2 Samuel 8

"And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt. 14 He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went." vv.13-14


Read chapter 8

David was a man of war and in this chapter we read that this is how he made a name for himself after killing 18,000 men. Of course he was already well known being king and also from the start of killing Golioth. He is continuing and furthering his reputation here.


Edom was known as a strong city and would easily find refuge from neighboring nations so David set up garrisons. A garrison is a body of troops stationed in a fortified place. So David set up these political troops throughout Edom as they became his servants. Now began to be fulfilled the extraordinary prediction to Rebekah, recorded by Moses, Genesis 25:22, but not begun to be accomplished till many centuries after his death, namely, "The elder shall serve the younger." Then also was fulfilled that prophecy of Balaam, mentioned Numbers 24.


In all this and the sum of possibly the "mundane" of David's reign we see the Lord with David wherever he went, whether war or rest or ruling God was preserving him. How has the Lord preserved you over your life?