2
Samuel chapter 8 describes the nation of Israel under King David, but
in reality it describes a man under God. It reminds us that
individually we experience the greatest victories in our life when we
submit to God. The steady and sure success over Israel’s enemies
through King David’s leadership is unmatched. Unlike King Saul,
David was not motivated by selfish ambition, but God’s promise for
the nation and his own son: “I
will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name”
(2 Sam 7:12). The chapter begins, “In
the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them“.
Please note it does not say that this happened overnight. Likewise,
our Christian walk develops over time as we hold close to God.
Romans 10:17 reminds us, “So
faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God“.
Old habits, selfishness and pride have to be overcome along the way.
Individually we have ups and downs but in this world of uncertainty
how reassuring to know, “Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”
(Hebrews 13:8).
“David
also defeated the Moabites… so the Moabites became subject to David
and brought tribute“.
“He
put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans
became subject to him and brought tribute. The Lord gave David
victory wherever he went.”
God
wins the victories and David does not hesitate to give God all the
credit. Recognizing
the source of our success is the key to avoiding the snares of pride.
“David
took the gold shields that belonged to the officers … and brought
them to Jerusalem… King David took a great quantity of bronze…
King
David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the
silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: Edom and Moab,
the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek“.
The accumulation of wealth was incomprehensible, but it was
motivated by David’s desire to honor God. 1 Chronicles 22:8-10
provides the background of why David could not build the temple; “But
the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood
and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name,
because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight . . . a son
shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest . . . He shall build
a house for My name“.
If David could not build the temple, he would gather all the supplies
needed!
The
chapter concludes, “He
put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to
David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.”
And notice David’s attitude in God’s victory. “David
reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his
people“.
Philippians 2:3-4 instructs us to develop this same attitude: “Let
nothing be
done
through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let
each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not
only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
My prayer is that ‘in the course of time’ God would give you
victory wherever you go!