The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 8:13,
"David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt."
In this chapter we read of David's military conquests. Twice in the midst of recounting some of his exploits we are told "The Lord gave David victory wherever he went." Verses 6 and 14.
We read:
David defeated the Philistines.
David defeated the Moabites. He put to death 2/3 of them.
David defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah. He captured a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers.
David defeated the Arameans of Damascus, killing twenty-two thousand of them.
He defeated Edom, the Ammonites and Amalek. We are told he killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
David brought quite a slaughter to the area. And, we are told that it was the Lord himself that brought all the victories. Perhaps this is why we hear from time to time that the god of the Old Testament was an angry God but the god of the New Testament is a God of love.
If we were to look at 2 Samuel 8 versus John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son...") I can see how that dichotomy might exist in the minds of some people who are not well informed of all the Scriptures..
However, lets take a look at "the God of the New Testament":
"By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly... the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare." 2 Peter 3:7,10.
"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Revelation 21:8.
And, a second look at "the God of the Old Testament":
"The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin." Exodus 34:6-7a.
"How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light." Psalm 36:7-9.
You get the thought here. God never, ever changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Our God is God alone and has always communicated his character and nature, his qualities throughout all history. As he says of himself, "Let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight." Jeremiah 9:24.
"David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt."
In this chapter we read of David's military conquests. Twice in the midst of recounting some of his exploits we are told "The Lord gave David victory wherever he went." Verses 6 and 14.
We read:
David defeated the Philistines.
David defeated the Moabites. He put to death 2/3 of them.
David defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah. He captured a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers.
David defeated the Arameans of Damascus, killing twenty-two thousand of them.
He defeated Edom, the Ammonites and Amalek. We are told he killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
David brought quite a slaughter to the area. And, we are told that it was the Lord himself that brought all the victories. Perhaps this is why we hear from time to time that the god of the Old Testament was an angry God but the god of the New Testament is a God of love.
If we were to look at 2 Samuel 8 versus John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son...") I can see how that dichotomy might exist in the minds of some people who are not well informed of all the Scriptures..
However, lets take a look at "the God of the New Testament":
"By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly... the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare." 2 Peter 3:7,10.
"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Revelation 21:8.
And, a second look at "the God of the Old Testament":
"The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin." Exodus 34:6-7a.
"How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light." Psalm 36:7-9.
You get the thought here. God never, ever changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Our God is God alone and has always communicated his character and nature, his qualities throughout all history. As he says of himself, "Let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight." Jeremiah 9:24.
Our God does not express himself as only a god of judgment, an angry god, in the Old Testament, only to loose his anger and replace it with love in the New. Our God is both a god of righteous anger and incomprehensible love in both the Old and New Testaments. He has always expressed himself consistently for who he is and what he is like throughout all history.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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