Part 35: David's Wars (Part 1)

(2 Sam. 5:17-25, cf. 1 Chron. 14:8-17; 2 Sam. 8:1, cf. 1 Chron. 18:1; 2 Sam. 21:15-22, cf. 1 Chron. 20:4-8), the Moabites (2 Sam. 8:2, cf. 1 Chron. 18:2), and the Syrians (2 Sam. 10:1-19; cf. 1 Chron. 19:1-19)

Introduction

In the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, we are introduced to two rulers over two kingdoms: the King of Rohan and the Steward of Gondor. Both men come from families of renown, but Tolkien uses these two rulers to highlight two different perspectives of the world: Hope and Despair.

Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, has a powerful seeing stone that has allowed him to see glimpses of the enemy advancing toward his kingdom, seeing even the black ships that are sailing toward the White City. Looking all around him, remembering the death of his wife and firstborn son, and now looking down at his younger son who has also apparently been killed in battle, with the forces of evil pressed all around him, Denethor falls into despair.

“For thy hope is but ignorance. Go then and labor in healing! Go forth and fight. Vanity. For a little while you may triumph on the field, for a day. But against the Power that rises there is no victory.”

Denethor, Steward of Gondor (The Return of the King, Tolkien)

In the end, Denethor chooses a fate of self-destruction, choosing rather to be consumed by fire rather than to face the future.

In Tolkien’s mythology, Denethor is consumed by despair because he doesn’t have any hope.

I don’t think Denethor, Steward of Gondor, is the only one who has ever faced that kind of hopelessness. That kind of despair.

It’s an easy thing to look through the seeing stone like Denethor and look out at a world filled with darkness. A world filled with evil, evil that presses in all around and won’t let up.

It’s easy to lose hope when the pain just keeps going and doesn’t stop, day after day after day.

It’s easy to lose hope when it feels like God has abandoned you.

It’s easy to lose hope and say with Denethor, “There is no victory.” It’s easy to think that evil will always win.

Background

Put yourself into the sandals of the Israelites in David’s day, you might have felt something similar.

Battles against God’s enemies had been raging for years. People like the Philistines, who they had been fighting since the days of Samson, and other people all around Israel who didn’t worship Yahweh, and who worshipped their gods through child sacrifice and ritual prostitution, and who were a constant threat to God’s people.

In Saul’s life, Israel had seen some military success, but all of that seemed to come undone at the catastrophic defeat at Mount Gilboa.

To the Israelites in David’s day, it might have been easy to think that evil would always win.

Context

This morning, we are going to begin to look at David’s Wars, his military campaigns

I think we are going to see a powerful illustration of how God can step into our despair and give us true hope.

We don’t have a lot solid details relating to the chronology of David’s Wars; probably happened over several years

I am going to give an overview of the Wars in what I think is the most likely chronological order of the wars

Since the author placed most of these battles after the Davidic Covenant in 2 Samuel 7, he wants us to see that these battles and wars are part of the way that God is keeping His promises to David and to Israel.

This is going to teach us that no matter what, nothing can stop God from keeping His promises, even when it seems like evil will always win.

Scan the QR code to follow along with the MAPS that will be put on the screen.

Outline

(1) David’s War against the Philistines

Background

Since the days of Samson, Philistines are Israel’s biggest enemy

David was a Philistine vassal, so when Philistines hear David is king of Israel, they lash out and attack him.

David is on the defensive, defending Israel’s territory

A. Battles of Defense (2 Sam. 5:17-25; cf. 1 Chron. 14:8-17)

2 Samuel 5:17–25 ESV

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away. 22 And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.

B. Battles of Offense (2 Sam. 8:1; cf. 1 Chron. 18:1)

After fending off the Philistine attack, David then goes on the offensive, pressing into Philistine territory and capturing the city of Gath, the very city where he had once taken refuge from Saul long ago and had pretended to be insane.

1 Chronicles 18:1 ESV

1 After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines.

C. Battles Against Giants (2 Sam. 21:15-22; 1 Chron. 20:4-8)

It is possible that these battles took place during David’s offensive against Gath

Or, it is possible that this is a series of battles from later on in David’s reign, after they have a chance to regroup.

In any event, David and his army battle against four Philistine giants.

