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God’s Protection

God’s Protection

1. God protects with Guidance

2. God protects with His Power. 

3. God protects for His Glory

No matter what we go through we know that God is always there waiting for us to reach out to him.

Let's read about it 2 Samuel 5:17-25:

"17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed King over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?" And the Lord said to David, "Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand." 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, "The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood." Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away. 22 And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, "You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines." 25 And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. "

David is stepping into the fulfillment of his promise. He has finally been crowned King; as we read in the passage above, we just read how the Philistines were not happy with David stepping Into his anointing.

In fact, they will try to attack him twice to do him in. So we should realize that not everyone we meet will support what God desires to do in and through us.

The Philistines opposed David and his Kingdom. They wanted David dead. Maybe it was because they felt betrayed or foolish for ever allowing David to stay with them.

Regardless of the reasons, they wanted to destroy God's work on earth. So truthfully, it was probably less about fighting David and more about fighting God.

Some of the opposition you face today may have less to do with overcoming you and more about trying to overcome what God is doing in and through you.

For seven and a half years before David's coronation, David had been engaged in a war between the southern territory of Judah and the northern territory of Israel.

The Philistines were happy that David was busily engaged in a war because that meant David would not bother them

This allowed the Philistines to be free to do whatever they wanted.

They knew that it was all over now and wanted to catch David off guard. So they tried to destroy him before he could establish himself.

Church, so many of us have experienced this same thing.

When we are at war with ourselves, the enemy leaves us alone, but the minute we stop fighting ourselves and start to have a purpose, a plan, and some peace within, the enemy goes crazy with an onslaught against us.

Just as God protected David, we know He will do the same for us.

I. God Protects by His Guidance

In verse 19, David inquires of the Lord, and again in verse 23, he does the same.

When we seek God's guidance, He willingly provides it.

Interestingly, in these two battles, the situations are almost identical, but God's guidance is different for both.

This is important because we often hear from God once about a subject, and then every time the same type of situation arises, we respond in the same manner.

This is not the way it is supposed to be. We need to seek His guidance daily and in every situation. Sometimes God wants to do things differently and uniquely.

Moses made this mistake when he struck the rock to get water on that second occasion. It worked the first time, but God told him to speak to the rock this time. Even so, he did it his way. In that particular situation, the water did flow, but Moses was punished for his disobedience

II. God Protects by His Power

verse 20a, "And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there."

Baal-perazim was about 5 miles southwest of Jerusalem.

David's victory was so decisive that "the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away."

This is specified to let us know how concise David's victory was.

In the 2nd attack, verse 25, "And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer."

This is an area about forty miles on the north and northwest sides of Jerusalem.

The point is that this was another complete victory over the Philistines.

This victory was so concise that the Philistines wouldn't bother Israel for decades after this.

If we seek God's guidance, we will have concise victories over our enemy as well.

Obedience is the key.

III. God Protects for His Glory (5:20b)

After receiving God's guidance and seeing God's power in victory, we read of David in verse 20b, "And he said, 'The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.' Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim."

The name Baal-perazim means "Lord of breaking through."

David acknowledged that the victory over the Philistines was not because of his power but God's power.

And so he gave the Glory to God.

When God blesses us, it is appropriate to give him the Glory

We would have never made it this far if it were not for Him.

I don't care if you believe in Him, deny Him, or haven't figured out who He is. It is still only by Him and His love that you even exist.

He deserves all the Glory.

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