A LITTLE PAST THE TOP OF THE HILL

In II Samuel 15, we find that Absalom, the son of King David, is leading a revolt, an insurrection against his own father’s kingdom.  David, this once Mighty King, This Mighty Warrior; This man that had fought the Giant as just a boy, this man who had defeated all the enemies of God, has decided for only the 2^nd time in his life not to stay and fight.  The first time was against King Saul, the anointed King of Israel.  So, David decides to depart his own Kingdom, rather than fight his son Absalom.

In verse 32, the Bible says, “And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, . . .”  Can’t you imagine the enemy whispering in his ears:

• David, you’ll never worship God again;
• David, you’ll never feel the breathe of Heaven on your soul again.
• David, you are going down in disgrace and defeat.

Then we come to chapter 16, and beginning in verse 1, “And when David was a little past the top of the hill, BEHOLD (and that word behold means Looky Looky) BEHOLD, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.  2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.”

Verse 2 ends with these words, “and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.”  Often, that word “Wine” in the Bible is in reference to the Holy Spirit.  Here, the young men were “faint in the wilderness,”

• They needed some refreshment;
• They needed something to rejuvenate them;
• They needed something to remind them that God hadn’t forgotten them;

Aren’t you glad that just “A Little Past the Top of the Hill,”

• When you’ve been dry;
• When you’ve been barren;
• When you were asking “Lord, where are you?”

He knows right when to show up!

Now, I am not going to debate with you whether this was fermented wine or whether it was Grape Juice, that’s for you and God to figure out, as this is not the intent of this blog.

I can see David, as he grabs this flask, and he takes a drink and says, “Man, that was refreshing to my soul.”  And then the soldiers all get in line behind him to take a drink and refresh their souls.

There are some reading this blog that may be weak in the wilderness, that may be faint in the wilderness, and God is inviting you to drink of His Holy Spirit so you can gain the strength to KEEP ON KEEPING ON!

My brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to find God’s Wine Cellar and ask Him to fill us, fill us, and fill us again!

The Bible says, “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be ye filled with the Spirit.”

Do you know how our forefathers accomplished so much for God:

• When they didn’t have public transportation: planes, trains and automobiles;
• When they didn’t have the internet;
• When they didn’t have cell phones.

They did because they knew where to find God’s Wine Cellar!  They didn’t need musicians to “work up the Spirit of God – Praise God they came in TIPSY AMEN!

And I’ll tell you something Church, it would do us all good to get up Early on Sunday mornings and find God’s Wine Cellar BEFORE we come to church, and when we get here, we’d all come in 3 sheets to the wind in the Holy Ghost – singing AMEN and GLORY TO GOD!

I will tell you folks, there is “juice for the Journey” JUST A LITTLE PAST THE TOP OF THE HILL!