1 Chronicles 17:1-20:8 Comments by Stephen Ricker
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The Lord's Favor to David
Comments for Study 9

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Memory Verse: 17:12
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Outline

MAPS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH
A MAP OF THE DIVISION OF CANAAN
A MAP OF DAVID'S ESCAPE FROM SAUL AND BATTLE AT GILBOA
A MAP OF DAVID'S CONQUESTS
A MAP OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF ISRAEL
A MAP OF JERUSALEM AND THE TEMPLE
OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS TIMELINE
A LIST OF ISRAEL'S KINGS AND PROPHETS
A TIMELINE OF ISRAEL'S HISTORY
A TIMELINE FROM BABYLON TO ROMAN EMPIRES

I. God's Promise to David (17:1-27)

Jerusalem Old City

* See a picture of the old city of Jerusalem taken from the Mount of Olives to the right. (NIV Study Bible)

>1. What did David tell Nathan the prophet? (17:1) What was Nathan's initial response? (2) Was his advice the Lord's will? (3-6) What was God's dwelling place from the day the Israelites came out of Egypt? What can we learn about God? (7, John 1:14; Mt. 11:29-30) Why do you think God discouraged David from building a house for him? (1 Chron. 28:3)

* "After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent." 2 Nathan replied to David, "Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you." 3 That night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: 4 "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. 5 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. 6 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"' (1-6)

* The Lord's promise to David is also in 2 Samuel 7.

* Where does God dwell? David had it wrong. The Ark of the Lord was in a tent in Jerusalem that he had constructed and pitched. (1). David implied that the Lord God was thus living in a tent. Interestingly, Nathan the prophet did not correct him (2).

I can imagine a group of people sitting at a dinner table when David decided it was time to bring up something that was on his mind and in his heart. I believe that building a temple for the Lord had been on David's mind and in his heart ever since he saw the Philistine temples with their idols in them while he was amongst them when Saul was trying to kill him.

Nathan gave David bad advice. A man of God is not infallible though a few I have had the acquaintance of portrayed the belief they are. The Lord God enlightened and rebuked both David and Nathan.

"I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day," was the Lord's excoriation (5). Was the Lord God walking and sitting in the tabernacle and now David's tent invisible from our eyes? Was he laying in the Ark of the Lord? Was he the two stone tablets inside the Ark? No to all those silly questions?

The irony is the thought that anything that David would commission to be used to build a temple is but one infinitesimal piece of that which the Lord God created. Does that mean that the Spirit of God cannot be in a tent, a temple, or a person? No. For the Lord told David, "I have moved from one tent site to another..." (5)

God's people are now the temple of God meaning he dwells in all those who confess the name of Jesus. What does it mean for the Lord God to dwell in a tent and a person? God's presence in something or someone does not exclude the truth that he does not dwell somewhere else.

When David was in Ziklag located in Philistine territory the Lord God was there too. When David was in Gath, one of their capital cities the Lord God was there too. If David stepped inside the temple of the Philistines idol, the Lord God would have been there too. God was there when David was telling Nathan about his plans to build a temple. God is everywhere. The question really is, do I seek him everywhere?

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2 Samuel 7 & 1 Chronicles Comparison

>2. Where was David when God called him and what was his life like? (7, 1 Sa. 17:34-37) How did God show his love for David? (8; 2 Samuel 3:1) What did God promise David for the future of his kingdom? (8a-10) In what sense are verses 11 and 14 Messianic promises? (Lk. 1:32-33) What does these teach about God's love to his children? (1 Cor. 13:6-7; Heb. 12:7-11)

* "Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel. 8 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 like the names of the greatest men of the earth. 9 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 10 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. "'I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you: 11 When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.'" 15 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation." (7-15)

* The Lord's response to David is also recorded in 2 Samuel 7:4-17.

* The author of Chronicles omits the "punishment with the rod" or "flogging".

* Verse 14 is also slightly different that 2 Samuel 7:16.

* After the Lord corrected and rebuked David and the prophet Nathan (4-6) he turned the tables on David. David had wanted to build a temple (1). The Lord reminded them of everything he had done for David (7). Then he told him his plans.

David was the Lord's servant, not the other way around (7). The Lord had rescued him from being a nobody shepherd boy. The Lord had made him king. The Lord had always been with David (??. The Lord had removed all of David's enemies. David was successful not because David was great. David had accomplished only because the Lord had made it so. David was and still is great because the Lord had made it so.

The Lord's plans had always been for Israel's benefit (9). The Lord had been keeping his promise to Abraham, the man of faith in the Lord God.

