What an example David is, in these chapters. of the godly man!
On the one hand is the free flowing grace of God to His child, evidenced in how many ways; God who was with him wherever he went, had taken him from the pasture and the care of the sheep, and assured him of future blessing further than his mind could reach, so that he could well say, "My cup runneth over" (Psalm 23).
On the other hand, what due regard for the glory of God had been wrought, in connection with circumstances of trial, in His servant. (See chapters 13:1-4 and 14:2, 10, 11, 14-16; and more markedly, showing the fruit of continued exercise of heart in David, chapters 15-17).
We do not wonder then, at the victories David was given over the enemies round about, as recorded in this chapter, following and growing out of his putting God first in his life.
Of course, the enemies the Christian has to fight, are not men and women, not "flesh and blood," but the unseen powers of Satan's dominions. The "armor" of God as unfolded in Ephesians 6:11-1811Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:11‑18) is truth, righteousness, the glad tidings of peace, faith, salvation and the Word of God, all linked together and made powerful by prayer and supplication in the Spirit.
Would that the children of God of this day in which we live, were more consistently walking in the footsteps of His servant David, as these chapters reveal him!
"Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that bath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from (done with) sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."
But David's history here, we do not forget, presents an advance illustration of the Lord Jesus in the day of the setting up of His kingdom upon earth, regarding which the Old Testament prophecies have so much to say, and the New Testament not a little. (Among many passages see Isaiah 9:6, 76For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6‑7); Jeremiah 30:9-119But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. 10Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. 11For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished. (Jeremiah 30:9‑11); Ezekiel 37:24-2824And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. 25And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. 26Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. (Ezekiel 37:24‑28); Matthew 25:31-4631When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:31‑46); Luke 22:3030That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:30); Revelation 19:1111And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11) to 20:6).
Regarding the cities named in our chapter, it may be of interest to observe that Gath (verse 1) was one of the five royal cities of the Philistines, and where the giant Goliath had lived.
Zobah (verse 3) was in the north of Syria, beyond Damascus. Hadarezer was engaged in conquering the country in the upper reaches of the Euphrates, and it was through or near the territory David's armies must have gone in their pursuit of king Hadarezer.
Hamath (verses 3 and 9) was north of Zobah, toward the Euphrates, the region of Hadarezer's conflicts, and where he was overthrown by 'David's fighting men.
Edom and Moab (verse 11) were on the south and east of the Dead Sea. The Ammonite country adjoining the Moabite on the north, east of the Jordan and near the Dead Sea.
Philistines and Amalekites were west and south, so that David's judgments on the nations embraced those on all sides of the land.
The valley of salt (verse 12) is thought to have been south of the Dead Sea.
Read in connection with this chapter Psalm 60, noting its title.