Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 5:17-25.
“When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek out David; and when David heard of it, he went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines came and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim. Then David inquired of the LORD, saying, “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.” So David came to Baal-perazim and defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim. They abandoned their idols there, so David and his men carried them away.
Now the Philistines came up once again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim. When David inquired of the LORD, He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” Then David did so, just as the LORD had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.” 2 Samuel 5:17-25.
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It is noteworthy that in the two battles with the Philistines in today’s Scripture, the LORD gave different instructions to David for each battle. The LORD gave victory over the Philistines for both battles, but the LORD did not give victory to David in the same way.
The LORD also does not always deliver us from our trials and tribulations in the same way.
So to speak, the check may often come in the mailbox just when we need it. But sometimes, we do not receive the check when we think we need it. God helps us some other way.
Too often, we get anxious and panic when we do not see how God is going to help us. Too often, we care more about the check in the mailbox than we care about trusting God.
But, there is hope!
God often helps us in unexpected and different ways so that we do not base our trust in what we expect and see. God causes us to trust Him, no matter what we expect and see.
Jesus is the “author and perfecter of faith”. Hebrews 12:2.
How does God perfect our faith? God helps us in unexpected and different ways so that we trust Him, and not just trust in what we expect and see. We learn to trust God to get us through our struggles somehow.
God causes us to fix our eyes on Jesus, rather than to fix our eyes on the mailbox. Hebrews 12:2.
“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”. Isaiah 41:10.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:28-32.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 