2 Samuel 21:15–22 ESV

15 There was war again between the Philistines and Israel, and David went down together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines. And David grew weary. 16 And Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was armed with a new sword, thought to kill David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid and attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You shall no longer go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.” 18 After this there was again war with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giants. 19 And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended from the giants. 21 And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, struck him down. 22 These four were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

Possible Objection: Contradiction?

Some skeptics will point to 2 Samuel 21:19 as evidence of a contradiction in the Bible, because this verse says that a man named Elhanan killed Goliath, whereas 1 Samuel 17 says David killed Goliath.

2 Samuel 21:19 ESV

19 And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

In reality, as one Bible scholar has argued quite persuasively in my view, this is a great example of a scribal copy-error in both 2 Samuel 21:19 and the parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 20:5, so that what is actually happening is that Elhanan from Bethlehem kills not Goliath, but the brother of Goliath.

I’ve included that article in this week’s QR code, I’d encourage you to take a look.

Not a contradiction at all.

In all of these battles, all of these passages are clear: In David’s lifetime, the main enemy of Israel is finally defeated.

Now, the Philistines haven’t been completely wiped out; we will see them a couple more times throughout Israel’s history during the Divided Monarchy.

But they are never anywhere close to the kind of dominant territorial power that they have been up to this point.

They will fade into the background, never again asserting their power.

Israel’s long-time enemy is finally — for all practical purposes — defeated.

(2) David’s War against the Moabites (2 Sam. 8:2; cf. 1 Chron. 18:2)

2 Samuel 8:2 (ESV)

2 And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.

Background

This is a very short verse, but loaded with biblical significance

Moabites and Ammonites descend from two daughters of Lot, Gen 19

Originally, was outside the immediate parameters of the land promised to Abraham; God initially wanted it to be left alone

But then, the King of Moab named Balak hired Balaam to try and curse Israel, which backfired on him, leaving Moab with the curse instead

God used Balaam to prophesy that one day a King from Judah would act on God’s behalf to crush Moab’s head, since she was aligned with God’s ultimate enemy the Serpent (Numbers 24:17)

In David’s own life, Moab played a significant part

His great grandmother Ruth was from Moab

When David’s life was upended, he sent his parents to live with king of Moab, 1 Sam. 22:3-4 , had a good relationship with him, apparently

We don’t know exactly why David attacked Moab when he did; maybe they launched an attack? Psalm 60 alludes to defeat?

Jewish tradition: Moab killed David’s parents and some brothers; possible but the text doesn’t say

Possible Objection: “Why the violence?”

This is a confusing verse and raises some good questions to wrestle with about violence in the Bible more broadly

Christians have wrongly used these kinds of passages to justify violence

In the OT system, religious and civil authority were intended to go together

David is fighting here as God’s Anointed King in Israel is as an official representative of God, exacting God’s justice on sinful people who deserve condemnation because of their sins against God and others

In the NT, the power of the sword does not lie with the church, but with the state; the church is not just one nation, but all nations

There was no specific command to completely eliminate the Moabite people, like with other nations in Canaan

Seems like this is only the enemy soldiers, not the Moabite population at large

It is also notable that even as David is exacting judgment because of Moab’s sin, he is also showing mercy, even in the midst of judgment.

Even as God’s King carries out divine judgment against God’s enemies, we also see divine mercy.

(3) David’s War against the Ammonites (Phase 1) (2 Sam. 10:1-5; cf. 1 Chron. 19:1-5)

Background

Again, descended from Lot and his younger daughter

This is that nation that Jephthah fought against during the period of the Judges

1 Sam 11 says that King Nahash was very violent; gouging out right eye of his enemies; apparently good relationship with David, maybe a deal struck while David was in exile

When King Nahash dies, David wants to try and maintain that good relationship

2 Samuel 10:1–5 (ESV)

1 After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.

2 And David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the Ammonites.

3 But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?”

4 So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away.

5 When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.”

The new king is paranoid that David is going to conquer his territory, so he humiliates David’s messengers and calls for reinforcements from some of his Syrian allies

Now, David is going to address the Syrian alliance before returning to finally conquer the Ammonites

(4) David’s War against the Syrians (Phase 1) (2 Sam. 10:6-19; cf. 1 Chron. 19:6-19)

Explanation

2 Samuel 10:6–8 ESV

6 When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob, 12,000 men. 7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men. 8 And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate, and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.

