Sunday, June 17th, 2012
I Chronicles 18 (2 Sam 8; Josh 1:6-9; Dt 6:1-12; 7:7-16; Ps 146:5-9; Prv 2:1-15; Mt 6:25-34)
“Worship Inertia”
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Bible Memory Verse for the Week: If you do whatever I command you and walk in my ways and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David . . .1 Kings 11:38
Background Information:
- There were two high priests at this time, Zadok and Abiathar, also known as Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar. Abiathar was the only one to survive Saul’s senseless massacre of priests at Nob (1 Samuel 22:11-20). He would later be removed from office by Solomon in keeping with what God had said to Eli years earlier (1 Samuel 2:30-32). (John R. Mittelstaedt, The People’s Bible–Samuel, 217)
The question to be answered is . . . What is the Chronicler attempting to demonstrate in 1 Chronicles 18 by giving us all these boring details about David’s military successes, administrative skills, judicial equity and economic boons?
Answer: The Chronicler is attempting to get his post-exilic audience (as well as us) to realize that the Lord God desires for us to live in shalom and with real worship inertia that is based on Spirit and Truth as David was able to accomplish. But, this can never happen if we continually push God away and shun His commands and precepts.
The Word for the Day is . . . inertia
Inertia = The inclination to remain at rest or to remain in motion unless acted upon by an outside force.
What does the Chronicler hope to achieve by relaying this information about David’s conquests in chapter 18?
I. David enjoys military inertia on every front (1 Chr 18:1-6, 12-13 & 2 Sam 8:1-7)
That David is not blamed for being a man of war is clear from the comment that appears twice in chapter 18: “And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went” (vv. 6, 13). Indeed David’s warlike exploits, paradoxically, contribute to the final success of the Temple project, since the booty acquired in them is used in the beautification of the building (v. 8; cf. 2 Chr 5:1). (J. G. McConville, The Daily Study Bible Series, 1 & 2 Chr, 63)
The Moabites had been entrusted with David’s parents, who resided in Moab under the protection of the king during the period of danger from Saul (1. Sm 22:3-4), and David was related to Moab through Ruth the Moabitess (Ru 4:17). Here, however, David deals ruthlessly with his defeated enemy, putting to death two thirds of those lined up in rows on the ground, so severely reducing the power of the Moabite army, and subjugating Moab as a vassal state. The regular payment of tribute indicated ongoing subservience. What caused David to treat Moab with such severity is not known. (Joyce G. Baldwin, 1 & 2 Samuel–An Introduction & Commentary, 220)
The large number of Edomites put to death implies an attempt to invade Israel from the south, and so preserve their monopoly on trade routes through the desert to the Red Sea port of Ezion Geber. On this occasion they were crippled by heavy losses, and forced to submit. (Joyce G. Baldwin, 1 & 2 Samuel–An Introduction & Commentary, 223)
In a systematic plan of battle, David delivered the fatal blow to Israel’s enemies: the Philistines (1 Chron. 18:1), the Moabites (18:2), the Arameans (18:3-11), the Edomites (18:12-13), and the Ammonites (19:1-20:3). In chapter 19, David’s wars are not viewed as wars of aggression, for it was necessary that he defend himself against humiliating acts of aggression by his enemies against him (19:7). (John Sailhamer, Everyman’s Bible Commentary–First & Second Chronicles, 51)
Some are quick to take offense at the scenes of warfare depicted in the OT. They are particularly troubled with the thought of the God of heaven sending his people out to win victories for his kingdom on bloody battlefields. We must remember that, even in the Old Testament times, Israel’s struggles with the surrounding nations were not only battles “against flesh and blood,…but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph 6:12). Through these nations–the kingdoms of this world–the devil bared his fangs in mindless rage against the kingdom of God. When he was not mounting a frontal assault through military confrontation, he was attempting to seduce Israel into forbidden alliances with the worldly nations and the worship of their false gods that inevitably followed. (Paul O. Wendland, The People’s Bible–1 Chronicles, 201-202)
In his first bout with them David had repelled their attacks and defeated their attempts to remove him from the throne. In this account we see David on the offensive, defeating Philistia in her own homeland and even capturing Gath, one of her five major cities. Even though the Philistines remained to trouble Israelites of future generations, never again would they pose the kind of serious threat to God’s people that they had in the past. (Paul O. Wendland, The People’s Bible–1 Chronicles, 202)
The scriptural record is clear enough that throughout the time of Joshua and the Judges Israel had remained faithful to God’s command to leave her relatives alone in the lands God had provided for them. But though Israel was willing to live in peace, Moab, Ammon, and Edom were not. They became enemies of the sort described by David in Ps 35, hating without reason (Ps 35:19, see also Jn 15:25). In raising up David, the warrior king, God was now pronouncing his judgment on that unreasoning enmity. (Paul O. Wendland, The People’s Bible–1 Chronicles, 203-04)
