From:                                         Phil Rembleski <prembleski@gmail.com>

Sent:                                           Tuesday, December 27, 2022 8:51 AM

To:                                              

Subject:                                     12-26-22 THOUGHTS

 

12-26-22   THOUGHTS 

“Be careful what you wish for, cause it might come true.”  A strange and  short reading this morning.  2Samuel chapter 23 is an interesting account of David’s  “mighty  men”.  Without the tactical weapons of a modern “special opps” soldier, these men must have been awesome, powerful men. The descriptions of their accomplishments boggle the mind.  These are David’s personal guard.  Their love and loyalty for David is seen below.  I want us to see the relationship between warrior and king.  David vocally expresses a “craving”.  He wants a drink from a well that is occupied by his enemy.  “Your wish is my command” is their response.  They jeopardize their very lives to bring David water from this well.  Our lesson begins here.  David recognizes that his idle words could have cost these men their lives.  He will not drink this water, but pours it out to the Lord!  He says  “Shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?"   What love and honor between mortals.  Maybe there’s a lesson for me about simple obedience to my Lord?   


2Sam 23:13-17    Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam, while the troop of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. 14  David was then in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15  David had a craving and said, "Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!" 16  So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD; 17  and he said, "Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.
Prov 10:21   The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of understanding.
Prov 15:4   A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
Prov 25:11    [Like] apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
Eph 4:29   Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such [a word] as is good for edification according to the need [of the moment,] so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Col 4:5-6    Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6  Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Matt 12:34b  "For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.”

My Prayer:
O Father, keep us aware of the words we speak.  Make us perceptive to every person and possible consequence of our speaking.  Help us to be wise in our interactions with the world. May the words of our heart be a tree of life to many.        In Jesus name,    Amen.