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perseverance pays off

1 Chronicles 11:1-47

1 Chronicles 11:1 All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.
1 Chronicles 11:2 Even previously when Saul was king, you were leading Israel out to battle and bringing us back. The Lord your God also said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be ruler over my people Israel.'”
1 Chronicles 11:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. David made a covenant with them at Hebron in Yahveh’s presence, and they anointed David king over Israel, in keeping with Yahveh’s word through Samuel.
1 Chronicles 11:4 David and all Israel marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus); the Jebusites who inhabited the land were there.
1 Chronicles 11:5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will never get in here.” Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
1 Chronicles 11:6 David said, “Whoever is the first to kill a Jebusite will become chief commander.” Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became the chief.
1 Chronicles 11:7 Then David took up residence in the stronghold; therefore, it was called the city of David.
1 Chronicles 11:8 He built up the city all the way around, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding parts, and Joab restored the rest of the city.
1 Chronicles 11:9 David steadily grew more powerful, and the Lord of Armies was with him.
1 Chronicles 11:10 The following were the chiefs of David’s warriors who, together with all Israel, strongly supported him in his reign to make him king according to Yahveh’s word about Israel.
1 Chronicles 11:11 This is the list of David’s warriors: Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the Thirty; he wielded his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.
1 Chronicles 11:12 After him, Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite was one of the three warriors.
1 Chronicles 11:13 He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines had gathered there for battle. There was a portion of a field full of barley, where the troops had fled from the Philistines.
1 Chronicles 11:14 But Eleazar and David took their stand in the middle of the field and defended it. They killed the Philistines, and the Lord gave them a great victory.
1 Chronicles 11:15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while the Philistine army was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
1 Chronicles 11:16 At that time David was in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
1 Chronicles 11:17 David was extremely thirsty and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem!”
1 Chronicles 11:18 So the Three broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord.
1 Chronicles 11:19 David said, “I would never do such a thing in the presence of my God! How can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” For they brought it at the risk of their lives. So he would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.
1 Chronicles 11:20 Abishai, Joab’s brother, was the leader of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men and killed them, gaining a reputation among the Three.
1 Chronicles 11:21 He was more honored than the Three and became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.
1 Chronicles 11:22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the son of a brave man from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. Benaiah killed two sons of Ariel of Moab, and he went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
1 Chronicles 11:23 He also killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand like a weaver’s beam, Benaiah went down to him with a club, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear.
1 Chronicles 11:24 These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors.
1 Chronicles 11:25 He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
1 Chronicles 11:26 The best soldiers were Joab’s brother Asahel, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
1 Chronicles 11:27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
1 Chronicles 11:28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,
1 Chronicles 11:29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
1 Chronicles 11:30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
1 Chronicles 11:31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
1 Chronicles 11:32 Hurai from the wadis of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
1 Chronicles 11:33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
1 Chronicles 11:34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,
1 Chronicles 11:35 Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,
1 Chronicles 11:36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
1 Chronicles 11:37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,
1 Chronicles 11:38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,
1 Chronicles 11:39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer for Joab son of Zeruiah,
1 Chronicles 11:40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
1 Chronicles 11:41 Uriah the Hethite, Zabad son of Ahlai,
1 Chronicles 11:42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
1 Chronicles 11:43 Hanan son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,
1 Chronicles 11:44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
1 Chronicles 11:45 Jediael son of Shimri and his brother Joha the Tizite,
1 Chronicles 11:46 Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite,
1 Chronicles 11:47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

perseverance pays off

David showed three signs of successful godly leadership. He had the LORD’s appointment as demonstrated by his anointing. He had the recognition of the people as demonstrated by their following him into the conquest of Jebus. He had the support of those already in leadership as demonstrated by all his Mighty Men. Of course, when David started out he had neither of these. Successful leaders stay in the race long enough to become what God has in store for them. The most crucial character trait is perseverance.

LORD, help us to trust you long enough for us to become what you want of us.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!