2 Samuel 8:1-8: a reflection

1After this, David struck the Philistines and subdued them; and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines. 2He defeated Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. The Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute. 3David also struck Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River. 4David took from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand footmen. David hamstrung the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for one hundred chariots. 5When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck twenty two thousand men of the Syrians. 6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. 7David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8From Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.

This passage recounts a series of David's victories over his enemies, and running through it, twice repeated, is a phrase that gives the true explanation of his success: The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. The account does not credit David's skill, strength, or strategy as the reason for his triumphs; it credits the LORD, who was with him and gave him victory in all he did.

Notice where the account places the credit for David's success: the LORD gave victory to David. Whatever David's own abilities, the true story behind his triumphs was God's hand with him. The account does not say David conquered by his own strength; it says the LORD gave him victory. The real explanation of his successful reign was not David, but God, who was with him and blessed all he did.

That is a way of seeing our own successes worth learning. When we succeed, we are prone to credit ourselves, our skill, our effort, our strategy, telling the story of our achievements as though we were the reason for them. But behind whatever we accomplish is God's hand; the true story of any success is not our own strength, but God's blessing, without which we could do nothing. May our lives be summed up not by what we achieved, but by what God did through us. When you succeed, credit God, not yourself; recognize that whatever you accomplish comes from his hand with you. Let the story of your successes be, as David's was, that the LORD gave the victory, and hold your achievements humbly, as the work of God through you, rather than the fruit of your own strength.

Lord, this account of David's victories twice repeats the phrase that gives the true explanation of his success: the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went; it credits not David's skill or strength, but you, who were with him. Teach me to see my own successes that way. When I succeed, I am prone to credit myself, my skill, my effort, my strategy, telling the story of my achievements as though I were the reason for them. But behind whatever I accomplish is your hand; the true story of any success is not my own strength, but your blessing, without which I could do nothing. May my life be summed up not by what I achieved, but by what you did through me. When I succeed, help me credit you, not myself; help me recognize that whatever I accomplish comes from your hand with me. Let the story of my successes be, as David's was, that the LORD gave the victory, and help me hold my achievements humbly, as your work through me, rather than the fruit of my own strength.