Old-Testament war, violence, and killing was necessary for God to build the House of David and usher in His Son Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World…
But is war, violence, and killing necessary in the modern times of the New Testament and covenant of love?
What of a Third Testament of The Holy Spirit whereby all human beings are Splendid Spiritual Beings living a human life versus human beings trying to live a spiritual life? Is there conviction and authority from God to proceed as such in the world today?
I think so… evidence God’s Word through the prophet Nathan to King David of Israel and David’s responsive prayer:
The word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: Go, and say to my servant David:
I took thee out of the pastures from following the sheep to be ruler over my people Israel, and I have been with thee wheresoever thou hast walked, and have slain all thy enemies from before thy face: and I have made thee a great man, like unto the name of the great ones that are on earth… and I will plant thee… (you) shall be disturbed no more…neither shall the children of iniquity… I will give you rest from thy enemies… (and) the Lord will make thee a house… and when thy days shall be fulfilled and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers… I will establish his kingdom… (You David) shall build a house to my name, and I will establish the throne of your kingdom for ever. If (you) commit any iniquity, I will correct you with the rod of men, but my mercy I will not take away from you, as I took it away from Saul, who I removed from my face… And thy house shall be faithful, and thy kingdom for ever before thy face, and thy throne shall be firm for ever.”
According to all these words and according to all this vision, so did Nathan the prophet speak to David.
David went in and sat before the Lord and (offered this prayer and thanksgiving):
Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me this far? For thou knowest thy servant O Lord God… Therefore thou art magnified, O Lord God, because there is none like to thee… and what nation is there upon the earth, as thy people Israel, whom (you) God went to redeem for a people to himself… For thou has confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be an everlasting people: and thou, O Lord God, art become their God… The Lord of hosts is God over Israel. And the house of thy servant David shall be establish before (you) the Lord… that it may endure for ever before thee… and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant (David) be blessed forever.
The Lord preserved David in all his enterprises, whithersoever he went… and King David dedicated them (vessels of gold, silver, and brass of all nations which he had subdued) to the Lord… and the Lord preserved David in all enterprises he went about. And David reigned over all Israel and David did judgment and justice to all his people.
David was victorious in all his battles with the Lord’s favor and blessing.
David showed great kindness to the living son of Jonathan—Misphiboseth:
And David said: Is there any one, think you, left of the house of Saul, that I may show kindness to him for Jonathan’s sake?
There is a son of Jonathan left, who is lame of feet—Misphiboseth…
David to Misphiboseth: Fear not, for I will surely show thee mercy for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and I will restore the lands of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table always… Misphiboseth dwelt in Jerusalem: because he ate always of the king’s table: and he was lame of both feet.
David’s kindness was misinterpreted through fear by the princes of the children of Ammon. The Syrians were hired to fight David and lost big-time and learned a lesson to never help the children of Ammon anymore. This all started by a misinterpretation of David’s kindness:
I will show kindness to Hanon the son of Nass, as his father showed kindness to me.
The princes of the children of Ammon: and hath not David rather sent his servants to thee to search, and spy into the city, and overthrow it?
Hanon took the servants of David, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut away half of their garments even to the buttocks, and sent them away.
And the children of Ammon seeing that they had done injury to David, sent and hired the Syrians… then the Syrians seeing that they had fallen before Israel, gathered themselves together… And when this was told David, he gathered all of Israel together, and passed over the Jordan… and David slew of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen… and they made peace with Israel: and served them, and all the Syrians were afraid to help the children of Ammon any more.
And it came to pass at the return of the year, at the time when kings go forth to war… evidently there was an annual season for war back in biblical times versus our somewhat cyclic modern day approach to war…
David saw from the roof of his house a woman washing herself, over against him: and the woman was very beautiful… that she was Bethsabee… the wife of Urias the Hethite… and David sent messengers, and took her, and she came in to him, and he slept with her… and she returned to her house having conceived.
David to Joan: Set ye Urias in the front of the battle, where the fight is strongest: and leave ye him, that he may be wounded and die… and Urias the Hethite was killed… and Bethsabee mourned for him. And the mourning being over. David sent and brought her into his house, and she became his wife, and she bore him a son…
And this thing which David had done, was displeasing to the Lord.
Go figure that, sort of broke a few of the Ten Commandments, didn’t David?
So lo and behold we have our first parable from God:
There are two men in one city, the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many sheep and oxen. But the poor man had nothing at all but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up, and which had grown up in his house together with his children, eating of his bread, and drinking of his cup, and sleeping in his bosom: and it was unto him as a daughter.
