“How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?” 2 Samuel 4:11
Previously, we saw that David failed to bring justice when a brutal murder was committed, but here we see his commitment to establish a kingdom where righteousness reigns.
Remember that David was the king. The Scriptures tell us that the sword—that is, the administration of justice—is committed by God to the governing authorities (Rom. 13:1-4). David speaks and acts here as the one to whom God had entrusted the administering of justice. He deals with Baanah and Rechab in a way that shows publicly his utter contempt for what they have done. Acts of violence have no place whatsoever in this kingdom.
Don’t miss this: God hates murder. Taking a life that was given by God shows utter contempt for God himself. And God has appointed a day when he will judge every act of violence.
God’s anointed king is the king of grace, and he is also the king of righteousness who will deal with the wicked in perfect justice. But as soon as you see that God’s anointed king is the king of justice, you feel your need of the king of grace.
Christ’s kingdom will not come through human schemes or human force. Christ will establish his kingdom as his people reach out with grace. Christ’s kingdom advances as the Holy Spirit inclines the hearts of men and women to freely and gladly embrace his rule. That happens when people hear the message of grace. And this message of grace has been entrusted to us.
Do you find yourself thinking of Jesus as either the king of righteousness or the the king of grace, to the exclusion of the other? Do you see why it is so important to keep these together?
