Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. (II Samuel 8:6 ESV)
Then he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. (II Samuel 8:14 ESV)
Garrisons
David was a careful military commander. He had seen the sorrows of loss that come even from victory. People die in war. People are wounded in war. War is costly.
And as a careful military commander, David did not desire to repeat terrible wars he had already fought and won.
So after vanquishing God’s enemies, when the army went home, David left troops behind.
We call such troops a garrison. And a garrison is not intended to keep a strong thumb on those who have been defeated. But the origins of the word, garrison, indicate that such troops are intended to protect against war, defend against war, prohibit war.
Garrison troops do not continue the war. But they exist to stop the repeat of war.
We could use more garrisons in our fights against Sin. We win a temptation battle (often with failure, ill effects, and sorrow), and then we go on with our lives, forgetting the cost.
We can set up David-type garrisons by not entering into situations that lead to selfishness. We can set up David-type garrisons by remembering the pain our sin has cost others. We can set up David-type garrisons by keeping Jesus in the forefront of our minds, instead of the things that have led us to sin, previously.
Christ won the war against Sin, on the cross. But we can benefit from a few garrisons.