new proof of the same Favor

22 But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. 23 And again David asked the Lord what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. 24 When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” 25 So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

This is not the boy David , who full of youthful exuberance and spirit of the lord faced down the Giant Goliath.

This is not the desperate David who ran from King Saul when Saul was trying to kill him.

This is David who had become King of Israel and had allegiance from all 12 tribes. This is the David who had not yet sinned with Bathsheba or killed Uriah. This David was still a man of God’s own heart . This David was faithful.

We find this David had finally removed the Jebusites out of Jerusalem, that fortress city and claimed it for his own. This David had began to fortify Jerusalem and make it stronger. This David had been anointed by Samuel, and the Lord had blessed him not only to defeat Goliath, but to escape the plans of King Saul to have kill him, The Lord had blessed him to become King. and to secure his city, Jerusalem. And of course as soon as everything is going well and David is attempting to settle into Kingship. A problem arises. for the 5th chapter of 1 Samuel and also the 14th chapter of Second Chronicles tell s the story that the Phillistines once again attacked Israel. Scripture says the Phillistines camped out in the valley of Rephaim and sought to make war on David. This why i think David was a man after God’s own heat for when faced with adversity, when faced with a problem, this David sought the Lord. For it says that David inquired of the Lord shall i go out to fight them, and the Lord replied yes go out and i will surely be with you. So David listening to God goes out and defeats the Phillistines. And in his devotion to God David proclaims that teh Lord has done it.

The lesson

Inquire of God before you act

2. Do as God directs

3. Thank God and give him credit.

It sounds simple but Saul could not do it in his kingship and so many of us in our daily lives can’t or refuse to do it.

Many times when faced with problem or a situation we try to solve it ourselves and only turn to God when what we have planned did not work out.

Or if God leads us to a solution we refuse to take it because it not what we want to do and so we are often disobedient. And when we are delivered far too seldom do we give God the credit, we tend to believe in the power of us. Our wealth, our knowledge , or our power ,when all the time the reason you are even here is because God blessed you Any body here know anything about God’s blessing! Anybody here know who woke you up this morning. When David defeated the Phillistines they were so defeated and routed that they left their God s at the battle field. For those who worship God’s of stuff, when you are defeated you too will leave your God’s behind. Some of us will one day find we have left our gods on the field in the midst of bitterest defeats but for those who worship the God that i serve he can never be left behind because my God is inside of me and with me at all times.

Once again God had showed his favor upon Israel and David. And if God had never saved Israel again it would have been sufficient.

Struggle not over!

But don’t you know that just because you defeat the enemy it does not mean that your struggle is over. James says resit the devil and flee form you but he doe not say he will stay gone. So we must stay vigilant and ever ready . In the the 5th chapt around the 22nd verse Scripture says the Phillistines came back the next year. how many times have we faced that same problem again, how many times do we have to struggle against the same foe again, a return of a disease , a common weakness or sin you can’t defeat. Even though you have done what you thought was right but low and behold you are right back in the same situation.

That is where David has found himself for once again the Phillistines are back again.

Both David and Saul were military experts ,both David and Saul were commanders of the Armies of Israel, and both David and Saul were anointed of God. But Saul lost his anointing because he failed to remain, humble he failed to remain obedient , he began to think that his God’s favor was his due and that he could do as he wanted .

But David still sought the favor of God. For all though he had just defeated a similar Philistine army the year before. he once again consults God on the way he should go.

Many of us place our reliance on human agencies, on government , religion, boards , but we must put our reliance on God.

David could have relied on his fortress to protect him, he could have relied on what worked the year before, yet he once again sought the Lord .

And the Lord told him this time do not go out to face them but instead come up behind them. And when you hear the sound of a going in the trees or the sound of marching feet in the tops of the trees then you attack and for that will be the sound that the Lord has gone before you to strike in the Philistine camp.

The Sound

Let me share a few things with you and I am gone.

As i said earlier always inquire of, and trust God in every situation. Even if it is similar situation, for the Lord might give you different directions even in the same situation . This time he told DAvid to take another way, a different tactic. This time David was to come from behind. I can imagine that the Philistines were prepared for David based on what happened last time. So God took him in another direction. Don’t try to anticipate what God can do in your life , for his ways are not our ways.

The second thing is you have to be ble to hear just what God is saying. You have to be attuned to what God has for you to do!.

When God talked to Elijah , he had to be able to hear through the earthquake, sorm lightning and fire to hear the small and quiet voice.

#. for God to tell you to act. God told David do not act until you hear the sound for i will go ut before you and strike the camp. The reason you wait is because God will fight your battles and give you power.

In the battle of Jericho is was God who knocked down the walls of Jericho so that the soldiers could conquer.

The Apostles had to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Ghost before they received power.

Sometimes we act too fast we must trust on and wait on the Lord.

And finally we must act on our own accord.

The Lord gave the sign but David still had to fight

God knocked down the wall but the Israelites had to conquer Jericho

The holy spirit touched the Apostles but they still had to witness to the jews about the good news.

It is the grace of God that will strengthen our actions, It is the grace of God that will lead us to victory. Nothing but the grace of God.

And this jesus I serve prooves to me daily that it his grace and his mercy that keeps me

It is his grace and mercy that lifts me !

Everyday there is new proof of the same favor.

Woke me this morning same favor

started me on the way nothing but a new favor but the same grace

And i want him to keep on blessing me

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