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: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, "
1 Chronicles 18:9
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
7 David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took very much bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze sea, the pillars, and the vessels of bronze.
9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,
10 he sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him (for Hadadezer had wars with Tou); and he had with him all kinds of vessels of gold and silver and bronze.
11 King David also dedicated these to the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he carried away from all the nations: from Edom, from Moab, from the children of Ammon, 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
"After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines."
1 Chronicles 18:2
"He defeated Moab; and the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute."
1 Chronicles 18:3
"David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, toward Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates."
1 Chronicles 18:4
"David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them enough for one hundred chariots."
1 Chronicles 18:5
"When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck twenty-two thousand men of the Syrians."
1 Chronicles 18:6
"Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went."
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