Marching in the Tops of Balsam Trees:

"I was not born to be free.

I was born to adore and to obey."
C. S. Lewis

Marching in the Tops of Balsam Trees:

King David of Israel was known for his diverse skills as both a warrior and a writer of psalms. In his 40 years as ruler (see 2 Sam. 5:4), between approximately 1010 and 970 BC, he united the people of Israel, led them to victory in battle, conquered land and paved the way for his son, Solomon, to build the Holy Temple. Almost all knowledge of him is derived from the books of the Propets and Writings: I and II Samuel, I Kings and I Chronicles. He is described by the Word as a “Man after God’s own heart.”
"But now your kingdom shall not endure The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."
1 Samuel 13:14 NASB

David was devoted to praise and worship in the presence of the Lord.
One of David’s endearing attributes was that of seeking the Lord prior to his actions. In the following passage from Second Samuel we see David inquiring of the Lord as to whether or not he should go into battle against the Philistines.

22 “Now the Philistines came up once again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim.
23When David inquired of the LORD, He said, "You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.
24"It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines."
25Then David did so, just as the LORD had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.”
2 Samuel 5:22-25 NASB (my emphasis bold)

David’s life was characterized by experience after experience that prepared and tested him for service for God. He didn’t rise immediately to service as King following the anointing of Samuel… but he endured the process of allowing God to fire him in his life’s circumstances. Despite several opportunities he had, and the urging of his friends to take the life of king Saul, he refused to act against God’s anointed.
God imparts our destiny, long before we are ready to step into it. The impartation of God’s intent is always followed by the process of preparing us for such service, as God builds Christ-likeness in us. There is no easy alternative route that can sidestep the crucible of Gods testing fires. If we step out of the test, it will only be followed by a similar circumstance until God deems us ready for service. Critical in every step of this preparation is that we seek His presence and direction earnestly. There is no substituted for knowing the voice of the Lord.

"To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice,

and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
"When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them,

and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
"A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him,

because they do not know the voice of strangers."
John 10:3-5 NASB

When David inquires of God, the Lord first gives him a battle strategy:
"You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.”
One might think this is strange, if God is with you, why do you need a strategy of attack. Indeed God is still in the business of giving strategy to defeat the attacks of the enemy in our lives, the real question is are we listening and will we be obedient, (even when the strategy doesn’t seem to make sense). Why go by the way of the Balsam trees?

I’m not certain of this myself, but I would suggest that it has to do with the fact that it is believed that the resin of the Balsam tree was used to make the oil that was used to anoint the tabernacle, its instruments and the priests and kings of Israel. (See word study notes below under Balsam / Mulberry Trees)

This was symbolic of God’s anointing for victory over David, and a foreshadow of Christ’s anointing as both High Priest and King over the church today.
Going to the trees sounds strange enough, but God’s next instruction seems utterly bazaar:
"It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines." (my emphasis bold)

Well I’ve heard the sound of wind through the trees, but I’ve never heard of “marching tree sounds!” Sometimes God’s word just seems to defy our ability to comprehend it. Nevertheless, God’s word is always accurate and effective. The issue at hand is will we wait on what He has said, and follow in obedience. Then again, does it make sense to march around a city for seven days, ignoring the taunting of the enemy from its fortifications?

I believe that the sound of marching in the tree-tops is akin to the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives, which brings the authority and power of God into our every situations.
Notice too, that the instructions require our quick and uncompromising obedience:
"It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines." (my emphasis bold)

David had learned well the lessons in his life that obedience without hesitation was essential if one was to survive the attacks of the enemy:
"Then David did so, just as the LORD had commanded him"
(my emphasis bold).

The intimate presence of the Lord is an essential part of a victorious Christian walk. Following the voice of the Lord, which is revealed in His presence is a critical issue in defeating the enemy of our souls.

30fkj

For more on walking in intimacy with the Lord:
“Seven things God Loves Part 1” Presence Led People
fredsthoughtfortheday.blogspot.com

Secrets of the Secret Place
Bob Sorge, Oasis House

Word Study of Key words:

Philistines - Hebrew: [those who dwell in villages]
Based on archaeological evidence, one can see that the Philistines were an advanced culture, which had technological, military, and artistic superiority to their Israelite neighbors. However, the Bible depicts the Philistines in a manner that is quite different. Instead of presenting the Philistines as a cultured civilization, the Bible chooses to concentrate on the conflict between the two civilizations, as both tried to expand from their original territories. As a result, the Bible condemns the Philistines for their deeds and depicts the Philistines as a culture that is powerful, but barbaric.

valley of Rephaim – Hebrew [giants] From H7495 in the sense of invigorating; a giant: - giant,
Valley of Rephaim (Hebrew: עמק רפאים‎, Emeq Rephaim)- (Joshua 15:8; Joshua 18:16). A valley descending southwest from Jerusalem to the Valley of Elah below, it is an ancient route from the coastal plain to the Judean Hills, probably named after the legendary race of giants. Having obtained divine direction, David led his army against the Philistines, and gained a complete victory over them. The scene of this victory was afterwards called Baal-perazim (Heb. the Lord who breaks out).
A second time, however, the Philistines rallied their forces in this valley (2 Samuel 5:22). Again warned by a divine saying, David led his army to Gibeon, and attacked the Philistines from the south, inflicting on them another severe defeat, and chasing them with great slaughter to Gezer (q.v.). There David kept in check these enemies of Israel.

Balsam Trees or Mulberry Trees: baw-kaw' (weeping tree)
The same as H1056; the weeping tree (some gum distilling tree, perhaps the balsam): - mulberry tree.
The name may, in Hebrew, have been applied to some species of Acacia . The idea of "weeping" implied in the root, both in Hebrew and Arabic, may be explained by the exudation of gum. "The sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees" has been explained to refer to the quivering of the leaves of poplars, but there is not much to support this view. The translation "mulberry trees" is, however, even more improbable, as this tree, though very plentiful today, had not been introduced into Palestine in Old Testament times.
In March 1988, Vendyl Jones and his team of Bnei Noah volunteers found a clay juglet about five inches in height in a cave in Qumran, just west of the northern end of the Yam HaMelach (Dead Sea). The juglet contained a reddish oil. It is believed to be the only surviving sample of the balsam oil that was prescribed in the Torah for anointing the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and its vessels, as well as the Cohanim-Priests and Kings of Israel. The oil, when found, had a honey-like consistency.

Geba – Hebrew (a hill; cup)
H4482; properly a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses: - above, after, among, at, because of,
by (reason of), from (among)
Geba, considered the most important northern city of the kingdom of Judah as reflected in the phrase, "from Geba to Beersheba" (2 Kgs 23:8), was located seven miles north of Jerusalem and three miles northeast of Gibeah.
The city was an important outpost, positioned at the edge of the frontier country between Judah and Israel. There were constant skirmishes as each of these kingdoms sought to control this region and establish a more secure border.

Gazer – Hebrew (gheh'-zer) something cut off; a portion: - part, piece, a dividing, sentence.
The same as H1506; Gezer, a place in Palestine: - Gazer, Gezer.
A city of great military importance in ancient times. The natural features and the position of Tell Jezer abundantly explain the extreme importance of Gezar in ancient times. The buried remains crown a narrow hill, running from Northwest to Southeast, about 1,700 ft. long by 300 to 500 ft. broad. The approach is steep on every side.