The Unwelcomed Sight of an Old Enemy

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 21:15-22; 23:8-39

Today's Treasure: "Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted" (2 Samuel 21:15).

King David returned to Jerusalem and realized he had to take back his throne—rather than receive it from cheerful givers. The business of politics and inevitable battles must have seemed insurmountable. One last enemy arose before he could take a breath and proclaim a victory. One very familiar enemy. One very persistent enemy. The Philistines were at it again. Again David went to fight them, but this times he became exhausted in battle. One of Goliath's relatives, who dwarfed God's king, said he would kill David.

But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David's rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, saying, "Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished" (2 Samuel 21:17).

I am so thankful God chose to tell us David knew about exhaustion in battle! I need to know that others have experienced the weariness of fighting the same old enemy over and over. The word for exhausted in Hebrew is uwph. The word even sounds like something you might say at a glimpse of an old enemy! Uwph means "to cover, to fly, faint, flee away."* It is the overwhelming desire to run and hide.

When was the last time you wanted to run and hide? Few things make us want to flee more than the prospect of fighting an old battle. The moment that old enemy reappears, we want to run into the nearest forest and never come out. Have you ever noticed that Satan always chooses just the right time to haunt you through an old enemy? When you haven't had enough rest, when things have been emotional and turbulent, when you've been swinging from one extreme to another, when you're completely vulnerable—that's when the enemy strikes.

  
Satan is the counterfeit god of perfect timing. He's watching for just the right moment to pull the rug out from under us, but even that rug is under God's feet. And God always has victory in mind! He will never allow Satan to discourage you without a plan to lead you to victory! We may not always follow Christ to victory, but He is always leading! "Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him" (2 Cor. 2:14).

  
One of the most important truths we can apply from David's ongoing battles with the Philistines is that God will always lead us to victory—but he will lead us His way. God led David to victory through all four battles mentioned in 2 Samuel 21:15-22, but He brought the victory to David through someone else.

  
Just like us, I'm sure David's preference would have been for God to make him the hero and leave others in awe over his great strength. God had other plans. He saved David all right, but He purposely made him dependent on someone else. Consider a few reasons why God might have used this method in David's life.

1. For the sake of the people. Israel did not need David to be like a god to them. He could not deal with being put on that kind of pedestal or subjected to that kind of pressure. He was bound to disappoint them. When it comes to hero worship, the line between love and hate is very fine! How many close followers have turned against their leaders? God will never allow any of us to be the only one through whom He appears to be working mightily.

2. For the sake of King David. To keep him from believing he could never be

overtaken, God protected David by not always letting him be the hero. God extended David a wonderful gift. He gave David a few heroes instead—a few men who commanded his respect. He humbled David and made him depend on them for his life. None of us will escape this important life lesson. God will teach us dependency. God will allow us to become exhausted and force us to receive help.

3. For the sake of the men He empowered. People can easily become discouraged if they perceive that God works mightily through others but never works through them. God does not play favorites. Anyone who cries out to Him, He answers. Anyone who surrenders to His call, He uses.

Lord, I praise You for Your mighty works and Your righteous deeds. Jesus, You lead the way to victory over my enemies. How I thank You for not allowing me to win all my battles on my own. You know how hard I try! Your plans are wise and good. Give me the willingness to receive help from others and the strength to be another's defender. Amen.

*Warren Baker, general editor, The Complete Word Study Old Testament (Chattanooga, Tenn.: AMG Publishers, 1994), 86.

Adapted from A Heart Like His, by Beth Moore, pages 236-239. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1999. Used by permission.