II Samuel Chapter
8 "David's
Mighty Acts [1-14]." This Bible
Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's
transcription is provided with written permission by http://www.theseason.org David did many mighty acts, and he did all of them because God was with him. If we desire God to do mighty acts within us today, we also must learn to trust God and do things God's way. You can always count on God's Word being true. Before you can do things God's way however, you must study His Word to know those ways. There is no sin in being biblically illiterate, but there is a sin in staying that way when the Word and the tools for understanding are available to each of us. God sent his Word to you because He loves you. God wanted you to know how and why He sent his Son into the world to take those stripes for you, to give you forgiveness for sin. It is through your repentance in Jesus name that marks you clean from all your sins. David was a type of the Messiah that would come, for Messiah would come through David's loins. We will now read of David's mighty deeds, and in a sense these deeds are types of the mighty deeds that will come later at the hands of Jesus. Jesus will amaze the world also with his mighty acts, and both do these mighty acts because God was with him. Though this in part is a type of the first coming of Christ, it also will be a type of the second coming of Christ when He puts down all those that are against him. II Samuel 8:1 "And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines." "Metheg-ammah" in the Hebrew is in two parts. "Metheg" means "bridle or reins, and it is to put on the bridle on the power with a cause." "Ammah" means "the mother city". So in the Hebrew text it is referring to "Gath and her daughters or towns". David and his army went out and smote all these towns of the Philistines, from Gath to those towns and cities that fed off this Philistine capital city. II Samuel 8:2 "And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts." David's army took all the Moabites, and lined them up, and as his captains went down the lines of these Moabites, each person was inspected to see what value they had for service to David. The ones that were not picked for service were killed, and the others were put into service as servants to David and his government. Remember that the males of the Moabites had a sentence passed upon them by God. That curse, however, did not affect the females. In fact Ruth herself was an Moabitess. Ruth was the woman that was completely committed to her mother in law Naomi, and returned to the land of Israel to latter marry Boaz, the grandfather of David. However, this is only a type of how it will be at the end of this earth age, as it was prophesied way back in the book of Numbers, fulfilling a curse that God placed on the men of Moab. The word "Moab" in the Hebrew tongue means "of his own father", and he was the son of Lot, born to Lot's own daughter after the destruction of Sodom. Numbers 24:17 " `And I shall see Him, but not now: I shall behold Him, but not nigh: There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite the corners of Moab, And destroy all the children of Sheth." Though it applies to Jesus Christ, it also applies to David as a type of Christ, and the action that took place under David shall also take place in the time of the end. This prophecy would not take place until four hundred years later, until the time that David fulfilled part of this prophecy, which was a type of things to come later. David held the Scepter of Judah, for he was of the tribe of Judah. To "smite the corners of Moab" is to smite all of Moab within the boundaries of her land. The word "Sheth" as used here in the Hebrew text means "confusion. God is going to smite all the children of confusion. Seth was the son of Noah, however it was not the children of Seth's offspring that are spoken of here, that are going to be destroyed, but those resting in confusion [those deceived]. Numbers 24:18 "And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; And Israel shall do valiantly." Though this prophecy is a prophecy that is for the time of the end, It was also a type of what happened under David here in II Samuel 8. This is why we must go here in Numbers to see how the actions of David correspond to those prophesied for the final generation. Numbers 24:19 "Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion, And shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.' " The builders of the city of Jerusalem in the end times are the Kenites. They returned to establish the city, and that event marks the start of the final generation. In David's time it marked the end of Jabez, the unclean city of all forms of Idolatry, and the start of the new city of Jerusalem, a city of God's people. At Christ's return at the second advent, all those forms of idolatry that are and will be established by Satan the Antichrist and his Kenites, shall be completely destroyed and a new city of Jerusalem will be established. Numbers 24:20 "And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations; But his latter end shall be that he perish for ever." " Amalek was the first nation that went warring against Israel, for it was the superpower of that day. In time she was beaten down to where she lost all her power as a superpower. Just as David broke this nation, so also the Amalek or the superpower of our day will be broken down to be nothing. That time of complete destruction will be after the time of Ezekiel 38 and 39. It is quite obvious who this superpower would be in our day, for much of her power has already been destroyed, but there is a time when that great superpower will make one last attack on the house of Israel, who are the Christian nations. In fact when that time comes it will end the nations, for we will move in the Millennium age at that time. We will all be under the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Number 24:21 "And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, "Strong is thy dwelling place, And thou puttest thy nest in a rock." The "Kenites" again are the "sons of Cain", the offspring of the