04192015TheLordPreservesThoseWhoFightForHim2Sa8DonRuhl

The Lord Preserves Those Who Fight for Him 

Second Samuel 8

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • April 19, In the year of our Lord, 2015

Scripture Reader and Reading: Michael Crisp – Psalm 34.17–22

Song Leader and Song Suggestions: Phil Joseph – Fight songs

Prelude: 

  1. Why do we read about David almost 3,000 years after his death? 
    1. I propose to you that David did not live for himself.
    2. He did not live to be blessed, but to bless.
      1. He did not wait for things to come to him.
      2. He loved the Lord and
        1. anyone who opposed the Lord,
        2. David considered an enemy.
          1. He fought that enemy in the name of the Lord, and
          2. the Lord gave David countless blessings for it.
  2. David never lost 
    1. as long as he honored the Lord.
    2. Regardless of the power of the enemy,
      1. the Lord preserved David, because
      2. it is nothing to the Lord
        1. to preserve someone against seemingly insurmountable odds.
        2. Just fight the Lord’s battles and
          1. He will take care of the rest in your life.
          2. The question is: Do we trust Him?

Persuasion: 

  1. Second Samuel 8.1–6 – David Fought the Lord’s Enemies

    1 After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines. 2 Then he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute. 3 David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates. 4 David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots. 5 When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

    1. David attacked the Philistines.
      1. David took Metheg Ammah
    2. He defeated Moab.
      1. Put half of them to death.
      2. The survivors became servants.
    3. David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
      1. David took
        1. 1000 chariots,
        2. 700 horsemen, and
        3. 20,000 foot soldiers.
      2. David hamstrung all the chariot horses,
        1. except he spared some 100 chariots.
      3. David killed 22,000 Syrians who helped Hadadezer
    4. The Lord preserved David wherever he went.
  2. Second Samuel 8.7–14 – David Dedicated the Plunder to the Lord

    7 And David took the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 Also from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze. 9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, 10 then Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); and Joram brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze. 11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued— 12 from Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13 And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt. 14 He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

    1. David took shields of gold from Hadadezer.
      1. David took bronze from the cities of Hadadezer.
      2. Toi king of Hamath blessed David.
        1. The silver, gold, and bronze David dedicated to the Lord.
        2. He did the same thing with metals taken from enemies.
    2. He killed another 18,000 Syrians.
    3. He put garrisons in Edom.
    4. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went.
  3. Second Samuel 8.15–18 – David’s Administration

    15 So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people. 16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Seraiah was the scribe; 18 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.

    1. David’s reign:
      1. Included all Israel
      2. Administered judgment and justice.
    2. His nephew headed the army.
    3. Benaiah headed the mighty men.
      1. This was the man who killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day.
      2. He defeated two mighty heroes of Moab.
      3. He also attacked a seven and half foot tall Egyptian,
        1. using a staff to wrest the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then
        2. killed the Egyptian with his own spear.
  4. The Lord Preserves the Fighters of the Good Fight 
    1. Twice in our text, the writer said that,

      …the Lord preserved David wherever he went,

      1. because David always acknowledged the Lord.
        1. Therefore, the Lord acknowledged David,
        2. preserving him, not allowing any enemy to kill David.
          1. Truly, as it is written,

            23 Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints!
            For the Lord preserves the faithful,
            And fully repays the proud person.
            (Psa 31.23)
          2. As David wrote in another Psalm,

            7 You are my hiding place;
            You shall preserve me from trouble;
            You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.
            Selah
            (Psa 32.7)
          3. David wrote yet again,

            28 For the Lord loves justice,
            And does not forsake His saints;
            They are preserved forever,
            But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
            (Psa 37.28)
          4. David must have had more than one experience,

            2 The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive,
            And he will be blessed on the earth;
            You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.
            (Psa 41.2)
      2. The first time we see David in combat,
        1. he acknowledges the Lord and
        2. the Lord preserves him,

          45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands” (1Sa 17.45–47).

          1. How do you defeat a 9 foot, 9 inch giant?
          2. David acknowledged the Lord.
        3. Perhaps someone says that David had to be a skilled fighter.
          1. That is true, and he acknowledged it,

            32 It is God who arms me with strength,
            And makes my way perfect.
            33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
            And sets me on my high places.
            34 He teaches my hands to make war,
            So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
            (Psa 18.32–34)
          2. For this reason, David never boasted in himself.
            1. Some people say it is not bragging if it is true.
            2. However, listen to Paul reason with our Corinthian brethren,

              7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? (1Co 4.7).

              1. Why can I do what I can do, and
              2. why can you do what you can do?
                1. Is there something about us that we did not receive?
                2. No, because the Lord made us.
                  1. He makes us differ from one another.
                  2. He gave us whatever skills we have.
    2. David was true to the Lord.
      1. Therefore, the Lord was true to David.
    3. David did not exalt himself.
      1. Therefore, the Lord did not need to humble him.
    4. Therefore, when David fought the Lord’s enemies and
      1. defended the Lord’s people,
      2. the Lord preserved David wherever he went.
  5. The Key to David’s Success Is Our Key to Success 
    1. Fight the Lord’s enemies.

      12 Fight the good fight of faith… (1Ti 6.12).
    2. Dedicate your finances to the Lord.

      3 “Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver…” (1Ch 29.3).
    3. Reign with Jesus and see to it that judgment and justice are done.

      15       See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all (1Th 5.15).
  6. Does this have meaning if you have not confessed Jesus as your Lord?