2 Samuel Chapter 8 – The Lord Gives David Victory

This chapter lists the achievements of David and states clearly that it was God who gave David the victory.

David clearly knew this, which is why verse 11 tells us that David dedicated to the Lord the spoils he had gathered from the nations he had subdued. David did not forget that it was the Lord who gave him the victory. 

Today, when we achieve things in life, do we easily forget that it was God who allowed us to gain or achieve things in life?

And do we thank God for what we have gained? Are we as forthcoming as David to dedicate what we have gained (or some portion of it) to God?

Sometimes our heart is reluctant to make that offering from what we have earned or gained, even though our lips easily say “thank God” or “praise the Lord”.

If that is the case, are we truly thankful or grateful to God for what we have earned? Or are our words merely just practiced showings of humility and godliness?

There is a peculiar act of David which might pique our curiosity.

Why did he make the Moabites line up in 3 lines, and put to death 2 lines while sparing 1 line?

Some people say that it was because the Moabites had killed David’s parents after he entrusted them to the king of Moab (see 1 Sam 22:3 -4). Since the bible is silent about the fate of David’s parents, we can neither affirm nor deny this possibility.

However, what we can conclude with greater confidence is that since God gave victory into the hand of David, God had set His hand against Moab at this juncture.

How frightening is the thought of God setting His hand against you! Let us quickly turn away from the sin that ensnares us, lest we become like those whom God has set his hand against.

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