The Sound of the Lord in the Trees

“As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.”
2 Samuel 5:24 (NIV)

Arise and shine, dear one! God is with you!

In the beautiful Pacific Northwest where I live there is an abundance of trees. Behind the houses across the street from my house are a line of tall pine trees and when the winds blow, the sound of the rustling of the trees reminds me of ocean waves. With strong enough winds, that sound can be loud!

In 2 Samuel 5, David is facing the Philistines, and he inquires of the Lord first. God answers him, allowing David to hear the sound of the Lord going out in front of him, reminding Him that it’s through God that the battle is won. I can only imagine how deafening that sound must have been in the tops of those popular trees! David obeys the Lord’s command and strikes down the Philistines.

After reading this verse in 2 Samuel, when I hear those swaying trees, I remember that God goes before me. He already knows what lies ahead in my life and it is not a surprise to Him. When I’m faced with a difficult situation ahead, I need to spend time in prayer, inquiring of the Lord, asking for His wisdom. While I may not get to hear the sound of His army going to battle ahead of me, I can be assured that God is with me, walking me through whatever circumstance I may face.

David not only sought the Lord first, he also obeyed God’s command. He didn’t take matters into his own hands and lead his army ahead of the Lord. Instead, he obeyed, waiting until he heard that sound of marching in the trees, then he quickly responded, just as God told him to.

What circumstances are you facing today? When you pray, is God asking you to obey Him in a certain area of your life?

Seek His face, dear one. Be willing to obey God’s Word, and when you hear the rustling of the trees, remember that God is with you!