First the battles and victories, then the Freedom!
What’s the significance of all the battles David fought and the victories God gave him, for us today? 2 Samuel 8
David’s victories
8 IN THE COURSE OF TIME, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah (main city) from the control of the Philistines. 2 Samuel 8:1
…and David took the BRIDLE OF BONDAGE (David removed their control over Israel) out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 Samuel 8:1 Geneva Bible 1599
It took time for David to build up the army of Israel and to become strong enough to conquer the enemies of God’s people. It may also take time for God to bring His Church to the same position today, but He is doing it. His End Time army is being prepared.
I liked the phrase, ‘Bridle of Bondage’ from the old Geneva Bible Translation. Could we, the Church, be about to step to into an Age of Freedom and Power such as we’ve never known, but first there are battles to fight and victories to win. The enemies of the Church will try just as hard to defeat us as the enemies of Israel, but God David victory.
8, 14 The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
The Bible states twice in this short chapter that David had victory after victory. He put all Israel’s enemies under their feet.
David didn’t just defeat the enemy in battle, he occupied the ground they’d once stood upon and ruled. It became Israel’s territory, under the rule of God’s people.
6 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.
Someday, the whole earth will be restored to the rightful rule of God; He’s coming back to rule and reign. David was a human type of our coming king, Jesus.
7 David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 From Tebah and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.
In the parallel passage of 1 Chronicles 18:8, we read that Solomon used this very bronze, ‘to make the bronze Sea, the pillars and the bronze articles’, in the Temple.
11 King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: 12 Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
The plunder from David’s and Israel’s victories was dedicated, set apart for God.
One final lesson from this account is also revealed from the slaying of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt;
13 And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
The account in 1 Chronicles 18:12 differs slightly
12 Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13 He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
The victory was attributed to David the King, but the battle was fought by Abishai, Joab’s brother. The glory and honour was given to the king and Jesus is our worthy king!
God bless and keep you and make His face shine upon you and give you peace today. Amen