the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
2 Samuel 8:1-18
Strengthened by the LORD’s promises, the new king makes sure of his throne by means of victories that will bring his enemies to submission. The first of these enemies are the Philistines. The whole of their country can at last be brought under control. The next to be subjugated is Moab, in partial fulfilment of Balaam’s prophecy (Leviticus 24:17). Hadadezer and the Syrians who come to succour him are vanquished in their turn. Finally Edom is enslaved, in accordance with a still more ancient prophecy, that of Isaac when blessing Jacob (Genesis 27:29; see also Genesis 25:23). David here realises, in type, that which is written of the Lord Jesus, whose glorious kingdom will be established when all His enemies shall be made His footstool (see Psalms 110 – often quoted).
Now that peace is established and David’s authority recognised both at home and abroad, the organisation of the kingdom is drawn up (vv. 15-18). The king is the centre, executing judgment and justice. Around him each in his place exercises those functions that are assigned to him. The priests are there, to maintain relationship with God. Safety, stability, justice and peace: glorious characteristics which will be, to a far more excellent degree, those of the kingdom yet to come!
