I
C H R O N I C L E S
CHAP. XVIII.
David's
piety and his prayer we had an account of in the foregoing chapter; here
follows immediately that which one might reasonably expect, an account of his
prosperity; for those that seek first the kingdom of God and the righteousness
thereof, as David did, shall have other things added to them as far as God
sees good for them. Here is, I. His prosperity abroad. He conquered the
Philistines (ver. 1), the Moabites (ver. 2), the king of Zobah (ver. 3, 4),
the Syrians (ver. 5-8), made the king of Hamath his tributary (ver. 9-11), and
the Edomites, ver. 12, 13. II. His prosperity at home. His court and kingdom
flourished, ver. 14-17. All this we had an account of before, 2 Sam. viii.
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David's Victories.
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B.
C. 1042.
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1 Now after this it came to pass, that David
smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath
and her towns out of the hand of the
Philistines. 2 And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and
brought gifts. 3 And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto
Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven
thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the
chariot horses, but reserved of them a hundred chariots. 5
And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David
slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 6 Then David put garrisons
in Syria-damascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought
gifts. Thus the LORD
preserved David whithersoever he went. 7 And David took the
shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to
Jerusalem. 8 Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of
Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen
sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.
After this, it is said (v. 1), David did those great exploits.
After the sweet communion he had had with God by the word and prayer, as
mentioned in the foregoing chapter, he went on his work with extraordinary
vigour and courage, conquering and to conquer. Thus Jacob, after his
vision, lifted up his feet, Gen. xxix. 1.
We have taken a view of these victories before, and shall now only observe, 1.
Those that have been long enemies to the Israel of God will be brought down at
last. The Philistines had, for several generations, been vexatious to Israel,
but now David subdued them, v. 1. Thus shall all opposing rule,
principality, and power, be, at the end of time, put down by the Son of
David, and the most inveterate enemies shall fall before him. 2. Such is the
uncertainty of this world that frequently men lose their wealth and power when
they think to confirm it. Hadarezer was smitten as he went to establish his
dominion, v. 3. 3. A horse is a vain thing for safety, so
David said (Ps. xxxiii. 17), and it seems he believed what he said, for he houghed
the chariot-horses, v. 4. Being resolved not to trust to them (Ps.
xx. 7), he would not use them. 4. The enemies of God's church are often made
to ruin themselves by helping one another, v. 5. The Syrians of
Damascus were smitten when they came to help Hadarezer. When hand thus joins
in hand they shall not only not go unpunished, but thereby they shall be
gathered as the sheaves into the floor, Mic. iv. 11, 12. 5. The wealth
of the sinner sometimes proves to have been laid up for the just.
The Syrians brought gifts, v. 6. Their shields of gold and their
brass were brought to Jerusalem, v. 7, 8. As the tabernacle was built
of the spoils of the Egyptians, so the temple of the spoils of other Gentile
nations, a happy presage of the interest the Gentiles should have in the
gospel church.
9 Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David
had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah; 10 He sent
Hadoram his son to king David, to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate
him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer
had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and
silver and brass. 11 Them also king David dedicated unto the LORD,
with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations;
from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the
Philistines, and from Amalek. 12 Moreover Abishai the son of
Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.
13 And he put garrisons in
Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the LORD
preserved David whithersoever he went. 14 So David reigned over
all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all
his people. 15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the
host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder. 16 And Zadok
the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests;
and Shavsha was scribe; 17 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was
over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were
chief about the king.
Here let us learn, 1. That it is our interest to make those our friends who
have the presence of God with them. The king of Hamath, hearing of David's
great success, sent to congratulate him and to court his favour with a noble
present, v. 9, 10. It is in vain to contend with the Son of David. Kiss
the Son, therefore, lest he be angry; let the kings and judges of
the earth, and all inferior people too, be thus wise, thus instructed. The
presents we are to bring him are not vessels of gold and silver, as
here (those shall be welcomed to him who have no such presents to bring), but
our hearts and sincere affections, our whole selves, we must present to him as
living sacrifices. 2. That what God blesses us with we must honour him with.
The presents of his friends, as well as the spoils of his enemies, David
dedicated unto the Lord (v. 11), that is, he laid them up towards
the building and enriching of the temple. That is most truly and most
comfortably our own which we have consecrated unto the Lord, and which we use
for his glory. Let our merchandise and our hire be holiness to the Lord,
Isa. xxiii. 18. 3. That those who take God along with them whithersoever they
go may expect to prosper, and be preserved, whithersoever they go. It was said
before (v. 6) and here it is repeated (v. 13) that the Lord
preserved David whithersoever he went. Those are always under the eye of
God that have God always in their eye. 4. God gives men power, not that they
may look great with it, but that they may do good with it. When David reigned
over all Israel he executed judgment and justice among all his people,
and so answered the end of his elevation. He was not so intent on his
conquests abroad as to neglect the administration of justice at home. Herein
he served the purposes of the kingdom of providence, and of that God who sits
in the throne judging right; and he was an eminent type of the Messiah,
the sceptre of whose kingdom is a right sceptre.
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