Strategy for Today
In your spiritual fight, you must not rely on yesterday's techniques to fight today's battles. We see this exemplified in David's life here in 2 Samuel 5.
2 Samuel 5:17–19 (ESV) When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”
Notice the Philistines hear that David is king and immediately launch an assault to cast him down. The enemy loves to come at us when the Lord establishes us in new places of influence or power. Be careful as no one is immune to his assault simply on the basis of one's position or status in the purposes of God. In fact, the more God entrusts in your life, the more the enemy would seek to destroy it.
Here the Philistines coming against David not once but twice. First in verse 17 and then again after David defeats them in verse 22. We see how the enemy does not easily give up their stake in the land of Israel. So too does our spiritual enemy not easily give up his stake in our spiritual land.
What we should notice is that though David asks God both times whether or not he should fight them, the answer is yes but the second time God answers He gives David different instructions on how to fight.
2 Samuel 5:23–24 (ESV) And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”
I see a spiritual warfare principle in this text. In God's first instructions, the strategy is simple - take them head on and destroy them. In the second attack, David is given a roundabout way to fight. Why the two strategies? For the simple reasons that we must daily rely upon God for guidance. David is a great fighter and strong military leader but even HE cannot just assume victory apart from hearing the voice of God for today. You cannot take for granted that you will win just because you won in some fashion at an earlier time. Each day's battles are unique. Seeking God's voice for today not only gives us the right strategy but deepens our relationship with Him as we learn to follow His voice and not simply live in our past. Moreover, the enemy will learn our tactics from previous victories and seek to overcome us in some other fashion if we are not constant in prayer, determining the will of the Lord for TODAY.
After the first win David experiences over the Philistines, the text makes note of something David did wrong:
2 Samuel 5:21 (ESV) And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.
2 Samuel 5:17–19 (ESV) When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”
Here the Philistines coming against David not once but twice. First in verse 17 and then again after David defeats them in verse 22. We see how the enemy does not easily give up their stake in the land of Israel. So too does our spiritual enemy not easily give up his stake in our spiritual land.
What we should notice is that though David asks God both times whether or not he should fight them, the answer is yes but the second time God answers He gives David different instructions on how to fight.
2 Samuel 5:23–24 (ESV) And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”
I see a spiritual warfare principle in this text. In God's first instructions, the strategy is simple - take them head on and destroy them. In the second attack, David is given a roundabout way to fight. Why the two strategies? For the simple reasons that we must daily rely upon God for guidance. David is a great fighter and strong military leader but even HE cannot just assume victory apart from hearing the voice of God for today. You cannot take for granted that you will win just because you won in some fashion at an earlier time. Each day's battles are unique. Seeking God's voice for today not only gives us the right strategy but deepens our relationship with Him as we learn to follow His voice and not simply live in our past. Moreover, the enemy will learn our tactics from previous victories and seek to overcome us in some other fashion if we are not constant in prayer, determining the will of the Lord for TODAY.
After the first win David experiences over the Philistines, the text makes note of something David did wrong:
2 Samuel 5:21 (ESV) And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.
The idols of the Canaanite nations were to be utterly rejected by Israel. Twice in Deuteronomy, Israel is warned about this:
Deuteronomy 7:5 (ESV) But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire.
Deuteronomy 7:25 (ESV) The carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.
The idols were to be burned and destroyed because God knew they would ensnare His people. It is a lesson for us in our spiritual warfare. The world's idols will ensnare us if we let them survive. It is very possible these idols David took would prove to be a snare in the next passage as he adopts Philistine methods to bring the Ark back to Israel.
Once again in David's life, we are given a picture of a mighty man of God who also struggles along the way. We are reminded that the true King has yet to come and save at this point in scripture's narrative. The true David, Jesus Christ will do all that the Father commands, fulfill the purposes of heaven, and demolish every stronghold of the devil. He is also the One who provides us with direct access to the throne of God, sends the Holy Spirit and empowers the Church to win.
Once again in David's life, we are given a picture of a mighty man of God who also struggles along the way. We are reminded that the true King has yet to come and save at this point in scripture's narrative. The true David, Jesus Christ will do all that the Father commands, fulfill the purposes of heaven, and demolish every stronghold of the devil. He is also the One who provides us with direct access to the throne of God, sends the Holy Spirit and empowers the Church to win.
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