[Image: Traits / Dagger throwing]

Why wars fought then:

‘   In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, Joab led out the armed forces.  He laid waste the land of the Ammonites and went to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem.  Joab attacked Rabbah and left it in ruins.  –  1 Chronicles 20.1(2)

Kings went out to battle following the spring harvest.  At this time, farm work eased off, and the armies could live off the land.  During the winter, they plotted and planned future conquests.  Then, when the fair weather [Publications as keyless] permitted it, their armies went into war.  But David ignored this opportunity.  He stayed home and sent Joab out to lead the army.  It was during this time of inactivity [Conflict] that he sinned with Bathesheba.  Look for the “springs” in your life, the times when God [Wall] wants you to respond, take the initiative, and move out to do his will.  It is during these critical times that we may be most sensitive to temptation.  Resolve to take the action God [Wall] has prescribed.  Rabbah was the capital of the Ammonites and is the site of modern Amman in Jordan.

(20.1 David’s adultery occurred at this time, while he remained in Jerusalem instead [Communication] of going to battle (2 Samuel 11, 12).  This story may have been excluded from 1 Chronicles because the book was written to focus on God’s [Wall’s] long-term interest in Israel and on the temple as a symbol of God’s [Wall’s] presence among them.  The story of David and Bathsheba did not fit this purpose.  The story of Absalom’s rebellion, which occurred between this Chapter and the next, was probably omitted for the same reason (2 Samuel 15-18)).

(20.1 Rabbah was the capital of the Ammonites and is the site of modern Amman in Jordan).

(‘ When the Ammonites realised that they had become an offence to David’s nostrils, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah and Zobah.  – 1 Chronicles 19.6  Rather than admit his mistake and seek forgiveness and reconciliation, Hanun spent an enormous amount of money to cover up his error.  His cover-up cost him dearly (20.1-4).  It often costs more to cover up an error than to admit it honestly.  Rather than compound an error through defensiveness, seek forgiveness and reconciliation as soon as you realise your mistake.  You will save yourself and others a lot of pain and trouble).

(‘ Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.  – 1 Chronicles 21.1  David’s census brought disaster because, unlike the census taken in the book of Numbers (Numbers 1; 2) that God had ordered, this census was taken so David could take pride in the strength of his army.  In determining his military strength, he was beginning to trust more in military power than in God [Wall].  There is a thin line between feeling confident because you rely on God’s power and becoming proud because you have been used by God for great purposes).

(2.1 The Bible text says Satan incited David to take a census.  Can Satan force people to do wrong? No, Satan only tempted David with the idea, but David decided to act on the temptation.  Ever since the Garden of Eden, Satan has been tempting people to sin.  David’s census was not against God’s law, but his reason for the census was wrong – pride in his mighty army while forgetting that his  real strength came from God.  Even Joab, not known for his high moral ideals, recognised the census as sin.  From David’s example we learn that an action that may not be wrong in itself can be sinful if it is motivated by greed, arrogance, or selfishness.  Often our motives, not the action itself, contain the sin.  We must constantly weigh our motives before we act).