CAC LIVING WATER-DON'T BE A TALEBEARER

LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DON'T BE A TALEBEARER
13^TH , FEBRUARY 2022

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Numbers 3-4

READ: 2 Samuel 1:1-16

[1]Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
[2]It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
[3]And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
[4]And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

[5]And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
[6]And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
[7]And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
[8]And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
[9]He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
[10]So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
[11]Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
[12]And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
[13]And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
[14]And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?
[15]And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
[16]And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.

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MEMORISE: "You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord ." Leviticus 19:16

EXPOSITION 

A talebearer is one who maliciously gossips, or reveals secrets. He destructively meddles (in form of idle talk or rumor) in the private affairs of others. This is a form of character assassination. A talebearer is a list and slanderer who always gives false witness, and love evil report. He gossips in an indiscreet manner. He sheds blood with the words of his mouth. He doesn't mind what take he bears, whether it is profitable or not. Are you one? The Bible warns about the havoc that talebearers wreck on others. 'The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body' (Prov. 26:22). We are equally warned not to meddle with talebearers, even as today commemorates World Radio Day (Prov. 20:19).

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The Amalekites soldier in our golden text for today's dose of the Living Water came from the battlefield to give a report to David. He wanted favour from David, which made him give the details of King Saul's death, though exaggerated, in fact, lying against himself. He was glad at the fall of King Saul. He saw that as an opportunity to accrue to himself an undue honour. Unknown to him, he messed with the wrong person - a man who loved even his enemies and wouldn't allow the Lord's honor to fall by his sword. That Amalekite's mouth exposed him to destruction because of his dishonesty, greed, anointing, and unwholesome ambition. He had wrongly thought David would rejoice at his "enemy's" fall, but he missed it.

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Hope you aren't like that Amalekite - rejoicing when your "enemy" is in danger (Prov. 24:17; Mic. 7:8)? Repent today. Instead of being a talebearer, be a carrier of good tidings, most especially, the Gospel of Christ (cf. Isa. 52:7). If you have been engaging in this wicked act that can cause irreparable damage to others, desist from it, now, so that you will not regret the result.

PRAYER POINT:

1. Pray that God should uproot every seed of gossip and backbiting from your life.
2. Pray that God will fight for you and defend you wherever people are gathering to accuse you falsely.
3. Pray for CAC Medayese Region, our father in the Lord, the Superintendent, and its officers at the various levels, as led by the Spirit of God.

DO HAVE A BLESSED DAY

©2022 LIVING WATERS IS a daily devotional by THE CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH