Matthew Henry Commentary 2 Samuel 5:17-25

"And when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And Jehovah said unto David, Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into thy hand. And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said, Jehovah hath broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim. And they left their images there; and David and his men took them away. And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And when David inquired of Jehovah, he said, Thou shalt not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees. And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then is Jehovah gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as Jehovah commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gezer." — 2 Samuel 5:17-25 (ASV)

The Philistines did not consider that David had the presence of God with him, which Saul had forfeited and lost. The kingdom of the Messiah, as soon as it was set up in the world, was thus attacked by the powers of darkness. The heathen raged, and the kings of the earth set themselves to oppose it; but all in vain (Psalms 2:1 and following).

The destruction will turn, as this did, upon Satan's own kingdom. David acknowledges his dependence on God for victory and commits himself to God's good pleasure: Will you do it? The assurance God has given us of victory over our spiritual enemies should encourage us in our spiritual conflicts. David waited until God moved; then he stirred, but not until then.

He was trained in dependence on God and his providence. God performed his promise, and David did not fail to improve his advantages. When the kingdom of the Messiah was to be set up, the apostles, who were to beat down the devil's kingdom, were not to attempt anything until they received the promise of the Spirit, who came with a sound from heaven, as of a rushing, mighty wind (Acts 2:2).