The Lord Jesus looked to the future. Verses 9 and 10 are future tense. In the future, they will have a place. In the future, they will have a home of their own. In the future, they will not be disturbed, In the future, wicked people will not oppress them. In the future, the Lord will subdue Israel's enemies. That is why David was successful.

I have plans. That is good. However, do my plans match up to the Lord's? Do my desires and dreams exist in the will of the Lord? Even if my intent is for the benefit of the Lord and others, they may not be in the will of the Lord. Or perhaps they are in the will of the Lord, but my motivation is wrong. I could be like Nathan and believe that the Lord is with me in everything I do and so I can do anything. Such thinking needs the Lord's rebuke.

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* The offspring the Lord promised who would succeed David is Jesus. Jesus is the house the Lord built. David had already built himself a fine house made of cedar (1). So the Lord's promise to build a house for David (10b) is a different kind of house. Jesus' house is a different kind of house.

The Lord promised to "raise up" David's succeeding offspring. The Hebrew word for "raise up" is "qum" meaning; arise, lift up, establish, stand, and confirm. "Qum" is a primitive root word. The implication in the Lord's covenant with David is that the offspring will start afresh a new kind of kingdom. Jesus' kingdom is a new kind of kingdom established on the covenant of Jesus' blood.

Jesus' kingdom is also a house (14). Jesus' father is God (13). Jesus is the son of God (13). Mary's conception was immaculate. She was a virgin when she conceived Jesus for the Holy Spirit came upon her. A man did not come upon her. Therefore, Jesus' physical father is God.

God loves Jesus eternally (13). Jesus is King eternally (14). Jesus' kingdom is eternal (14). Jesus' throne is established forever (14). Saul's throne ended when he died. David's line of sons who reigned ended. Jesus, the son of David rules forever and his kingdom is unending.

A household has children. A kingdom has subjects. I am in Jesus' house. I am in Jesus' kingdom. The Hebrew word "bayit" in verses 10 and 12 is also translated as a "temple". The Lord was turning over David's plans to build the Lord a temple. Instead, the Lord would build a temple that one son of David would build and establish. Jesus built it and I am in that household.

>3. As David reviewed God's past dealings with him what as his response? (16) What was David's attitude toward God? What does David's prayer mention about God's grace? (Ps. 116:12)

* Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 17 And as if this were not enough in your sight, O God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men, O LORD God. 18 "What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, 19 O LORD. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises." (17:16-19)

* David was humble. He acknowledged his humble beginnings (16). Humility is knowing and accepting myself; my sullied past, my imperfect character, my infected soul (heart and mind), and my Lord's mercy and grace in dealing with and purifying me.

David's humble character was in spite of the fact that he knew that the Lord treated him and loved him in an exalted way (17).

When I ponder myself and my relationship with God I wonder do I truly accept the promises he made to me through Christ? I am jealous of David because of the words he spoke to David here. I am jealous because I want them for myself. And yet through Jesus, I already do have them. So do I believe? Then why am I jealous?

The promises that God makes are not connected to my sullied past, imperfect character, nor my infected soul for Christ has and will deal with me in mercy and grace all the days of my life. When God says through the Spirit, "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God." (Rom. 8:14) and "Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." (Rom. 8:17), then I am the same as David. I am under the covenant of Christ.

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>4. What does David know about the greatness of God? (20; Ex. 15:11; and 1 Kings 8:23; and 2 Chron. 20:6) What does David refer to as the special goodness of God to his own people? (21-22; Mt. 21:43; and 1 Pet. 2:9; 2 Thes. 2:13) What does David describe as the covenant of God's grace? (23-24; Num. 23:19; and 1 Thes. 1:4; Ps. 119:49) How could David have such confident expectation? (Ps. 119:25, 28, 41, 58) What was the basis of David's bold prayer? (25) How can we hold onto God's promises? (Is. 1:18; Jer. 3:22; Is. 40:29-31; Prov. 3:6, James 1:5; 1 Cor. 10:13; Phil. 4:19) What is David's supreme desire? (26-27; 1 Cor. 10:31; John 12:27, 17:1) On what basis did David build his hopes? (27; Ps. 119:58) What wonderful characteristics are manifested in David's prayer?

* "There is no one like you, O LORD, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 21 And who is like your people Israel--the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22 You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, O LORD, have become their God. 23 "And now, LORD, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, 24 so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then men will say, 'The LORD Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel's God!' And the house of your servant David will be established before you. 25 "You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. 26 O LORD, you are God! You have promised these good things to your servant. 27 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever." (17:20-27)

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A Map of the Kingdom of David and Solomon

* See a map depicting the kingdom of King David and King Solomon that was once in Bibles that are now in public domain.

