Administration in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 8:15-18)

09/09/2010 7:58:35 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Administration in Jerusalem

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  2Sam. 8:15-18; 1Chron. 18:15-18

            Message of the verses:  “15 ¶  So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people. 16  Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder. 17  Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was secretary. 18  Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.

“15  Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 16  and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was secretary; 17  and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.”

In a footnote on this section Dr. Wiersbe points out that the book of 2Samuel ends a major division with lists of people’s names and so this is the end of a division in 2^nd Samuel giving the names of the people who served under David in various positions.  I am not going to go over all of these names like Dr. Wiersbe did in his commentary because I have a very difficult time in following them, for example one of these men had four different names given in different places of the Bible.  Joab was the head of David’s army even though he had committed murder along with his brother.  There are two priests names who were priests during David’s reign.  Seraiah, (the one with four names), was the secretary, and from what I have read this is a very important position kind of like our secretary of state. Benaiah the head of these people from another country who were David’s bodyguards and Benaiah was also a priest and this is rather unusual to have a priest in this position.

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have been studying about leadership and what makes up a good leader, and one of the things that I have learned is that a good leader always realizes that he is second in command, David realized that God was in command and that He used David to lead the people of Israel under His command.  David was a good leader, as David was a man after God’s own heart.

I desire to be a good leader in my home, but have failed on far too many occasions.  I have confessed these sins to the Lord asking for His forgiveness.  I see my biggest problem in this area is being to certain and not allowing the Lord to show me what He wants done.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1.      Wait on the Lord to lead me along the path that He wants me to go.

2.      Work on taking every thought captive.

9/9/2010 8:39:39 AM