SUNDAY 6 November, 2016
One Man among Many
Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heleb the son of Baanah (the Netophathite), Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, - 2 Samuel 23:24-29
Imagine the might of Asahel––one man whose name is seen among thirty men of renown. He was the youngest son of Zeruiah, David’s sister and the brother of Joab and Abishai. Asahel was swift on his feet and he learned to be an avid fighter. David made him a commander over a large division of his army (1 Chronicles 27:7). In his eagerness to take down Abner, Saul’s cousin and commander-in-chief, he was reluctantly killed. Abner in self-defense slew Asahel; he would not listen to his plea to turn aside (2 Samuel 2:18-23). He lived and died as a heroic warrior.
In our families it is good to raise our sons and daughters to be strong in the Lord and to stand and fight the enemy as they engage in spiritual warfare. Psalm 127:3-5 tells us:
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
The gate was a place of warfare because it gave entrance to the city. A man’s sons once grown and trained for war would be able to stand and courageously defend their home. They became a blessing to their parents. In what ways are you directing the lives of your young children?
"Our children are what we make them. They are represented as arrows in the hand of a mighty man, and arrows go the way we aim them."
~Charles Surgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!