And when a certain stranger was come to the rich man, he spared to take of his own sheep and oxen, to make a feast for that stranger, who was come to him, but took the poor man’s ewe, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this is a child of death. He shall restore the ewe fourfold, because he did this thing, and had no pity.
And Nathan said to David: Thou art the man.
Thus said the Lord God of Israel (to David):
Why therefore hast thou despised the word of the Lord, to do evil in my sight?
Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thy house, and I will take thy wives before thy eyes and give them to thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in sight of the sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing in the sight of all Israel, and in the sight of the sun.
I don’t think God ever did this to David but it sure makes you think! First that sin usually originates in secrecy and then becomes public. Perhaps there should be a commandment that says “one should not do anything in private that one would be embarrassed about if it became public, or in other words make sure that one’s motives are as pure as one’s behavior.”
David to Nathan the prophet: I have sinned against the Lord.
Nathan the prophet to David: The Lord also hath taken away thy sin: thou shalt not die. Nevertheless, because thou hast given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, for this thing, the child, that is born to thee, shall surely die.
And David besought the Lord for the child: and David kept a fast, and going in by himself lay upon the ground.
And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died. David went into the house of the Lord: and worshiped, and then he came into his own house. And David comforted Bethsabee his wife, and went in unto her, and slept with her: and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon, and the Lord loved him… and called his name, Amiable to the Lord, because the Lord loved him
War and David; sin & God’s first parable… and now Solomon too!
Day 105: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; War and David; Sin & God’s First Parable.
Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Second Book of Kings Chapters 6-12
Bible Notes:
This Book tells of King David’s reign. By many successful wars he consolidated his kingdom and made Jerusalem his capital. His serious sins endangered the kingdom; but after he had repented, he conquered his enemies.
2 Kings Chapter 6: David takes the ark from Cariathiarim; Oza smitten for touching the ark; The ark taken to the home of Obededom; The ark is brought to Jerusalem; Michol despises David; The ark is put in the tabernacle; Michol is childless.
And David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand… to fetch the ark of God… and took it out of the house of Abinadab… David and all of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of wood, on harps and lutes and timbrels and cornets and cymbals.
Oza put forth this hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it: because the oxen kicked and made it lean aside. And the indignation of the Lord was enkindled against Oza, and he struck him for his rashness; and he died there before the ark of God.
And David was afraid of the Lord that day, saying; How shall the ark of the Lord come to me? And he would not have the ark of the Lord brought in to himself into the city of David… and the ark of the Lord abode in the house of Obededom the Gethite for three months.
David went, and brought away the ark of God out of the house of Obededom into the city of David with joy… and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle… And David and all the house of Israel brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord with joyful shouting, and with the sound of trumpet.
Michol the daughter of Saul, looking out through a window, saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.
And David returned to bless his own house…
Michol to David: How glorious was the king of Israel to day, uncovering himself before the handmaids of his servants, and was naked, as if one of the buffoons should be naked…
David to Michol: Before the Lord, who chose me rather than thy father… I will both play and make myself meaner than I have done; and I will be little in my own eyes: and with the handmaids of whom thou speakest, I shall appear more glorious.
Therefore Michol the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
2 Kings Chapter 7: Nathan, the prophet, instructs David; David not to build a house for the ark; David’s prayer and thanksgiving.
And Nathan the prophet said to the king: Go, do all that is in thy heart because the Lord is with thee.
The word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: Go, and say to my servant David:
I took thee out of the pastures from following the sheep to be ruler over my people Israel, and I have been with thee wheresoever thou hast walked, and have slain all thy enemies from before thy face: and I have made thee a great man, like unto the name of the great ones that are on earth… and I will plant thee… (you) shall be disturbed no more…neither shall the children of iniquity… I will give you rest from thy enemies… (and) the Lord will make thee a house… and when thy days shall be fulfilled and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers… I will establish his kingdom… (You David) shall build a house to my name, and I will establish the throne of your kingdom for ever. If (you) commit any iniquity, I will correct you with the rod of men, but my mercy I will not take away from you, as I took it away from Saul, who I removed from my face… And thy house shall be faithful, and thy kingdom for ever before thy face, and thy throne shall be firm for ever.”
According to all these words and according to all this vision, so did Nathan the prophet speak to David.
