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1 Chronicles 14 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Following on the same theme from 1 Chronicles 13, we now see David correcting his previous error. He engages in two battles against the Philistines. In both situations, he directly consults the Lord before going into the battle. In each situation, the Lord requires a different response. I find that to be mysterious and interesting. Why a different response to the same issue?
In the first battle, David is commanded to engage. He is told to go all in. After the victory, David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” The temptation now would be to become prideful. Although he states that the Lord won the battle, it would be easy to assume that David’s engagement with the army and skill as a commander was where the victory had been won. This was not the case.
In the second battle, David is commanded to wait. The Lord designs a surprise attack, but he tells David exactly how to proceed. This is critical because it would have made sense to use the same strategy that worked the first time. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! There was a huge difference though. God wanted to remind David that the Lord fights the battles.
“And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”
1 Chronicles 14:15 ESV
God has gone before you. These are beautiful and life-changing words. How unbelievably comforting is it to know that in your battle, even when you have to wait, the Lord has gone before you? When the enemy is so close that you can hear his footsteps, will you trust that He has gone before you? When the Lord asks you to wait instead of engaging, will your faith stand firm?
I wholeheartedly believe this promise rests on the inquiry David made to God. He learned from his leadership failure and came back to God. This is a big deal! Just one chapter ago David was angry that the Lord had struck down Uzzah. It would have been easy to disengage or sink lower into sin, but he doesn’t. David wasn’t perfect (as noted in this chapter by all his wives), but he was humble and teachable. He didn’t let his failures define him. We shouldn’t either.