Tag: Joab

Biblical Manhood, Part 4of4, Pastor Phil Sessa

2Samuel 10:11-12, “11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. 12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: may the Lord do what seems good to him (KJV and ESV combined)).

Rest in God’s Sovereign Hand: “May the Lord so that which seems Him good, was the cry of Joab.” This is a bold statement, but one that He found rest in also. The battles ultimately rested on the shoulders of the Lord, and not on the shoulders of Joab and Abishai. I imagine they fought as if the battle depended upon them, but knowing that the outcome was not really in their ultimate control. Joab urged the army to “be strong” and recognized that the outcome of the battle depended ultimately upon the Lord (cf. 15:26) (John MacArthur). Continue reading “Biblical Manhood, Part 4of4, Pastor Phil Sessa”

Biblical Manhood, Part 3of4, Pastor Phil Sessa

2Samuel 10:11-12, “11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. 12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: may the Lord do what seems good to him” (KJV and ESV combined).

When David heard of the ensuing battle this he sent Joab and all the mighty men against the Ammonites. John Piper shares, “As it developed, the Ammonites were arrayed at the walled city to protect it, the Syrians were gathered in the open field, and Joab, with the Israelites, were sandwiched in the middle. So Joab took charge of one group of men and set himself against the Syrians, and the rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai, his brother, and set them against the Ammonites. In verses 11 and 12 Joab gives this great word of challenge and faith to Abishai…If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to Him” Continue reading “Biblical Manhood, Part 3of4, Pastor Phil Sessa”

Biblical Manhood, Part 2of4, Pastor Phil Sessa

2Samuel 10:11-12, “11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. 12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: may the Lord do what seems good to Him (KJV and ESV combined)”

When you look at most men on TV sitcoms, the men are portrayed as a bumbling fool, unfit household leader, the brunt of the family jokes, the one most highly dishonored, one that has no influence over his children, and subservient to his wife. Then the guys in the movies are hard, indestructible, and the one that gets a different girl with every sequel of the movie. Continue reading “Biblical Manhood, Part 2of4, Pastor Phil Sessa”