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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Friday, 7 November 2025:
1 Chronicles 14:1 — And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also masons and carpenters, to build a house for him.
David’s kingdom had grown strong, and his fame had spread far and wide. Hiram king of Tyre, a Gentile ruler of a coastal Phoenician kingdom known for its cedar and craftsmanship, sought alliance with David by offering skilled labor and materials for his palace. This moment reflects God’s favor on David, for even foreign kings recognized the Lord’s hand upon him. Yet this verse also foreshadows a spiritual tension that will later surface in Israel’s history.
When Solomon, David’s son, later builds the temple of God, he employs Hiram’s men and materials once again (1 Kings 5:1-10). Though the temple was magnificent, the same Phoenician craftsmen who built it would later build temples for pagan gods (1 Kings 11:4-8). Worse still, Solomon, in an act of political compromise, gave Hiram twenty cities in Galilee (1 Kings 9:10-14), land within Israel’s inheritance, to pay for his services. This was an act that dishonored God’s command never to cede the land of promise to foreigners (Leviticus 25:23).
What began with a seemingly harmless alliance to build a house for David eventually led to spiritual compromise in the next generation. This is a sober warning for believers: partnerships with the world, even for noble purposes, can introduce influences that corrupt holiness. James 4:4 warns, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” The church must learn from this, to use resources wisely without yoking itself to worldly powers or compromising obedience for convenience or prestige.
1 Chronicles 14:2 — And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.
David’s humility and discernment are key here. He recognized that his success came not from alliances, resources, or military strength, but from the Lord’s sovereign appointment. God exalted David not for his personal glory but “for the sake of His people Israel.” True spiritual leadership understands that blessing and authority are given for service, not self. This stands in stark contrast to Solomon’s later years, when the blessings of God became tools for self-indulgence and display.
David’s awareness of divine purpose aligns with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 20:26-28: “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” The mature believer must always remember: our increase in influence or provision from God is entrusted to us for the sake of His people and His kingdom purposes, never our own comfort or name.
1 Chronicles 14:3-7 — And David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David fathered more sons and daughters. These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet.
Here we see both blessing and warning. The multiplication of David’s family was a sign of prosperity, yet his taking of multiple wives sowed seeds of future conflict and sorrow. God had clearly warned that kings were not to multiply wives, horses, or wealth (Deuteronomy 17:17). Even a man after God’s own heart can compromise when culture’s norms dull spiritual discernment. Though God’s grace abounded, David’s decisions carried generational consequences. The sins that seem small in times of success can grow large in times of testing. Yet even amid human failure, God’s redemptive purposes prevailed — through David’s son Solomon would come the lineage leading to Christ (Matthew 1:6-16), showing that God’s grace is greater than man’s weakness.
1 Chronicles 14:2:3 – And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel. And David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David fathered more sons and daughters.
Remember the secret of success we learned from Joshua 1:8 — “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Jesus reiterated, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28). Today’s readings reveal how David sowed the seeds of destruction for himself, his family, and the kingdom of Israel in that, though He knew the LORD had established him as king over Israel, he nonetheless failed to carefully follow the law of God.
Here is what Deuteronomy 17 has to say to kings and leaders: “You may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.” (Deuteronomy 17:15-20)
As we continue in our readings, we will learn how David’s polygamy and associations with ungodly men contributed to his failure as king, deadly divisions within his family, and Solomon’s eventual failures which ultimately resulted in the kingdom’s permanent division and eventual dissolution. Remember, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4) “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11) Today’s readings are our gift from God to remind us to be very careful to obey His word. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) John subsequently pointed out, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) Said another way, God gave us His commands because He loves us, and when we truly love Him, obeying God’s commands isn’t hard; it doesn’t feel like a burden. Jesus also said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11) In loving obedience to Jesus, we will find the fullness of joy, the fullness of life. Of course, the key to joy was always submission to God and LORD and loving obedience: Remember, God placed Adam and Eve in the “Garden of Eden” which in Hebrew means, an “enclosure of pleasure” – pleasure has boundaries, walls of protection. While this was an actual, physical location, this enclosure of pleasure reminds us that we can only find true fulfillment within the boundaries of God’s protective laws, where He has given us an abundance far beyond measure.
In preparation for Christmas, which is right around the corner, a dedicated brother of Christ encouraged me to take a closer look at the well-known, often misrepresented, account of the visit of the wisemen to see Jesus – “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11) He pointed out that while we remember that the wise men gave Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the first and most important things they gave Him was their submission (“they fell down”) and worshipped Him. If only David, who was eager to build the Temple for the Lord, had continued to give God proper submission and worship through obedience to His word. Oh, that we would submit and worship the Lord through loving obedience in all that we do that He would be rightly glorified and that we would have the fullness of joy He intends for us.
