2 Samuel 11-12; 1 Chronicles 20

I Chronicles 20 accounts some of King David's conquests against the adversaries in the lands around Israel part of the land promised to Abraham in Genesis 15. Most notably David continues pressing against the Philistine peoples who are freakishly large giants with anomalous phalanges from the descendants of the Rephaim. Who are the Rephaim? In Deuteronomy and Joshua the Rephaim were associated with giants in the land of Canaan often linked to Og king of Bashan, Philistine giants are Rephaim and include Goliath whom David fought and killed as a young man. These Rephaim are the giants in the land that the twelve Israelite spies saw when first scoping out Canaan after leaving Egypt. David's conquest against the Philistines is a continuation of taking the land that God had promised - picking up where the Israelites left off before the period of the Judges. 

When God promises land to His people and strengthens His people to take it there should be no hesitation, for what God wills God sustains - we must walk by faith and actively do what God is blessing. A principle I've been reminded of again and again recently is the truth that we fight from victory not for victory, because the spiritual battle has already been won. What this means is that because God has all authority and power, and because God has given us these keys to the kingdom (Matthew 10:1; 28:18) we are victors - conquerors because of this authority that we have in Christ who conquered death, sin and Satan. 

Romans 8:37 (NKJV) "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." 

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

While the Rephaim may have been and are the primary enemy of Israel, their battle is already won - they must boldly and courageously walk in the victory that God has graciously given. Whatever Rephaim you face today, if you live surrendered to the throne of God with Christ as your king then we have bold access to the throne and the authority over darkness that God gives His disciples.

Luke 9:1-2 (NIV) "When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick."


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