II. David's Victories (18:1-17)

>5. Who does these verses say David defeated? Who surrendered without a fight? (18:9-10) What reasons does the writer emphasize for David's success? (13)

* "In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines. 2 David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to him and brought tribute. 3 Moreover, David fought Hadadezer king of Zobah, as far as Hamath, when he went to establish his control along the Euphrates River. 4 David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses. 5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. 6 He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The LORD gave David victory everywhere he went. 7 David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 From Tebah and Cun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea, the pillars and various bronze articles. 9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze. 11 King David dedicated these articles to the LORD, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. 12 Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13 He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory everywhere he went." (1-13)

* David's victories is also in 2 Samuel 8.

* Financial, military, and business success is a gift of God. God has his plans and purposes which are mostly hidden from humans. His ways are hidden by God's intervention and by our sin and character flaws. God's plans include a successful streak. Often baffling is who has success and who does not. Still, a wise person will acknowledge God makes a person successful in this season and then not in another.

David did not always have a successful streak. However, during this time he was successful. David defeated the Philistines (1), Moabites (2), Zobahites (3,4) and Arameans -future Syria (5,6). The Zobahites (120 miles north of Damascus) congratulated David and gave him gifts (9,10).

David had dedicated the plunder of war to the Lord. He put them in the treasury of the future temple (11). Solomon later used much of the war plunder to build the temple and its furnishings.

Whether God gives success or not I should acknowledge the hand of God and honor his name. When he blesses with success I will give a portion back to him.

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>6. How does David's treatment of the spoils of war different from the way in which he dealt with the gods of the Philistines captured in battle? (11; 1 Chron. 14:8-12) Is there a reason for this? (Deut. 7:5)

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>7. What kind of leader was David? (14) Who did he share leadership with? How does this foreshadow the Kingdom of God?

* "David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 15 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary; 17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David's sons were chief officials at the king's side." (14-17)

* 2 Samuel 9 is omitted from 1 Chronicles. It is about Jonathan's Mephibosheth.

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III. David and the Ammonites, Israel's Relatives (19:1-20:8)

>8. To whom did David want to show kindness? (1-2) How was his kindness received? How did this event spark a way of international proportions? To what major victory did this war lead?

* "In the course of time, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him as king. 2 David thought, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because 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 Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, 3 the Ammonite nobles said to Hanun, "Do you think David is honoring your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? Haven't his men come to you to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?" 4 So Hanun seized David's men, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away. 5 When someone came and told David about the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, "Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back." 6 When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench in David's nostrils, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah and Zobah. 7 They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maacah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba, while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle." (19:1-7)

* 2 Samuel 10 is also about David defeating the Ammonites.

* David showed kindness to the son of a man he had respected. The man he respected was Nahash king of the Ammonites. Nahash has shown David kindness. David sent a noble delegation to pay his respects when Nahash died (1,2).

Nahash's son, Hanun did not return the respect with kindness. Instead, he insulted David and David's friends. He shaved David's friends, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away in shame (4). Then he prepared to go to war against David (6,7).

I have been disrespected several times in my life. At times I have been like David and had my kindness returned with insult and injury. Several emotions spring from insult and disrespect; sadness and anger. Several thoughts spring too; doubt, blame, and confusion. The emotions and thoughts vary depending on who inflicted me with insult and disrespect.

Thoughts and emotions drive reactions and actions. Suppressing responses to insult and disrespect is not wise. That only delays the response and the suppression often results in an improper response.

Returning insult with an insult is just as destructive as suppressing the response. Returning insult to insult ends in casualties and heightened negative emotions and thoughts.

Jesus taught how to deal with insult and disrespect and the emotions and thoughts that go with them. Jesus said, "If someone stricks you on the cheek, turn to them the other cheek." So, when I show kindness to someone, and they return the kindness with insult and disrespect, I am to show them kindness. Wow. Lord change my character to be like yours.

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David Punishing the Ammonites

* See a wood engraving by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) to the right depicting David punishing the Ammonites. Dore's drawings were in Bibles that are now in public domain. This one was scanned in by creationism.org.

>9. According to Joab's words, what was the spirit of the Israelites under David? (8-11) Who did Joab depend on? (10-11) Why was David able to defeat superior numbers and superior equipment? Why do you think the Arameans and Ammonites did not win in spite of superior numbers and better weapons?

