King David Series: The Sound of Marching

Message 3 July 2016 The King David Series # The Sound of Marching

 “Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, ‘You shall not go up: circle around behind them and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.” 2 Samuel 5:22-25

We are at the beginning of the second half of 2016. You have seen the hand of God the last six months but trust God the second half will be better than the first. However, there is a sound you must hear. The sound for the season and the hour, the sound for the situation, the sound for the assignment, the sound of the marching of God as a sign of victory, as an instruction, as an order from on high. A green light  to proceed and engage. God has a sound of joy, a sound of grace, a sound of love, of peace, of hope in hopeless situations. A signal of victory in the wars you face in life.   

It begins with directing your heart after God’s heart. God said of David, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will’ (Acts 13: 22). David was so fond of the Lord that he wrote songs and compiled the book of Psalms. The longest Psalm was about his passion for the word of God described as sweeter than honey and to be desired more than the purest gold. There was something powerful between David and God evidenced by the value he placed on God’s word. And his desire to hear from God what to do when faced with life situations. This practice of enquiring from the Lord was an attitude of prayer which undoubtedly was the secret of his greatest exploits and his failure to do so caused his worst blunders. You saw David at his  best and at worst in his attitude towards finding out God’s instruction and obeying it.

David frequently sought the Lord’s counsel and guidance. He sought instruction from God and did not major in instructing him.  Tuning into God’s word made him a great man of faith for faith comes by hearing the word of God. When faith comes it thrives on a tempo of life that is expectant and characterised by praise to God.  A tempo is the on-going vibe, pace, general outlook of something.  A grumbling, grinding, gloomy tempo kills faith. A positive tempo towards God regardless of what you are going through sustains faith. David even used his troubles as instruments of worship. That is why praise was continually in his mouth. He saw in them opportunity to see God’s help and sustenance. Praise was not about what was going on but about whether you had breadth. Praise is the action that backs faith. As athletes need the cheers from the terraces, faith needs something to back it so it can work wonders. Prayer break through is signalled initially by peace, a plan or praise.

David valued the Ephod, used to enquire of the Lord, and celebrated when Abiathar brought it. He was a man of prayer by his dependence on God. He listened and humbly obeyed when God’s prophets Gad and Nathan spoke to him. He readily received prophet Gad’s  advice to leave Adullum when Saul was closing in in him. Whenever David faced a trial, especially with his enemies, he always sought to know God’s instruction.

-          At Keila (1 Samuel 23:1-5, Joshua 15:21,44). When the Philistines were robbing the threshing floors of Keilah David inquired of the LORD on what to do. Circumstances suggested it was non of his business and he had enough problems to deal with already. The army generals rationalised in the same way. However God gave him the green light and he defeated the Phillistines. Later  when Saul was closing in on him at Keila he enquired of the Lord and received divine instructin that saved him (1 Samuel 23:10-14)

-          In a famine David enquired and God revealed the cause (2 Samuel 21:1).

-          At Ziklag when the city was burnt and all their children and women had been captured he enquired and was able to recover all (1 Samuel 30:6, 8-9).

-          After Saul’s death David did not just seize the opportunity to go back to Israel and become king. (2 Samuel 2:1-2). As a result he was directed to the right place to go where they were ready to anoint him as King. .

-          At Baal Perazim/Rephaim  when ALL the Philistines with their gods pursued Daivd after he became king David enquired of the Lord (2 Samuel 5:17-21). God gave him victory and he said,  ‘The LORD has broken through my enemies before me’. They fled and deserted their gods to defend themselves.

-          Later they came back to rescue the gods who failed to rescue themselves (2 Samuel 5:22-25).  David sought divine guidance even though he had been successful in the first battle. He inquired of the LORD afresh and God gave him a different strategy.  He said, this time don’t go up to them instead go around them to approach them from behind the mulberry trees. Then at the trees wait to hear the sound of marching on top of the mulberry trees. Only then will you  advance quickly for the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.

WHY ENQUIRE

>>The battle is about your relationship with God. That is what the enemy is fighting. If you win your relationship with him you win the battle. In it is all you need. Maintaining an intimate relationship with God is imperative to victory. You are a person made in God’ image not a mere computer programmed to take certain choices. The believer’s life is a walk with God. Don’t just follow past  experience. Through quality time with God, create a bridge of communication that builds your trust in God. Those who are led by the spirit of God are the children of God.

>>The Battle is different every time . Life situations and challenges may look similar but make no mistake each is different. Each day and case is different. Every new situation is a fresh challenge and opportunity that requires fresh direction, strategy, strength and  grace. Each requires a renewed perspective. No wonder God’s mercies are new every day. Jesus taught to ask for daily bread. Above all you need the daily bread of daily Rhema or daily instruction.  You need an instruction for the person, the place, the time and the future.  For David the Philistines came second tome. They were most likely ready to defend the previous approach used by David. He needed a fresh approach. God’s strategy yesterday may not work today. . Dare not fight when he has not fought. Dare not march if he has not marched ahead. Yet If he is doing it you can’t fail.

>>The battle is not yours. As David, realise that each victory depended upon the Lord. The battle was the Lord’s his was to go and collect the spoils. Jesus is the captain who fights your battles. He knows the winning formation.  He guides and gives the marching orders. He has the advantage of being all seeing, all knowing and all powerful.  It is a tragedy the strategy to go up when God has not already gone out. A friend would say it is like diving into a pool without water.

Mulberry trees were David waited for the sound of marching marked a place:

• ·         Of readiness to fight a battle they did not have to fight. Readiness to hear and respond to God.  Readiness to obey/do what God wanted in season or off season. Threats come anytime. They are not guided by your preferences and conveniences. But will they find you ready
• ·         Of confidence in God’s word. David trusted God’s instruction. God’s  word is unfailing. It is a solid rock, a firm foundation. It says and executes what it says for God watches over it. Dare to stand on his word.
• ·         Of loneliness. A hard place where you are not able to rationally explain all you are doing.
• ·         Of looking up to God. The sound was to be heard at the top of the trees. Look up and listen. From thence cometh your help cometh God’s help.
• ·         Of patiently waiting for God. We don’t know how long it took David but they waited for God to fight for them. Waiting requires overcoming doubt and impatience. David passed this test which Saul failed.
• ·         Of listening . A place to distinguish sounds and voices. Faith comes not just by sight but by hearing. The sound was not any but one of matching.  A sound of God in action. The matching of the army of the Lord. A sound as a language coded especially David. To others it would be meaningless if they heard it. It was only powerful in what it signified. People around may not have heard it as in the case of Paul when those with him heard nothing or a thunder when Paul heard a clear message (Acts 9). For you victory and  breakthrough  you alone need to hear. No one can hear it for you.  It is a sound of a sign from God. A symbol of direction and marching orders into battle. Don't lose the sound. Keep hearing the sound. It feeds your faith.
• ·         OF VICTORY. The mulberry trees were a place of acknowledging the finished work of the cross. To hear the marching on top of the tree on which the Lord was hanged. Mulberry tree meant ‘the weeping tree’ or the plural of  "Baca" (to weep) as in Psalm 84:6. As the cross weeping was what it was called yet juicy fruit is what it produced.  John Newton sang about it. ‘How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.’ You can't hear the sound at the cross and know it's power and remain hiding, afraid, and hopeless. Move forward to collect the promise.  It is impossible to be afraid of anything if you know the power of the cross

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

First Floor Dhando House,

66 Eloff Street Extension,

Village Deep,

 Johannesburg,

South Africa