David went in and sat before the Lord and (offered this prayer and thanksgiving):
Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me this far? For thou knowest thy servant O Lord God… Therefore thou art magnified, O Lord God, because there is none like to thee… and what nation is there upon the earth, as thy people Israel, whom (you) God went to redeem for a people to himself… For thou has confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be an everlasting people: and thou, O Lord God, art become their God… The Lord of hosts is God over Israel. And the house of thy servant David shall be establish before (you) the Lord… that it may endure for ever before thee… and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant (David) be blessed forever.
2 Kings Chapter 8: Victories of David; David dedicates the booty to the Lord; David’s chief officers.
David took the bridle of tribute out of the hand of the Philistines… Moab was made to serve David under tribute… and David slew of the Syrians… and Syria served David under tribute… after taking Syria in the valley of the saltpits, killing eighteen thousand… all Edom was made to serve David…
The Lord preserved David in all his enterprises, whithersoever he went… and King David dedicated them (vessels of gold, silver, and brass of all nations which he had subdued) to the Lord… and the Lord preserved David in all enterprises he went about. And David reigned over all Israel and David did judgment and justice to all his people.
2 Kings Chapter 9: David’s kindness to Miphiboseth; Siba is appointed Miphiboseth’s farmer.
And David said: Is there any one, think you, left of the house of Saul, that I may show kindness to him for Jonathan’s sake?
There is a son of Jonathan left, who is lame of feet—Misphiboseth…
David to Misphiboseth: Fear not, for I will surely show thee mercy for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and I will restore the lands of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table always… Misphiboseth dwelt in Jerusalem: because he ate always of the king’s table: and he was lame of both feet.
2 Kings Chapter 10: Hanon abuses David’s ambassadors; Defeat of the Ammonites; David defeats the Syrians.
I will show kindness to Hanon the son of Nass, as his father showed kindness to me.
The princes of the children of Ammon: and hath not David rather sent his servants to thee to search, and spy into the city, and overthrow it?
Hanon took the servants of David, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut away half of their garments even to the buttocks, and sent them away.
And the children of Ammon seeing that they had done injury to David, sent and hired the Syrians… then the Syrians seeing that they had fallen before Israel, gathered themselves together… And when this was told David, he gathered all of Israel together, and passed over the Jordan… and David slew of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen… and they made peace with Israel: and served them, and all the Syrians were afraid to help the children of Ammon any more.
2 Kings Chapter 11: Joab besieges Rabba; David commits adultery with Bethsabee; Urias refuses to rest in his own house; David secures the death of Urias; David learns of the death of Urias; David encourages Joab; David marries Bethsabee.
And it came to pass at the return of the year, at the time when kings go forth to war…
David saw from the roof of his house a woman washing herself, over against him: and the woman was very beautiful… that she was Bethsabee… the wife of Urias the Hethite… and David sent messengers, and took her, and she came in to him, and he slept with her… and she returned to her house having conceived.
David to Joan: Set ye Urias in the front of the battle, where the fight is strongest: and leave ye him, that he may be wounded and die… and Urias the Hethite was killed… and Bethsabee mourned for him. And the mourning being over. David sent and brought her into his house, and she became his wife, and she bore him a son…
And this thing which David had done, was displeasing to the Lord.
2 Kings Chapter 12: Nathan’s parable of the ewe lamb; Nathan accuses David; David admits his crime; The child dies; Birth of Solomon; David recaptures Rabbath.
A parable from God:
There are two men in one city, the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many sheep and oxen. But the poor man had nothing at all but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up, and which had grown up in his house together with his children, eating of his bread, and drinking of his cup, and sleeping in his bosom: and it was unto him as a daughter.
And when a certain stranger was come to the rich man, he spared to take of his own sheep and oxen, to make a feast for that stranger, who was come to him, but took the poor man’s ewe, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this is a child of death. He shall restore the ewe fourfold, because he did this thing, and had no pity.
And Nathan said to David: Thou art the man.
Thus said the Lord God of Israel (to David):
Why therefore hast thou despised the word of the Lord, to do evil in my sight?
Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thy house, and I will take thy wives before thy eyes and give them to thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in sight of the sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing in the sight of all Israel, and in the sight of the sun.
David to Nathan the prophet: I have sinned against the Lord.
Nathan the prophet to David: The Lord also hath taken away thy sin: thou shalt not die. Nevertheless, because thou hast given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, for this thing, the child, that is born to thee, shall surely die.
And David besought the Lord for the child: and David kept a fast, and going in by himself lay upon the ground.
And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died. David went into the house of the Lord: and worshiped, and then he came into his own house. And David comforted Bethsabee his wife, and went in unto her, and slept with her: and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon, and the Lord loved him… and called his name, Amiable to the Lord, because the Lord loved him
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