Morning Light – October 12th, 2015: Wait for the Rustling in the Mulberry Trees!

Morning Light – October 12th, 2015
Today: [1 Chronicles Fourteen] Wait for the Rustling in the Mulberry Trees! In this chapter David settles in Jerusalem and begins to build his palace on mount Zion. The Philistines hear of his successes and come up against him. The name “Philistine” means “a divider” and represents divisive people in your life. When God begins to bless you and your destiny comes into manifestation the enemy will send divisive people into your situations to derail God’s purposes. David waited on God and gained the victory because he refused to allow divisive people to set the agenda for his life.
[1Ch 14:1-17 KJV] 1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house. 2 And David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel. 3 And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters. 4 Now these [are] the names of [his] children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, 5 And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet, 6 And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 7 And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.
In this chapter we find that David has been confirmed as king by all 12 tribes of Israel. David does not establish himself at Gibea as Saul had done before him, rather he goes to Jerusalem. He overthrows the Jebusites there and enlarged his family. There were two groups of children born to David. There were those children born to him before he was accepted as king and those that were born to him in Jerusalem after his kingdom was established. He had six children born to him in Hebron by his wives Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, Hagith, Abital, and Eglah. There were thirteen sons born to him in Jerusalem – four of these were given to him by Bathsheba including Solomon. There is a total of 19 sons, but also 2 sons who are unnamed who presumably died in infancy – including the first son born to him of Bathsheba. There was one daughter – Tamar who remained unmarried after being raped by David’s eldest son Amnon.
The sons of David then were:
Amnon (murdered by Absalom)
Kileab (or Daniel) presumably died in child birth or was disabled in some way.
Absalom (killed by Joab)
Adoniajah
Shepatiah
Ithream
Unnamed infant born to Bathsheba
Shobab (born to Bathsheba)
Nathan (in the lineage of Mary, mother of Jesus)
Solomon (in the lineage of Joseph, step-father of Jesus)
Ibhar
Elishua
Elpelet
Nogah
Nepheg
Japhia
Elishama
Eliada
and Eliphelet, and one further unnamed son, presumed to have died very young.
Now as David’s fame begins to spread abroad and a nearby king (Hiram) blesses David by sending him laborers and materials to build a house for himself on mount Zion. Hiram was king of the city-state of Tyre, an important Phonecian city. He allied himself with David and also with David’s successor Solomon. He was a major supplier of men and material first to build David’s palace and then to assist Solomon in building the first temple.
Hiram’s name means “High Born”. David (a type of Jesus) being supported by Hiram points out to us the blessing of God upon those who assist in the furtherance of the kingdom of God on the earth. Hiram was a part of the solution not part of the problem. He facilitated and supported in every way possible first to build the house of David and to build the temple of Solomon both types of the kingdom of God on the inside of us. As individuals we are the house of David, and Jesus lives inside of us. As a corporate family of believers we are the temple of Solomon, builded together as a holy temple, a habitation of God on the earth.
8 And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard [of it], and went out against them. 9 And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 10 And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand. 11 So they came up to Baalperazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baalperazim. 12 And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.
Anytime something good happens and the kingdom of God is being brought forward the enemy will send the Philistines in to impede the work. The name Philistine means “a divider”. As a people the Philistines didn’t come into Canaan until after Joshua had conquered the land. There are people who will show up after the work is done and victory is taken place to bring division and disension to the work of God. When the Philistines came against David they camped in Rephaim the ancient land of giants before the flood. Divisive people move in a spirit of preeminence. They are self importance and full of pride. They think if they have a problem with you then you have a big or giant problem. When someone comes to you and puts a problem in your face that brings your whole life and ministry to a halt to deal with them then know that you are facing a Philistine.
How did David overcome the Philistines? First he didn’t react. A Philistine when he or she comes into your life is putting expectations on what you are going to do. They want you to react. They expect you to engage with them and if you don’t they will go about bringing pressure to bear through circumstances, through other people to force you to respond to them. They are an illegitimate authority. What did David do? He didn’t presume that just because the Philistines showed up that he had permission to go fight against them. He inquired of the Lord. When you face apparent problems be sure to ask God first. David wanted to know if he should go up against the Philistines or not. He was prepared for whatever answer God would give him. The Philistine mentality comes from a performing spirit. They want to be the center of attention. Sometimes ignoring them is the most powerful thing you can do.
David inquires of the Lord and David goes into Rephaim and defeats them and destroys their idols by fire. He didn’t take any spoil of the Philistines. This is very important. Even in defeat a Philistine can distract you from what God wants you to do. Since Jim Bakker’s PTL ministry fell into ruin many well known ministers have vainly tried to take over those resources without success, only distracting themselves from the true assignment of God for their lives.
When you defeat a Philistine situation and deal with divisive and difficult people, be discerning about what happens in the aftermath. The gains you will make may become distractions themselves from the thing God has called you to do. My father became a pastor in Mexia, Texas years ago and found out after he accepted the pulpit that the church was part of a split from another church just down the road. Both churches were in trouble and my father worked tirelessly to bring the two congregations back together and mend their differences. There was however the problem now of two church buildings and one congregation. This predicated a long and drawn out difficulty that brought great distraction to my father for several years. Again use discernment when dealing with divisive people even after the storm seems to pass the distractions can yet be devastating.
13 And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. 14 Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 15 And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, [that] then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. 16 David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer. 17 And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.
When David defeated the Philistines in Rephaim they again set themselves for battle in a valley. Those with divisive spirits will not give up easily. When they couldn’t defeat him in Rephaim (by bringing a GIANT problem) then the go to the valley. This is a type of false humility. When a divisive person sees they are not going to get their way they then become a victim. They will complain that you were too harsh toward them, and that you have wounded them deeply. They will spread their hypocrisy under the guise of a wounded spirit and many times influence those closest to you. They have been wounded! You will be expected to rush to their aid and comfort them – thus achieving their agenda of become the center of attention again and to have their way in your life.
David doesn’t assume that he has permission to deal with this second threat. He goes before God and the Lord tells him not to go against the Philistines this time until he hears the “rustling in the Mulberry trees”. This was the sign that angels were going before David to give him victory. This tells us two things: 1.) that angels set themselves against those who are divisive against the work of God. 2.) that you must wait at times for God to deal with a problem, and angelic assistance be brought to bear in difficult situations where it is tempting not to delay but to react.
David waits on the Lord and moves in God’s timing and the victory is complete. Likewise when you refuse to react, seek God’s counsel and move in His timing you will successfully deal with the distractions of divisive people that the enemy sends to derail your destiny in God.