2 Samuel 8: David's Mercy & Victories, God's Promises in ☧

Rev. John Lukomski, retired LCMS pastor, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 8.

“Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared.” David has blood on his hands—a lot of it. Perhaps together with his excessive celebration in chapter 6, the violence of chapter 9 and others shows why God would want a man of wisdom rather than a man of violence to build His temple. Yet the narrator connects David’s actions to God’s promises, God giving “victory to David wherever he went,” as He did with Joshua, and rescuing from the hands of “violent men” who had tormented them from the time of the Judges. Despite Moabite treachery, David spares a full third out of honor and mercy, a lenient act in such evil days. But actual redemption from this evil age would only be found in Jesus the Son of David, with mercy and life for all from the age to come.