Whether or not you think New Zealand needs to get back, or is being led back, on track, I think most of us agree that New Zealand is stuck in a bit of a rut right now. The economy is not great, cost of living high, nothing can get built or maintained and so starts erupting like a geyser, crime seems to be on a spike, and the culture is in decline. It makes you yearn for something better.
Something like God’s Kingdom. Where Christ rules with justice and equity. Maybe even a little slice of it in the here and now. I do not know if that is ever really possible on this side of Christ’s return (people disagree on that one), but we do see a taste of it in David’s reign over Israel. 2 Samuel 8 describes David’s reign over Israel, judging and subduing its enemies, and establishing a reign of justice and equity over the land. Enough to read it, and make you yearn for something better.
After God’s promises to David described in chapter 7, Second Samuel describes the advance of David’s kingdom as God started to fulfil, in a preliminary way, the promises that God would ultimately fulfil in Christ’s Kingdom.
The first is the judgement of those who opposed David and his kingdom. The Philistines had been a thorn in the side of Israel since the days of the Judges, but “David defeated the Philistines and subdued them” (v.1).
After this in quick succession flowed Moab, whom he defeated, slaughtered, and subdued into servanthood (v.2). Then Hadadezer of Zorab to Israel’s north (v.3).
With Hadadezer, David hamstrung 1,700 horses rendering the chariots useless (like spiking artillery guns) and captured 20,000 troops (v.4). When the Syrians of Damascus came out to help Hadadezer, they were struck down too and became servants and clients of Israel (vv.5-6).
Importantly, this was not due to David’s superior military intellect like he was some 1000 BC Alexander the Great, but rather that “the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went” (v.6). David and his offspring, and God’s People who they ruled, were promised rest from their enemies. God was busy fulfilling his promises.
With all the tribute and subjugation, Israel became wealthy. Shields of gold, and large quantities of bronze, flooded into Jerusalem from the conquered territories (vv.7-8). Toi, king of Hamath, sent his son Joram with gold, silver, and bronze to King David to submit to David’s imperial rule (vv.9-10).
Others needed to be subjected, Toi submitted. He recognised David’s reign, and was thankful for the positive effect it had on his own kingdom (removing Hadadezer, who was a right royal pain, v.10).
With all the riches pouring into Jerusalem, you might think that the people were eating on golden plates fashioned from Syrian shields. But instead David dedicated all of this, along with Toi of Hamath’s gifts, to God (vv.11-12). After all, it was God giving the victory to David and his people. God deserved the spoils.
Finally, to add to the tally, chapter 8 notes that David struck down the Edomites and garrisoned their lands (vv.13-14). Thus the descendants of Esau served the descendants of Jacob – the older serving the younger (cf. Gen 25:23).
So plenty of judgement going around for the enemies of God’s People. Yet what of Israel? We have already heard that tribute flooded in, dedicated to God. But David’s attention on the borders did not lead to trouble at home.
“David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people” (v.15). The kingdom ideals of a reign of justice and equity were fulfilled, however imperfectly and in part, by David’s reign over Israel.
David appointed officials over the army, over his public servants, and ensured that the rightful occupants were high priests over God’s tabernacle and surroundings (vv.16-18). There was no chaos and disorder in Israel.
Justice and equity! How great that sounds. How imperfect are both in the rule of even the best-intended rulers today. Thankfully, the reign of Christ will be one which shows true justice and equity to all God’s forgiven people.
It will also be a kingdom secure from its enemies. While in a physical sense the Church might be attacked today and suffer setbacks, from a spiritual sense we are already safe and secure in God’s Kingdom. One day, the physical will catch up to the spiritual when Christ returns and subdues all our enemies, including those who attack the Church and refuse to submit, but especially sin and death.
Yet our enjoyment of justice and equity is only because Christ took the judgement that was due to fall on us. We are unworthy recipients of God’s grace. Yet he chose us in his great covenant love to be his servants. God fulfilled his righteous justice and equity by judging Christ for our sins on the Cross.
And so because of that, we get to enjoy the justice and equity of God’s eternal kingdom.
