The Battle of the Mulberry Bush Text: 2Sam 5:22-25; 1Chr 14:13-17 I. Surprise Attack 1Chr 14:13; 2Sam 5:22 II. Subtle Answer 1Chr 14:14; 2Sam 5:23 III. Submissive Assault 1Chr 14:15; 2Sam 5:24 IV. Successful Associates 1Chr 14:16; 2Sam 5:25 V. Sinners Ashamed 1Chr 14:17

1. The Battle of the
Mulberry Bush
Text: 2Sam 5:22-25; 1Chr 14:13-17
I. Surprise Attack
1Chr 14:13; 2Sam 5:22
1Chr 14:13-17

2. 13 And the Philistines yet again spread themselves
abroad in the valley.
2Sam 5:22-25 22 And the Philistines came up yet
again, and spread themselves in the valley of
Rephaim.
A second attack by the Philistines does not
mean David did anything wrong in the 1st
battle
(Philistines by nature hate God and his
people).
A second battle against the Philistines doesn’t
mean God will use the same plan you learned
the first time.
II. Subtle Answer
1Chr 14:14; 2Sam 5:23
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.
23 And when David enquired of the LORD, he said,
Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind

3. them, and come upon them over against the
mulberry trees.
The only thing worth repeating in this
second scenario is to “enquire of the LORD
God”.
“Go not up”1Chr14
“Thou shalt not”2Sam5
God’s word is always a command.
Men love the miracles of God but want to
ignore the majesty of God. He is the King of
all the earth.
Sometimes His word is clearly stated as “Thou
shalt not” but even without the magic words
“T.S.N” His word is the “Law of the Lord”
“Be ye holy” is as much a command as “Thou
shalt not steal”.
If we get to prioritize and decide which of
God’s laws we obey, we make ourselves God.
The battle plan this next time around is harder
than the first time. Now David has to “Go not
up after them; turn away from them “

4. III. Submissive Assault
1Chr 14:15; 2Sam 5:24
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.
24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a
going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then
thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go
out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.
The first four words of each parallel passage is
a message all on its own.
“And it shall be”1Chr14
“and let it be”2Sam5
being
armed for battle, yet patiently waiting for the
right time to fight is a hard lessen to learn.
“bestir thyself”2Sam5
=” go out to battle”1Chr14
usually the time to fight is not when emotions
tell you to strike but when it is a planned
attack.

5. IV. Successful Associates
1Chr 14:16; 2Sam 5:25
16 David therefore did as God commanded him: and they
smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to
Gazer.
25 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded
him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou
come to Gazer.
“David…did… and they”
If David had not followed his commander, it
would have cost more than a personal
reprimand. His obedience enabled the army of
Israel to win. Someone is always following
your footsteps either for good or evil.
V. Sinners Ashamed
1Chr 14:17
17 And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the
LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.

6. “before honor is humility” and a Godly humility is
a guarantee of Godly honor.
1Chr 13:12 And David was afraid of God that day,
saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?
1Chr 14:17 And the fame of David went out into all lands;
and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all
nations.
“the fear of him” God is greater than the Devil. If
you are Godly the workers of iniquity will fear you,
whether they show it or not.
Rev 21:8
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the
abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers,
and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire
and brimstone: which is the second death.
Isa 41:10-12
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I
am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;

7. yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my
righteousness.
11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall
be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing;
and they that strive with thee shall perish.
12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even
them that contended with thee: they that war against thee
shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.
The Battle of the Mulberry Bush
Text: 2Sam 5:22-25; 1Chr 14:13-17
I. Surprise Attack
1Chr 14:13; 2Sam 5:22
II. Subtle Answer
1Chr 14:14; 2Sam 5:23
III.Submissive Assault
1Chr 14:15; 2Sam 5:24
IV. Successful Associates
1Chr 14:16; 2Sam 5:25
V. Sinners Ashamed
1Chr 14:17