DCLM Higher Everyday 22 July 2023 — Death Is An Obstinate Soldier
DCLM Higher Everyday 22 July 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Death Is An Obstinate Soldier
Topic: Death Is An Obstinate Soldier
Text: 2 Samuel 2:18-28
19And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
20Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
21And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
22And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
23Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
24Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
25And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
26Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
27And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
28So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
Key Verse: “Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died…” (2 Samuel 2:23).
Message
The tragic end of Asahel should serve as a danger sign to all youths who are fond of wanting to do things their own way. Though a talented and fast-moving soldier, he lacked discretion and was stubbornly committed to a useless course which eventually led to his premature death. Abner had persuaded him to turn aside but he refused to heed the warning. Lord Chesterfield rightly stated, “Advice is seldom welcome, and those who need it the most like it the least.” This is quite true of Asahel!
Many youths hear warnings to abstain from drugs, alcohol, fornication, theft and other vices, but they refuse, thinking that they are on top of the world. The end of such obstinacy is doom. If there is any sin in your life, and you continue in it, it will lead to destruction and frustrate God’s plan for your life. If truly you are a child of God, you must avoid pride, obstinacy and over-confidence as they can bring you down unexpectedly. Surrender your life to Christ – repent of obstinacy and all kinds of sin.
Quote: Repent of obstinacy.
Challenge: Don’t frustrate God’s plan for your life.
Prayer for today: Dear God, take stubbornness from me, in Jesus’ name.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
