Sermon for Sunday Evening, March 1st, 2026 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC)
Sermon Text:
[2 Samuel 8:1-18 ESV] 1 After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute. 3 David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze. 9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, 10 Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze. 11 These also King David dedicated to the LORD, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, 12 from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13 And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 14 Then he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. 15 So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people. 16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 17 and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was secretary, 18 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were priests.
Introduction
The Lord gave the victory to David.
I. The Lord Gives the Victory
In my house, we’ve been watching Sesame Street lately, so in the spirit of The Count …
Let us count how many victories David had in this text. The Count says 1 hahaha, 2 hahaha, 3 hahaha. But we can skips the hahas.
1. After this David defeated THE PHILISTINES and subdued them. (WEST). “David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.” This is understood to be Gath and the surrounding towns. Remember, Goliath of Gath. Now David takes Goliath’s own city. Victory indeed.
2. And he defeated MOAB. (EAST)
3. David also defeated Hadedezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah. (A Syrian kingdom between Damascus and the Euphrates) (NORTH)
4. David had victory over 22,000 of the men of the Damascus. (NORTH)
5. And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites. (SOUTH)
Tribute then came from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, Amalek, and Hadedezer.
So 5 major victories, and 6 nations which give tribute so as not to be defeated any further. And these nations are in all four cardinal directions; every side of Israel.
Why is David conquering territory? Isn’t there enough resources in Israel? Is it for power? Or simply to subdue enemies? No, it was to be obedient to the commands to God, and in conquering all the territory, more or less, David fulfilled the command to build up ancient Israel to its promised borders. This has little to nothing to do with Israel today. That’s important. It is amazing the wild views you’ll find out there about Israel. Should modern Israel have the same borders as Ancient Israel? That shouldn’t be our goal as Christians.
Now, of these defeats, the text repeatedly says “David defeated …” but we understand that he is only the instrument used by God, for it is clarified in verse 6, “the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.” Hence our sermon title, “The Lord gave the victory to David.”
No matter the victory, no matter how many victories, they are victories of the Lord.
Really that has been a central message throughout the books of Samuel, as we have seen the rise of David being chosen of the Lord. The entire kingship of David and all his success and victories – even the fact that he is kept alive through so many difficulties – is the product of the Lord’s will and choice.
And now we are seeing David obediently fulfilling (in part anyways) the command of God to remove the unbelieving nations from Israel. This is often the big question; why does God support this “genocide.” Especially, as you see in this chapter, the shocking statement of how David lined up the prisoners and executed some of them. And he hamstrings the horses. Well, here God is using Israel (and its king David) as the instrument to bring justice upon the terrible unspeakable evils of the various Canaanite tribes. David is God’s hammer of judgment. So these victories much be read and understood as victories, not times where we say “poor Canaanites.” We should rather be glad to see the justice of God measured out.
How is the justice measured out:
1. The Philistines are subdued.
2. Moab lined up, and some put to death and some spared. This keeps them as a tributary nation, but weakening them for any military action against Israel.
3. The chariot horses of the Syrians are “hamstrung.” They are made not able to run but cutting a muscle. We have to remember that ever since a command of God in Deuteronomy (17:6), Israel to trust in God, not in chariots.
4. David took shields of Gold back to Jerusalem. And kings sent him articles of silver, gold, and bronze.
5. Garrisons set up in Edom. (No one likes foreign bases in their country). Demoralizing.
Then, just as “The Lord Gives the Victory” so also we are to learn that “there can be no victory apart from the Lord.” That is to say, “The Lord ALONE gives the victory.” He gets the credit, not us, not David, not man. The credit, the glory, the praise goes to God.
II. A Nation of Justice
Near the end of this passage it says “And David administered justice and equity to all his people.” But though David did that, it is clear that is also OF THE LORD. Just before it says “David administered justice” it again says “And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.” So too then are we to understand that the justice and equity in a nation is because it is a GODLY nation. Of course I’m not saying that every person down the line is a HOLY person; if there were true there would be no need for justice, for their would be no crime. But is is a Godly, holy, nation that “metes” out justice with equity. There is no favor for the rich or for the poor. All are treated fairly, on God’s standard of justice, according to His Law.
This is a high point for the nation of Israel. Not only (or so much) because of their military victories (or for the fact that Israel and Judah are united), but because it is a nation of justice. That is much more important. Things are going well when you have just nation; things are going quite poorly when chaos, anarchy, and lawlessness reign. As to our own situation in this nation, we have a Biblical base that undergirds much of the legal system and our moral opinions, but that is fading, and justice fades with it. If we don’t have revival in this nation, we will be in deep trouble, and that trouble will evidence itself with the continuing worsening of the lack of justice.
Happy are the people who’s God is the Lord. And happy is the nation who has God’s law and his justice. God’s nation is orderly because God is a God of order, not chaos. That point can be expanded upon in so many ways. God is not a God of chaos. When you see chaos and they say they are of God, you can know that they are not. Holy rollers – people literally rolling on the floor during church – no thanks. Those who hold to politics and racial views that intentionally separate people and cause disorder – not of God.
And we find in our text that the nation of Israel is orderly with the appointments of people to various positions. And simultaneously this is strong proof of the reality of these people. No story is going to mention such people in passing. These are real people, in a real time, used of the Lord, and recorded for our sakes:
16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 17 and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was secretary, 18 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were priests.
Application 1. There can be no pride in self.
From this we should learn that “there can be no pride in self.” That is the conclusion from “the victory is the Lords.” What good does it do to praise ourselves? None!
This doesn’t mean we can’t be happy in the Lord for what he has given us. This happiness just has to be rightly placed. We don’t sing out own praises. We sing praise to the Lord.
Application 2: A example of obedience.
We saw also the obedience of David. We will not be kings or queens. But we are to obey the Lord, and this manifests itself in the obedience of our “superiors.” Children are to obey their parents, and this is pleasing to the Lord. Wives are to obey their husbands leadership. Citizens are to obey their governments, in the Lord. We too, just like David, have many opportunities for obedience.
Conclusion
For each of the reasons – victory, justice, and avoiding pride – we must look to Christ as “The Lord gave the victory to Us.’ The victory is truly his. And a greater victory it is. The enemy is not the Philistines or the Amalekites, but it is sin, death, and the devil. He has victory over all OUR enemies. “From victory unto victory, His army he shall lead, till ever foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed.
And the victory is greater. The victories of David foreshadow the victory of Christ. But, you see, those Old Testament victories rarely stomped out a nation for good. Israel will fight its neighbors again. But Christ’s victory is greater. In Christ’s victory sin will be forever no more as the Lord brings us to our eternal home.
And the victory, while OF the Lord, is given to us; we get the benefits. So “The Lord gives the victory to David” makes way for “The Lord gives the victory to us;” not in physical battles but in spiritual ones. He brings the victory and we get the spoils; the benefits and blessings of God.
So we have great pride, not in self, but in Christ. In all things we preach Christ crucified, in victory and bringing justice.