God’s Word for You
1 Chronicles 14:13-17 Trust the Lord
by Pastor Timothy Smith on Wednesday, January 3, 2024
13 When the Philistines again raided the valley, 14 David again inquired of God, and God said to him, “Do not go straight at them, but circle around them and attack them near the balsam trees. 15 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, go out to battle, because God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 16 David did just as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. 17 So David’s fame spread throughout all the lands, and the LORD made all the nations fear him.
Some time later, the Philistines returned for a raid in the same valley. David showed his faith and wisdom once again by inquiring of God. God’s reply was not a simple “yes” this time, but an involved battle plan for an encircling maneuver involving hundreds or thousands of troops, a prearranged signal from God himself, and the promise of divine support and victory.
The battle involved a line of attack near or opposite some baca trees. The identity of these trees is uncertain. The King James Version calls them mulberry trees; other translations prefer balsam trees or even aspens (both are evergreens). Whichever tree is meant, the Lord provided a unique sound in the treetops, “the sound of marching,” and this was the signal for David’s attack. To the Philistines, the attack would be from behind and above! The noise in the trees was an example of God permitting his angelic army to be perceived by human beings. Sometimes people were allowed to see the armies of God’s angels (2 Kings 6:17), but in this case the Philistines were only permitted to hear them, which struck terror in their hearts.
This passage is sometimes quoted, “God has gone out before you,” as one of many, many proof passages for the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, since here we have God speaking about God in the third person. There are many passages of this kind (Exodus 11:3, 16:7, 23:20; Numbers 14:21; Psalm 45:7; Isaiah 44:6, 60:19; Jeremiah 23:5, 33:15; Hosea 1:7). The four main arguments (proofs) of the mystery of the Trinity drawn from the Old Testament are (1) the article of creation (which is ascribed to all three persons of the holy trinity), (2) the exodus (because bringing the people out of the bondage of slavery is the constant comparison in the prophets for the delivery from sin, Jeremiah 16:14-15, 23:7-8, 31:32; Daniel 9:15; Hosea 2:15-16, 11:1; Amos 3:1-2; Micah 7:15; Haggai 2:5; Zechariah 10:10), (3) The promise of the Messiah, who would do divine miracles (Isaiah 35:4); redeem the human race (Isaiah 6:3); crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15); achieve salvation (Isaiah 45:17); justify sinners (Isaiah 53:11); preserve the church against her foes (Psalm 2:9; 110:1); raise the dead (Job 19:25); and execute the last judgment (Genesis 18:25: Isaiah 45:23). And (4) The Aaronic Benediction (Numbers 6:22-27), which is a trinitarian blessing to all who believe.
In addition to these, there are two classes of passages which teach the mystery of the trinity. First, a great number of passages that refer to God in the plural (such as the verse before us), and Second, many other passages that specifically mention God’s persons in terms of three (Genesis 1:1-2; 2 Samuel 23:2; Psalm 33:6, 45:7, 105:4; Isaiah 42:1, 48:16 and others).
From this passage, then, we learn at least these things, and perhaps more that a wiser man might consider:
1, God supported David’s reign and actions as king. “Keep me as the apple of your eye,” David sang: “Hide me in the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 17:8).
2, God had forgiven David for the earlier sin with the ark of the covenant. The Psalmist prays: “O Lord, remember David and all the hardships he endured. He swore an oath: ‘I will not enter my house or go to my bed until you, O Lord, come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might’” (Psalm 132:1-3,8).
3, God shows that when one person of the Trinity says or does a thing, each person of the Trinity is in complete agreement and accord; there is no dissention within our One God. Jesus said: “Believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father” (John 10:38).
4, David’s defeat of the Philistines drove them away from Jerusalem all the way back to their border in the days of Joshua (Gezer, Joshua 16:10). “It was because of jealousy that David was envied by the Philistines and also persecuted by Saul” (1 Clement 4:13).
5, This was one of many victories and accomplishments that spread David’s fame throughout the surrounding lands, and therefore the Lord God was glorified. “They glorified David for his ten thousands, and praised him for the blessings of the Lord, for he wiped out his enemies on every side, and annihilated his adversaries the Philistines; he crushed their power even to this day.”
6, The Lord caused the surrounding nations to fear David, strengthening the position of Israel in the Promised Land and helping to bring to a close the conquest begun under Joshua. “Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days” (Hosea 3:5).
7, The Lord teaches us to rely on him even when we think that we have a special expertise, to give him glory and to restore to ourselves a proper godly humility and thankfulness even for our more prominent gifts. “For you have heard my vows, O God; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name” (Psalm 61:5). And again: “Those who are complete in their faith ask for everything, since they trust the Lord. They receive it because they ask without hesitating, nor are double-minded in anything.”
Love the Lord your God, and trust in him always.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota. To receive God’s Word for You via e-mail, please visit the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church website.