Freed miraculously to serve victoriously

David knew that the Lord had established him

(1 Chronicles 14, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, December 31, 2017)

[1] And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also masons and carpenters to build a house for him. [2] And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

[3] And David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David fathered more sons and daughters. [4] These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, [5] Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, [6] Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, [7] Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet.

[8] When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went out against them. [9] Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the Valley of Rephaim. [10] And David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.” [11] And he went up to Baal-perazim, and David struck them down there. And David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. [12] And they left their gods there, and David gave command, and they were burned.

[13] And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley. [14] And when David again inquired of God, God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; go around and come against them opposite the balsam trees. [15] And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” [16] And David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. [17] And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.

David was an impressive man, and a central figure in world history. Let's examine what the Chronicler points to as evidence of David's greatness, and then address this important question: Where did it all come from?

David's House

David had a great palace built with materials from the forest of Lebanon and by the skill of craftsmen sent by Hiram, the king of Tyre.

David's Subjects

But David's house was more than a building. It included the entire kingdom over which he ruled. In earlier chapters we read about David's mighty men, and in future passages we will explore his various governing officials that put his commands into practice. Now we need to think beyond the few to the many, that David was able to unite all of Israel, and that thousands of families understood this man to be their supreme leader under Almighty God.

David's Family

A further extension of David's kingdom would come from the king's descendants. Several children had been born before Jerusalem was taken from the Jebusites, but now the Chronicler lists the additional sons of David that were born in Jerusalem. This included the man who would be king after David, Solomon, and his brother Nathan, both of whom would figure into future genealogies of Mary and Joseph.

David's Victories

Beyond the glory of David's house, his nation, and his family, the king's greatness would especially be known in his military victories, particularly over the most powerful enemies that threatened the Israelites in that era, the Philistines. This people group migrated to the western seacoast of the Promised Land from other Mediterranean shores and asserted their dominance over Israel in previous generations. David's notoriety among his countrymen began with his defeat of one large Philistine, Goliath, with a sling and a stone. It continued during many great victories in the days when Saul was king over Israel. Now that David was established firmly over both north and south, He continued to have great success over the Philistines.

David's Fame

All of this led to an increase in David's international reputation, for “the fame of David went out into all lands.”

David's God

But now we need to turn to the all-important question we mentioned earlier: Where did it all come from? We do not have to guess. We are told that “David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.” God had done it all, and these victories were a part of a larger design that extended to the entire nation of Israel and beyond.

As we look at the specifics of David's military success against the Philistines, it was God who was directing it all and granting him favor. As the Lord said to David, “I will give them into your hand.” And as David had concluded, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” The victory over adversaries was seen as Jehovah's dominance over false religious systems, for the Philistines “left their gods” on the battlefield, and “David gave command, and they were burned.”

As report of David spread to other lands, this desirable reputation for Israel's king did not come by David's own design. “The Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.”

David had so much that could have been a snare to him. All of it was a gift from God. Where would we be without Jesus, the ultimate Son of David? How did He conduct Himself during His days on earth? John 13:3-5 gives us an example. How should we live as those who follow Him?

Consider this one humble illustration: Supersaints don't need to travel the globe, be famous, or even be entirely theologically correct, since “the kingdom, the power, and the glory” belong to God. “May the Mind of Christ My Savior,” the hymn we are about to sing, was written by Katie Barclay Wilkinson, about whom we know so little... Every child of God has a purpose. So be “you,” the best “you” that God made you to be, and then boast in the Lord and not in yourself.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 37 – Fret Not Yourself

Gospel Reading—Matthew 10:34-39

[34] Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. [35] For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. [36] And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. [37] Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. [38] And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. [39] Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.