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2 Samuel 10:19  And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them.  So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.

This is a very interesting verse in Salvation History.  It is the concluding verse in a chapter that began with King David wanting to establish a peaceful and friendly relationship with Hanun, King of the Ammonites after Nahash, Hanun’s father, died, since Nahash and David had managed to maintain a peaceful treaty of mutual ‘loyalty’ with each other (verses 1-2).

Sadly. Hanun’s military advisors were suspicious of David’s honourable intentions, and, calling in support from surrounding nations, went to war against Israel, and lost.  Hadedezer was king of Zobah, a powerful Syrian kingdom, so this established David’s rule over the whole area once again!  Things were looking good for God’s promises to Abraham (Genesis 12, 15) and David (2 Samuel 7), and the promises yet to be made to Solomon (1 Kings 9) – promises that were being helped along by David’s benevolent, godly actions.

But then comes the interesting twist in Salvation History.  The very next chapter (11) exposes what is probably David’s greatest sins – his covetting his neighbour’s wife, Bathsheba (Commandment No. 10), his committing of adultery with Bathsheba (Commandment No. 7), his blatant deception in trying to cover up his sin (Commandment No. 9), and his cold-blooded murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite (Commandment No. 6).  And yet all this resulted in the birth of Solomon who would become noted, and remembered mostly, for his wisdom!

All this impresses three things upon me: firstly, our efforts to be peacemakers can be grossly misinterpreted in a sinful world, and I need to be prepared for this; secondly, seasons of (spiritual) ‘victory’ in our fight for truth leave us more vulnerable to Satan’s powerful attacks and at such times we need to be particularly on our guard against this; and thirdly, whatever might be the course and outcome of our efforts in the battle for truth in a fallen world, God is, and always remains, sovereign in human affairs and the progress of his eternal Plan of Salvation cannot be ultimately thwarted, Christ’s Kingdom will come, and all his elect for whom he has suffered and died will be justified, sanctified and glorified, their names having been “written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” (Revelation 13:8, 17:8)

“A debtor to mercy alone, of covenant mercy I sing; nor fear, with your righteousness on my person and offering to bring. … The work which his goodness began, the arm of his strength will complete; his promise is ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’, and never was forfeited yet.  Things future, nor things that are now, not all things below nor above can make him his purpose forego, or sever my soul from his love.  My name from the palms of his hands eternity will not erase; impressed on his heart it remains in marks of indelible grace.  Yes, I to the end shall endure, as sure as the promise is given; more happy, but not more secure, the glorified spirits in heaven.”  (Augustus Montague Toplady)

– Bruce Christian