David Archives – CadreMen Press Devotionals

Stick To The Calling

Stick To The Calling by Kirk Hunt

And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder.

2 Samuel 23:9-10 NKJV

Eleazar, the son of Dodo, fought against the Philistines so long and so hard that his hand cramped around the hilt of his sword. When it finally came time to let go of his weapon, he could not. I have experienced this same effect using construction tools. May your service in God’s Kingdom induce the same “stick to it” at least once in your life.

Alone, after all others retreated, Eleazar fought on. He fought with courage greater than his fear. His determination was so fierce that his hand froze around his weapon. He fought to the end because he could not let the enemy win or leave his calling in God.

Here and now, under the grace and truth of Jesus Christ, we fight for God’s Kingdom. In this era we serve and minister rather than swing swords. Still, our level of effort can all too easily match Eleazar’s exertions on that nameless battlefield.

Make no mistake: God brings the victory. A mighty man or woman of God is willing to be His instrument. Let God use you to achieve the impossible.

Think: Mighty are the men and women who stick to it in service to Him.

Pray: “Father-God, help me to stick to my calling.”

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press. You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

The Lord Has Blessed The House

The Lord Has Blessed The House by Kirk Hunt

Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.

2 Samuel 6:12 NKJV

King David heard the news and concerned himself with Obed-Edom. Obed-Edom’s faithful service involved having the Ark of God (aka the Ark of The Covenant) in his home. God’s presence and power made itself known with blessing of the man’s house and household.

After the tragedy of Uzzah, David placed the Ark in Obed-Edom’s house. Obed-Edom faithfully maintained the physical symbol of God’s presence on earth in his home. For three months, the power of God directly rewarded him and his. So much so, that a king looked on with longing.

Your faithful service in God’s kingdom is never without reward. No amount of money can purchase His peace. No level of fame gives His joy. Even the rich, or high, or mighty will look at His presence in your life and covet what you have.

It may not seem like much to you, but be faithful anyway. If God gave your calling, then it is important. And God’s blessing of you, and your house, will make it worthwhile.

Think: God blesses the house of men and women who serve Him in spirit and truth.

Pray: “Father-God, help me to serve my calling in spirit and truth.”

Strength, Courage and Salvation

Strength, Courage and Salvation by Kirk Hunt

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.

Psalm 27:1-2 NKJV

Godly men and women have enemies and foes, just like everyone else. What is different is that we live in the grace and protection of our all-powerful God. God is our strength. Always.

Can God’s people be battered and bruised? Perhaps. Can God’s people be beaten and defeated? Not until after they beat and defeat God. But we must operate in God’s strength, not our own.

King David, experienced and understood unjust treatment and persecution. Yet, here in this Psalm, he sang in victory about the light and salvation of God. Whether hiding in a cave or living in a palace, David understood that God was greater than his enemies.

David fought battles. More than once, his life was at risk. Still, his courage came from the source of his strength. He found grace and protection in all-powerful God.

Whatever you face today, consider where you find strength. No matter how battered and bruised you feel, you are not beaten. Not if you operate in the strength, light, and salvation of God. Find your courage in His strength.

Think: “God is my strength and salvation, therefore I can have courage.”

Pray: “Lord, help me to remember my courage comes from Your strength.”

Not Forsaken

Not Forsaken by Kirk Hunt

I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.

He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.

Psalm 37:25-26 NKJV

Quill, scratching on parchment, David remembered his long, eventful life. “The righteous are not forsaken. Ever.” I wonder if some of the ink was smudged by teardrops.

Do not confuse hard times with being forsaken. God’s people face difficult circumstances, just like everyone else. The difference is that we know that God Himself guards us, and our folk.

David, hunted like an animal by his own father-in-law: not forsaken. David, betrayed by his own son and fleeing for his life: not forsaken. David, offering an atoning sacrifice because of his own sin: not forsaken.

You may cry hot tears, or bleed profusely, or go desperately hungry, but you remain a son or daughter of God. And in all of that, you are not forsaken. God guards you and yours. Stay faithful to our God who has already proven His faithfulness to you.

David lived to appoint his son, Solomon, to the throne with peace and prosperity. Messiah, Jesus Christ, is a king in David’s dynasty. David was never forsaken.

Son and daughter of God, your children and grandchildren will live in the peace and prosperity God gives you. Others will live better and longer because of your generosity and kindness. And all of it because you are not forsaken. Ever.

Think: “No matter how it looks, I am not forsaken.”

Pray: “Lord, help me to remember I am never forsaken by You.”

He Turned And Struck

He Turned And Struck by Kirk Hunt

Then the king said to the guards who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to me.” But the servants of the king would not lift their hands to strike the priests of the Lord. And the king said to Doeg, “You turn and kill the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod.