son that was born in the Garden of Eden from the sexual union between Satan and Eve. The Kenites are and have always tried to hide their actions and identity, and remain hidden as they do their workings against the Lord. The Kenites are the negative part of God's plan. In the Manuscripts, the name "Cain" is used here, so there can be no confusion as to who and what people this is talking about. Numbers 24:22 "Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, Until Asshur shall carry thee away captive." Numbers 24:23 "And he took up his parable, and said, "Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!" My friend, it is you and I that shall live when the Lord fulfills all these prophecies. We are living in the final generation, the generation of the parable of the fig tree when all this shall take place. Yet a type of this prophecy also happened in David's day, for David actions were a type of what shall happen in our day, and at the close of this flesh age. The things that are written in the Old Testament, Paul said, are "ensamples" of those things to come. This prophecy was predating these events of David by four hundred years, and it happened then exactly as written. So now here we are three thousand years later, and these events are going to happen all over again just as it took place in David's day. II Samuel 8:3 "David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates." This area of Hadadezer, in the land of Zobah, went from Damascus to the Euphrates river. It is the very center of much of the conflict that is going on in the middle east today, where peace is sought. II Samuel 8:4 "And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots." The word "houghed" means to "hock" or "hamstring" something or someone, and take it for your own use. There is a mistake in the translation of this verse from the manuscripts, for if you have a thousand chariots, you must have at least a thousand horsemen for the chariots. The number here should be seven thousand horsemen. I Chronicles 18:4 makes the correction to this verse. II Samuel 8:5 "And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men." David's army eliminated the army of Hadadezer, and the Zobabites. These people were all the enemies of the Israelites for the past four hundred years, and David one by one eliminated all these heathen enemy nations that have bothered them for so many years. Those people of the land that David was conquering were being taught and converted to respect David, or they just will not be around. This is also as it will be when our Lord Jesus Christ returns at the seventh trumpet, for all will bow to Christ, or they will not be around for His Millennium kingdom. II Samuel 8:6 "Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whitherso-ever he went." This is what makes these verses so important, for the Lord is either with you, or He is against you. When God is with you, it means that you are pleasing God in those things that you do and say. It means that you are doing the things that God has commanded you to do through His Word. God blesses those that try to please him, and those that you care about will be pleased also. II Samuel 8:7 "And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem." These "shields of gold" were their heavy gold bracelets. II Samuel 8:8 "And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass." David was taking the spoils from those countries that he conquered, and he was gathering them with authority, and discipline. However, as David was having all this great victory, something was about to happen. II Samuel 8:9 "When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer," Notice that Toi, the king of the Kenites, waited until after the battle was over, and then he sided with the victors. This is the way that the Kenites operate, they view the way that the wind is blowing, and then they try to go right along with it. They try to blend in and ultimately control. "Hamath" is the area of the Kenites, the house of Rechab was of the tribe and land from Hamath. Amos warned us of these people in Amos 6:13; "Ye which rejoice in the thing of nought, which say, `Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?" Amos 6:14 "But, "behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the Lord the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering of Hamath unto the river of the wilderness." " The house of Israel would be cursed and taken in by these Kenites, even from the entering of their lands, to the end of this dispensation. Tio the king of Hamath, is the king of the Kenites, and they are now going to make a pact that will bring these sons of Cain into mixing with the house of Israel, and they just will not depart. We know that some five hundred from Tio's agreement with David, these Kenites have not only mixed in, but they have taken over the duties of the Levitical priests as the scribes and priests. I Chronicles 2:55 "And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez [Jerusalem in its fallen state]; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came from Hamath, the father of the house of Rechab." The duties of the scribes were the protection of God's Word and the liturgical duties of the priest. We are told here that coming out of Babylon captivity that these sons of Satan had taken over the duties of the Levitical scribes. Is it any wonder that they can remain hidden, when they control the records, and the manuscripts. They tried to change the manuscripts from the words of the Prophets, to their own traditions, and and they were successful. This is why the religious leaders sought to murder Jesus Christ from the very start of His ministry. They were successful because it was all part of the plan of God, as we read in Genesis 3:15. Ezra saw what was happening when he stopped to take account of the provisions and people on his return back to Jerusalem, following the Babylonian captivity. This is why the parable of the fig tree is so important, for it identifies the Kenites from their beginning as the sons of Cain. They came through the sexual union between Eve and Satan, and the way they operate follows