Slices
Prepare
Thank God that you are loved: ‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you’ (John 15:9).
Bible passage
David’s victories
8 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.
2 David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.
3 Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his monument at the River Euphrates. 4 David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. 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.
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.
9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze.
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.
13 And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
14 He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
David’s officials
15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.
Explore
In today’s passage, we see David’s amazing litany of successes (vs 1–5). Wherever David went, the Lord gave him victory (v 6). With such great success, came tributes from surrounding peoples, including from kings such as Tou (vs 9,10), and significant resources and wealth (vs 4,6–8,10,11).
What’s the relationship between our actions and the Lord’s? Verses 1 and 4 say David ‘took’ resources captive and verse 13 says ‘David made a name for himself’ (ESV). Yet verses 6 and 14 say the Lord gave David victory. Which is it? When God works in us and through us to achieve something for the kingdom, it can be all too easy for our unbidden thoughts to emphasise our role rather than God’s. David was an incredible leader and king, yet he did seem to struggle with the sin problem of taking credit and receiving glory rather than giving it to God. Jesus once said that he was the vine and we are the branches, and without him we can do nothing (see John 15:5). This was true of David and it’s true for us today. If you’re ever tempted to glorify yourself rather than God, remind yourself that would be like rootless, floating branches, detached from a vine, trying to make grapes!
Respond
Meditate on this verse: ‘Abide in me, and I in you’ (John 15:4, ESV). How can you abide in Jesus today?
Deeper Bible study
‘Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’1
Revisiting the barbaric events in this passage through our modern lens is difficult. However, we must read as beneficiaries of them, while we balance our disquiet. This text stands as a capstone to David’s great reign. Together with the capture of Jerusalem (chs 5-6) and the dynastic promise (ch 7), these verses produce a portrait of an Israelite kingdom that captures the imagination of subsequent generations.2 We must view these events as the chronicler does, but without circumnavigating the tough questions, even if an answer is unlikely. How could God allow such things? Worse still, command and control such acts? Saul faced justice, as do others, yet evil still prospers and many still endlessly suffer through mankind’s selfish desires. God alone is truly just and will bring judgement. Meanwhile, as disciples, we are called to bring his light into the darkness.
Here we see a man anointed by God in ways which meant that no enemy plan or terror could halt him in his pursuit of what God was doing through him. The narrator shows David’s great victories over all who stood against him, but the overriding narrative is that this is because of God’s anointing. This is the difference between Saul and David. David’s obedience to God’s commands reinforces what God truly requires of us (v 15).3 God had promised David, and therefore his people, rest from their enemies and peace on the borders.4 David is the embodiment of the Lord’s rule on earth, the Lord who would defeat death’s valley (which was never his intention for us) and lead us into conflict-free, green pastures.5 As we face another day, whether in green pastures or death’s valley, we can trust that this everlasting kingdom fulfilled in Jesus has come near.
The kingdom is near. We can be still, knowing that he is God.6 He is leading us to peace and victory. No weapon forged against us can prevail.7
1 Ps 139:23,24 2 Bill Arnold, NIV Commentary, 1 & 2 Samuel, Zondervan, 2003, p493 3 Mic 6:8 4 2 Sam 7:11 5 Ps 23 6 Ps 46:10 7 Isa 54:17
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Nehemiah 1,2; Psalm 78:1–37
Pray for Scripture Union
Be More Micah is designed to provide Faith Guides with resources to help young people aged 14–18 explore environmental and social justice issues from a Christian perspective. Pray that this will help them see their concerns in the light of God’s plan for the world. You can read more about Be More Micah here.
