Feb 21, 2021. II Samuel 5:17-25

Posted byJohn Sanzone

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PHILISTINE FOIBLES.  II Samuel 5:17-25.  Feb 14, 2021. #12.

II Samuel 5:17-25 [New King James Version]

17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.” 20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 21 And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away. 22 Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 24 And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 25 And David did so, as the Lord commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.

  1. Philistine fanfare
    1. The Philistines heard that David was now king of Israel
      1. Two years previously Saul was defeated by the Philistines and  David had pledged loyalty to King Achish of Gath
      1. Now, David was on the throne in Saul’s place
    1. The four Philistine lords were correct—David was a loyal Jew
      1. King Gath swore that David was loyal to him
      1. The Philistines lords sent David back to Ziklag before  the battle with Saul
    1. The Philistines had captured much of Israel and settled in it
      1. They saw David as a threat and moved against him
      1. Philistines occupied up to Bethlehem
    1. Philistines army moved to the Valley of Rephaim (“the giants”)
      1. David moved down to “The Stronghold” (Caves of Adullam, where he first hid from Saul)
      1. The fighting takes place around Bethlehem
        1. Valley of Rephaim = 3 miles south of Beth.
        1. Geba = 10 mi. NW of Bethlehem
  2. God is my General
    1. David does not make a move without consulting God
      1. David asks God if he should attack and God says yes
      1. David names the place of victory Baal Perazim (the lord of all breaking throughs)
    1. On the second battle, God tells David not to go up
      1. God does not always give the answer we expect
      1. David expected another affirmation and victory
    1. God tells David to circle around behind the Philistines and wait
      1. God will give a signal:  when you hear the sound of marching in the top of the mulberry trees, attack
      1. God not only directs the lives of the faithful, but he shows the faithful how to live their lives (what actions to take and when to take them)
    1. The rout was so complete that the Philistines left everything in their tents, so Israel plundered the camp
      1. David carried away all the idols of the army (a  fitting reversal, since the Philistines had carried away the Ark of the Covenant)
      1. Psalms does not say that David burned the idols
    1. David regains much of the territory that Saul had lost
      1. Often, the Lord allows us to regain what we lost when we repent (James 5:13-16)
      1. David acted as God’s agent, not his own
  3. In the land of the blessed
    1. David followed God and was blessed for it
      1. David waited for God’s approval before advancing
        1. We often jump ahead of God’s will
        1. God blessed David for obeying him
      1. David did things God’s way and experienced victory
    1. Waiting on the Lord, brings fruitfulness
      1. A great contrast to self-centered, foolish Saul
      1. We waste much time and resources
    1. In a short time, David regains all that Saul lost
      1. Joel 2-3 God can give us back the years the locusts have eaten up
      1. No matter how we have strayed, we can repent and be renewed by a forgiving God