Daily Devotional for Thursday, December 21

David’s Fury

“And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seemeth him good,” 2 Samuel 10:11, 12.

“Be of good courage.” We see this phrase repeated often in the Scriptures. In Deuteronomy, Moses told the children of Israel to have courage. God told this to Joshua as he took over the leadership of the nation of Israel. Jesus encouraged the apostles with it. Paul told this to the Corinthians, and Paul himself was comforted from God with this admonition. Take heart. Be strong. Be of good courage.

In our passage, Joab was leading an army that faced a very difficult situation. As he faced two armies, he had to split his army in two. As he spoke to the commander of his split force, he made a plan of mutual support. He did not leave things to chance. But he also understood that God was in charge, and He would do whatever “seemeth him good” (verse 12). With that in mind, he spoke words of inspiration and hope to his men.

This is an encouragement that we need to give to one another and to our children more and more in the future. As living faithfully to the Word of God becomes increasingly more difficult, we need to encourage one another, speaking strength and faith into the lives of those around us. We must not face our challenges without a plan; we must wisely choose how to live in our world. But we know that our plans do not ensure success. God is in control, and He will do as He pleases. With that knowledge, we can be of good courage.

REFLECTION: Pray, plan, proceed. God can do whatever He wants when we have this attitude.

Jason Rutherford