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DAVID FACED THE MOABITES
MONDAY, JULY 27
2 Samuel 8

Ruth 1:1-5

 

“And they came into
the country of Moab,

and continued there.”

 

DAVID FACED THE MOABITES
 
The existence of any nation depended mainly on their military strength. David knew this and he was skilled in building up an army. The next potential enemy to the east of Israel across the Jordan was Moab. This nation also had a long history in her relationship with Israel. She was another nation that fought with Israel from the time of Moses and Joshua. They were descendants of Lot. It became a great nation and was governed by kings.
 
There were times of peace, and there were also times of conflict. David knew the potential dangers the enemy posed. They were aggressive, and the king of Israel was familiar with them. He had to remove any danger from the east as the Moabites did not give up easily. This is a brief report about David’s conquest: “And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts” (2 Sam 8:2). The demarcation of the boundary defined the extent of David’s power. This was a story that happened three thousand years ago. God did, and still does, marvellous things.
 
More about Moab is told: It was a nation governed by strong kings, and was a nation to reckon with even in the time of Exodus. They refused to let Israel pass through their land (Judg 11:17-18). They also joined Midian to curse Israel (Num 22:4). They had other interactions with Israel at that time. The story of Ruth shows that there were good relations with Israel then, and Naomi and family took refuge there. David’s parents were welcomed there when David was fighting with Saul. All these gave David knowledge of Moab. When he had to face them, he knew their strengths and weaknesses. God’s hand was behind all these.
 
THOUGHT: God can use diplomacy and wars to fulfil His purposes.
PRAYER: Father, may Thou bring about Thy peace even when there is war.

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