By this whole account, the Chronicler wished to remind his people that “friendship with the world is hatred toward God” (James 4:4). No agreement was possible with the nations of Edom, Moab, and Ammon, who were still present to trouble the Jews who had returned from exile. (Paul O. Wendland, The People’s Bible–1 Chronicles, 204)
It is with no little irony that the Chronicler points out that the one who claimed Hadad as his help was forced to seek the help of his brothers from Damascus (verse 5). But their help was of no use against the one whose help “[came] from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 121:2). “The LORD gave David victory everywhere he went” (v. 6). It was an expression of his confidence in the Lord that David felt no particular need to hang on to the horses and chariots he had captured from Hadadezer. Even though they represented the high-tech weaponry of his day, he kept but a fraction of them and destroyed the rest, so they could no longer be used against Israel (v. 4). (Paul O. Wendland, The People’s Bible–1 Chronicles, 205)
A quick inventory of David’s conquered territory reveals that God’s promise to Abraham centuries before (Gn 15:18) had been fulfilled: Abraham’s descendants now occupied all the land from the Euphrates River in the north to the river of Egypt in the south. To the west, all the Philistine land was under Israelite domination, while to the east, on the other side of the Jordan River, the Moabites had been subjugated. (David R. Shepherd, Shepherd’s Notes–I, II Chronicles, 35)
Chapter 18 reviews a series of victories on Israel’s every side: the Philistines to the west, Moab to the east, the Aramean states of Zobah and Damascus to the north, and Edom to the south. Moreover, an alliance is granted to Hamath in the far north. There is an interest in the spoils which David took and the tribute he received. David “dedicated these to the Lord” (18:11) in personal acknowledgment that, as the theological refrain affirms, God has given the victory. (Leslie Allen, Mastering the Old Testament–1, 2 Chronicles, 133)
This catalogue of David’s victories encouraged the Chronicler’s readers as they faced military dangers in their day. The prophets had promised great victories for the post-exilic community (see Isa 11:11-16; 49:14-26; 54:1-3; Jer 30:10-11; Amos 9:11-12). David’s successes demonstrated that they could defeat their enemies with the help of the Lord (see Introduction: 23) Victory and Defeat). (Richard L. Pratt, 1 and 2 Chronicles–A Mentor Commentary, 158)
By the Chronicler’s day, Edom had come to be a hated enemy of Israel deserving severe punishment. In fact, Amos specifically named Edom as an enemy over whom the post-exilic community would have victory (see Amos 9:11-12). As a result, when the Chronicler reported that all the Edomites became subject to David (18:13b), he inspired his readers to hope for their own eventual victory over this archenemy. (Richard L. Pratt, 1 and 2 Chronicles–A Mentor Commentary, 159)
The recounting of David’s campaigns are included primarily for the purpose of explaining why David is prohibited from building Yahweh’s temple: David is a warrior who has “shed much blood” (22:8; 28:3). According to Deuteronomy, God would choose a dwelling place for his name once the Israelites had “rest” from their enemies (Deut. 12:10; 25:19). That rest has not yet occurred. (Andrew E. Hill, The NIV Application Commentary–1 & 2 Chronicles, 257)
In the annals of Shalmaneser III of Assyria relating to his third year, he reports that his father, Ashur-Rabi II (a contemporary of David), had significant trouble from an Aramaean king who was trying to expand into Assyrian territory. The name of the king is not mentioned, but it is most likely Hadadezer of Zobah. It was inevitable, then, that two states with expansionist policies, such as Israel and Zobah, would clash sooner or later. The incident recorded here in verses 3-10 comes temporally after chapters 19-20 and recounts the final defeat of Hadadezer. (John H. Walton, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary–Volume 3, 264)
II. David enjoys economic prosperity and inertia (1 Chr 18:7-8 & 2 Sam 8:7-8, 11-12)
And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went: the expansion of Israel’s influence impressed David’s contemporaries as nothing short of miraculous, even taking into account his great gifts as a leader and strategist. The spoil from these wars was also impressive: shields of gold, which had belonged to the Syrian officers, provided the nucleus of a collection which was to be greatly expanded by Solomon (1 Kgs 10:17), and depleted by Shishak king of Egypt in Rehoboam’s reign (1 Kgs 14:26; but cf. 2 Kgs 11:10). In the time of David, however, such a collection would be a new source of pride and prestige, and David characteristically dedicated his booty to the house of the Lord (2 Kgs 11:10). (Joyce G. Baldwin, 1 & 2 Samuel–An Introduction & Commentary, 221)
The Chronicler was, therefore, pleased to include these chapters as illustrating the economic prosperity which would have been needed for the temple building, and which David was able to bequeath to his son. (H.G.M. Williamson, The New Century Bible Commentary–1 and 2 Chronicles, 138)
