The Going In The Mulberry Trees

The Going in the Mulberry Trees

By Pastor Jim May

2 Samuel 5:3-4, "So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years."

2 Samuel 5:10-12, "And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house. And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake."

2 Samuel 5:17-25, "But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them. And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer."

If you know anything about the life of David, you know that he was known as a man after God’s own heart. There is no one in God’s Word that can compare with David. He was truly a mighty man of God and did great exploits for God and for Israel. But this mighty man of God had his ups and downs just like all of us, except that his faults and failures were recorded by the Holy Ghost for the whole world to read until the end of time.

I am reminded of the saying, “With great power comes great responsibilities”. David is constant reminder that those words, though they are not a quote from the Word of God, are still true.

David’s life is set forth as an example, not for us to condemn him when he falls, or praise him when he succeeds, but as an example of what happens in the life of every Believer as he faces his own failures and successes.

David was anointed King of Israel! At that moment I am sure that he was on top of the world. He was to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful kings that the world has ever known, but for now he was the new king and all of Israel rejoiced with him. Verse 10 indicates to me that David felt secure and independent because he was in his fort and he knew that this was his place of destiny and power. He was depending upon the arm of the flesh to defeat his enemies.

Isn’t it a wonderful thing to see someone become a brand new born again Child of God? I can’t think of anything I would rather see other than the Second Coming of Jesus to take His church away! Whoever that person is suddenly becomes a new creation as God washes away their sin, and gives them His new robes of righteousness.

It would certainly be wonderful if the rest of our lives could be lived in that wonderful moment when we first accept the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross and we are made brand new in Him. But that moment doesn’t last for long.

It doesn’t take long until Satan’s battle forces are arrayed against you. The devil doesn’t give up easily. He still wants you back and it doesn’t matter how long you have been saved or how spiritual you are, you are still vulnerable to the attacks of the devil, so keep your guard up.

The Philistines didn’t like the idea of David being anointed as King so they decided to do something about it before David could settle into the job. In verse 10 David seems to be on top, rejoicing in his Kingdom and power, and suddenly, in verse 17, we see him hiding in the stronghold of his palace from the power of the enemy.