The Lord Gives Victory

I. The Places of Victory

“After this” doesn’t necessarily indicate that it happened afterwords. Rather, the author here gathers most of David’s victories into one section, to demonstrate that God did what he promised, he gave David rest on every side. So when all this happened in relationship to the last chapter, nobody can say for sure. Since 2 Sam 7:1 declares that David already had rest from his enemies, it may have actually happened much later.

A. The West - The Philistines

Nobody is quite sure what ‘Metheg-ammah’ is. Some think it might mean the “regional control” or something like that 1 Chron 18:1 states that David took Gath and its villages out of the hands of the Philistines.

B. The East - The Moabites

David’s actions seem quite severe to us. He made (probably the fighting men only) lie down, and divided them up into three sections, killing two-thirds of them. This is not his normal practice. He usually either killed everyone or let everyone go. There’s no explanation to help us understand why he did this. The Moabites had quite the history with Israel

David’s great-grandmother was Ruth the Moabitess.

He had left his family with the Moabites when he was on the run 1 Samuel 22:3-4. There is a rabbinic story that in fact they had killed his entire family, probably to curry favor with Saul. If so that would help to explain his actions. Indeed, they would have thought this to be comparatively merciful, as most kings in David’s position would have done much worse.

The Moabites had a history of oppressing Israel

Balak was the Moabite king who hired Balaam to curse Israel. Incidentally, one of Balaam’s prophecies may have been fulfilled here. Numb 24:17 .

Numbers 24:17 NKJV

“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.

Ehud defeated Eglon king of Moab after 18 years of oppression.

C. The North - The Syrians

The importance of syria is seen in that the author here dedicates as much material to Syrian defeat as to the all the others put together.

1. Zobah

2. Damascus

D. The South - Edom and Amalek

II. The Spoils of War

III. The Administration of Justice

Democracy is not the end-goal of government. Justice is.

Administration is part of the job of Kings; pastors; fathers.

A fairly minimal government.

Military:

Joab remained Commander

Benaiah was over the Mercenaries, the Cherethites and the Pelethites were apparently David’s bodyguards. Since they were foreigners, they were not subject to the politics of intertribal bickering. Also David here manages to lessen Joab’s power without removing him, which he cannot do at this point.

Domestic

the “recorder” the one who brought state business to the King’s attention.

The Secretary drafted official documents

David’s sons were “royal ministers” lit. כֹּהְַנִים. Thus the ESV translates “priests.” But this would have the problem that David’s sons weren’t qualified to be priests. 1 Chronicles 18:17 calls them “chief officials,” so many scholars think that this is a rare use of the word כֹּהְַנִים here meaning ministers. In other words, David gave his sons administrative positions in his government.

Priestly (2). Zadok is first mentioned here, and will eventually replace Abiathar. Apparently Abiathar has had a son by this point, which he didn’t have at the massacre of Nob, and named him after his father, Ahimelech.

IV. The Battle Belongs to the Lord

The Lord gives victory no matter what the battlefield Prov 21:31; Ps 20:7; Ps 33:16-17

Proverbs 21:31 NKJV

The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the Lord.

Psalm 20:7 NKJV

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

Psalm 33:16–17 NKJV

No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war's desolation. Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.' And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Pray for Ukraine.

For the Christian, our warfare is spiritual and ideological 2 Cor 10:3-5; Eph 6:10-12

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NKJV

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Ephesians 6:10–12 NKJV

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Thus when we pray for victory, we pray for the defeat of the devil and of the world. 1 Cor 15:57; Rom 8:37; 1 John 5:4

1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:37 NKJV

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

1 John 5:4 NKJV

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

There is nothing stronger than the Word of God. Use it and you will win.