God’s new king trusts, obeys and delivers his people from the enemy.

2 Samuel 5:17-25 

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. ¹⁸ Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; ¹⁹ so David enquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?’

The Lord answered him, ‘Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.’

²⁰ So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, ‘As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.’ So that place was called Baal Perazim. ²¹ The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

²² Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; ²³ so David enquired of the Lord, and he answered, ‘Do not go straight up, but circle round behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. ²⁴ As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.’ ²⁵ So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

Can’t a newly appointed king expect a little peace? Verse 17 tells us otherwise.

Along with taking hold of Jerusalem, David has become God’s new king over Israel. This is good news. But the Philistines aren’t happy, not with David or the God he fears. So, David is soon opposed by Philistine forces in the Valley of Rephaim, or ‘Valley of Giants’ (sounds familiar huh?).

What happens next is exemplary. How does David respond? He ‘enquires of the Lord’ (v. 19). David doesn’t allow his kingly status to go to his head. But he does act like a good king by praying and carrying out the will of God. And God answers him with ‘Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.’ So, he obeys God and defeats the Philistines. Here, David shows us what a good king looks like. A good king has his trust in God, he prays, and obediently carries out God’s will.

What comes next is extraordinary. We’re told ‘the Philistines abandoned their idols there’ (v. 21). God’s victory through David is such that the idols of the Philistines are proven failures, and David’s God is proven victorious.

On top of that, we’re beginning to see in David a fulfillment of God’s promise in 1 Samuel – that his king would save Israel from the Philistines. The next few verses show this clearly as the Philistines come back for round two.

Again, David doesn’t allow his successes to get between him and God. Rather, he repeats his obedience by enquiring of the Lord. Once more David obeys God and this time pushes the Philistines further back into their territory ‘from Gibeon to Gezer’.

David’s actions as God’s king here allow us to appreciate the full glory of our King Jesus who not only trusted God, prayed, and obediently carried out the will of God, but has had victory over every evil on the cross. It’s this good news of our new king that not only means abandoning our failed idols, but he allows us to join him in his kingdom as well.

Head: What kinds of things rival God’s rule in your life? Why?

Heart: How are you responding to the good news of the new king Jesus? Can you trust him as your king? Why?

Hands: Think of one thing you like to do that shows Jesus is your Lord (e.g. prayer, sharing, giving encouragement, hospitality, meeting with growth group, doing jobs for people, singing). Then think of something you do that doesn’t yet show that. How can you repent of the second and keep going with the first today?

Prayer:

Father,

Thanks for the good news of Jesus our king. Thanks that he fully obeyed you and carried out your will, even to his death. Thanks that I can trust him as my Lord who has overcome every evil.

Help me today to live in ways that show that truth and bring glory to him.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

A song to listen to: Only You Can Satisfy

Sam Herd

Living Church City South