DAVID RESIDES IN JERUSALEM In the previous chapter we saw how the Ammonites and their allies were defeated in war before David; Here we see how their capital city, Rabbah was devastated (1); how great affliction dwelt upon their people and cities (3); and how David placed the crown of their king over his head (2). We have those events in more detail in (2 Samuel 11-12) David set forth to the battle field to consummate his final conquest: 1- While Saul, who trusted in his physical stature and his military might, found no one to rescue him from the mighty Goliath except the young man David; David, on the other hand, with the purity of his heart; and with his falls, presented tears of repentance; for which God granted him the grace of being surrounded by a multitude of mighty men of valor; and granted him continuous conquests 2- Putting the crown of the king of the Ammonites over his head, he found it heavy; and perceived that the enjoyment of conquest, the extension of the kingdom, and the increase of authority, are all a heavy burden to bear, unless he has the divine help and support. 3- Although David had no giants like the Philistines; yet the high spiritual stature of his men was far better than the size of the body stature. It is befitting of us, therefore to care for the growth of our spiritual stature and our eternal salvation, more than our care for those vain temporal things like body building. 1- David resides in Jerusalem 1 2- David defeats the Ammonites 2 - 3 3- David defeats the Philistines 4 – 8 1- DAVID RESIDES IN JERUSALEM: “And it happened in the spring of the year, at the time kings go out to battle, that Joab led out the armed forces and ravaged the country of the people of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem . And Joab defeated Rabbah and overthrew it” (1) By saying: “in the spring of the year”, he means by the advent of the spring season, when the kings set forth to execute their plans for the future wars, when the weather is mild. It may look here that Joab was the aggressive party, (which he might has been); But we should remember that David gave kindness to the young king of Ammon, who insulted his messengers, and instead of apologizing, he initiated a war against him. What happened here was a continuation of that war. David sent Joab against ‘Rabbah’ (Amman nowadays); while he stayed in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 12: 1). The siege continued two years; during which the unfortunate episode of David falling into the sin of adultery, planning to have Uriah the Hittite killed, and marrying his wife Bathshebah (2 Samuel 11-12). That sin was not mentioned here; and we know why; For, having presented a true repentance with tears, God remembered it no more; although He allowed for chastising him, to let him and us feel the bitterness of the sin. However much evil we may have reached, God anticipates our repentance and the confession of our sins, to forgive us for the sake of His Holy Name, and His exalted love; confirming to us: “I, even I, am who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted” (Isaiah 43: 24-25) + We should be aware and never cease to remember our sins; and to keep this as our way in life, to make the divine Just Judge forget our transgressions. Hence David says in his supplication: “Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities” (Psalm 51: 9); “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sins are ever before me” (Psalm 51: 3). It is as though he says to God: [I pray, Do not look at my transgressions, for they are perpetually before my sight]. And that is why the Lord says on the tongue of the prophet: “I, even I, am who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43: 25). (Father Gregory the Great) + When you are preoccupied with a certain sin, Start by accusing yourself (See Proverb 18: 17), and do not wait until others accuse you; By that you will be like a righteous man who starts by accusing himself the first time he appears before the court; Or you will be like the righteous ‘Job” who did not hesitate to proclaim his sin before a crowd in the city. (St. Basil the Great) + It is well and good to ask God to “Hide His face from your sins”, if you, yourself, put them before you; but if you cast them behind your back, God will set His sight on them. Put your sin before your face, if you wish God to turn His away from it; Then, you will safely seek, and He will listen. + If you defend yourself, you will lose your case… Your defense will not be for your own benefit, It would be more befitting of you to accuse yourself. Never say:[ I did nothing wrong; or nothing serious; or everyone does it] … For if you so say, you yourself will be nothing, and will have nothing from God. … God is ever ready to give; So do not lock your door, but open it up by confession, Then you “will me hear joy and gladness” (Psalm 51: 8). + God revealed all those issues to His servant David; …. Once he said “I have sinned against the Lord”, he heard the prophet Nathan, namely, he heard the Spirit of God in the prophet, say: “The Lord also has put away your sin” (2 Samuel 12: 13). (St. Augustine) + Whoever perpetually remembers his sin, would be ashamed; and by feeling shame, he would feel remorseful; and feeling remorseful he will be careful not to fall again; and by being careful he will be forgiven by God. Whoever accuses himself, and acknowledges his transgression, his sin will be blotted away; For God says: “I, even I, am who blot out your transgression for My own sake; and will not remember your sins; Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted” (Isaiah 43; 25-26) (Father Onesimus, bishop of Jerusalem) It is to be noticed that the author of the book only hinted to that sad episode