The passage goes on to say that Joab leads a force of David’s soldiers to fight the Syrian reinforcements who are led by the King of Zobah — Hadadezer, who are out in the open battle field, while Abishai leads a force against the Ammonites, who are right in front of the gate of the city, which 1 Chronicles says is the city of Medeba.

And right before they fight, listen to what Joab says:

2 Samuel 10:12 ESV

12 Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.”

In the end, Israel is successful.

Abishai forces the Ammonites to retreat behind the city gate, which forces them to stop the battle, since they are not equipped with the right equipment for a seige

Joab and his men are successful in driving the Syrian alliance back.

Before long, Hadadezer the King of Zobah has managed to put out a call for more reinforcements from more of his allies up north, past the Euphrates River and into Mesopotamia. They gather their forces near Helam and ready themselves for another battle.

2 Samuel 10:17–19 ESV

17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. 19 And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.

David and his army defeat the Syrian alliance, and many of the vassal kings who had previously been supporting King Hadadezer now switch their allegiance to be a vassal of King David, and no one is interested in helping the Ammonites now.

As we will see in a couple weeks, King Hadadezer manages to escape with his remaining forces and he quickly retreats back up toward Zobah, sending messengers to his remaining allies near Damascus and in Mesopotamia, calling in all of the favors that he has.

Now, in the days ahead, David’s army will need to do three things:

(1) They need to ensure King Hadadezer can’t rebuild his military and political coalition among the Syrians and pose any more threat to Israel

(2) They need to defend against any potential retaliation from Edom, which was closely allied with Moab

(3) They need to regroup and prepare for a long-term seige against the Ammonites’ main cities, chief of which is the city of Rabbah, where the Ammonites will almost certainly designate as their last stand

We’ll continue tracing David’s Wars over the next couple weeks

Application

What does this have to do with us?

If there’s one thing that I think all of these battles and David’s Wars will teach us is that:

BIG IDEA: EVIL WILL FAIL AND GOD WILL PREVAIL.

(1) Evil will FAIL:

A. External Evil

In David’s day, evil nations

Today, evil nations (the world), the value system of this world which props up the wealthy at the expense of the poor

Alzheimer's

Cancer

Death

B. Internal Evil

The sins that so easily beset us

Our tendency to prefer self over others

Sexual immorality

Idolatry, loving something more than God

Pride

Impatience toward others

An argumentative and aggressive and angry spirit

(2) God will PREVAIL

A. God’s Justice Will Prevail

In David’s day and in this section, we are seeing a tangible demonstration of God’s justice.

But we know from the rest of the Bible that when see things like the King and the Temple and the Sacrificial system, and the Priests — all of these Old Testament people and institutions and events are designed by God to prepare the way for Jesus Christ

And the resounding message of the Bible is that one day there is a Great King who will come into the World again and will put to the sword everyone and everything who persists in rebellion against God, just like these nations in David’s day

2 Thessalonians 1:7–9 (ESV)

7 ...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels

8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.

On the final day, all of the Evil that plagues the world — all of the sin and death and decay that we see everywhere around us — it will all be destroyed, forever thrown into a cosmic black hole, a Lake of Fire, where evil will never again be able to influence God’s wonderful, new Creation.

This is wonderful news for the world, but terrible news if you are part of the problem

B. God’s Mercy Will Prevail

But instead of having to face the wrath of Jesus, we can experience His mercy

Romans 3:23–24 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

GOSPEL CALL: God, Man, Christ, Response

The only way we can have true hope is through Christ. Christ is all we have.

If anything from this message has resonated with you, or if you are new to Christianity or would not consider yourself a Christian and have some feedback or questions for me about this message or anything I’ve said or if you would like to talk to me about some ways that you think God is asking you to respond to Him, I’ll be down here at the front of the church immediately after the last song, and I’d really love to talk to you and process some of this with you.

Conclusion:

If Denethor the Steward of Gondor helps us see the reality of despair, I think that the other ruler in The Lord of Rings, King Theoden of Rohan, was meant to highlight the surprising reality of hope.

Just as Denethor is looking out at the mass of evil all around him and giving into despair, Theoden can imagine a world beyond the despair; light after darkness; life after death.

And in a moment inspired by hope, the King calls out to his soldiers as they ride into the heart of evil to face the enemy forces:

“Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!”

In the midst of our own world full of evil and darkness, may we have the courage and the hope to imagine a better world that is coming, a world where evil fails and God prevails all through Christ alone.