1 Chronicles 14:8-12 — When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went out against them. Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.” And he went up to Baal-perazim, and David struck them down there. And David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” Therefore, the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. And they left their gods there, and David gave command, and they were burned.
When David’s anointing became known, opposition arose immediately. Spiritual victory invites spiritual warfare. Yet David’s strength lay not in his army but in his dependence on God — “David inquired of God.” His victory was decisive because it was directed by divine command, not human impulse. David named the place Baal-perazim (“Lord of Breakthroughs”), testifying that God Himself had burst forth against his enemies. The idols of the Philistines were burned, just as all false gods must be destroyed in the presence of the true and living God. Victory in the believer’s life comes not through human might or planning but through prayerful reliance on God’s leading and uncompromising devotion to His glory. As Zechariah 4:6 declares, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
David inquired of God, knew without question God’s reply, was quick to see God’s hand in the outcomes, and publicly gave God all the credit while recommitting to obedience. Is that how you function?
1 Chronicles 14:13-17 — And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley. And when David again inquired of God, God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; go around and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 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.” And David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.
David’s greatness lay in his continual dependence on divine direction. When the Philistines returned, David did not presume that yesterday’s method guaranteed today’s victory, he again inquired of God. God’s instructions changed; this time David was to wait until he heard “the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees.”
The imagery of “marching in the tops of the balsam trees” is profound — it was the sound of heavenly armies going before David. God was teaching David that victory comes not by human strategy but by divine presence. The “sound” signified that God Himself was advancing to battle. David’s obedience and patience to wait for that signal revealed deep spiritual maturity — he had learned that timing and obedience matter as much as courage and strength. When David waited upon the Lord, he moved in God’s power rather than his own. This foreshadows Christ’s own ministry, who said, “The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing” (John 5:19). True success in God’s kingdom is found not in originality or boldness but in obedience to divine direction.
“It was not merely a fitful breeze stealing through the leaves; it was not the going of the wind; but of angel squadrons who were proceeding against the enemies of Israel.” (Meyer)
At the signal that the LORD was at work, David and his troops rushed forward to victory. This principle is true in our every-day walk with God. When we sense that the LORD is at work, we must go out to battle (advance quickly, 2 Samuel 5:24) and we will see a great victory won. “We must also, in the spiritual warfare, observe and obey the motions of the Spirit, when he setteth up his standard; for those are the sounds of God’s goings, the footsteps of his anointed.” (Trapp)
“There is something wonderful about the King James Version translation of this account in 2 Samuel 5:24: when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself. When you hear the work of God happening, bestir thyself — go out to battle. Spurgeon liked to point out that it said bestir thyself — often we think we must stir others up. That often just becomes hype and emotionalism. Instead, stir yourself.” (Guzik)
“When we see the work of God happening around us, it is like the sound in the mulberry trees — the rustling sound should awaken us to prayer and devotion. A time of crisis or tragedy is also like the sound in the mulberry trees — the rustling sound should awaken us to confession and repentance. “Now, what should I do? The first thing I will do is, I will bestir [exert, arouse oneself, get moving] myself. But how shall I do it? Why, I will go home this day, and I will wrestle in prayer more earnestly than I have been wont to do that God will bless the minister, and multiply the church.” (Spurgeon)
“Oh, believe in the co-operation of the Holy Spirit. Lonely missionary in some distant station of the foreign field, listen for the moving of the tops of the mulberry trees! God is stirring for thy succor.” (Meyer)
David’s fame spread through all lands, yet the chronicler is careful to point out that “the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.” God magnified David’s name to bring glory to His own, establishing His chosen servant as a witness among the nations. The same God who humbled the proud exalted the humble shepherd-king because he walked in faithful dependence. Every victory in David’s life ultimately pointed forward to the greater Son of David, Jesus Christ, who perfectly obeyed the Father and won an everlasting victory not by sword, but by the cross.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) — 7 November 2025: Wait upon the Lord before you move. Do not rush ahead with yesterday’s method or assume that past blessings guarantee future success. Instead, inquire of God daily, listening for His voice through His Word and Spirit before acting. The “sound in the tops of the trees” may come as a quiet conviction, a confirmed word of Scripture, or wise counsel from godly people, but victory belongs to those who wait until the Lord goes before them. Seek to be like David, whose strength was not in his might but in his dependence.
Pray: “Father, thank You for reminding me that victory belongs to You alone. Teach me to wait for Your direction before I act, to seek You before I strategize, and to depend on Your Spirit before I move. May I be sensitive to Your leading as David was, to listen for the sound of Your presence guiding us into each day’s battle. Keep me humble, obedient, and fully reliant on You. Let every success in my life reflect Your glory and draw others to the Lord Jesus Christ, the greater Son of David. Amen.”
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