1 Chronicles 11:9-16

The Progress of David

1Ch 11:9

This expression occurs almost identically in Samuel: literally it is "and David walked on, walking and growing great," a Hebrew metaphor well known as indicating steady going and increasing. The Lord of hosts is a contracted form of the fuller expression, Lord God of hosts. It is worthy of notice that this title is derived from God's sovereignty over the stars, worshipped as deities by the races round about Israel. We understand that the very word for God in the old Babylonian is represented by a star or asterisk, and in the later Assyrian character, star is said to have been represented by the symbol for God thrice repeated. The supreme Assyrian deity is designated "King of the legions of heaven and earth." Being described as the Lord of hosts, the meaning is that the Lord rules the stars: (compare Psalms 8:3 ; Isaiah 40:26 ; Jdg 5:20 ). In the remotest antiquity the stars were thought of as a heavenly army marshalled in orderly array. The argument would seem to be that as the Lord of hosts governs and controls all the stars, therefore he governs and controls all lesser things. He is not described as the Lord of hosts in any sense which separates him from daily providence, minute and special inspection of human affairs: in this, as in other instances, the greater is said to include the less. It is interesting to mark David's line of progress. First of all he dwelt in the castle, and from this circumstance it was called the city of David. Here we have quiet possession, supreme control, sense of security; then we learn that he built the city round about. It was not enough to abide in the castle; David must needs go forth and see what required rebuilding or repairing; David never took willingly to a life of ease or indulgence. His was a spirit so energetic as to be irrepressible; whilst there was anything to be done David was moved ardently to attempt its accomplishment. David not only dwelt in the castle, and built the city, but he waxed greater and greater: he surprised himself by his growth; faculties rightly used increase their own power; so to say, they multiply themselves, and yield a good return for all the uses to which they are put. We should be greater men if we did greater work. The very attempt to do great things strengthens the faculties which we put into exercise. Stir up the gift that is in thee; provoke thyself to do more and more; accept the spirit of emulation, and under its genius incalculable progress may be made. In all things beware of indulgence, contentment with little attainment, satisfaction with immediate and perishing blessings. Greater and greater, more and more, further and further, from conquering to conquer, such must be the mottoes and watchwords of Christian faith and activity.

How did David wax greater and greater? Was the secret in himself? The reason is given in the text "for the Lord of hosts was with him." We are not to understand that this is a merely arbitrary association with the man, but that a distinct work was completed within the man himself by the energy of the inspiring Spirit. When the Lord of hosts is with a man he feels himself to be nothing but an instrument which God is using, therefore he is saved, as we have just seen, from vanity, petty ambition, miserable self-satisfaction: he does not say, Behold how clever a man I am, he rather bows down his head, saying how thankful he is that the Lord has been pleased to make use of him but for a moment as the medium of great messages and deliverances. When the Lord of hosts is with a man the public benefit is all that he thinks about and strives for. He has no personal ends to serve, no limited friendships to gratify, no questionable policies to sustain and perfect. He himself becomes as it were a man of hosts, that is to say, a man who holds great interests, great stewardships, and who looks upon the order, security, and harmony of all as the one thing to be accomplished by ministry and suffering. When the Lord of hosts is with a man, the man feels himself to be but part of a great scheme of worlds; he is a little atom in an infinite universe; a flickering light amid the glories of creation; something that owes all its importance to divine quickening and recognition. How is all this to be tested in the case of any man who declares himself to have been sent of God, and to have been charged with special missions and prerogatives? The whole test is in the one word Character. What is the man as to goodness, benevolence, sincerity, unselfishness? Not that we are to look for absolute perfection in any human creature, but we may certainly look for the desire which yearns for perfection longs, prays, and toils for the accomplishment of the heavenly ideal. When we are called upon to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect, we are not called upon to do miracles in the sense of attaining that which is obviously impossible, but our whole mind and heart must be set in the direction of the divine ideal, and nothing less should satisfy us. When we pant for the living God as the hart panteth for the water brooks, when we desire God's perfectness with the yearning which holds every other attainment in contempt, we may be truly said to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect, within all the limitations imposed upon human capacity and conduct. The Lord of hosts will be with every one of us if we desire his fellowship and inspiration. He will not be with us necessarily in the sense of making us great soldiers, leaders, and rulers, but in the sense of directing every step we take, purifying every thought which engages the mind, and bringing into captivity every passion which agitates and torments the heart. The Lord was with Joseph, the Lord was with Samuel, the Lord has been with his people in all ages, making some great in mind and in power, and making all good in the sense of working in them all the good pleasure of his will. "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths." "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Invoke the Living One day by day, that all life may be lifted up to a higher plane, and consecrated to nobler endeavours.