The most often question that I receive as an Old Testament
Professor is –
“Why is it ok for God to command Genocide, but it is wrong
now a day?”
My answer is one that always surprises the questioner. –
“God never wages war on people: He wages war on Sin. He also never kills
peoples off; he does often rid of cities, or certain peoples.”
Israel had a sin problem. During the time of the Judges the
Israelites were falling in love with the sins of their neighbors. Their sin
culminated in desiring an earthly king. With the change of leadership, David
was anointed and chosen to lead in riding the nation of Israel of sin thus
bringing peace.
List of David's enemies:
·
Goliath
(Philistines (Part 1)) (1 Samuel 17)
·
Philistines
(Part 2) (1 Samuel 23:1-5)
·
Geshurites,
Girzites, Amalekites (Part 1) (1 Samuel 27)
·
Amalekites
(Part 2) (1 Samuel 30)
·
Benjaminites
(Part 1) (Civil War) (2 Samuel 2-4)
·
Jebusites
(Jerusalem) (2 Samuel 5:6-10)
·
Philistines
(Part 3) (2 Samuel 5:17-20)
·
Philistines
(Part 4) (2 Samuel 5:22-25)
·
Ammonites
(Part 1) & Arameans (2 Samuel 10)
·
Ammonites
(Part 2) (2 Samuel 11-12)
THEN came A Lady: - Bathsheba (bat-daughter, sheba-promise)
Daughter of promise
What implication
does this have on our lives? David was so concerned with national sin he didn’t protect
himself from private sin. Don’t get me wrong, I am a patriot, I love the U.S.A.
I however am very concerned for my friends that are only concerned with the
newest national level sin. (Legalization of Homosexual marriage, legalization
of drugs …etc)
The second and more
startling level in David’s war against sin was acceptance of it: In 2 Sam.19,
David forgives the attacking sinful enemies, which the Lord commanded him to
destroy. In essence he took their sin, permitted it and accepted that it was
ok. What implication does this have on our lives? When we forget to
fight sin, and “get in bed with it” we can’t help but approve and accept the
sin of those who surround us, those in our ministries, those we should be
helping set free.
Even with all the
concern for national sin, our churches are showing the highest rate of admitted
sin in years…
Our men’s group
within our Small group is going through this book. I highly recommend it, and
hope that you may find it a book to discuss with others.
