II Samuel 5:17-25
“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. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.” (II Samuel 5:17-18)
The Philistines had conquered most of Israel when Saul was defeated. They had been able to retain control of a large part during the ensuing seven years when the kingdom was divided, but David had been steadily increasing in power. When they heard that David had been anointed king over the entire country, the Philistines decided to kill him before he could consolidate his power. They believed that if David were dead the nation would fall apart for lack of a strong leader. It was the same logic that led to America’s invasion of Iraq. David withdrew into the fortified part of the city.
“And David inquired 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. 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. And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.” (II Samuel 5:19-21)
While it seemed obvious that he needed to fight the Philistines, David consulted the Lord. Saul constantly decided what he wanted then asked God to support him in it, And tried to motivate the people to do it for him, because he didn’t trust the Lord. David just asked the Lord what he wanted, then went out and did it.
The Philistines had restricted and hemmed in Israel for years. David described their defeat as being like water overflowing and washing out a restraining wall or dam. The owner, God, had broken it down. In their flight, the Philistines left behind their religious symbols, fetishes and good luck charms and David and his men burned them so they would not become a source of temptation.
“And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And when David inquired 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. 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.” (II Samuel 5:22-24)
The Philistines were determined to prevent David from becoming too powerful, so they regrouped and tried again. David again asked God what he wanted, and this time God told him to not go out in a frontal attack as he had done before.
Instead, God directed him to hide his forces in a clump of mulberry trees and wait for Gods signal, a sound of wind in the tree tops. God would go before them to disrupt the Philistines and when they heard the noise of the wind, they were to attack as well.
“And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.” (II Samuel 5:25)
After being defeated the first time, the Philistines had undoubtedly prepared for David to do what he had done before, bringing enough men to withstand such an attack. By seeking God’s direction, they circumvented the Philistines preparation, driving them back all the way to Gazer.
Today there are some who believe that an awareness of a need is the same as a call by God. Sometimes God has a different plan for us, and sometimes he wants us to approach it from a different direction. Rather than rushing in, we need to find out what God wants.
Just because something needs doing does not necessarily mean that God wants you to do it. He may have already sent someone else and you may be in their way, or he may have a different job for you that you will be unable to do if you tackle this one.
“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. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.” (II Samuel 5:17-18)
The Philistines had conquered most of Israel when Saul was defeated. They had been able to retain control of a large part during the ensuing seven years when the kingdom was divided, but David had been steadily increasing in power. When they heard that David had been anointed king over the entire country, the Philistines decided to kill him before he could consolidate his power. They believed that if David were dead the nation would fall apart for lack of a strong leader. It was the same logic that led to America’s invasion of Iraq. David withdrew into the fortified part of the city.
“And David inquired 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. 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. And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.” (II Samuel 5:19-21)
While it seemed obvious that he needed to fight the Philistines, David consulted the Lord. Saul constantly decided what he wanted then asked God to support him in it, And tried to motivate the people to do it for him, because he didn’t trust the Lord. David just asked the Lord what he wanted, then went out and did it.
The Philistines had restricted and hemmed in Israel for years. David described their defeat as being like water overflowing and washing out a restraining wall or dam. The owner, God, had broken it down. In their flight, the Philistines left behind their religious symbols, fetishes and good luck charms and David and his men burned them so they would not become a source of temptation.
“And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And when David inquired 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. 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.” (II Samuel 5:22-24)
The Philistines were determined to prevent David from becoming too powerful, so they regrouped and tried again. David again asked God what he wanted, and this time God told him to not go out in a frontal attack as he had done before.
Instead, God directed him to hide his forces in a clump of mulberry trees and wait for Gods signal, a sound of wind in the tree tops. God would go before them to disrupt the Philistines and when they heard the noise of the wind, they were to attack as well.
“And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.” (II Samuel 5:25)
After being defeated the first time, the Philistines had undoubtedly prepared for David to do what he had done before, bringing enough men to withstand such an attack. By seeking God’s direction, they circumvented the Philistines preparation, driving them back all the way to Gazer.
Today there are some who believe that an awareness of a need is the same as a call by God. Sometimes God has a different plan for us, and sometimes he wants us to approach it from a different direction. Rather than rushing in, we need to find out what God wants.
Just because something needs doing does not necessarily mean that God wants you to do it. He may have already sent someone else and you may be in their way, or he may have a different job for you that you will be unable to do if you tackle this one.
No comments:
Post a Comment