(Read 2 Samuel 5:17-25)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. That’s sad. David spent years living amongst the Philistines and when he became the King of Judah, ruling only one of the 12 tribes of Israel, they did not bother him at all. But as soon as David became the overall King of a united Israel, the Philistines wasted no time in attacking him and the nation he represented.
David was told the Philistines were coming, so he went into his stronghold. The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. Can you picture the scene? David was locked up in his stronghold — something like an old castle — and the Philistines were spread out across the valley, preparing to attack. So David did what most of us do in a situation like this. He prayed. David asked the LORD, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” This sounds like the same prayer David prayed when his wives had been taken in Ziklag. He basically asked, “Should I fight?” and “Will I win?” To which the LORD replied, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.” So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. But David had the proper perspective. He knew the win came by the grace of God, so the King exclaimed, “The LORD did it!” Although David and his men were the ones doing the fighting on the ground, David said, “The LORD burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” He gave all the glory to God and he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”).
You would think the Philistines would leave David alone, but you know how pesky attackers can be. After a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. They were ready for another round of fighting. So, again David asked the LORD what to do. The Lord said, “Do not attack them straight on. Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. 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.” So David did what the LORD commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Sometimes success attracts the wrong type of attention. The Philistines did not attack David when he was the King of just one tribe, but when he became King of the entire nation, here came the attackers. This is just a reminder that when your success is perceived to be small and harmless, you won’t be attacked because you are not seen as a threat. But as soon as you cross over into relative success, even many those who used to be with you find a way to find fault with you. Not because you did anything wrong, but because they are threatened by your success. But don’t worry, the same God who blessed you to get the position, can bless you to keep it.
2. Give God when you know the victory came by His grace. David asked the Lord what to do and he went and did what God said. Although he and his men were the ones doing the fighting, David attributed the victory to God, because God was the one who told them what to do in order to come out victorious. The same applies today. When you are faced with a major decision and you ask the Lord what to do, and He tells you what to do, and you then turn around and do it with a victorious outcome, make sure to give God the glory. You may have been the one “doing” but remember, He was the one “leading” and if it were not for His guidance, you would not know what to do in the first place. So make sure to give Him the glory, because if you take His glory, He may not be so quick to give you the insight you need next time; and believe me, there will be a next time.
3. The Lord is interested in the affairs of your life and He will give you guidance for divine success. For you the issue is probably not the Philistines, but you have your own issues. You may be facing a major decision today or this week. You may be up against serious opposition. You may need divine insight. Do not think, for one moment, that God is not interested in what you are facing. Are there bigger problems in the world? Yes. But just like the God of the Universe took the time to give David specific instructions, He will do the same for you. For David it was how to fight the Philistines. For you it might be how to give a presentation, how to approach a certain meeting, or whether or not to make the deal. Whatever the case, God is interested in your daily affairs and if you will seek His guidance, He will provide it, in order to equip you to experience His best. The Lord wants you to win. If you ask Him how, He will tell you. Just make sure to give Him the glory when you experience the victory!
Closing Confession: Father, I know Godly success sometimes attracts the wrong type of attention. Some of same people who are coming up against me now, used to work alongside me, and they had no problem with me when I was one of their peers. However, since You have elevated me, they have chosen to come up against me, without me doing anything to them. I still walk in love, I maintain my peace, I seek You for guidance, I will do whatever You lead me to do. I am not afraid of any attack or any attacker, because my confidence is in You. I look to You for divine insight concerning how to deal with attackers and everything else. You lead me concerning every meeting, conversation and activity I engage in today and this week. You lead me concerning the deals I should make and the ones I should pass on. You lead me concerning how I should enter a meeting and what I should say. You lead me when I have to make a presentation and You give me favor with my superiors when I need their approval. You are concerned with the daily affairs of my life and You are involved in every area. You lead me in the way I should go, because You want me to experience Your success. And when I do, when I receive the victory by doing what You tell me to do, I always give You the glory! I don’t ever take Your glory, because I know I am not a self-made man/woman. My success comes from the grace You have placed on my life and for that I will never cease to give You praise! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
