King David was up against a familiar foe. Years before as a young shepherd
boy, he had faced down Goliath, the top Philistine warrior, by killing him with
a well-placed stone (1 Sam. 17). Now David was king of Israel, and here
come the Philistines again! They heard he was king, and they decided to attack
(2 Sam. 5:17).
What do we do first when trouble is on the way? We could panic. We could
plan. Or we could first do what David did—pray. “David inquired of the Lord”
(v.19), and God guided the king.
David had to fight two battles with the Philistines—one at Baal Perazim
and one at the Valley of Rephaim. It was a good thing he consulted God, because
in these two battles there were two different strategies. In the first one, God
won the battle with His power alone: “The Lord has broken through,” David
recorded (v.20). For the next one, God gave David an action plan, and when he
carried it out, the Israelites won (vv.23-25).
Each day we face many challenges. Although there is no one-size-fits-all
answer, our first action should always be to consult God. As He guides us, we
can have confidence in Him. Then, whether the victory comes through His
miraculous intervention or through His guidance, all the glory goes to God.
To stand up to any challenge, spend time on your knees. (RBC)
