Success Is Contingent Upon God’s Favor - 1 Chronicles 15-19

1 Chronicles 19:16-19 (ESV)

But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. And when it was told to David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to them and drew up his forces against them. And when David set the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him. And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 7,000 chariots and 40,000 foot soldiers, and put to death also Shophach the commander of their army. And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Syrians were not willing to save the Ammonites anymore.

War during the time of David was a common practice.  When one nation wanted another nation they just went to war. It was a winner take all world.    Prior to the above story, however, David was having great successes.  He has conquered Jerusalem.  He has now brought the Ark of the Covenant successful to the Tabernacle in Jerusalem.  He has restored worship to God on a daily basis.  He has had success against most of his foes and other kings are swearing allegiances to him.  God has also promised that one of David’s children will build a Temple for God in Jerusalem.  However, the Ammonites have decided to rebel against David and hired the Syrians to fight with them.   The above story is the result.   God enabled David to defeat them.   They were outnumbered and out flanked, but God still gave David the victory.   This is the story of God laying His hands on David to build up the nation of Israel.  Eventually, after David’s death and the death of his son Solomon, the kingdom will rebel against God and lose all this status David has built up in the world.   For this moment things are good.   David has turned his heart and the heart of his people to God in times of worship and in times of war.    When we worship God in all that we do, God will reward us with great victory over those who care to bring us demise.   When David and Israel trusted God, the above story played out over and over.   When they did not, the opposite was true.