Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:1

Bird's-eye view

Second Samuel chapter 8 is a catalogue of David's victories, a summary of his military establishment of the kingdom. But it must not be read as a mere appendix or a dry list of conquests. This chapter is the direct and immediate consequence of the covenant God made with David in the previous chapter. In 2 Samuel 7, God promised David a house, a kingdom, and a throne that would last forever. David responded with humble worship. Here in chapter 8, we see the down payment on that promise. God's covenant promises are not ethereal platitudes; they are enacted in time and space, with sword and shield, with dirt and blood. This chapter shows us the anointed king, empowered by God's covenant grace, systematically subduing the enemies of God's people on every side. It is a demonstration of what happens when God's chosen man acts in faith upon God's sure word. These victories are a type, a foreshadowing, of the far greater victory of David's greater Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is even now subduing all His enemies through the triumphant advance of His gospel.

Outline

Context In 2 Samuel

The placement of this chapter is of paramount theological importance. It comes directly on the heels of the Davidic Covenant in chapter 7. God has just made unilateral, unconditional promises to David. He did not say, "If you conquer your enemies, then I will establish your throne." He said, "I will make for you a great name... I will give you rest from all your enemies... The Lord will make you a house... I will raise up your offspring after you... and I will establish his kingdom" (2 Sam 7:9, 11-12). Chapter 8 is the historical outworking of that divine decree. The indicative of God's promise ("I will") is the foundation for the imperative of David's actions ("David struck"). David is not fighting for victory; he is fighting from victory. He is acting as the king God has already established, enforcing the peace God has already promised. This is the rhythm of the Christian life: God's grace precedes our obedience, and His promises fuel our endeavors.

Key Issues

The Kingdom Comes With Power

We live in a sentimental age, an age that is often uncomfortable with the raw, masculine energy of the Old Testament. We like our religion meek and mild, and we prefer a Jesus who is more of a gentle counselor than a conquering king. But the Bible gives us the whole picture. The kingdom of God does not advance by asking permission. It comes with power, and it displaces other kingdoms. The wars of David are a graphic, historical portrait of this spiritual reality. When the rightful king arrives, the squatters and usurpers must be dealt with. This chapter is a record of David doing just that. He is not a bloodthirsty tyrant; he is the instrument of God's justice, establishing peace and order in a land that had been chaotic and threatened for centuries. This is what a godly king does. He protects his people by defeating their enemies. And in this, David is a magnificent picture of our Lord Jesus, who came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and to bring all His enemies into subjection under His feet (1 Cor 15:25).

Verse by Verse Commentary

1 Now it happened afterwards, that David struck the Philistines and subdued them; and David took control of the chief city from the hand of the Philistines.

The first word, afterwards, is the crucial link. After what? After the covenant. After God's promise. After David's prayer of grateful acceptance. The promise of God is not a tranquilizer; it is a trumpet call. Having been assured of God's backing, David immediately goes on the offensive. And he starts with the most persistent, troublesome, and dangerous enemy Israel had: the Philistines. For generations, from Samson to Saul, the Philistines had been a thorn in Israel's side. Saul's reign ended in a catastrophic defeat at their hands. But now, the true king, the man after God's own heart, confronts them.

And the result is decisive. David struck them and subdued them. This is not a temporary setback for the Philistines; it is a subjugation. Their power to threaten Israel is broken. This is the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promise to give David "rest from all your enemies."

The verse concludes by noting that David took "Metheg-ammah," which translates literally as "the bridle of the mother city." This is likely a reference to Gath, the chief city of the Philistines. The imagery is potent. A bridle is used to control and direct a powerful animal. David did not just defeat the Philistines in a battle; he took the reins of their power. He put a bit in their mouth and brought them under his dominion. This is what Christ does with His enemies. He doesn't just save His people from them; He rules over them, restraining their malice and bending their purposes to serve His ultimate design, until the day He makes them His footstool.

Application

The story of David's victories is our story. David is the type, and Christ is the antitype. In His death and resurrection, Christ struck the decisive blow against our great enemies: sin, death, and the devil. He has subdued them. The victory is already won. Our task, as the church, is to fight from that victory. We are not trying to win a war that is in doubt; we are mopping up, enforcing the terms of surrender that our King has already secured.

Just as David went after the Philistines first, we are called to go after the entrenched sins and strongholds in our own lives, in our families, and in our communities. We do this not in our own strength, but armed with the covenant promises of God. God has promised us victory. He has promised that the gates of Hell will not prevail against His church. He has promised that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of His glory as the waters cover the sea. Therefore, we can act with the same boldness as David. We can strike at the enemy, confident that the battle belongs to the Lord.

Furthermore, we must recover a robust view of Christ's dominion. He has taken the "bridle of the mother city." He rules the nations. Our task in the Great Commission is not to timidly suggest an alternative lifestyle. It is to disciple the nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything our conquering King has commanded. David's conquests were a physical picture of the spiritual and cultural conquest the gospel is accomplishing throughout history. This verse should fill us with courage. Our King reigns, and His enemies are being subdued.