is unfair and mean behavior. May my heart walk on the way of righteousness and love

Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you

2 Samuel 3:1-21

The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, “Am I a dog’s head—on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.”  Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you.”

Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king. Now do it! For the Lord promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’”

Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin wanted to do. When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men. Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

Why?

David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. It is the way of the Lord.

Abner helped David become king of all the Israelites. Not only for the woman but also for the word of the Lord hoped David to be king of Israel.

Abner did his best effort to help all tribes of Isreal come to Hebron and let David be their king.

How?

People have their own's plans, but the Lord has a better arrangement, and there are some difficulties or trouble. The way of the Lord always is right. 

Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness?

2 Samuel 2:12-32

Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.

The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.

Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”

But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? 

Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

Why?
Belong to the same country all are Israelites, but they belong to different kings, so they fought and Joab's men killed four times the people of Abner.

This is the war among the brothers of the Israelites.

Joab seems to have conquered Abner, but he lost his brother Ashel.

The sword must not devour forever! The war ends in bitterness.

How?

Peace is better than war, so love is better than envy.

The people of Judah have anointed me king over them in Hebrou

2 Sanuel 2:1-11

In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered.

When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”

Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.

Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned for two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.

Why?

One king in Hevron was anointed by the people of Judah. Another king Ish-Bosheh was token by Abner as king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all of Isreal. 

One king was anointed by the Lord, and another king was set up by man.

Israelites separated into two nations. 

The people in this world are reigned by two kings, One belongs to the Lord, saved by Jesus Christ, and others belong to their own.

This is the beginning of Israel's division into two parts, separated to the north and south Israel.

How?

This is the world and this is the real situation now. Blessing are those who know the Lord and obey God's words. People like authority and the great name has existed from the beginning.

How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights

 2 Samuel 1:1-27

After the death of Saul, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor.

So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.”

Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

David asked him, “Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” Then David called one of his men and said, “Go, strike him down!” So he struck him down, and he died. For David had said to him, “Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed.’”

David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar)

“How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful,  more wonderful than that of women.

“How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!”

Why?

David was sad about Saul and Jonathan's death. The messenger might have thought that reporting to David may get a reward, but it didn't for this report he was killed for he killed the Lord's anointed.

David wrote a lament for Saul and Jonathan. because David respected Saul and loved Jonathan, even though Saul wanted to kill David. David respected Saul for he was anointed by the Lord.

From the lament, David remembered what Saul had done for Israel, Saul had many contributions to his country. A man no matter what people say there are two sides to a man.

How?

We grieve for our lover and respected person. 

The people of Jabesh Gilead, they took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh

1 Samuel 31:1-13

But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.

When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all their valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.

Why?

As the Lord said through Samuel Saul and his sons were dead on Mount Gilboa.

The Philistines were ashamed of the body of Saul, but the people of Javesh Gilead braved to take down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Bath Shan and burned them, and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh.

Even Saul did not listen to the word of the Lord, Saul was anointed by the Lord.

This is a sad day, and it is the time for David to be king of Israel.

The people of Gilead loved Saul, so they buried their body and fasted for seven days. In 1 Samuel 11, Saul rescues the city of Jebesh Gilead from the Ammonites. Before Saul was confirmed as king.

How?

God's time is beyond our time, God's way is always better than our idea. We should do like Gilead; they remembered Saul's help.

The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.

1 Samuel 30:11-30

They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat— part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.

He said, “I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. We raided the Negev of the Kerethites, some territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag.”

David asked him, “Can you lead me down to this raiding party?”

He answered, “Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them.”

David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, “This is David’s plunder.”

Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Valley.

David replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this.

Why?

This victory does not belong to anyone, but is the grace of the Lord, so they can "nothing missing and achieved many plunder.

David made the right decision and made a whole Israelite unit become one country, a nation.

Everyone does their job there is no difference among our team, so David gave everyone the same plunder and gave to his hometown friends and elders. Sharing the joy of victory.

How?

Share the achievement from the Lord with all who work with us.

But David found strength in the Lord his God

1 Samuel 30:1-10

David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.

David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”

“Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”

David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind. Two hundred of them were too exhausted to cross the valley, but David and the other four hundred continued the pursuit.

Why?

David was very distressed, his action was asked the Lord.

It is another chance let David to kill the people of Amalekites, and they take captive the women and everyone else in Ziklag.

The sadness, frustration, and anger focused on David, because David is their leader, and David needs to bear this responsibility.

David knew he belonged to the Lord so the first thing he did was ask the Lord to pursue their enemies. It is not to make the decision in a revenge mood.

How? 

No matter what happens to me before making the decision, I should ask the Lord. Don't make decisions in a hurry situation or angry mode.

I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you

1 Samuel 29:1-11

He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.”

But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? 

So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you. Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.”

Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.”

So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

Why?

It is reasonable the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish for David with them. They could not trust David. They asked David to leave them to help David don't fight with Isrealites. It is hard to explain after this war.

Achish trusted in David for David served Achish honestly. This is a basic manner to serve anyone who helped us.

The Lord by the hands of Achish and Philistine let David get rid of this battle is good for David to be king of Israel.

How?

Everything is in the hands of the Lord, He has the best plan and strategy and the best time for us.