2 Samuel 8:11-15- King David dedicated all these gifts to the
LORD, along with the silver and gold he had set apart from the other nations he
had subdued -- Edom, Moab,
Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek -- and from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
So David became very famous. After his
return he destroyed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of
Salt. He placed army garrisons
throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David's subjects. This was another
example of how the LORD made David victorious wherever he went. David reigned over all Israel and was fair to
everyone.
David was given victory in every battle that reclaimed the
land of Canaan for Israel. Even the kings of neighboring lands were brought to submission…and
paid taxes to David. He shed much blood in the process….but somehow managed to
earn the reputation for being fair. His
name brought both fear and respect
throughout the land….as God looked after him and protected him as he had
promised.
I will admit that I have a hard time accepting these war stories…this
killing of thousands of lives…as a good thing…as just and fair. It is just so
hard for me to accept this as necessary. My brain kept trying to total the
number of lives that God allowed to die to set up David’s kingdom…but I stopped
after verse 6…with the number 43,000 in the margin….the number already too big
for my heart to deal with. I can’t stand
to watch a baby bird die… or know I hit a rabbit driving home….let alone deal
with the knowledge that more than 43,000 people lost their lives during this
part of David’s reign.
Then I remembered the promise of God…to give the land of Canaan
to his people…and drive out the pagans that worshiped other gods. Joshua
started the process…now David was given the skills and temperament to finish
the job. David was given the personality and heart to do the job God gave him
to do. The wars of David’s reign had a
unique purpose…just for that time….carried out by exactly the person God had trained
to do the job.
I am so very thankful that God allowed me to live in a time
where wars are few. Even reading the
passages here in the Old testament…I see no purpose for the wars we as
Americans are engaged in…for we are not claiming land for Christ. Christ came and gave his life for us on that
cross…and he does not need us to kill to show his power anymore. Jesus came as a humble servant of peace…and is
returning someday to fulfill the new promise I look forward to….given to us in Isaiah
2:4… “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many
peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into
pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they
train for war anymore.”
Father…Help me understand the need for war in my
lifetime. I need your wisdom and love to
help me accept the senseless killings that send our American soldiers home in boxes
ready to be buried. I need your love and compassion to help me forgive those
that have taken these lives. Thank you
for this story that reminds me not to dwell on the loss of life…but instead claim
your promise that peace will someday rule our world again. Amen.
PS… I couldn’t help but think of the old song ….Down By The
River Side….written and sung by a people that longed to see the world at peace…..even
though their lives were characterized by hate and injustice. They must have known about the promise of God
too! Here’s a link to a Pete Seeger
version on youtube…. http://youtu.be/LgOXqNq7fqc
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