1 Samuel 22:17-18 NKJV
Please also read 1 Samuel 22:1-23

Even if King Saul’s order to kill the priests was lawful, it was clearly immoral. Traditional sources identify Abner and Amasa, loyal captains of King Saul, as the men who refused to kill the priests. Doeg proved himself a despicable henchman when he “turned and struck the priests.”

King Saul, God’s anointed king of Israel, gave an immoral order based on his anger and frustration. Men and women are responsible for the decisions they make as a leader of God’s people. A good leader would have re-thought his orders when loyal men (or women) refused to carry them out.

Any thug or brute can carry out a malicious order. An honorable and righteous soul is most loyal when they protect a leader from all dangers. And sometimes, a leader’s greatest danger is themselves.

Scripture does not record what happened to Doeg. Saul, who gave the order, died a miserable death, surrounded by enemies. A good leader wants good followers. Men and women who are so loyal, they will protect a leader from themselves.

Think: Even if the order is lawful, it may not be moral. Should I carry it out?

Pray: “Lord, help me to minister correctly, despite my orders.”

Captain Over Them

Captain Over Them by Kirk Hunt

David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

1 Samuel 22:1-2 NKJV
Please also read 1 Samuel 22:1-23

Unjustly accused, and a death warrant issued in his name, David hid in the cave of Adullam. First, his extended family joined him. Then the losers of Israel came. David became a captain or leader to those shunned and despised by everyone else.

With the elite forces of King Saul looking for him, David gained responsibility for the lowest people in Israel. Some would call those same folk liabilities. Deadbeats, troublemakers, and whiners from across Israel came to David for help and support. Instead of a handout, David gave them courage, valor, skill, and expertise.

Perhaps you think your Adullam experience is the end of you. God is instead setting you up for future success. Those sniveling losers need to be transformed into elite champions. And their captain is a king (or queen) in training.

You will have to stay the course. You will train, educate, encourage and discipline men and women everyone else jettisoned. They do not look like much now, but they will be champions after you become God’s captain over them.

Think: God is setting you up as a future king (or queen) by making you a captain now.

Pray: “Lord, help me to minister Your way, in Your Name, here and now.”

Sacrifice Is Personal

Sacrifice Is Personal by Kirk Hunt

Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel.

2 Samuel 24:24-25 NKJV

Araunah (also called Ornan) had every reason to give King David anything he needed for a sacrifice. In addition to being a devout worshiper of Jehovah, he also owned great wealth. David needed to sacrifice the goods to stop a heaven-sent plague coming his way. “Anything you want, your majesty.”

David, a true leader who cared for his followers, made a point of buying, not taking. David refused to sacrifice a cost-less gift to God. David understood what made a sacrifice or offering acceptable to God. As the flames burned on the altar, the king’s once heavy purse held only a bill of sale.

Saints, especially leaders, must personally sacrifice for the Kingdom. Wealth, time and comfort are often burned on the altar of our worship. As the smoke and flames go heavenward, tears often flow downward from our too human eyes.

The point of worship and sacrifice is to demonstrate that we love Him first and foremost. If you want your offering to be real to God, it must be significant and personal. You give what is yours to prove the love is yours.

Well meaning hearts and souls might offer to pay at the wrong times. Remember David’s example. Give your personal sacrifice out of love and devotion.

Think: Sacrifice to God must always be personal to be real.

Pray: “Lord, accept my sacrifice to You.”

See The Goodness

“See The Goodness” By Kirk Hunt

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.

Psalms 27:13 NKJV

The road stretches out before me, narrow and barren. For a moment I consider not continuing. It is then that I remember His many promises, breathed in my soul by the Holy Spirit and confirmed in Scripture. I will walk on and see the goodness.

Even King David could not settle all of his problems and issues with swords or proclamations. He had to work our his own salvation with fear and trembling. Just like you and I. There were days he had to wait to see God’s goodness, in faith and belief.

It is not always easy; doing right, the right way. Laboring and staying faithful for promises you see only faith. Still, now is not the time to lose heart or hope.

Sometimes, as now, there are storms and difficulties. His promises remain certain. There will be better, even in the turbulence. His joy is in you, not in the circumstances.

Do not let anyone, even yourself, tell you that you lack faith or courage. Faith does not ignore the difficulties. Courage does not lessen the blows.

Your advantage is that you know it will be worth it. God’s goodness will be there and then, and eventually it will be here and now. Keep walking the long narrow road to God. Along the way you will find yourself living in the land of God’s goodness.

Think: No matter what I see now, I will live to see God’s goodness in the future.

