A Meditation Upon... the Chronicles of the Kings; The First Part

By His Majesty King James One of England; Six of Scotland

THE FIRST PART

As to the first part; The causes moving David, passing all others, I note two: One internal, the other, external: the internal was a servant and zealous mind in David fully disposed to extoll the glory of God that had called him to be King, as he says himself. The zeal of the house it eats me up, Psalms 69:9. But more largely expressed in the 132nd Psalm, composed at the same time while this work was a doing. The external was a notable victory newly obtained by the power of God over and against the Philistines, old and pernicious enemies to the people of God, expressed in the last part of the 14th chapter preceding. By this victory or cause external, the internal causes and zeal in David is so doubly inflamed, that all things set aside, in this work only he will be occupied. These are the two weighty causes moving him. Whereof we may learn, first that the chief virtue which should be in a Christian Prince, and which the Spirit of God always chiefly praises in him, is a fervency and constant zeal to promote the glory of God, that hath honored him. Next, that where this zeal is unfeigned, God never leaves that person, without continual pouring of his blessings on him, thereby to stir up into him a double measure of zeal and thankfulness towards God. Thirdly, that the Church of God never wanted enemies and notable victories over them, to assure them at all times of the constant kindness of God towards them; even, when as by the cross, as a bitter medicine, he cures their infirmities, saves them from gross sins, and tries their faith: For we find plainly in the Scriptures, that no sooner had God himself choose Israel to be his people; but as soon, & ever after as long as they remained his, the devil so envied their prosperity, as he hounded out his instruments the nations, at all times to trouble and war against them, yet to the comfort of the Church affected, and wrack of the afflicters in the end. This first was practices by Pharaoh in Egypt and after their deliverance, first by the Ammonites, and then by the Philistines continually thereafter, until the rising of the Monarchies, who every one did exercise themselves in the same labor. But to note here the rage of all propane Princes and nations which exercised their cruelty upon the Church of God, were superfluous and tedious, in respect of that which I have set down in my former meditation:

Wherefore I only go forward then in this. As this was the continual behavior of the Nations towards Israel; So it was most especially in the time of David, and among the rest at this time here cited at what time having newly invaded Israel, and being driven back, they would yet assemble again in great multitudes to war against the people of God, and not content to defend their own countries as the Israelites did, would needs come out of the same to pursue them, and so spread themselves in the valley: But David by God’s direction, brings forth the people against them, who fights, and according to God’s promises, overcomes them, only by the hand of God, and not by their power, as the place itself most plainly doth show: So the Church of God may be troubled, but in trouble it cannot perish: and the end of their trouble is the very wrack and destruction of God’s enemies.

NOTE: Are the Philistines still warring against God’s people?