02/19/112019

2 Samuel 5:23-25

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.

By this time David had proven himself to be an immensely competent and brave military commander.  And it is equally true that he was the Lord’s servant.  So there is an interesting bit of information about David in this Scripture.

When Saul was told by Samuel to wait and Saul knew that was God’s instructions, he did not wait but became impatient and disobedient.

David as a successful field marshal might well have depended on his experience and success to go ahead into battle.  But this is where we see the difference in David.  He puts the army at rest.  They sit in a small forest and wait.  As you look at this, it is rather silly.  An army is sitting at rest waiting for the wind to blow in the trees.  But these are David’s instructions, “Wait until you hear the rustle of the wind in the trees.”

What do we learn about David?  First he is obedient.  He does not go ahead of God’s instructions.  Note Isaiah 40:31.

¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Secondly he is a man of faith.  He asked for victory.  He is told to do this to achieve it.  So he does what he is told for this end, verse 25.e does not go ahead of God’s intruH