1 Chronicles 20:1

1 Chronicles 20:1 says, And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.  When Israel next went to war with the Ammonites, David remained in Jerusalem.  Though it isn't mentioned here, this was the time that David fell into temptation that led to his having Uriah killed.  Matthew Henry says it wasn't mentioned here because even if we know of the sins of a person, we shouldn't continually bring them up and delight in them if they have been forgiven.  If we are idle when we should be doing what God has called us to do, we may find ourselves falling into temptation. He wasn't really acting like a leader but more like a ruler who had other people fight his battles.  We as followers of Christ should never remain in safety as others engage int the war with God's enemies, especially if we are supposed to be a leader.  Joab led them to victory. Verse two adds, And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.  David took the crown that had been taken from the king of the Ammonites and put it on his own head, though he hadn't been involved in the taking of the crown.  We too often want to take the crown from Jesus and put it on our own head, even though we have nothing to do with our salvation other than accepting Him by faith.  He also took a lot of spoils out of the city.  Verse three continues, And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. David then had all the people of Ammon killed brutally.  We should never seek to destroy our enemies, especially not with brutality, but should reach out to them with the love of God by sharing the gospel with them.  Verse four states, And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.  There was once again a war with the Philistines, and once again there were giants in the Philistine army, but once again they were defeated.  Matthew Henry points out that we never read of giants of the Israelites, but only of their enemies.  We don't need to be giants in physical size as long as we are giants in our faith to God.  It is His power that brings us victory and not our own strength.  Verse five adds, And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam.  The Israelites continued in battle and more giants were killed.  We will always be at war with the world as Christians, and we will sometimes face what seem to be giant enemies, but we always need to remember that they are small when compared to God.  Verse six continues, And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot and he also was the son of the giant.  One of the giants of Gath had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot.  I don't know if this gave him any advantage in battle, but it did make him different.  We may face many different enemies today, but even if they are being successful, if we face them by the power of God, they will be defeated.  Verse seven says, But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him.  This giant defied Israel, but he was slain by a Jonathan who is said to have been David's nephew.  As long as we remain faithful to God, we are already victorious, no matter what happens in this lifetime.  Verse eight adds, These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.  David and his servants killed all the giants of Gath through the power of God.  We can defeat all the giants we face in life by following the leadership of the Holy Spirit and acing under His authority and power.