"A Sound in the Mulberry Trees"

A Sound in the Mulberry Trees

A sound in 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.

(2 Samuel 5:24 NKJV)

Whenever I have sat with eyes closed in the shade of a leafy tree on a warm summer’s day and heard the wind rustle the leaves overhead, I am reminded that God rides the wings of the winds.  “He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.   He makes winds his messengers.”  (Psa. 104:3-4 NIV)  Feeling the caress of the little zephyrs against my cheek and brow makes me know there is nothing quite as peaceful and comforting.

      Although, I have never recognized the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, I know that it has happened many times in my life, just as it did in David’s time.  The Philistines were the greatest enemy of Israel and were constantly at war with them.  When they heard that David was made king over Israel, they went after him.  They set up camp in the Valley of Rephaim and prepared to do battle.
      David knew what was happening, so he prayed and asked God what he should do.  The Lord told him he would deliver the enemy into his hands.  Then he gave David these instructions, “Don’t attack them from the front, but circle around and attack from the rear.  When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, act quickly, for the Lord will go before you.”    David followed the Lord’s directions and drove the Philistines out of the land.
      This scripture is a paradigm of the attack by the enemy (Satan) against a child of God.  When we become God’s children, by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior, we become royalty and part of the household of God.  Then the enemy sets out to destroy us, the same as the Philistines did King David.  Each of us must come up against the Philistines (the enemy) throughout our life.
     We know ahead of time where the battle will take place - in the Valley of Rephaim, or Valley of Weeping.  In Psalm 84:6, we read about walking through the Valley of Baca, meaning Valley of Weeping.  This place of trials and sorrow is in actuality thought to be the Valley of Rephaim. 
     To further verify this location of battle, we read in 2 Samuel, there were mulberry trees in the Valley of Rephaim. We think of mulberry trees as those that bear edible fruit and leave a mess in our yard.  However, the mulberry trees spoken of in scripture were actually a type of balsam trees.  Going back to Psalm 84:6, the word, “Baca” has another meaning and it is the Balsam Tree [see TLB)!  This means the enemy sets up the battle in the valley where the balsam tree grows.  It is not coincidental that God showed us the Valley of Weeping and the Valley of Battle (Rephaim) are one and the same.  

These balsam trees are a type of fir tree with branches spreading outward.  The sound of marching in the tops of the trees was that of angelic armies of God going ahead into battle.  This is not unusual; we find it throughout the Bible.  What is unusual in God’s eyes is that Christians no longer believe it.  Most of us go into battle against the enemy under our own power.

When going through battles, we need to be on our knees before the almighty God, crying out to him for direction, then listening for the answer.  How often we tell God, “If you will do it this way, or that way…..”  We should be praying, “God, give me direction and I’ll do as you say!”  Perhaps then, we would hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees. 

There are times when we feel like David did as a small shepherd boy; God called him to go out and slay Goliath, the giant.  His heart must have quaked with fear and he felt very small in the shadow of Goliath, yet he went forth proclaiming, “The battle is the Lords!”  David must have heard the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees at that time, as well.

Perhaps you feel very small and weak, without the ability to battle an enemy that seems so unapproachable.  Remember, you are not going into battle alone, nor on your own strength and intellect.  There are three things that will give you victory in any battle.   

·       Pray for direction and help at the beginning of the battle.

·       Pray for endurance and wisdom during the battle.

·       Pray prayers of Thanksgiving after the victory.

Each time we go through a raging battle in our lives, we must be refreshed in body and spirit in order to obtain victory.  There is a raging battle going on right now.  We are already in the beginning of World War III and most people don’t know it.  We are living in a time of what may feel hopeless, but God is the same God that he always was, is and will be. There are three things we must remember as a child of the King.  1)  God will go before you in your battle. (1 Samuel 8:20) 2) The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. (Isaiah 58:8)     3) The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psalm 118:6) As you can see, God has us covered with all his power so we cannot lose.

No matter what happens around us, in God’s eyes we have already won.  Praise His Holy Name! 

The battle was before me, O God.

I asked you for direction and you gave it to me.

I asked you for strength to complete the battle

And you strengthened me.

I heard the sound of your angelic hosts;

Going before me into battle.

You ran quickly to fight at my side.

Now I am battle-weary, O God.

Heal me with the Balm of Gilead.

Refresh me with pools of refreshment. [Psalm 84:6]

May I always listen for the sound of marching

In the tops of the mulberry trees,

Knowing with certainty,

The battle is the Lords!

                                                                     Wanda Ritter