David’s control over Damascus gave him control over crucial trade routes east, west, and south. The significance of Damascus as a trade center is well known. In Babylonian times it was “the donkey city,” a reference to the caravans that passed through it from all over the Near East, carrying silks, perfumes, carpets, and foods. The annexing of Damascus meant also that David controlled the whole “King’s Highway,” the important trade route from Arabia to Damascus via Edom, Moab, and Ammon. (John H. Walton, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary–Volume 3, 265)
III. David enjoys political clout and administrative inertia (1 Chr 18:9-10 & 2 Sm 8:9-10, 14)
Sending such a high-ranking person as Tou’s son Hadoram to David displays at least two things. First, it shows the gratitude that Tou feels toward David for ridding him of a problem on his southern border. Second, it signals the commencement of diplomatic relations between the two states. (John H. Walton, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary–Volume 3, 266)
The building of garrisons in conquered territories was an important part of empire building. Peace in such territories always hung by a thread, and disruption and disenfranchisement could arise at any time. A military presence in the region was essential to maintain control. In addition, a regular line of garrisons meant that supplies of food, personnel, and arms could be stored and lines of communication could be kept open. There was also a base from which tribute could be collected. (John H. Walton, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary–Volume 3, 267)
IV. The inertia of David’s success and God-fearing policies created an environment conducive to social, economic, educational, and religious advancements. (1 Chr 18:14-17 & 2 Sm 8:14)
It is probably not too far from the facts of the case here to see the Chronicler making an oblique reference to the prophecy found in Isaiah 60, in which the prophet sees the wealth of the nations flowing into Zion. In this, too, David prefigured the Ideal King and Kingdom to come. (Paul O. Wendland, The People’s Bible–1 Chronicles, 206)
After summarizing David’s conquests, the Chronicler characterizes David’s entire reign as just and righteous. David was not a perfect king–but he was a forgiven king. God chose to regard David’s life through the prism of his pardoning grace. The love of God had also produced such good fruit in David that he was able to serve as an example of what a “man after God’s own heart” will do as a king. (Paul O. Wendland, The People’s Bible–1 Chronicles, 207)
While it is true that Chronicles will use David’s wars to disqualify him from building the temple, the retention of the account of David’s victories over the Philistines, Moab, Aram, Ammon, and Edom (cf. v. 11), together with the positive view of David stated and implied in v. 13 (“Yahweh gave David victory wherever he went”) and v. 14 (“David ruled as king over all Israel and executed justice and righteousness for all his people”), indicates that the primary thrust of this chapter is to portray the victory and success which David continued to enjoy by Yahweh’s blessing. At the same time, emphasis is heightened that the plunder from his wars will benefit the temple to be built by Solomon. (Roddy Braun, Word Biblical Commentary–1 Chronicles, 205)
Doing what is “just and right” becomes the standard by which later kings are measured (cf. Jer. 22:15) and the model for future Davidic kingship (cf. Jer. 23:5). (Andrew E. Hill, The NIV Application Commentary–1 & 2 Chronicles, 260)
CONCLUSION/APPLICATION: What does this passage have to do with Christ and me?
A- The inertia of Christ’s success and God-fearing teachings creates an environment conducive to social, economic, educational, and religious advancements. (Gn 12:2; Dt 4:40; 6:3, 18; 12:28; 28:1-14; Josh 1:5; 1 Kgs 11:38; Jer 7:23; 3 Jn 1:2 )
B- To ignore Christ’s success and God-fearing teachings can halt an environment conducive to social, economic, educational, and religious advancements in as short as a matter of hours. (Lv 26:14-35; Dt 28:15-68; Josh 23:12-13; 1 Kgs 9:6-9; 1 Chr 28:9; 2 Chr 7:19-22; 15:2)
John Wesley: . . . “each revival has built within it the seeds of its own destruction, because as Christians put into practice the virtues of hard work and thrift, they prosper, and as they prosper they see less a need of God, and they see less a need of God they turn away from the very principles that led to their prosperity and the whole cycle must repeat itself.”
Worship Point: When we spend time in worship that is based in Spirit and in Truth we will, over time, create a worship inertia in which God’s presence and activity actually become more a part of our life, more effective and more meaningful.
Spiritual Challenge: I would like to encourage you to endeavor to see every minute of every day and every situation and every thought as an opportunity to worship the God of the Universe. Love the Lord God with ALL your heart, with ALL your mind and with ALL your strength.
In Psalm 60 David gives credit for all these victories where the credit is due. He was not like other ancient conquerors who used up tons of marble to etch in stone their own marvelous achievements. With David, it is soli deo gloria, to God alone be glory! (Paul O. Wendland, The People’s Bible–1 Chronicles, 206)
If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier. -John Wooden
Christ:
Shalom Inertia
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