Read: 2 Samuel 8 & Psalm 60
Under the leadership of King
David, Israel expanded well beyond its previous borders. It became one of the
world superpowers, right up there with Egypt and Assyria. Egypt and Assyria
were both in somewhat weak condition at this time, giving Israel an opportunity
to grow in power and peace. Over the course of his kingship, David defeated
armies of Philistia, Syria, Moab, Edom and Ammon. Though these nations rose up
against Israel, they were never much of a threat during David’s reign. Chapter
8 gives a summary of a number of David’s victories over these specific nations.
This chapter is not necessarily chronological as some later events (such as
chapters 10-12) could have happened somewhere within the battles of chapter 8.
Whatever the case, God gave David and the armies of Israel much victory. He
also supplied David with faithful officials who aided his kingship in ability
and loyalty.
As a reader and an outsider,
it’s easy to blow through the list of victories without taking the time to
think about the realities of the events. Each battle was an act of faith. Women
would say teary goodbyes to their husbands, sons, and fathers, knowing full
well that it might be their last farewell. The men marched nervously into
battle; God held all the power to give victory, but would He? Each skirmish left behind a bloody battlefield flowing
with blood from both sides; total victory did not mean zero casualties.
The reality behind the list is
brought out in Psalm 60, which is considered to have been written in
correlation to a few of the battles mentioned in 2 Samuel 8. In this Psalm we
see the heart of a nation going into battle. The introduction tells us that the
psalm is written “for instruction”, possibly instructing the people on how to
pray when entering into battle. Though the people feel somewhat abandoned in
times of war, they know that they are God’s chosen and so cry out to Him for
salvation. They declare His holiness and a word of deliverance that He has
previously spoken over them. They know the promise that all nations of the
earth will be blessed through them. God calls the tribes of Israel His own, and
He also calls out purpose for the opposing nations of Moab, Edom and Philistia.
Israel’s purpose was not to expand territory for the mere sake of national
pride; her purpose was to be a blessing to other nations. In the time of David,
that was best accomplished through making other nations subject to her. And so
in this psalm, the people pray according to God’s great will, that Israel would
fulfill her calling of blessing, and also receive victory over hostile enemies.
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. God
raised Israel to be a blessing for all nations. How have you been blessed by this promise? What does this show you about
God? Thank Him for the things He reveals to you.
2. The
principle that God blessed Israel to be a blessing to all nations is true for
our personal lives as well. We have been blessed that we might bless others.
a. Ask
God how He wants you to walk out this calling today.
b. How
can you make this a life principle for yourself? To bless people, not just
today, but every day out of the
blessings God has given you?
3. Using
Psalm 60 as a template, spend some time in prayer for the nations of the world.
Pray God’s sovereignty and purpose over the nations. He is the Owner of all
things and He is coming back to reign as supreme Ruler and King. Pray that He
would bring nations into alignment with His heart. Pray that God would rescue
the church from her enemies.
