1 Chron. 20:1-81And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it. 2And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city. 3And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. 4And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued. 5And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam. 6And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant. 7But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him. 8These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. (1 Chronicles 20:1‑8).
Joab the captain of David's host continued the war with the children of Ammon and took Rabbah and destroyed it. David took the crown from their king, which weighed a talent of gold and was adorned with precious stones, and it was set upon his head. The people of Rabbah were put to death in the most horrible way, and all this because they had refused the kindness of David.
This crown from the head of a Gentile king being placed on the head of David, reminds us of that verse: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever." Revelation 11:1515And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15). What a time that will be for His own when He who was once despise 1 and crucified, as David was despised and hunted by Saul, becomes the King over all the nations. How we delight to look forward to that day when He will have His rightful place, and blessng will come to this poor, sin-ruined world! But all this is like the little book which John was given to eat (Rev. 10:9, 109And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 10And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. (Revelation 10:9‑10)). In his mouth it was sweet, but it was bitter inwardly. And so when the Lord Jesus takes His place of headship, the most terrible judgments will roll over this world, as He removes from His kingdom "all things that offend, and them that do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Matt. 13:41, 4241The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:41‑42). This is pictured in our chapter in the judgment which fell upon the city of Rabbah, after the crown had been placed upon David's head. We would warn any unsaved reader of this paper to "flee from the wrath to come." Matt. 3:77But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matthew 3:7).
After this we have the death of the three remaining giants among the Philistines, including the brother of Goliath In looking at the death of Goliath some time ago in our "Talks" on 1 Samuel we noticed that his being put to death by David is a picture of the Lord Jesus defeating all the power of Satan at the cross (Hebrews 2:14, 1514Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14‑15)), in order that we who are His, might be delivered
We can now speak of Satan as a defeat, ed foe, and can rejoice in the might\ deliverance that has been won for us. as Israel did when Goliath was slain. But Satan is still the god and prince of this world. The world as such, has rejected the mighty Victor, the Lord Jesus Christ, and still remains under Satan's power. And so after the Church has been called home at the Lord's con,. ing, the world will worship the dragon (Satan) and will follow the "beast" (the head of the revived Roman Empire) and the "antichrist" (the head of apostate Israel). When the Lord Jesus comes out of heaven in power to set up His kingdom, Satan will be bound, and the "beast" and the "antichrist" will be cast alive into the lake of fire. Then the three "giants" who have sought to usurp the earth as their own, will be judged, just as the three giants of the Philistines, Sibbechai, Lahmi, and the great giant of Gath were slain in our chapter.
No matter how great he boasts of men and the mighty stockpiles of weapons and bombs they are able to amass, judgment cannot be averted. Some of the nations have escaped in a measure in the recent wars, but then there will be no escape to those who have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. Dear reader, the moment of judgment is drawing near. Are you ready?
Messages of the Love of God 1/19/1958