Key Verse Spotlight
1 Chronicles 18:9 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: King James Version
" Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah; "
1 Chronicles 18:9
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.
9 Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah;
10 He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.
11 Them also king David dedicated unto the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.
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Here we learn several things.
First, it is wise to make friends with those who have God’s presence with them. The king of Hamath, hearing of David’s great success, sent to congratulate him and win his favor with a generous gift (1 Chronicles 18:9-10). It is useless to fight against the Son of David. So “kiss the Son,” that is, submit to him and honor him, “lest he be angry,” and let kings, judges, and all other people learn this wisdom. The gifts we bring to him are not vessels of gold and silver, as in this story. Instead, we bring our hearts, our sincere love, and our whole selves as living sacrifices.
Second, what God blesses us with, we should honor him with. David gave the gifts from his friends, as well as the plunder from his enemies, to the Lord (1 Chronicles 18:11). He set them apart for the future building and glory of the temple. What we truly and most safely call our own is what we have dedicated to the Lord and use for his glory. Our trade and our labor should be made holy to the Lord (Isaiah 23:18).
Third, those who carry God with them wherever they go may expect both success and protection wherever they go. This is said before (1 Chronicles 18:6), and it is repeated here (1 Chronicles 18:13): “The Lord preserved David wherever he went.” Those who always keep God in view are always under his care.
Fourth, God gives power not so people can seem great, but so they can do good. When David ruled over all Israel, he did what was right and fair for all his people. In this way, he fulfilled the purpose of his high position. He was not so focused on victories abroad that he neglected justice at home. In this, he served the purpose of God’s rule over the world, the God who sits on the throne and judges rightly. He was also a clear picture of the Messiah, whose royal scepter is a right and just scepter.
From This Chapter
1 Chronicles 18:1
"Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines."
1 Chronicles 18:2
"And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts."
1 Chronicles 18:3
"And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates."
1 Chronicles 18:4
"And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots."
1 Chronicles 18:5
"And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men."
1 Chronicles 18:6
"Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went."
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