2 Samuel 5: Victory with the Lord

"And David became greater and greater, for the LORD,

the God of hosts, was with him." 2 Samuel 5:10

"And [David] said, 'The LORD has broken through my enemies

before me like a breaking flood.'" 2 Samuel 5:20

Have you ever tried to gain victory on your own? Perhaps there was an intense "battle" in your life, and instead of calling upon the Lord, you decided to fight on your own. How did that go for you? Did you win? Or did you fall on your face? I'm assuming the latter. However, from 2 Samuel 5, we can understand that all of our victories come from the Lord.

2 Samuel is a great chapter speaking of David's first two military conquests as king over all of Israel. He first defeats the Jebusites, a people group that had overtaken Jerusalem, and then the Phillistines, who were always a thorn in the Israelites' side. David and the Israelites won both of these battles, but not in their own strength. The author of 2 Samuel shows us that after each battle the glory was given to God, as seen in the statements above.

One of the things that made David such a great man was because he knew where his victory came from. As the Bible shows us here in 2 Samuel 5 as well as in other places, David knew that the reason he won his battles was because the Lord was with him. Today, I would like to consider whether this fact is the same for us. When we win a battle in life, do I attribute it to God, or do I steal the glory to myself? When I am approaching a battle in my life, do I first seek for God's strength to fight, or do I fight it on my own?

In response to today's devotional, consider: how can I be better seeking the Lord's presence in my battles? If the Bible tells me that the only victory is found in the Lord, then how am I seeking him that I might obtain that victory? I pray that you might seek the victory found in the Lord, rather than the failure that you will find in yourself if you fight your battles alone.