2Sa 23:1 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,

David was in his sunset years, was just about to hang his crown. We are not in this world forever, we are pilgrims and sojourners. It is appointed that one day man shall die. That being the case, what manner of lives should we live. Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Phi 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 2Sa 23:8 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. Lifted up his spear eight hundred times to kill eight hundred people. A spear is not an automatic weapon. If one desires to become a mighty man of God, he should learn to lift up his hands.

 Exo 17:8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. Exo 17:9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out,

fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. Exo 17:10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Exo 17:11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. Exo 17:12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. Exo 17:13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Exo 17:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. Exo 17:15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: Exo 17:16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

 This went into record, that it should be known that it

was not the prowess of Joshua but it was the prayer in the mountain. Prayer is the rails on which the locomotive of the will of God moves. Those who are prayerful in private are powerful in the open. Those who kneel down see far than those perched on roof tops.

 Examples of people who succeeded because of prayer; Neh 1:3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are

left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. Neh 1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

 Est 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in

Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. Est 4:17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him. Est 5:1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. Est 5:2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. Est 5:3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.

 Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and

John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. Mat 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Mat 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. Mat 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

 2Sa 23:9 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: He stood out to be counted, he didn't bother much what people would conclude, because he knew what mattered, what God would conclude.

 2Sa 23:10 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. The secret of his success, he clave unto the sword, the sword of the spirit. The Bible reveals truths about God, Dan 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. Jesus quoted the scriptures in Mat 4 when he was being tempted the devil and that way, he defeated him. Its not just quoting because even the devil was quoting( but distorting) but the secret is in being submitted to the word. That was the difference between Jesus and the devil.

 Jesus was quoting from Deut 6 & 8. Could be Jesus was

meditating upon that section of the scriptures. we got to be in the word because Satan does not give us a notice about when he will strike. He will strike when we are most vulnerable.

 It calls for us to be diligent students of the scriptures.

2Sa 23:11 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. Steadfast in service, faithful servant. 1Co 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

 Nehemiah, faithful; when he heard about the plight of

his brethren who had gone back to Jerusalem, he agonized. Neh 1:3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. Neh 1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

 Sa 23:13 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. 2Sa 23:14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 2Sa 23:15 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!

 Hears the heartbeat of the king;

Knows the will of the king. That can only happen when our lives are led by the

spirit of God who knows the mind of God.

 2Sa 23:16 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, Bethlehem; house of bread,

 but poured it out unto the LORD- worship- water at

that moment was very precious to him but he offered the best to God. 2Sa 23:20 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:

 Lionlike and then a lion; present stresses are for future successes. David as a shepherd, all part of the divine plan. 1Sa 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep,

and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 1Sa 17:35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 1Sa 17:36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 1Sa 17:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

 2Sa 23:21 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. Staff- symbolises pilgrimage, if you want the world to lose hold of you, focus onto eternity, the others will pale in significance.