Daily Devotional for Tuesday, December 12

David’s Conquests

“And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people,” 2 Samuel 8:15.

“Start strong, finish strong.” You have probably read many statements and motivational quotes similar to this one. Perhaps you have seen it in the hallway of a school or on a locker room wall. These quotes encourage us to start in the right manner, to stay strong throughout our task and to finish well. These are important ideas for success in whatever we are doing.

David did start strong. We see that strength in how he lived as a shepherd. We see that strength in how he defeated Goliath. We see it in how he handled adversity early on with King Saul. He was upright and gave it his all.

In our text today, we read of his many military victories over surrounding peoples, finishing much of the conquest that was not accomplished in Joshua’s day. Because of David’s faithfulness to complete the task, God gave him victory everywhere he went.

David even conquered where it is often the most difficult: at home in properly administering the kingdom. He faithfully executed proper judgment and justice over his people. By almost any measurement, David had a very successful and faithful rise and ascendancy to the throne, and it lasted for many years.

This place of success can often be a dangerous place to be. Oddly enough, in our successes and in the height of our strength, even in our success given to us directly by God, we can become our weakest and most vulnerable. (The Bath-sheba episode is just a couple chapters away.) It is at this place in our lives that we need to re-engage in seeking Christ, to redouble our dependency on God. Unfortunately, success often brings an end to leaning upon God. Let victory drive you closer to Christ.

REFLECTION: Success is great; faithful endurance is even better.

Jason Rutherford