After the long and frequent struggles which the Christian has with the powers of darkness,
he shall at last be made more than conqueror and shall reign with Christ.
II Samuel 1
1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
3 ¶ David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.
5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
9 ¶ When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:
11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;
12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.
14 ¶ And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief rulers.
II Samuel 1 – J. Vernon McGee
2 Samuel 8:1-18 – Victorious on Every Side
Twice in this chapter we are told that the Lord gave victory to David “whithersoever he went,” II Samuel 8:6, 14. Indeed, he was more than a conqueror, for he obtained not only victory but the spoils of his foes, of which he afterward made large donations to the house of God. We are reminded of those great words: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ”; and, “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (II Corinthians 2:14 and Revelation 17:14).
Never in this world shall we be able to lay down our weapons. Often temptations that we thought had passed out of our lives, will revive in their old vigor and present themselves with even greater subtlety and force. Resolutions and vows will fail us. We shall be constantly kept in mind of our weakness and dependence. The only victory which is permanent is our faith, which receives from Him what we cannot achieve for ourselves. It is a very humbling experience, but it is our safeguard against overweening pride.
2 Samuel 8:11—The silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued.
David might not build the temple, but he was bent on making provision for it. Indeed, Solomon had never been able to do as he did, unless his father had gathered these stores of gold and silver. Thus other men labor, and we enter into their labors; but the accomplished building is credited by God to each. He does not forget David when Solomon’s temple stands complete. The reward is proportioned to each man’s service, according to his share.
It is a glorious thing when we not only defeat our foes, but get spoils out of their overthrow which we can use for the service of God and man. It is as possible for us as for David. Out of our failures, temptations, mistakes, let us get the power of helping and directing others. In death Jesus won the keys of death and Hades, and the power to become a merciful and faithful High Priest; and now He ever liveth to make intercession for his people (Hebrews 7:25).
But the main lesson of this chapter is the foreshadowing of God’s purpose that Gentiles should contribute to the building of his Temple. What was literally true in the case of the temple of Solomon is spiritually true of the heavenly Temple, the Church. From every nation, and kindred, people and tongue, souls are being gathered, who form a spiritual house, a holy Temple in the Lord. The whole world is destined to contribute to that structure, which is being prepared secretly and mystically, but shall ere long be manifested in its full glory. It is very interesting to get this suggestion from the chronicles of a nation as exclusive and haughty as the Jews. “They shall come from the east, and from the west…” (Luke 13:29).