Today's Daily Bread

DAVID’S VICTORIES

Date : Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Passage : 1Chronicles 18:1~17
Keyverse : 6b,13b  
1
In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines.
2
David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to him and brought him tribute.
3
Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, in the vicinity of Hamath, when he went to set up his monument at the Euphrates River.
4
David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
5
When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them.
6
He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought him tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
7
David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
8
From Tebah and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea, the pillars and various bronze articles.
9
When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,
10
he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver and of bronze.
11
King David dedicated these articles to the LORD, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek.
12
Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
13
He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
14
David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.
15
Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;
16
Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary;
17
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.
The LORD gave David victory wherever he went (6b,13b). Biblically two things bring a person victory. First is faith (1 John 5:4,5). David always depended on God in battles, small or large, even when he was only a shepherd boy (cf. 1 Sam. 17:45-47). A person who has no faith depends on his strength and “sword, spear, and javelin” like Goliath did, but such a man fails in the long run. But David had faith that God would give him victory when he depended on him.

Second, victory comes from training. Man is both body and spirit. Just as our bodies and hands and feet become strong from training for battle, our spirits become strong due to faith (Psalm 18:33-35). Students become good students through hard work and discipline, just like soldiers do. The same rule applies in every area of our lives. A lazy person does not train, and, as result, loses battles in life.

David’s ultimate victory went beyond his victories in battlefields. He was not only a valiant general but a shepherd king for his people “doing what was just and right for all his people” (14). He was a ruler and a shepherd for his people. In this sense, he was a foreshadow of Jesus Christ (cf. Matt. 2:6).

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me victories when I trust in you and receive discipline. Please help me grow as a shepherd-like leader, who wins victories for God’s flock. Amen.
One Word: Faith is the victory