Psalm 127:1
King James Version
127 Except the Lord build the house,
they labour in vain that build it:
except the Lord keep the city,
the watchman waketh but in vain.
Funny how SPIRIT led me to this article.
First, He made me pay attention to the word "tenant".
After which, as a natural recourse, He knew I'd turn to the word "lieutenant".
And play some more with that word, thinking, in "lieu" of a "tenant".
But, of course, SPIRIT wanted me to focus on the word "lieutenant".
And this is what I learned from AV1611:
LIEUTENANT, n. luten'ant. L. tenens, holding.
1. An officer who supplies the place of a superior in his absence. Officers of this kind are civil, as the lord-lieutenant of a kingdom or county; or military, as a lieutenant general, a lieutenant colonel.
2. In military affairs, the second commissioned officer in a company of infantry cavalry or artillery.
3. In ships of war, the officer next in rank to the captain.
Knowing I've warmed up to the idea, SPIRIT then led me to some verses in the Old Testament, which led me to king David.
2 Samuel 23:1-2
King James Version
23 Now these be the last words of David.
David the son of Jesse said,
and the man who was raised up on high,
the anointed of the God of Jacob,
and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
2 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me,
and his word was in my tongue.
GOD told David how leaders ought to be:
2 Samuel 23:3
King James Version
3 The God of Israel said,
the Rock of Israel spake to me,
He that ruleth over men must be just,
ruling in the fear of God.
Then, SPIRIT led me to David's people, and of his anointing.
1 Chronicles 11:1-3
King James Version
11 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David
unto Hebron, saying,
Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2 And moreover in time past,
even when Saul was king,
thou wast he that leddest out
and broughtest in Israel:
and the Lord thy God said unto thee,
Thou shalt feed my people Israel,
and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.
3 Therefore came all the elders of Israel
to the king to Hebron;
and David made a covenant with them
in Hebron before the Lord;
and they anointed David king over Israel,
according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.
After which, SPIRIT, through Scripture, told me of Israel's enemies.
1 Chronicles 11:4-5
King James Version
4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem,
which is Jebus*; where the Jebusites were,
the inhabitants of the land.
5 And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David,
Thou shalt not come hither.
Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion,
which is the city of David.
This is how David responded:
1 Chronicles 11:6
King James Version
6 And David said,
Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first
shall be chief and captain.
So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up,
and was chief.
Thus, the founding of the city of David**.
1 Chronicles 11:7-8
King James Version
7 And David dwelt in the castle;
therefore they called it the city of David.
8 And he built the city round about,
even from Millo round about:
and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
All this was possible through GOD.
1 Chronicles 11:9
King James Version
9 So David waxed greater and greater:
for the Lord of hosts was with him.
Then SPIRIT told me of David's men:
1 Chronicles 11:10
King James Version
10 These also are the chief of the mighty men
whom David had,
who strengthened themselves with him
in his kingdom, and with all Israel,
to make him king,
according to the word of the Lord
concerning Israel.
These became his trusted lieutenants:
1 Chronicles 11:11
King James Version
11 And this is the number of the mighty men
whom David had;
Jashobeam, an Hachmonite,
the chief of the captains:
he lifted up his spear against three hundred
slain by him at one time.
2 Samuel 23:8
King James Version
8 These be the names of the mighty men
whom David had:
The Tachmonite that sat in the seat,
chief among the captains;
the same was Adino the Eznite:
he lift up his spear against eight hundred,
whom he slew at one time.
2 Samuel 23:9-10
King James Version
9 And after him was Eleazar
the son of Dodo the Ahohite,
one of the three mighty men with David,
when they defied the Philistines
that were there gathered together to battle,
and the men of Israel were gone away:
10 He arose, and smote the Philistines
until his hand was weary,
and his hand clave unto the sword:
and the Lord wrought a great victory that day;
and the people returned after him only to spoil.
2 Samuel 23:11-13
King James Version
11 And after him was Shammah
the son of Agee the Hararite.
And the Philistines were gathered together
into a troop,
where was a piece of ground full of lentiles:
and the people fled from the Philistines.
12 But he stood in the midst of the ground,
and defended it, and slew the Philistines:
and the Lord wrought a great victory.
13 And three of the thirty chief went down,
and came to David in the harvest time
unto the cave of Adullam:
and the troop of the Philistines
pitched in the valley of Rephaim.
2 Samuel 23:14-17
King James Version
14 And David was then in an hold,
and the garrison of the Philistines
was then in Bethlehem.
15 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!
16 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.
17 And he said,
Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this:
is not this the blood of the men that went
in jeopardy of their lives?
therefore he would not drink it.
These things did these three mighty men.
2 Samuel 23:18-19
King James Version
18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab,
the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three.
And he lifted up his spear against three hundred,
and slew them, and had the name among three.
19 Was he not most honourable of three?
therefore he was their captain:
howbeit he attained not unto the first three.
2 Samuel 23:20-23
King James Version
20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,
the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel,
who had done many acts,
he slew two lionlike men of Moab:
he went down also and slew a lion
in the midst of a pit in time of snow:
21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man:
and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand;
but he went down to him with a staff,
and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand,
and slew him with his own spear.
22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,
and had the name among three mighty men.
23 He was more honourable than the thirty,
but he attained not to the first three.
And David set him over his guard.
2 Samuel 23:24-39
King James Version
24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty;
Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
25 Shammah the Harodite,
Elika the Harodite,
26 Helez the Paltite,
Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27 Abiezer the Anethothite,
Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28 Zalmon the Ahohite,
Maharai the Netophathite,
29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite,
Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah
of the children of Benjamin,
30 Benaiah the Pirathonite,
Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
31 Abialbon the Arbathite,
Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
33 Shammah the Hararite,
Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai,
the son of the Maachathite,
Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35 Hezrai the Carmelite,
Paarai the Arbite,
36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah,
Bani the Gadite,
37 Zelek the Ammonite,
Nahari the Beerothite,
armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
38 Ira an Ithrite,
Gareb an Ithrite,
39 Uriah the Hittite:
thirty and seven in all.
Such was valor in those days.
Wherein Israel sought GOD for victory.
In the New Testament, here's the Source of our victory:
1 Corinthians 15:57
King James Version
57 But thanks be to God,
which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
If we are not victorious today, it is only because we don't seek JESUS.
It's really as simple as that.
John 15:5
King James Version
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit:
for without me ye can do nothing.
Let GOD govern, through His Son, JESUS.
And be taught by the HOLY SPIRIT -- as born again -- that you may be wise.
Lastly, GIVE all GLORY to GOD.
That's how we can have good governments, able governments, just governments, and godly governments.
Something the world needs badly right now.
*Jebus -- later renamed "Jerusalem".
**UNCOVERING the CITY of DAVID
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