10. What can we learn about the power of fear and the blessings of faith in the Lord Jesus? (2 Tim. 1:6-7)

* "On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men. 9 The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country. 10 Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. 11 He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother, and they were deployed against the Ammonites. 12 Joab said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you. 13 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." 14 Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. 15 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans were fleeing, they too fled before his brother Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem. 16 After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they sent messengers and had Arameans brought from beyond the River, with Shophach the commander of Hadadezer's army leading them. 17 When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan; he advanced against them and formed his battle lines opposite them. David formed his lines to meet the Arameans in battle, and they fought against him. 18 But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach the commander of their army. 19 When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore." (8-19)

* Israel fought two related battles in these verses. Joab leads Israel in the first battle. David leads Israel in the second battle.

David did not go to the battle with the Ammonites, the first battle. He sent Joab out (8.) David did go to the battle with the Arameans, the second battle (17). Why didn't David stay in Jerusalem leaving the army to Joab in the first battle?

David is king. He exercised his power. David had been fighting wars since as a young lad he walked into the battlefield and slain Goliath. Now he is past middle age in a city he had conquered, in a luxurious home he built, surrounded by his wives, children, and attendants. He had grown tired of constant running and fighting.

David only came out of semi-retirement to fight the Arameans in the second battle because when that loose confederation of towns and settlements in what became Syria joined their full force they were as powerful as Israel. They were indeed a serious threat to David's now comfortable life.

I don't know of one single person; whether rich or poor, famous or infamous, proud or humble, accomplished or incompetent, male or female, wise or a fool that doesn't get tired of doing the "same old, same old." David was tired of going out to fight spring after spring after spring. He was tired of always being on the run. So when the first threat arose he stayed home.

Routine and good habits are very constructive and important to peace and productivity. A ship that's anchor is unused ends up embattled and beaten by storms till even only a downpour sinks its tired hull. However, God also designed us to occasionally escape routine, lift the anchor, hoist the schooner, and experience a pleasant distraction or even a short-lived disturbance.

Design good productive habits, but do not neglect to address serious threats to the home.

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>10. What problem happened to David when he responded to the Philistine threat? (10:1-8) What was the result of this? What happened at the second battle with the Philistines? In the third? In the fourth? Who were they and what does this tell us?

* "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, Joab led out the armed forces. He laid waste the land of the Ammonites and went to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and left it in ruins. 2 David took the crown from the head of their king--its weight was found to be a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones--and it was placed on David's head. He took a great quantity of plunder from the city 3 and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes. David did this to all the Ammonite towns. Then David and his entire army returned to Jerusalem. 4 In the course of time, war broke out with the Philistines, at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaites, and the Philistines were subjugated. 5 In another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver's rod. 6 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot--twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 7 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him. 8 These were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men." (20:1-8)

* David's sins with Bathsheba and her husband is omitted from 1 Chronicles.

* David's battle with the Philistines in also in 2 Samuel 21:15-22 which is considered part of the epilogue of Samuel's historical account.

* The Lord promised Abraham and his descendants that he would give them Canaan. The Israelites promised that they would obey him at Mount Sanai. God and Israel had made a covenant.

The stones that the covenant was written on were in the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark was in a tent in Jerusalem. David wanted to build a temple to put the Ark in.

The covenant was also written on paper by Moses. Moses also recorded other words that the Lord gave. Moses wrote five books in all. They recorded history, commands, and direction from the Lord.

Some of the commands concerned what the Israelites were to do once they occupies the promised land. They were to conquer it by war. The Lord promised to fight for them. When they won battles they were to kill all the Canaanites. None of them were to live. All the spoils of war were to go to the Lord when the Lord told them so. Because the Israelites disobeyed the Lord he told them he would keep some of their enemies in Canaan to test and to train them.

The Israelites were tired of being attacked and war. They believed it was because they didn't have a king who would fight for them. So they asked for a king. This was yet another rejection of the Lord. God gave them a king as they asked. The king did fight for them. However, naturally the Israelites still had to fight. Having a king did not make their lives easier as they believed. It made their life more complicated.

1 Chronicles 20 records some battles during the later years of David, the king of Israel. Some sins are recorded in these passages.

    1. David did not go to war in the spring, at the time when kings go off to war (1).
    2. David took the plunder of war for himself (2).
    3. David did not kill all the Canaanites (3, 4).

The best course in life is to keep to the covenant of the blood of Jesus. I need to be content in the Lord. I must come to turns at my shortcoming and lay them on Jesus. I need to trust and obey.

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