2 Samuel 5:17

2 Samuel 5:17 says, But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.  After the Philistines heard that David had been made king, they came seeking him, and not to congratulate him.  They were ready to kill him since he was now the leader of all Israel.  If we make a stand for God, even if we aren't an important part of God's kingdom, Satan will still try to destroy us.  Verse eighteen adds, The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.  Verse nineteen adds, And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.  David did not just go against the Philistines without first asking God if he should and if he would be successful.  God answered yes to both questions, but I really believe that he should have stopped at the first question, and so should we.  If God tells us to do something, we should do it without being assured of success in this lifetime.  Verse twenty adds, And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.   When David fought the Philistines and defeated them, he gave all the credit to God.  He did not brag about his own abilities.   As followers of Christ when we have success of any kind in our life, we should always give God the credit and I believe that we should always be wary of those who exalt themselves.  Verse twenty-one continues, And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.  The Philistines had left their images, or idols, behind, and David and his men burned them.  We need to get rid of all the idols we may have in our life if we are to be successful in our spiritual life.  Verse twenty-two states, And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.  After the initial defeat the Philistines returned ready to fight once more.  Some things that we may believe we have defeated in life may come back ready to battle us again.  Verse twenty-three adds, And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.  This time when David asked God if he should go up against the Philistines, God said no.  David was to go behind them and wait.  We may not always be led to directly confront those who we are at war with who stand against God, but may be told to wait until God acts.  Verse twenty-four continues, And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. but to come up at them from behind instead.  Matthew Henry says that God was telling David that He Himself would defeat the Philistines, and that David would act only when God gave the signal.  At times God may defeat our enemies without our even realizing it.  Verse twenty-five concludes, And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.  David did as God told him to do and defeated the Philistines.  If we do as God directs us to do, we will always be successful spiritually, which is all that really matters.