2 Samuel 5:17-25
When a nation is respected even feared for its military power, when a new leader comes to power, they will be tested. We saw it with George Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald John Trump, and as we look at what is referred to as the past, we see it in the history of Israel and its leaders.
When the Philistines heard David was the new king of Israel they all came looking for him, and it was not to congratulate him but to kill him. You see David not only had deceived them once he had also been used by God to kill their hero and military champion as a young boy with a slingshot and stone. He had entered into King Saul’s army and had many victories and was feared by the Philistine army. What have we learned about fear? It produces hate and hates end game is putting to death the source of its hatred.
Now even a great leader like David had a tendency to fall back on what had worked before, and for years his life had been to hide from Saul at the stronghold, and it was his playbook of the best place to hide from an enemy, so once more that is where he went. But David was a wise man who put no confidence in his abilities, but in his God who had helped and protected him as a young shepherd boy against the lion and the bear.
Verses 19-22, “And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.” Often, it is a great victory that allows us to be defeated, if we forget who gave the victory. It is easy to become proud, we whipped these guys, and they will never deal with us again, but before you turn around, they are in the Valley of Rephaim.
But David was not one to take the credit but had to honor God as the Source of all his victories, and when the Valley was full of Philistine soldiers David once more inquired of God as to what he should do? And this is what David heard from God in verses 23-25, “And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.”
I often do battle without any assurance of victory, and usually have even joined in a fight that was not my battle. Many of us who go by the name of Christian have entered into the struggle of someone else, and it has been my experience that God does not give grace or victory when we do so. A wise person will model David and seek the Lord and wait for his direction before going to war.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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