between the lines. By saying: “David stayed in Jerusalem”, he most probably means:[ I wish he was among his troops at war, for then he would be away from temptation; but feeling comfortable in Jerusalem,, he fell into sin. Mentioning the sin committed by David in the Holy Book, is an evidence of the faithfulness and impartiality of the authors of the books. And not mentioning its details here again, in the book of the Chronicles, is to teach us that, even though the chance is there to talk about the shortcomings and faults of others, we should not feel happy about repeating the talk about them, if there is nothing more good to say. 2- DAVID DEFEATS THE AMMONITES: “Then David took their king’s crown from his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it. And it was set on David’s head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance” (2) After Joab managed to strike the Ammonites, David came to the battle field to realize the ultimate conquest. He took their king’s crown from his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, namely, about 75 ½ pounds, which was very heavy to put on the head. Anyway all crowns are heavy, on account of that the responsibilities of the leader of any nation is not an easy task. “And he brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work with sows, with iron picks, and with axes. So David did to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned toJerusalem” (3) 2- DAVID DEFEATS THE PHILISTINES: “Now it happened afterward that war broke out at Gezer with the Philistines, at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Sippai who was one of the sons of the giant. And they were subdued” (4) Three of David’s mighty men of valor were killed by the enemies. Although the episode of Absalom’s rebellion against his father David came in (2 Samuel 13: 1-21: 7), occupying about one third of the second book of Samuel; yet it was not mentioned in the first book of the Chronicles; For the goal of the books of the Chronicles is not to parade the complete events of history, but to bind between history and worship. The pagan Philistines were almost utterly destroyed with their cities (18: 1); But like what happened when Joshua destroyed the Canaanites. when the ‘Anakim’ were the last to be cut off (Joshua 11: 21); here as well, in the conquest over the Philistines, the giants of ‘Gath’ were the last to be subdued…. In the controversy between grace and corruption, there would be some sins deeply rooted like those giants, who could only be ultimately subdued after a long strife. “Again there was war with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam” (5) We never hear of any giants among the Israelites; like those of the Philitines in Gath. For the growth in the children of the living God is in the spiritual stature , and not in the physical one. Those who care to add some centimeters to their stature, do not perceive that it would be of no benefit whatsoever; for in the balance of holiness, David surpassed Goliath. “Yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, with twenty-four fingers and toes, six on each hand and six on each foot, and he also was born to the giant” (6) Although David’s men were of regular stature; yet, by the help of God who supported them, they were stronger than the giants of Gath. God finds pleasure in bringing down the haughtiness of the giants of the earth; like he did in the old when He covered the haughty by the great flood. The children of the church should not be alarmed nor disturbed by the power and the haughtiness of the enemy; for if God is with us, who will be against us? What will the huge stature, an extra finger in the hand or an extra toe in the foot do, concerning the overall might? “So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother killed him” (7) Those giants who defied Israel (7); paid the price of their arrogance, and saw their destruction by their own eyes. God will never allow the enemy to claim: “Our hand is high”. The conquests of the Son of David are gradual, the same like those of David himself. “we do not yet see all things put under Him” (Hebrew 2: 8)”; but we shall eventually do. Death itself, like the giants, will ultimately be overcome. “These were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the and of his servants” (8) -------------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM 1 CHRONICLES 20 BY YOU, O LORD, I SHALL GO TO THE BATTLE FIELD + In the season of wars, David came out to realize the ultimate conquest by You; He set forth to the battle, armed by You; And not by His mighty men of valor, nor his military plans and possibilities; If the enemy keeps on oppressing me; You are my Weapon, Leader, and Grantor of conquest. My sins corrupt my life; But, confessing them to You, seeking healing; You will forgive them by Your precious blood and Your love, and You will remember them no more. + With every conquest, I offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise. And seek an additional help; For the enemy will never cease nor despair; And with every conquest by me, he will kindle more violent wars; Yet, what could that evil one do; As long as I hide in You, and enjoy Your divine presence. + Many are the tricks and deceptions of the devil; And many are his evil hosts who exult to see us fall; He foolishly fight against the believers; But he fights against You personally, to destroy himself; Whenever he sets a net to catch me, he himself falls into it; And whenever he assumes that he has wiped Your name from my heart and mind; You transfigure more inside me; And proclaim the splendor and greatness of Your kingdom; Glory be to You, O amazing in Your guidance, care, and love.
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