Sermon Tone Analysis
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The King’s Men
When Saul died the kingdom now turned over to David who was accumulating many mighty men to help lead the nation of Israel.
Ready Armed According to the Word
Note though the very first characteristic that Scripture mentions of those who are part of the band that joins David - they are ready armed, for what?
For war.
But not only does this tell us what they are doing in our passage, but also WHY they have done it - “according to the word of the Lord.”
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And why would they be armed for war?
And this then begs the two questions for us:
Because as this verse ends it is “according to the word of the Lord.”
This then begs the same question for every one of us today:
Are you ready armed for war according to the Word of the Lord?
It would be remiss of us to think we are armed and ready when we don’t even know how to arm ourselves and for what means we need to be ready.
Hopefully you’ve read your Bible and you’ve discovered how you can be ready for war each and every day.
of the things we need to be ready of as it outlines for us in
Have you put your whole armour on today?
Or did you only put on a piece or two?
It’s important as Paul explains here in Ephesians for us to put on the “whole armour of God” because the battle is serious.
Have you put your whole armour on today?
Or did you only put on a piece or two?
It’s important as Paul explains here in Ephesians for us to put on the “whole armour of God” because the battle is serious.
And thankfully Scripture informs us of the things we need to be ready of as it outlines for us in
Have you put your whole armour on today?
Or did you only put on a piece or two?
It’s important as Paul explains here in Ephesians for us to put on the “whole armour of God” because the battle is serious.
We are fighting in a war against:
So why do we need our armour?
We need to be ready to:
The wiles of the devil; and
Wrestle against spiritual wickedness in high places
If we fail to put all elements of our armour on we become easy targets.
I even remember one American preacher exhorting some Christians of the day by stating that there are too many spiritual streakers on the battlefield - all they have on is their helmet of salvation!
Within our passage Scripture shows reveals several interesting characteristics of the tribes who join David:
But not only are we told to put the whole armour of God on because of the spiritual warfare surrounding us, but that we must be ready armed to give an answer as outlined in the slides:
And not only are we told to put on our whole armour, but that we must needs be ready to give an answer as outlined in my favourite verse:
We have the sword which is our offensive weapon and the way we use it is by giving answers to questions in a meek and mild manner.
We have the power of the Word of God when we use it and we allow God to work in the hearts and minds of those we come across within the prison.
And this is why, when we turn back to our passage in that one of the common qualities and characteristics mentioned about the men who join David in battle are labelled as being:
Let’s return back to our passage and see what other characteristics are mentioned of the men from each tribe:
Expert in War
There is multiple mentions within this passage that these men were not new recruits, rather they were experts in war.
Being an expert in war would mean these men have had experience fighting within the trenches and would know how to fight, how to defend, how to pull rank, how to command and lead a band and how to strategise for battle.
Each of those men had a first day on the many battlefields they fought.
And yet the only way they became labelled as “experts in war” is because they didn’t just fight one battle.
After their first, they fought many more.
And sure there may have been battles where they nearly faced death, some where they possibly had to admit defeat and retreat, but they never gave up.
They are still enlisted.
Do you know that there will be people you will encounter who will test your strength and fortitude in this ministry (and no doubt in any other ministry where the gospel is proclaimed)?
I remember with the juveniles there would be times when it felt like nobody listened, or other days when we only spoke to 1 person.
We don’t emphasise those individual outings and then turn our back on the battle.
We continue to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
No matter whether we get to speak to 1 person or 100, because once we give up and pack up and go home and close the ministry then those opportunities will never eventuate because we’re never there!
Look at verse 33:
Are you an expert in the spiritual war?
Or do you find yourself caught up in the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life?
To be expert in war would also mean knowing how to also use your weapons:
Not only were these men of Zebulun experts in war, but Scripture adds they were expert in war with all instruments of war.
I don’t think you would see any of these men bring to the battlefield instruments that are useless for battle.
And this same applies for us when we go forth - we need to have the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.
Do you know how to use your sword?
Are you expert in using your sword?
Now please understand that I don’t mean you need to have an answer for every question that ever arises regarding the Bible.
And it also doesn’t mean that you don’t study.
But you should know the essentials of what you believe as states that you should give a reason of the hope that is in you.
Notice that the men of Zebulun were not of double heart.
They weren’t one to change their mind once they committed to it.
They weren’t swayed by what Abner was doing in making Saul’s younger son Ishbosheth king.
They knew who their were in allegiance with and they stuck to it rigidly.
Now I’ll admit there have been times when I’ve spoken to inmates who have asked good questions.
Now I certainly don’t know everything about the Bible, but if they ever do ask me a serious question which I don’t know the answer to I openly admit the fact, and then I add that I will let know my answer on my next visit.
I then go and do all the research I can - I even ask my team mates as some of them may know the answers, and then I make it a priority to attend the next visit with an answer.
God may be using this opportunity to help grow you too!
Don’t be double minded about God’s Word.
So be experts with your sword, know when to use it and make sure you’re involved in Bible study with your church.
There’s no better way to learn more about God’s Word than by putting yourself in the way to get more understanding.
Do you know how to answer a Muslim?
Even though these men of Zebulun were experts in war and with instruments of war they all just didn’t do what was right in their own eyes.
Scripture adds that these men could “keep rank”.
Do you know how to answer an
Keep Rank
In fact at the end of our passage we read that all these men of war could keep rank.
One other quality that was mentioned in this list towards the end was that these men knew how to keep rank.
They followed their captains and they obeyed orders.
This means they they obeyed orders from their commanding officer.
And notice both in verse 33 and verse 38 that keeping rank, the obedience part, is mentioned along with the attitude or heart part.
The tribe of Zebulun it states in verse 33 were “not of double heart” and all men in verse 38 “came with a perfect heart”.
It can be easy to show you’re obeying, but your heart could be contrary.
Jesus commands us in...
I don’t know how simpler Jesus could make this command.
Go.
Preach.
Every creature.
What are you doing in light of this simple command?
If you’re a part of the SLAM team you would know what it means to be saved and therefore you would know how to save someone else.
Get out there and save people.
You have the solution!
A simple command, right?
But how often are our hearts willing to do so.
And I know I am preaching to myself too.
I can be double minded in my thoughts and minimise the importance of what the captain of my heart has commanded me to do.
And notice also the tribe of Issachar in verse 32 which also emphasises this point:
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