them and their deceptive activity all the way through to the end of this dispensation. When you know who they are and can identify their methods, then they are not hidden to you any more. Ezra 8:15 "And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the People, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi." Here Ezra was leading this huge wagon train out of Babylon, back to Jerusalem, and three days out on the trail they stop by this river to check up on what they have, both in their provisions as well as taking censes of the people. We know from the first two chapters of Ezra that of the over 43,000 people, over half were not of Israel, but the families of the Nethinims, those Kenites given to service that had replaced the Levitical priests. Ezra had to be concerned for the reason they were returning to Jerusalem was to reestablish the temple worship to the Almighty God. Now, Ezra finds out that there isn't one person of the tribe of Levi in the entire group. Though there were over two hundred and eighty priests, there wasn't one person that could perform the duties as God required it to be done. Where did this mess up all begin, it began when the Levitical priests allow the Kenites to take over the duties of the Priests, and it started with chopping the wood for the sacrifices. It started with the most simple of the tasks back in David and Solomon's day, and slow but for sure did not end until they had complete control many centuries later at the time of Ezra. So we see that Toi had an agreement and covenant with Hadadezer the king of Zobah, and after David destroyed them, Toi was anxious to carry on a trade agreement with David. The Kenites are people of trade and merchandising, they come in with their goods and they just don't leave. II Samuel 8:10 "Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:" King Toi is buying his way into the stronghold of David's kingdom in Jerusalem. In the book of I Chronicles 18:10, the one called Joram here, is called "Hadoram", and Tio is changed from Tou. It is important for us to understand why this change of names took place, for Joram is a Hebrew name, and Hadarom is not Hebrew. Tau is Hebrew and Toi is not. Joram came to David disguised as something that he was not. He came as a Hebrew, as one of Israel, whereas he was of the house of Rechab, the father of the Kenites. So know in your mind who David was dealing with here, so you are not deceived by a scribe that would try to slip a Kenite over on you, by changing a name in the manuscripts. This was very common as the Kenite scribes created their Sopherim, a distortion for the manuscripts. I Chronicles 18:9 "Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the hosts of Hadarezer king of Zobah;" I Chronicles 18:10 "He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;" and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass." These Kenites always try to win you over with their gifts and soft spoken lies and deceptions. They are just following the methods of Cain and his father Satan, to draw you into their lies and deceptions. When you can identify them, and you know their methods of operation, you can keep from being taken in by them through their lies. I hope you are sharp enough and have enough discernment to see their methods when they try to use it on you, for those methods never change. II Samuel 8:11 "Which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;" David was good in staying with the Lord, but he allowed himself to be taking in by these salesmen from Hamath. The Kenites will be with us from then, until Christ returns at the seventh trump. II Samuel 8:12 "Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah." II Samuel 8:13 "And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men." Every where David and his army went, he was establishing himself as a man that would not be forgotten. Remember that David was a good man, but it was God that made him great. God gave David the victory, and there was no defense against David or David's enemies. David's success on the battle field built David a reputation. II Samuel 8:14 "And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went." Though some scholars say that this was an error, it was not, for Edom was a kin to the Israelites, for Edomites were the offspring of Esau, the twin brother to Jacob. At this time there was a friendship with the Israelites, and the garrisons were there for their protection. The Edomites loved David and they became servants to David. Notice where this commitment came from. "The Lord preserved David whithersoever he went." Though the army was used, it was God, YHVH, Jehovah in the English tongue, that protected David where ever he went. When God goes with you in your daily life, He will protect and give you success also. Thank Him and tell Him that you love Him. II Samuel 8:15 "And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people." When David judged his people and the people that he reigned over, David did it fairly. David was a just man. II Samuel 8:16 "And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;" This is identifying who the men in charge of David's kingdom were. Zeruiah was David's sister, and Joab was the nephew of David. Joab was the top general over all of David's troops, which Jehoshaphat was the head scribe, the keep of all the records. II Samuel 8:17 "And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;" II Samuel 8:18 "And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers." The Cherethites and the Pelethites were the body guards for king David and his palace. David placed his sons over the provinces of the kingdom. As David ruled in peace, the entire kingdom was at peace, because God preserved and protected David and his kingdom. David tried to please God in all that he did, and God stamped that as perfect. When we try to please God, and through repentance seek God's ways, he will also stamp you and I as perfect. God can read your heart and He know the intentions of your heart and mind as you are thinking your thoughts, and He knows when you seek to please Him.
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