Listening for the Sound of the Mulberry Trees

“And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly.”

In 2 Samuel 5, David, upon seeing the Philistines in the Valley of Rephaim, asked the Lord “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” (v.19) The Lord said yes David was to go and that victoiry was assured. Some time later the Phiistines yet again assembled in the Valley of Rephaim. David asked the Lord yet again if he should attack. The Lord’s response was different this time.

“You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” (vv.23b-24, emphasis mine)

Take careful note of the habit of David in praying, asking God for His will in battle situations. David could have easily assumed that it was the Lord’s will to go up against the Philistines a second time. This is important to us because, like David, we are in a war, and cannot afford to fail to consult the Lord in our battle plans. If you haven’t noticed the Lord has many creative ways in which He defeats the enemy. How about marching around a city seven times and then shouting, causing the walls to crumble? What about the time Philistines were so confused that they struck each other with their own swords? (1 Sam 14) Should we mention how the Egyptian army was swallowed up by the Red Sea? There are many more examples of course but you get the idea. God enjoys bringing victory in new and unique ways. But we must consult Him for timing and strategy.

“when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees.” Charles Spurgeon likened the sound of the mulberry trees in our lives to the many ways in which God moves and speaks to us. The person who prays with fervency, filled with the Holy Spirit, is a sign of the sound of the mulberry trees. To the person who God enables to preach the gospel to the lost is the sound of the mulberry trees. The point is that God often gives us signs showing us He has called us to something. We must be a people who are constantly listening for the sound of the mulberry trees. Like David, if we do so, God will surely give us victory against our enemy.

David was told that once he heard the sound of the mulberry trees “then you shall advance quickly.” Not only do we need to be attentive, listening for the sound of the mulberry trees, but we must act quickly once we do. We cannot hesitate. Some – no, many – do not gain the victory because they fail to act when hearing the sound of the mulberry trees.

I will leave you with a quote from Spurgeon. “If Providence tarries, tarry till Providence comes, never go before it.”

Lord, we thank you for the mulberry trees in our lives. Thank you for the grace and anointing in our lives. Help us to be like David, always consulting You with battle plans. And finally, help us to “advance quickly” when we do hear the sound. In Jesus name.

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