- there are 70 faces to 
Post by alon on Dec 25, 2015 4:35:02 GMT -8
This week’s haftarah comes from 1 Kings 2:1-12. Before I started this, I was in a state of spiritual turmoil; angry over so much of the news of attacks in Israel and the advance of Islam in every corner of the world. Particularly angry that so many people were willing to appease the Muslims or just ignore the problem- and as usual, attack anyone who held up the truth to them. But anger (as opposed to righteous indignation) is a very deep, dark hole. So I prayed for insight into just where the line is; what is the difference in anger and the indignation that people should turn from God and appease a demon? Then I read as Melech Dovid gave his death bed instructions to Solomon; and interspersed with the instructions to follow God’s norms were instructions to kill the enemies of himself, Melech Dovid. And the answers to the dilemma of the balance between love and hate not surprisingly come down to heart condition and motivation. David spoke here not from desire for personal revenge, but because Solomon needed to know where his enemies were and how to deal with them. All those mentioned by David eventually were killed for their treacherous actions against Solomon, who was prepared because he had been forewarned. David spoke from a heart for the public good, not from his desire to have Solomon kill his enemies. So let’s go back to 1 Chronicles to get a glimpse of Melech Dovid’s heart:
A disappointed heart- 1 Chronicles 28:2-3 (ESV) “Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God, and I made preparations for building. But God said to me, ‘You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.’” David did not complain because he couldn’t build the Temple as he wanted to do. Instead he got busy and started to prepare Solomon for the job, helping as much as he could.
A loyal heart and willing mind- 1 Chronicles 28:9 (NKJV) “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.” Solomon would have everything physically needed to build the Temple. But in order for his work to be blessed he had to supply a heart loyal to Hashem. God supplies the wealth, we must supply a willingness to use it for His glory. This is the stamp of loyalty.
A generous heart- 1 Chronicles 29:9 (NKJV) “Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the Lord; and King David also rejoiced greatly.” When leadership shows this willing generosity to the work of Hashem, the people will follow. One of the tenets of leadership taught by our military is that a true leader puts the mission first. If your men know that, they will follow you where they wouldn’t think of going if your motives are self-serving.
A devoted heart- 1 Chronicles 29:17-19 (NKJV) "I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You. O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You. And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your statutes, to do all these things, and to build the temple for which I have made provision.”” And if we are devoted and keep this attitude our efforts will be seen in our descendants. In his latter years Melech Dovid lost this heart devotion, and he and his house paid dearly for it.
1 John 2:17 (ESV) And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
So with these guidelines in place, let’s go now to our haftarah:
1 Kings 2:1-4 (ESV) When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
We see here the theme of God’s conditional promise to Melech Dovid. Elsewhere it is stated as a definite blessing of God on the house of David. However when the nation did not walk with God they were punished and their kings removed. As Meshiachim, we see the promise unconditionally fulfilled in the person of Yeshua.
There is an important principle in this passage. Melech Dovid held that the ides of love and gratitude were equally important as those of justice. This is the heart of God.
The requirements for a king may be found in Deuteronomy 17:14-19.
1 Kings 2:5-6 (ESV) 5 “Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet. 6 Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.
2 Samuel 20:9-10 (ESV) And Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. But Amasa did not observe the sword that was in Joab's hand. So Joab struck him with it in the stomach and spilled his entrails to the ground without striking a second blow, and he died.
Dependent on the support of Joab at the time, David could not punish him for his treachery. However he knew the character of Joab, and so warned Solomon of him. We tend to give people a second chance, however Joab had his chance here. So when he turned on Solomon he was to die. (2 Samuel 24:2-4, 1 Kings 1:1-27).
1 Kings 2:7 (ESV ) 7 But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother.
Barzillai was a faithful and selfless ally in putting down Absalom’s Revolt(2 Sam 19:32-40). It was important to remember those who help you. There is a rule in negotiating that services are worth much more before they are rendered than after. We tend to forget and move on after we reap the benefits of others actions. But they remember. And if you are leading a Godly endeavor, so does Elohim. So it is important for us to remember them and their service, as they and others will be watching to see if you deal fairly; and God who sees all will remember both.
1 Kings 2:8-9 (ESV) 8 And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 9 Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”
Shemei had cursed Melech Dovid during Absalom’s Revolt (2 Sam 16:5-8) but was later pardoned because David did not want to mar his triumphant return and kill the now groveling Shemei (2 Sam 19:16, 18-24). And so David could not punish him. But again, David knew the threat he posed to the throne. Solomon, not wanting to punish Shemei for the actions which David had pardoned set up Jerusalem as a city of refuge for Shemei. However when Shemei left to bring back his cohorts, he was executed for his sin in leaving the city wherein he had agreed to abide.
1 Kings 2:10-12 (ESV) 10 Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. 11 And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.
And so died Melech Dovid. Solomon, who had been acting as coregent with David now ascends to the throne. His kingdom may have been firmly established, however if we read on we find it was challenged immediately and deviously.
In all this I see both the loving and forgiving nature of David, tempered with the understanding of justice and the wisdom to keep close watch on those you have forgiven. People’s natures do not change unless through an act of the Ruach HaChodesh. However we must look at this as David did; their rebellion, political scheming, or even the quiet acquiescence of those who just want to ignore the problems instead of acting to support justice are affronts to God, not to us. So we must stand ready to support those who act in His interests and not act from vengeance or self-interest. We must develop a loyal, willing and generous heart which takes the disappointments of men’s actions in stride and works towards God’s justice. And we may find our biggest disappointment and sorrow when we do see His justice on our friends, family, and our nation.
How many could I have reached had I love instead of anger in my heart? How many could we reach if we told the whole story of God’s justice as well as His mercy? Love and justice, and God is the fulcrum at the balance point between the two.
Dan C
Sources: JPS Study TNK, J B Meyer, W Wiersby, Stone’s Tenach, my father, my notes and others. Special thanks to Rav S for the encouragement to knuckle down and do this, as I was not in a very good place before talking to him.
"G-d sometimes allows us to feel things in order to bring a passion to what He wants us to teach on." Rav S I don't know if I conveyed the passion or even much understanding. But this has helped me to get to a much better place just getting into the Word and studying. It is especially helpful as Hashem addressed exactly what I was struggling with. Hope it helps you as well.
