The Lord Was With David While In War

When you get to your reading in 2 Samuel, chapter 8, it will make more sense why there was still war upon the land and why David was among those in the fight. You see, when we read the context of scripture, the Bible does make sense. However, when we don’t read the verses and chapters beforehand, confusion can set it. Therefore, all these wars may seem unnecessary and not make any sense. Well, for those people that do read the context, and therefore, these previous chapters, they would know that David asked God if it is was His will to go up to the Philistines in war, in order to defend His people from them. And you know what? God did answer his prayer. This is that encounter, ¹“the Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.” (2 Samuel 5:18,19) So we have God on David’s side, defending Him wherever he goes. So David went and smote the Philistines in that chapter and it continued in chapter 8, where it reads, ²“and after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.” (2 Samuel 8:1-2)

David also slew the Syrians in war, which were also against him, after sending out his men in ²“a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen.” (2 Samuel 8:4) ²“Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.” (2 Samuel 8:6) So David continued to be watched over by the Lord, where the enemies were killed and not God’s holy seed from David. Even ²“king David did dedicate unto the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued.” (2 Samuel 8:11) He got a lot of wealth from these wars but dedicated all his riches to God. This is a man that looks to God, and not his own self when it comes to money. Therefore, the Lord was able to continue to be with him. It is also written that in this time that ²“he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went. And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.” (2 Samuel 8:14,15) This was David’s time and God had made it known among the people that would fight against him. Therefore, the Lord was able to use David for His glory, even though his personal life with women may not have been for God. You see, God can use anybody of faith, even while they are in sin. However, until they give their lives to the Lord like David did, later on, they will never know the Lord God personally for salvation.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I believe in You, God. You are all-powerful and can do all things for my life, for the greater good. I may not be ready to fight the battles in life, but with You on my side, I can come out victorious. Therefore, I ask You this day to come into my life fully. I am ready to make You the king of my life and allow You to use me for Your kingdom. I may have been hesitant to go all-in for what You want to do in my life, but I am ready now. I do not wish to have the enemy have his way in my life anymore. So please come and make me a shield of faith. Give me a sword to fight the enemy, even Your Word. The Bible is sharper than any two-edged sword. What You have spoken convicts my hearts to repentance, that I may live a life that pleases You. It also causes the enemy to freeze in his tracks, that He will have no room in my life any longer. I may be tempted still, but You are able to lead me out of temptation. This I pray that You will be with me and lead me far from the enemy. I trust that You can do all things in my life. Even sin can be removed from my heart if You desire it. I do not wish to walk in willful sin, but only to have You expel it from my heart, my mind, and my actions. I pray that people will look at me and see You. It is my desire to share Your love with all people, and by having Your light in me many more souls will be saved. Thank You, Jesus, for your forgiveness and mercy. I am grateful to see You moving in my life now and seeing where You will take me. I love You. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

2 Samuel 5

¹2 Samuel 5 (KJV)
1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.
3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
8 And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.
9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
10 And David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.
11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
12 And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
13 And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
14 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.
18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
19 And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
20 And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.
21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.
22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23 And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.
25 And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

2 Samuel 8

²2 Samuel 8 (KJV)
1 And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.
5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.
7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:
11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;
12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.
14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.
15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief rulers.