Snow in late March in Great Fall, VA

2 Samuel 10

I’ve read this chapter a couple of times and I’m not sure I really get the main point or the reason God included it in his Bible. How’s that for an intro?  While going through OT books, this happens to me sometimes. It’s a story of David, his armies and the neighboring countries. One of the neighboring kings had shown kindness to David during the days that David was being hunted by Saul. The king dies, and David seeks to show kindness to the king’s son. But the king’s son doesn’t trust David and ends up instead going to battle against David and enlists other neighboring armies to join him against Israel. Bad move. David leads his army in an extremely one-side victory and the survivors end up surrendering and becoming servants to Israel.

Why?

Why is this story highlighted in the Bible at this time? There is the obvious lesson of ‘don’t be stupid and pick a fight with someone who is trying to be nice to you.’ Maybe we are to see a similarity between how Jesus came to his own (the Israelites) in kindness and grace and they spat in His face and crucified Him?

To fight or not to fight?

Now, the only purpose for this chapter that I can determine is to set context, more specifically, contrast to the first verse of the next chapter. David is fully engaged in the advancement of Israel and their reputation as the chosen nation of God, bearing witness to their neighbors that Yahweh God is the true God of all. David is doing his part to fulfill the immediate realization of the Davidic covenant and is active in the battle.  Then comes this contrasting message in 11:1. It says, “Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. BUT DAVID STAYED AT JERUSALEM.” Personally, in the Spring, I like to get outside, play more golf, go hiking and enjoy the beautiful weather. But at this time, Kings were supposed to go to battle. My how times have changed.  Anyway, David is on the sidelines. He is not in the battle where he should’ve been. He is taking early retirement from his mission for God. David is inactive and because Joab and the others are gone, David is without healthy accountability for his actions. The leader is not leading. The warrior is not fighting. The man of God is idle without accountability. David has set himself up for disaster. More on this next time. Lord, I am sometimes selfish and lazy in my service to You. My time is short. Help me to be more faithful and more diligent. May I be busy in the work of the Lord and always close to people that keep me accountable. Amen!