CHAPTER 14

(1043 B.C.)

HIRAM BUILDS DAVID A HOUSE

¹Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.

²And David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of His People Israel. (The first two Verses picture the coming day when Christ, the Shepherd of His people, shall be confirmed by God the Father as King over Israel, and when the Gentile princes, represented here by Hiram, shall bring their offerings to His feet.

David perceived that the Lord had established his kingdom because of this fact, but more so that Israel was the flock of God. Grace had elected that flock and had chosen David as its shepherd.)

DAVIDS FAMILY AT JERUSALEM

³And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters (even though this was tolerated by the Lord, still, such was not His Will).

⁴Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon (Mary, the mother of Christ, went back to David through Nathan, while Joseph went back to David through Solomon),

⁵And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet,

⁶And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

⁷And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.

DAVIDS VICTORY OVER THE PHILISTINES

⁸And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it, and went out against them (the word seek means to kill him; the moment there is an Anointing of the Spirit, Satan will come against it).

⁹And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim (this was the valley of the giants; it must be clearly understood that the flesh cannot overcome these giants; they can be overcome only by the Spirit of God; the Philistines dwelt in the land; they illustrate the energies of sin that dwell in the Christian [Rom. 7:17]; whenever Christ is enthroned as King over the whole life, these energies gather themselves together to oppose Him in the Believers heart, where Divine Faith and a child-like obedience have the upper hand; there must be complete victory over them [Rom. 8:1-2, 11]).

¹⁰And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and will You deliver them into my hand? And the LORD said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into your hand (it seems that David now had learned his lesson well, concerning a lack of inquiry regarding the bringing up of the Ark; now, he would take nothing for granted; consequently, he would experience victory).

¹¹So they came up to Baal-perazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God has broken in upon my enemies by my hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim. (The prefix on this place was called Baal, which speaks of heathen gods. So, in effect, David is saying, The Lord has broken through and defeated these idol gods. How many idol gods are in our lives?

The waters typify the Word of God, which sweeps away these idol gods, and which must be swept away in our lives also. But we must remember they cannot be destroyed by human ingenuity, only by the Spirit of God!)

¹²And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire (the fire of the Spirit is to burn the dross out of our lives [Mat. 3:11-12]).

¹³And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley (our mistake is large, if we think Satan will not return; he probes for an opportunity; just because there has been great victory does not mean that he will not come yet again; however, the victory of the first day, and the methods which Grace counseled for the winning of it, are not to be rested upon in order to secure victory for the next day).

¹⁴Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. (Had David thought it unnecessary to pray previous to the second battle, he would, no doubt, have been defeated. He learned that God cannot give victories to the flesh. Flesh must be humbled! So David is commanded to run away from the Philistines, which was very humbling to so brave a warrior, who then learns to hide, wait, and listen for the Power and Leading of the Holy Spirit.

No two victories are alike; hence, there must be definite exercises of heart and prayer, if the Philistine is to be defeated, not only the first time, but the second time, as well.)

¹⁵And it shall be, when you shall hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall go out to battle: for God is gone forth before you to smite the host of the Philistines (the sound which David heard was the coming of the Holy Spirit; He came to stay on the Day of Pentecost [Acts 2:2]).

¹⁶David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer (if we have the mind of the Lord, we will always have the victory which such affords).

¹⁷And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations (and so shall it be, when the Greater Son of David rules over the entirety of the planet, which will take place after the Second Coming).