How We Win: Obedience, Servanthood and Consecration

2 Samuel 23:13-17 — And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim. 14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! 16 And the three mighty men 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: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. 17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

• This is the same battle 23 find in 2 Samuel 5 &
• 3 of the 30 Chief "shalishim" = "" (37 listed here, and 16 others in 1 Chronicles 11:11-47; Pharoahs' captians are called "shalishim")

1. Philistines At "Rephaim" (OBEDIENCE: The Larger War)

2 Samuel 5:17 — But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.

• Strategy was to attack before David's army got too strong.

• Rephaim = is used to comprehend all the larger races of the Canaanites, of whom there were several families

2 Samuel 5:19 — And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

• He considered himself only the captain of the Lord's host,
• The Philistines obviously feared David by their quick action. They feared david, but had not idea was was really happening!
• and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. "as strong place"
• But David does rely on wholly on his or the ability of his army of might men. "Wilt thou deliver?"

2 Samuel 5:20 — And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

• The plain or chief of breaches = the space (GAP) between the severed parts of a solid body parted by violence;

• David's army overwhelms them in fight and burns their idols.

• v. 22 The Philistines came up again - this time "don't go up" but "come up behind"

2 Samuel 5:24 — And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

2Sa 5:25 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

2. Garrisoned at Bethlehem (Servanthood)

• There is a Philistine Garrison at BETHLEHEM.
  • David had taken Jerusalem already (just 6 miles west of Bethelehem)
  • Burial Place of Rachel (Jacob's wife)
  • Best KNown as the city of David "the Shephered King"

Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

- Birth place of Jesus

• Do we talk about Jesus, Victory's past, victory's future?
• With those who need it the most?

2 Samuel 23:15 — And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!

3. David Pouring Out Unto the Lord (Consecration === Our Lives Poured out)

• is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives?