2 Samuel 10:13

2 Samuel 10:13 says, And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.  The Syrians fled before Joab almost as soon as the battle began it seems .  As long as we remain faithful to God, spiritually all our enemies have already fled from an everlasting perspective.  There is no enemy that we need to fear, even death itself.  Verse fourteen adds, And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.  Seeing that the Syrians had fled, so did the army of the Ammonites.  If we are spiritually victorious over one enemy, then others may flee from us as well.  Joab and the armies of Isreal did not pursue either enemy, but returned to Jerusalem.  When we are successful in defeating spiritual enemies, we don't need to chase after them, but need to simply return to our relationship with God for further strength.  Verse fifteen continues, And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.  The Syrians then gathered themselves after they had been defeated.  Even though I don't believe we need to chase after defeated spiritual enemies, that doesn't mean that they will never come back to bother us.  Some sin that we have overcome may tempt us again, which is why we need to remain close to God and the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse sixteen states, And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.  Since his troops that had gone to help the Ammonites fled, Hadarezer brought more of the Syrians to fight against Israel.  As stated, we may have overcome a particular sin and then have it come back as an even stronger temptation to us.  Verse seventeen adds, And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him. Though Joab had not pursued the Syrians when they fled, David gathered the troops of Israel together to fight against them when they began to prepare to go to war against Israel.  Under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, even if we do not chase enemies we have already defeated spiritually, if they do come back to attack us again, we need to be ready to battle them.  If our faith in God is strong, the battle should not be long, no matter how strong they may be when they return.  Verse eighteen continues, And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.  Once more,the Syrians fled, and David destroyed seven hundred of their chariots and forty- thousand horsemen, as well as Shobach their captain.  David had God on his side, so the battle was not long.  We as Christians have God on our side, so no matter how strong our enemies may think they are, spiritually they will always flee as long as we remain faithful to Him.  Verse nineteen concludes, And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.  When the other kings that were servants of Hadadezer saw that his troops had been killed before David, they made peace with Israel and no longer helped the Ammonites.  If by faith we defeat one enemy, it may keep others from even attacking us.