Scripture Daily

Context No. 1484 of 4322 · 2 Samuel

Context · Reflection

2 Samuel 8:9-18: in context

9When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer, 10then Toi sent Joram his son to King David to greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him; for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. Joram brought with him vessels of silver, vessels of gold, and vessels of bronze. 11King David also dedicated these to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued— 12of Syria, of Moab, of the children of Ammon, of the Philistines, of Amalek, and of the plunder of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13David earned a reputation when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand men of the Syrians in the Valley of Salt. 14He put garrisons in Edom. Throughout all Edom, he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. 15David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness for all his people. 16Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 17Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, Seraiah was scribe, 18Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.

David's victories are recounted. The king of Hamath, hearing that David has defeated his enemy, sends gifts of silver, gold, and bronze; and David dedicates these, along with all the silver and gold he had taken from the nations he subdued, to the LORD. The chapter notes his fame after a great victory, his garrisons in Edom, and then a summary: the LORD gave David victory wherever he went. And it adds the mark of his reign: David reigned over all Israel, and executed justice and righteousness for all his people.

Two things stand out in this summary of David's rise. The first is where the victories are credited: the LORD gave David victory wherever he went. David does not take the glory for his conquests; the text plainly names God as the source of his success, and David, receiving the gifts and spoils, dedicates them to the LORD rather than hoarding them for himself. His success became an offering; the wealth of victory was consecrated to God, not stockpiled as his own. The second thing is what David did with the power his victories gave him: he executed justice and righteousness for all his people. The point of his rise was not his own aggrandizement but the good of the people he ruled; the power was used to do justice, and justice for all, not privilege for himself and his circle. There is a pattern here for the right use of success and power. When God grants us success, the temptation is to take the credit and keep the spoils; David credited God and consecrated the spoils to him. And when power comes, the temptation is to use it for ourselves; David used it to do justice for all his people. Success rightly held is credited to God and offered back to him; power rightly used is turned to the good of others, especially in doing them justice. David's greatness, at its truest, was of this kind: victories credited to God, spoils dedicated to God, and power spent on justice for all.

When God grants me success, do I take the credit and keep the spoils, or credit him and offer them back, and when I have power over others, do I use it for myself or, like David, to do justice for all those under my care?

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