A few posts back I wrote about the rollercoaster ride that was David's life. In 2 Samuel 8, I think it's safe to say we see David on a major high on his rollercoaster ride. He is clearly on a mountain top. King of his world. The key verse of this passage jumps out to me : "The Lord gave David victory wherever he went." (verses 6 and 14) David's kingdom was united and powerful. He is seen subduing his enemies from the Edomites to the Moabites. And from these conquests, the spoils of war in the form of gold and silver are dedicated to the Lord. God is clearly with David in everything he endeavors to do. If only this chapter in David's life could just repeat over and over again. What an amazing time it must have been. What a rush!
But I can't help but think about the rest of his story. Chapter 8 is only a season in David's life. It wouldn't last. He will get comfortable and will make horrible choices as we will see soon. He will face great tribulation as a consequence for his sin. The rollercoaster will take a nasty turn soon.
Sounds a bit depressing, huh? But I think for me it's a wake up call. This part of David's life that we are about to explore teaches a very important lesson. We must guard our hearts and minds in times of great spiritual victory and material blessing. At the moment we experience God working in our life or He blesses us in some incredible way, Satan is lurking around the corner. He waits for us to get complacent in our victories. He waits for our pride to seep into our thinking. He waits for us to get comfortable in our spiritual and material success. And then he pounces.
I pray that as God continues to bless me in both spiritual and material matters, I will never lose sight of David's example. In the moment in our lives when God is giving us victory everywhere we go, we must guard against complacency and pride. Always dedicate every victory in our lives to the Lord. And lastly, hang on! Life will be filled with wild twists and turns, ups and downs. But Jesus is our firm foundation, our rock, and our fortress.
Don't allow the high altitude of the mountain top get to your head.
Have a blessed day! God wants that for you!
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