Pray: “Lord, help me to have faith in Your promises, even in storms.”

Keilah’s Champions

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“Keilah’s Champions” by Kirk Hunt

So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

1 Samuel 23:5 KJV

The Keilah militia was no match for first-line Philistine troops. At best, the men and women of Keilah would starve that winter. It was possible that the Philistines might not let anyone survive to be hungry.

David went to God. “Should I go save strangers?” Twice, the answer came back: “Yes.”

The marauders were mauled. David’s and his men out maneuvered, then out fought the raiders. The champions of Keilah saved the day. Only after did the helpers meet the helped.

As God’s man or woman, you are called to service in His Kingdom. Often, that will involve providing help and healing to folks you have never seen before. Service is at its most refined when given to pure strangers.

There is a modern-day Keilah crying out for you. The need is matter of life-and-death, even if military maneuvers are not needed. They need the light and life from Jesus that you carry. Nothing else will save those souls.

You may not be one of them, still you are their champion. You carry His power, healing and help within you. You’ll have to get close and personal for them to receive it.

You have what they need. Get out there and be a champion. There will be time to learn names afterward.

Think: In God’s service you might be a champion to complete strangers.

Pray: “Lord, help me to become the champion someone else needs.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Elite Humility

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“Elite Humility” by Kirk Hunt

And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

2 Samuel 23:16 KJV

The courage, daring and skill of the three mighty men is clear. Their devotion to David cannot be questioned. Still, what to do with their extravagant gift is a quandary.

David sacrificed the canteen before God. Drink offerings were a regular part of the Mosaic Law. As far as David was concerned, that canteen held fluid more precious than anything the Law required.

David’s choice demonstrated something more: David’s humility. He was humbled by their devotion. He was humbled by the risks they took.

David responded with grateful worship to God, who had sent these champions. He also responded with self-denial. He refused to drink the water, as a gift too precious for common use.

Only a humble man (or woman) would see past the excitement of the moment. David’s humility demanded that their gift be consumed by some One worthy. David demonstrated his character, strength and wisdom by refusing what he wanted so badly.

Humility is a sober and measured opinion of your own value. The bigger you are in God’s Kingdom, the more important your grip on your self-valuation. David understood the need for humility, and lived it out. Can you say the same?

Think: Humility is a strength, and grace, for God’s people.

Pray: “Lord, help me to live and serve your Kingdom in humility.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Adullam’s Champions

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“Adullam’s Champions” by Kirk Hunt

And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David:

2 Samuel 23:15–16 KJV

Please also read 2 Samuel 23:8–17

Adino, Eleazar and Shammah. The elite three among David’s forces. The kind of men to go deep behind enemy lines to get a canteen of water.

These are not the same men recruited at Adullam. They are no longer deadbeats, losers or whiners. David’s moment of nostalgia and homesickness becomes a chance to display their strength. And encourage the heart and spirit of their chosen leader.

Did these men spring out of the earth, champions? Scripture does not record that scene. Instead, Scripture records their act of selflessness and encouragement.

God intends for you to become a champion. Where you start is less important than following His plan for your life. Your service in His Kingdom is the primary tool to change you. For the better.

Perhaps you already are a champion. Have you engaged in a heroic effort, just to encourage someone? Only a champion would unobtrusively schedule a perilous victory for someone else’s benefit.

God’s Kingdom is full of opportunities, big and small. To encourage, bless and build up others in Christ. His intends for you to be a champion. Go do your faith hero stuff.

Think: Men and women are made champions in God’s service.

Pray: “Lord, help me to become the champion You intend.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Adullam’s Recruits

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“Adullam’s Recruits” by Kirk Hunt

And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

I Samuel 22:2 KJV

David fled to the cave of Adullam, hunted and hated by King Saul. There, alone and in need of support, David received his recruits. Oh, joy.

There were not the best and the brightest. They were not even the middling and muted. The cast-offs of society made their way to David. Oh, boy.

Scripture says they were in distress, or in debt or discontented. I call them the losers, the deadbeats and the whiners. Not the usual starting blocks of an elite fighting unit. Oh, man.

Thankfully, the sentence does not end there. At least they brought themselves. That hints that they were willing to invest themselves in something. By coming to and staying at Adullam, they changed. Oh, well.

Davis became their captain. Clearly, these undesirable men were willing to accept leadership. Often, a teachable heart alone can help a man advance from where ever he started. Oh, great.

Adullam’s recruits represent the men and women who come to support you in your calling. They are unfinished and often undesirable, but with God’s help they can become champions. Oh, okay.

Think: Men and women finish champions in God’s service, no matter how they start.

Pray: “Lord, help me to see Your finished work in my brothers and sisters.”

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.