1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 18: Victory wherever David went

Begin in prayer

Before we follow David's wars, let us bow our heads and pray together. Ask the LORD to show us that He gives victory and rules with justice, and to lead us to Jesus, the righteous King.

He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his offspring, forever more.

Psalm 18:50

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You gave David victory wherever he went, and show us Jesus, the righteous King. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

David defeated the Philistines and took Gath and its towns, and Moab became his servant and brought tribute (verses 1 and 2). He defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, and the Syrians of Damascus came to help him and lost (verses 3 to 5). King Tou of Hamath sent gifts to David (verses 9 and 10). David dedicated the silver and gold he took to the LORD (verse 11). Abishai struck eighteen thousand Edomites, and Edom became David's servant (verses 12 and 13). David reigned over all Israel and executed justice and righteousness for all his people (verse 14).

As you read 1 Chronicles 18, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD gave David victory wherever he went, and David ruled with justice.

This chapter gathers David's wars into a short list, from the Philistines to Edom. Twice the writer says that the LORD gave David victory wherever he went (verses 6 and 13). The credit is given to the LORD, and David dedicated the silver and gold he took to the LORD (verse 11). It ends with David reigning over all Israel, and doing justice and righteousness for all his people (verse 14). This teaches that victory and justice both belong to the LORD, and that a king rules well when he does justice. It matters because wars are won for a purpose, and here the purpose is a people ruled with justice. It shows God as the Giver of victory and the lover of justice (Psalm 72 verses 1 and 2). God will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus, and He proved it by raising Him (Acts 17 verse 31). Jesus won the greatest victory, over sin and death, when He died and rose (1 Corinthians 15 verses 54 to 57).

How does 1 Chronicles 18 show us that the LORD gave David victory wherever he went, and that David ruled with justice?

David won wars against the Philistines and other nations.

David defeated the Philistines, Moab, Hadadezer of Zobah and the Syrians of Damascus (verses 1 to 6). Abishai struck eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt (verse 12). Moab, Syria and Edom became servants of David and brought tribute (verses 2, 6 and 13).

The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.

The writer says it twice, that the LORD gave David victory wherever he went (verses 6 and 13). David dedicated the silver and gold from the nations to the LORD (verse 11). He took shields of gold and brass, and Solomon later used the brass for the temple (verses 7 and 8).

David ruled with justice, and Jesus rules in righteousness.

David reigned over all Israel and executed justice and righteousness for all his people (verse 14). Paul told the Athenians that God will judge the world in righteousness by the man He has appointed (Acts 17 verse 31). God showed that this man is Jesus by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17 verse 31). Jesus rules with perfect justice.

Memorise

Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went. David reigned over all Israel; and he executed justice and righteousness for all his people.

1 Chronicles 18:13-14

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, who rules my life, and have I come to Jesus, the righteous King?

David “reigned over all Israel,” and the chapter says he “executed justice and righteousness for all his people.” The LORD gave him victory wherever he went. Jesus is the King whose justice never fails, for God will judge the world by Him (Acts 17 verse 31).

Every earthly king has failed at last, and every one of us has sinned against the King of heaven. Jesus came to carry His people's sin. On the cross He bore the punishment for it, and His death was paid in full. God raised Him from the dead, and He is Lord of all.

So bow to this righteous King. Turn from your sin and trust Jesus. Whoever trusts Him is forgiven, and is ruled by the King who judges with justice.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD gave David victory wherever he went, and that Jesus is the righteous King. Parents, this chapter is mostly wars and lists, so please read verses 1 and 2, 13 and 14 aloud. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He gives victory and that Jesus rules in righteousness, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Praise Yahweh, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion. Praise Yahweh, my soul!

Psalm 103:22

Lord God, thank You that You gave David victory wherever he went. Please turn each of us from sin to bow to Jesus, the King who judges with justice. Help us to praise You this week. Amen.