Peace Through Strength
God
blessed David and his kingdom because David honored God. As a result of David’s victories against other
nations (especially the dreaded Phillistines), the neighboring peoples began to
fear him. Verse 17 tells us that “the Lord brought the fear of [David] upon all
nations.” As the neighboring nations observed the strength of Israel, God put a fear into their hearts and minds. The result was
a period of “peace through strength” wherein Israel’s enemies were afraid to go
up against them for fear of devastating losses.
We see this as the Lord placing a “hedge of protection”
around David and Israel. The term “hedge of protection” comes from the book of
Job. It is taken from Satan’s comments about the fact that he was unable to do
any harm to Job because God had “put a hedge around him and his household and everything
he has.” (Job 1:9-10) In ancient
times, people would often place a hedge of thorn bushes surrounding their homes to keep wolves, bears, leopards, and
hyenas away. Satan uses this practice to describe God’s protection around Job
and his household.
In the same way, God placed a hedge of protection around
David and his kingdom. He didn’t do this with physical thorn bushes, but with a
spiritual move upon the hearts and minds of people. He placed a fear of David
upon the nations.
A
thorn hedge is an appropriate metaphor for the protection God gives His
followers. As believers, we should ask for the Lord to put a hedge of
protection around our lives, our families, our marriages, our communities, our
churches, and our nation. With His protection, our enemies cannot prosper
against us. As Isaiah said, “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall
succeed, and you shall confuse every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17)
God
will bless those who honor Him. As we trust in Him, our enemies (the world, the
flesh, the devil) will fall back in fear and we, like David, can experience “peace
through strength.” He will gladly place His protection around our lives. “But
the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”
(2 Thessalonians 3:3)
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