2 Samuel 8 -- Fighting God's Battles

Again, my commentary said King David was involved in four important activities in chapters 7-10 and here it was fighting God's battles.

Under Saul, Israel had lost territory in various battles and skirmishes.  Also, the Israelites had not been able to defeat some of the inhabitants of the land when they first entered the Promised Land.  God used David to fulfill many of the promises in His covenants with Abraham and Moses as well as those He made with David.

"David recaptured lands Saul had lost and he also expanded Israel's borders and acquired land that hadn't been captured in Joshua's day ... A man of faith, David believed God's promises and acted upon them for the blessing of his people ... The church today doesn't use military weapons to fight God's battles, but we could use the faith and courage of David and his soldiers and reclaim lost territory for the Lord," my commentary said.

West of Israel were the Philistines, the traditional enemies of the Jews.  David defeated them, as well as the Moabites to the east of Israel.  Despite the fact that David's great grandmother Ruth was from Moab, David had to defeat them, for Moab had hired Balaam to curse Israel and the inhabitants had seduced the men of Israel, causing the Lord to declare war on them. 

In the north, the Arameans and Syrians were the problem.  "The whole area north to the Euphrates River came under David's authority.  This gave Israel important military installations and also control of the valuable caravan routes."

In the south, 1st Chronicles 18 named the Edomites as the enemy.  David defeated them as well as the Amalekites that Saul had failed to destroy per God's command.  "Just as the Lord had promised, David was victorious over his enemies," my commentary said.

David build a wise administration over Israel and the territories he'd conquered, ruling with justice and righteousness, and he had good men as his subordinates.  He had learned to stop waging war personally and was becoming the king God planned for him to be.

Father, I'd love for life to settle in as it once had for me -- for problems to be resolved and for Your name to be glorified as a result.  Please continue to rule over my life and the lives of those I love.  Be our King, and help us to submit to Your rule.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford