Fr. Mike touches on one of his favorite bible stories about David's mighty men and discusses his attitude in old age. At the end of his life, David chooses not to dwell on his mistakes, but to recognize the people around him and the blessings he received, which helped him accomplish what God was calling him to do. Today's readings are 2 Samuel 23, 1 Chronicles 28, and Psalm 42. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Chapter 1: What is the focus of Day 141 in the Bible?
Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension.
Using the Great Adventure Bible timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 141, and we're reading today from 2 Samuel 23.
from first chronicles chapter 28 and we are praying psalm 42. as you know the bible translation that i'm reading from is the revised standard version the second catholic edition and i'm using the great adventure bible from ascension if you want to download your own bible in a year reading plan you can visit ascensionpress.com bible in a year if you have not yet subscribed to this podcast you can do that i got that in under one minute so
Hit that fast-forward button twice, and here we are, beginning of the Bible, reading the Bible. It's going to be great. As I said, it is day 141. We're reading 2 Samuel 23, 1 Chronicles 28, and Psalm 42. The second book of Samuel, chapter 23, the last words of David. Now, these are the last words of David.
The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel. The spirit of the Lord speaks by me. His word is upon my tongue. The God of Israel has spoken. The rock of Israel has said to me, when one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God,
He dawns on them like the morning light, like the light shining forth upon a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. Yes, does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire?
But godless men are all like thorns that are thrown away for they cannot be taken with the hand. But the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear and they are utterly consumed with fire. David's mighty men. These are the names of the mighty men whom David had. He was the chief of the three. He wielded his spear against 800 whom he slew at one time.
And next to him among the three mighty men was Eliezer, the son of Dodo, son of Ahohai. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle and the men of Israel withdrew. He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary and his hand clung to the sword. And the Lord wrought a great victory that day.
And the men returned after him only to strip the slain. And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agi the Herorite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and slew the Philistines, and the Lord wrought a great victory.
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Chapter 2: What are the last words of David?
He goes on to say, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you. But if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. And that is what ultimately will happen. And it's just so tragic. And yet we know that while it happened for Solomon, God did not abandon his people. Not at all. He did not abandon his people.
And the same thing is true for us. When we turn our backs on the Lord, he does not abandon those he loves. And he loves you so much. Last little note. from 2 Samuel chapter 23 and the stories of David's mighty men. This is, it's one of my, one of my favorite chapters. I have a bunch of favorite chapters in 1 and 2 Samuel.
And this is one of my favorite chapters in 2 Samuel where David talks about the three mighty men. And it's just, it's, I don't know. I could gush. I could go on and on. But you have these three mighty men. Remember he has his 30. Actually, by the end of this chapter, there's 30 plus, roughly 37, including Uriah the Hittite. But you have these three. The top three soldiers.
And if you're going to be one of the top three soldiers of David's army, these are the specialists of his special forces, right? First, we have Josheb, Bathshebeth, the Takmanite, who's chief among them. He kills 800 men at one time. And just, you think about this, this is remarkable that he just doesn't give up.
Then you have Eleazar, the son of Dodo, one of the three mighty men, when he arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary and his hand stuck, cleaved to the sword. And you just can imagine that just, that battle, he kept fighting. And then he arose and attacked Philistines. Then also the third mighty man was Shammah, the son of Agi the Herorite.
And he's defending a plot of lands, basically a hill full of beans. And he, everyone else fled, but Shammah, the son of Agi the Herorite, he stayed there. He stationed himself in the middle of the field. He defended it, killed the Philistines and Lord brought about a great victory. Those three incredible soldiers, those three incredibly brave soldiers are noted here at the end of David's life.
Now we can note their stories and there's so much to learn about their stories, but But one of the things that we want to highlight today is what we highlighted yesterday is that at the end of David's life, he could choose to be corrupted by the fact that he's done wrong. He could choose to be corrupted by the fact that he's been through so much.
He could choose to be resentful and bitter of the fact that his life is ending. And yet he gave God praise. And now here he is in chapter 23, giving the men around him praise. And this is one of those recognitions of, yes, maybe it's easy to give God praise in certain situations, but
But at the end of one's life, to be thinking of someone else, at the end of one's life, to be thinking of where can I give the people around me who've cared for me, who have fought by my side, who have lived a life with me? Can I tell the world of their greatness? Can I praise them in the face of other people? And that's one of those just such a gift that we can do.
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