David Follows God's Battle Strategy

Mary Vee
II Samuel 5

From David's Journal

I liked living in Jerusalem. 

After we conquered the Jebusites and took over the city of Jerusalem, Hiram, King of Tyre sent supplies and workers to make a beautiful home for me. I took this as a sign from God He was pleased.

Each day I met with advisors and kept in touch with our spies. One day a spy requested to speak with me.

"Yes, send him in," I said.

The spy bowed. "My, lord, the Philistines are looking for you. They have assembled in the Valley of Rephaim and are preparing for battle." He left after giving his report.

In all I do and have done, I seek to please the Lord. Before any decision, especially a battle decision, I made it a policy to ask the Lord what He wanted us to do. Sometimes He tolds us to go ahead with the battle, sometimes He saids not to fight.

I called the priest and asked the Lord, "What would you have us do? Should we fight the Philistines? Will you deliver them into our hands?"

The Lord answered, "Yes. Go to battle. I will deliver the Philistines into your hands."

I called the captains, had the army assembled and ready to fight, and marched on to battle. The battle ended in a short time. The victory ours, and the glory God's. The Lord ripped through my enemies like a breakthrough of water.

A spy came to me again stating the Philistines assembled came back to the Valley of Rephaim ready to war against us. I didn't assume any instruction from God. I called for the priest and asked the Lord again, "What would you have us do? Should we fight the Philistines? Will you deliver them into our hands?"

This time the Lord answered, "No do not go as you did the last time. Circle around behind them and come up in front of the mulberry trees. Send men into the top of the trees. When the sound of marching is heard, advance quickly. I, the Lord, will go out before you and strike the Philistines."

So we did. 

Once again, the Lord gave us victory, driving the Philistines toward the Great Sea, all the way back to Gezer. Praises go to our Great God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The victory is His. His battle plans always work.

*********************************************
photo courtesy of Tim Bulkeley http://eBibleTools.com

1.  Where was David living?
2.  Who provided the materials and workers for David's new palace?
3.  What did the spy first report?
4.  What did David do first?  Why?
5.  What did God say to do? What happened?
6.  For the second battle, why didn't David just go to battle since it was at the same place and the same enemy?
7.  What strategy did God tell David to use?