2 Samuel 5:17-25
New Living Translation (NLT)
David Conquers the Philistines
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold. 18 The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. 19So David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
(David’s response to the bad news of his arch enemy mobilizing to capture him: 1. He went into the stronghold (physical and spiritual). 2. He asked the Lord for strategy. He was direct in asking: “Shall I fight? Will You let me win?” Take note that he knew and acknowledged that the winning key is in the hand of the Almighty God.)
The Lord replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”
(The Lord’s response to David: The Lord gave straight and precise answers too. “Yes, fight. Yes, I will let you win.”)
20 So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”). 21The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them.
(David’s response to the Lord’s assurance: He acted and won accordingly. He was quick to give full credit to the Lord although he did not see or hear how that could happen. He just believed the Lord’s promise by faith.)
22 But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. 23 And again David asked the Lord what to do.
(David’s response to the second round of bad news: He asked the Lord again. To him, when being attacked, going to the Lord precedes counting military resources is a norm. He knew the Lord so well that he just sought the Lord naturally everytime he encountered a crisis.)
“Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. 24 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.”
(The Lord’s response: The Lord told David a change in strategy. This time He wanted David to do it differently, with deeper spiritual discernment. He wanted David to know for sure that it would be the Lord’s heavenly army that would win the war! The Lord enabled David to hear the sound of His heavenly army marching, which would be the signal for David to join in with his ground troops. David’s obedience by faith the first time had pleased the Lord. He was now moved to a higher level of spiritual encounter with the Lord!)
25 So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
(David’s response to the Lord: He obeyed and did as the spiritual Commander-in-Chief commanded and thus won again! This time he was more assured as he could hear the Lord’s army sound in the spiritual realm).
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Summary:
1.Know and believe in God (through knowing and believing in Jesus, and knowing and believing in His word)
2.Believe that it is natural to go to the supernatural God everytime you encounter a war (physical, emotional, mental or spiritual attacks)
3.Ask in the Name of Jesus and you will receive answer
4.Believe in the Holy Spirit’s communicating with you
5.Obey and act on what the Holy Spirit has told you
6.Ask and receive your answer by faith (even if you cannot hear or see like what David did)
7.Always give credit to the Lord, Who is your Commander-in-Chief
8.Keep practicing and training your spiritual gifts
9.Obedience by faith brings one to a higher level of spiritual discernment and understanding.
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