Jun 18. 2025-Meditation, 1 Chronicles 18:1–17, David’s Victory, the Lord’s Victory

Today’s passage describes how David, after ascending to the throne, achieved victories in wars against various nations. Under King David’s leadership, the army of Israel triumphed over surrounding nations. In verse 1 of today’s text, it says:

"In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines."

The passage begins with the words, “In the course of time…” The previous passage we meditated on was about David’s prayer. This implies that today’s events followed David’s prayer to God. In that prayer, David thanked God for the blessings he had received. But what exactly were those blessings? It was nothing other than “the blessing of God’s presence.” There is no greater or more certain blessing than that.

Wherever David went, God was with him. And David, for his part, lived a life walking with God. After expressing his gratitude for this blessing, Israel went on to defeat the Philistines in battle. The surrounding nations became subject to Israel and paid tribute.

Then in verse 6, we read:
"David put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went."

Here, we see that the true source of victory is not David, but God. It was not David who won, but God who gave victory to David.

In our own lives, too, our confession should not be, “I did it,” but “God did it,” or “God enabled me to do it.” When we make this kind of confession, as David did, what happens? We continue to experience victories in life. The surrounding nations no longer dared to challenge Israel under David’s rule.

In particular, in today’s passage, when King To'u of Hamath saw that David had defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah, who had been oppressing him, he sent David gifts of gold, silver, and bronze. About David’s response, verse 11 says:

"King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek."

David offered all the plunder and tribute he had acquired to the Lord. This was David’s way of acknowledging that it was not by his own hand, but by God’s power, that victory had come.

Furthermore, God also provided co-laborers to help David achieve victory. Individuals like Joab, Jehoshaphat, Zadok, Abimelek, and Benaiah served in their roles as military commanders, priests, scribes, and so on, faithfully carrying out their duties.

Interestingly, the passage mentions not only military leaders and warriors but also priests and scribes. This shows us that David’s victories were not achieved by physical might alone.

In 1 Samuel 17:47, David declared:
"All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands."

This was David’s confession before Goliath. David understood that victory in battle does not come through weapons, but belongs to the Lord.

The same is true in our lives. Where does the outcome of our lives rest? Not in money, fame, or power. It belongs to the Lord. The confession David made in 1 Samuel must also be our confession today.

Our lives today are also in God’s hands. I hope that we can truly and sincerely confess this with our hearts.