“When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan and went to Helam. The Arameans formed their battle lines to meet David and fought against him. But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobak, the commander of their army, and he died there. When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that Israel had routed them, they made peace with the Israelites and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.”—2 Samuel 10:17–19 (NIV)

We’ve all had a moment in our lives when we realized we were in the wrong. Feeling embarrassed, we scramble to make excuses and offer whatever we can to make that person forget what just happened. That’s how I imagine the Arameans felt in this passage when they realized they had sided with the wrong king.

After being repeatedly insulted and threatened by the Ammonites, David gathered his troops and joined his army to fight against the Arameans—the military the Ammonites hired. In this situation, David begins with a peaceful act, but it turns into a battle because of the Ammonites reckless response. 

Now David and his remaining men have met with Joab in battle. The difference in David’s actions here, unlike the Ammonites, is that he’s not fighting out of pride. Through this entire exchange, David first seels the wisdom of God. He resists the temptation to respond with anger. The result of this is an inconceivable victory. David’s defeat of the Arameans is spectacular and could only have happened because of God’s power.

This is the moment when the Arameans come face-to-face with that insane power. Anyone would look at this situation and assume that the bigger the army, the more likely they are to win, and this is likely how the Arameans felt. But once again, God shows His incredible power through David’s actions. 

I’m sure David was angry and even a little afraid, but he set that aside and trusted the Lord. In the same way he defeated the giant Goliath, David defeated this vast army. God lent David His strength and power to bring glory to Israel. As soon as the Arameans see this, they suddenly change their allegiance. Their confidence in themselves turns into fear in the face of the Lord. Though they ultimately choose to side with Israel instead of the Ammonites, their actions are a result of fear and cowardice.

Miraculous things happen when you have confidence in the Lord. By acting according to His will, God will bring you to victory. Think about David’s words in Psalm 27:3 (NKJV), “Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, in this I will be confident.” 

We don’t know the exact context which led David to write this, but it reflects the same attitude found in today’s passage. No matter what rains against you, God will lead you to victory and peace. Your goal should be to honor God, which begins with confidence in His power.

Pause: Take a minute and dwell on the word “confidence.” This word can be defined as “the belief that one can rely on someone or something.”

Practice: Now ask yourself: “Do I have confidence in myself, or does my confidence come from the Lord?” If the former, take a moment and think about how your confidence might change if you leaned more into God’s wisdom instead of your own. If the latter, pray and thank God for His strength and wisdom.

Pray: Father, thank You for Your generous presence in my life. I’m sorry for how I lean into my confidence rather than Yours. Please give me the strength to stand up against our enemies and lead with love and compassion. Amen.