Sunday, March 9, 2014

Many Victories for David over Enemy Nations (2 Samuel 8:1-14)

9/8/2010 7:30:27 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time      Focus:  Victories over, the Philistines, Arameans & Syrians and Edomites 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  2Samuel 8:1-14

            Message of the verses:  “1 ¶  Now after this it came about that David defeated the Philistines and subdued them; and David took control of the chief city from the hand of the Philistines. 2  He defeated Moab, and measured them with the line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute. 3  Then David defeated Hadadezer, the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as he went to restore his rule at the River. 4  David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers; and David hamstrung the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for 100 chariots. 5  When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David killed 22,000 Arameans. 6  Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus, and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And the LORD helped David wherever he went. 7  David took the shields of gold which were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8  From Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a very large amount of bronze.
   “ 9 ¶  Now when Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, 10  Toi sent Joram his son to King David to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him; for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze. 11  King David also dedicated these to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued: 12  from Aram and Moab and the sons of Ammon and the Philistines and Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13  So David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 Arameans in the Valley of Salt. 14  He put garrisons in Edom. In all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the LORD helped David wherever he went.”

            Today’s SD begins the second point in Warren Wiersbe’s commentary’s forth chapter and it also begins the study of the eight chapter of 2Samuel and the 18th chapter of 1Chronicles.  He entitles this second point in his outline “Fighting God’s battles.”
            This chapter will summarize the victories over some of the enemies of Israel that were carried out by David and his army and will bring about new lands that had been promised by God in his Law and in His covenants with Abraham, Moses, and David.  The first of these enemies which David had victory over was the Philistines:
            “West:  the Philistines (verse one).  (I forgot to mention that this 8th chapter of 2Samuel probably fits in between chapters six and seven).  The text says that David and his army took over the chief city of the Philistines, and subdued the Philistines which were the biggest enemy of Israel at that time.  David’s army took control over them.  More detail’s of this fighting are given in 2Samuel 21:15-22 and also in 1Chronicles 20:4-8.  In those chapters it is seen that David was attacking another giant and his nephew Abishai had to rescue him and then his men advised David not to do that again to which he complied with their suggestion.  “Blessed is the leader who admits his weaknesses and admits when he needs to make changes!”

            East: the Moabites (verse two).  David had a history with the Moabites as his great grand-mother Ruth was from Moab, and also Abraham’s nephew Lot was the father of the Moabites through an incestuous relationship with his daughter.  The Moabites took care of David’s parents when Saul was chasing David.  God was angry with the Moabites because they had paid Balaam to curse Israel, but God turned the cursing into a blessing.  However Balaam did get Israel to sin by having the women of Moab seduce the men of Israel.  David let one of three of them live and the rest gave tribute to David.

            South:  the Edomites (verses 12:14).   There were a number of victories in this section that God gave to David as the Edomites, the Syrians and the Arameans are listed along with Moab, but the Lord gave victory to David and his army and then David gave glory to the Lord.  David captured much spoils in these victories and he would use much of it to pass on to Solomon in order to have the articles to build the temple of God.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I suppose that it is easier to pray when I am in trouble than to praise the Lord when He answer those prayers and this should not be.  It seems that David was quick to praise the Lord for the wonderful victories that God gave to him and this is a pattern that I surely need to copy.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1.      Give myself to the Lord for worship and service this day.
2.      Trust the Lord to guide my path today.
3.      Be equipped with the armor of the Lord.
4.      I am to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (Cor. 10:5b).
5.      Continue to learn contentment.
6.      Trust that the Holy Spirit will search my heart for unconfessed sin in my life.


9/8/2010 8:13:05 AM

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