From a shepherd boy who fought bears with his hands to a young soldier who fought Goliath with his slingshot, this is David whom scriptures describe as a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14). 2 Sam 8 records and describes in detail David’s victorious campaigns on the battlefield. It lists down Israel’s enemy that he defeated, one by one,– Moab (v2), Zobah (v3), Damasus (v5), Edom, (v12), etc. Through his military campaign, David also exterminated one long-standing enemy of Israel (v1); Israel has no more trouble from the Philistines after David and until the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:8).

In verses 5-6 and verses 13-14, David employs the same battle strategy against the Syrians and the Edomites respectively.

First, he struck down tens of thousands of the enemy soldiers. Second, he set up garrisons in these places. Third, the captured enemies became his servants. And in both campaigns, the narrator ends (v6b and14b) by saying that “the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.” It was because the Lord was with David that He gave victory to him wherever he went. It was not only on this occasion that David experienced God’s amazing favor. In his earlier years when he was Saul’s subordinate, it was written that God had also esteemed David and prospered him abundantly. 1 Sam 18:12-15 writes, “Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him.”

Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with David but had departed from him. Living in the present church age under the New Covenant in Christ, God will never leave nor forsake us (Heb 13:5b). The moment that we first believe in Jesus by faith, the Holy Spirit indwells in us forever and our relationship with God is established. Our relationship with God is permanent and eternal – He will forever be our Abba Father and we, His children. When we sin against God, it does not affect our relationship with Him, but our sin breaks our fellowship with Him. The Holy Spirit remains in us, but He is grieved by our act of disobedience (Eph 4:30). Our sin quenches the Spirit of God (1 Thess 5:19). When we acknowledge our wrongdoing to God, we claim upon the forgiveness of our sins through Christ’s death for us at the Cross. We claim the promise our sins are forgiven when we confess our sins (1 Jn 1:9). And we can go our way, rejoicing in our intimate walk with the Lord once again.

Prayer : Dear God, I acknowledge that I have sinned against you. (Be specific and tell God about your sin.) I thank you for forgiving my sin through Christ’s death on the Cross. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.