Dunamis

Dunamis (II Samuel 11: 1, 6-25)

(A reflection by my friend KK)

Introduction

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, … but David remained at Jerusalem… II Samuel 11:1.

Grace to you and peace from God our father and the lord Jesus Christ. Let’s Pray, may the words of my mouth and meditation of all our hearts be acceptable to you O rock and redeemer. Amen.

Plato said “The measure of a human is what he/she does with power”, today I would like to reflect on the passage 2^nd Samuel 11^th chapter, verses 1 and from 6 to 25.

Context and author: The events described in both Samuels took place over about 150 years, from the late twelfth to the early tenth centuries BCE, so it is impossible for these books to have been written by one author, even though Jewish tradition claim the author to be Samuel. Samuel was the last of the judges and the first of the prophets, a priest and a kingmaker.  The books of Samuel reveal how Israel changed from a people by threats and attacks from neighboring nations into a rising power.

I entitle this reflection as Dunamis, the word Dunamis in Greek  refers to  “strength, Power or ability”. In this passage we can also come across characters like Kind David, Bathsheba, Uriah and Joab. 

1. David was the youngest son of Jesse, the great grandson of Boaz and Ruth, born in Bethlehem in tribe of Judah. He was personally blessed by God, anointed by Samuel, and became Israel’s second, and greatest, King.

2. Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite. Later, she becomes the wife of David and the mother of King Solomon.

3. Uriah the Hittite was the husband of Bathsheba and he was in the Israelite army. He was recognized by king David as one the “30 most elite soldiers” in the entire Israelite army.

4. Joab was a son of Zeruiah, King David’s sister. So Joab is David’s nephew.  Joab was also positioned as commander of David’s armies because of his victory over Jebusites, that made them to conquer Jerusalem city. 

These the main characters which we can see in this passage, Let us look into how Dunamis (i.e) Power, played an important role in this passage and how power impacted the lives of these characters especially David and Uriah.  I would like to divide this reflection into three parts.

Firstly, 1. Power made David to neglect his responsibilities

In vs 1, In a time for battle, all David’s soldiers were in the battle, but King David who had been with his soldiers in all battles and guiding them to victories didn’t go for this battle because of the power he acquired and the possessions that he got made him to neglect that battle and stay back in Jerusalem, which is a wrong stand. We know David since his childhood he was so faithful to God and his interest toward God never changed. When he got promoted to Kingship we observe negligence in his behavior like not going to warfield whereas once he killed Golliath alone in a Warfield when he was a shepherd boy.

Today we can see how people changes when they acquire power! They way of life and responsibilities also changes, many a times they neglect their responsibilities like King David.  

2. Power made David to cover up the sin

In (vs 7), When Uriah comes, David tried to act normal as if nothing had happened before. Then he says Shalom to Uriah and asking about the war and so on. Slowly he moves to the real purpose of calling him. He encouraged Uriah to go home. Then David moves on to his real purpose, which is totally interest of his own well being. He encourages Uriah to go home and wash your feet, which is a euphemism for having sex with his wife. But Uriah is conscious of his duty as a soldier. He knows that he is not on leave and shows himself a man of indicative (vs 8). When David asks why he doesn’t go to his house, Uriah’s reason seems to be  that the symbol of lords covenant, the ark, and his solidarity with his fellow soldiers are foremost in his mind(vs 10-11).

Uriah doesn’t go to be with his wife, so David asks him to stay longer (vs12) but nothing David does, not even getting Uriah drunk works. Instead Uriah sleeps among his master servant (vs 13). The fact that Uriah will not go to his house is repeated three times (vs 9, 11, and 13).  David cunningly used many ideas to send Uriah to his home. So that he can cover up his sin of adultery with Bathsheba which he had committed early. But that plan didn’t work out. So David used his power of Authority to implement his next plan, that his my third point that

3. Power made David to kill Uriah

When all of David’s method failed to convince Uriah to spend the night with his wife, David arranges for his removal from the scene Uriah back to the battle field with his own death warrant in the form of a letter for Joab (vs 14) the letter instructs Joab to put Uriah in the front part of the battle and then withdraw from him (vs 15). Because Uriah is one of the David’s top 30 warriors, a member of an elite group (23:39), David is sure that he will not shrink from a dangerous task.

Joab obeys the king’s command, and Uriah is killed (vs 16-17). Joab then sends a report to the king through a messenger who faithfully gives a detail account of the battle (vs 18-23). David knows from history and experienced that fighting too close to the wall of de-sieged city is dangerous. Joab even refers to the story from judges that David may have been thinking about when he gave Joab his order (judges 9:50-55). But there is only one piece of information David is eager to hear your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead (vs 24). David has violated the law for the third time beside committing adultery, he has essentially committed murder. David seems to be relieved, even pleased, at his achievement (vs 25) finally things are under control, he thinks. In his good mood, he sends a gracious and encouraging word to Joab now the problem is solved.

Personal Experience

I would like to share a personal incident which happened in my family. My great grandmother was a prayer warrior, she was blessed with many spiritual gifts, God also blessed her with 3 lorries for the ministry purpose to take believers to church from nearby villages but unfortunately her son my grandfather used those vehicles for his business purposes slowly our we came to a stage of loosing those vehicles, which taught us a great lesson that the blessing of our God is to fulfill his will not to go away from his will.

Here because David committed sin against God by misusing the power given to him, we could see the downfall of his reign. Since then his kingship was not peaceful. Later David understand that Power is not to rule but it is to lead and serve. Therefore I would say, Power is not to rule but it is to lead/serve.

Conclusion

One of the greatest dictator, Hitler used his power to kill millions of Jews during the Second world war. But at the same time, Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist and a member of Nazi party, used his power and saved the lives of many.

In India, few months back in Jammu and Kashmir, Kathua an 8 year old small girl, Asifa Bano was raped and murdered, seven men including four police officers were accused. A powerless girl was brutally raped by politically powerful men. 

Even in our Church and Society we can see Power playing a dominant role in our day today lives. People with their power neglect their responsibilities,

People use their power to cover up their sins,

People even use their power to kill others.

But God called us to not to rule but to lead and serve.

Dear Friends, as a training pastors, now we don’t have power but we have vision and filled with many responsibilities towards God’s ministry.  Once we enter into the church, power plays an important role in our life and ministry.  We should strong enough to encounter that power and we should not allow the power makes us to neglect our responsibilities and don’t allow the power to control us like David.

Let us set our lord Jesus Christ as an example, who used his power in a right way in his life and ministry to uplift the marginalized people but not to crush the innocent people like Uriah. That is the real Christian responsibility and duty.  As Plato said “The measure of a human is what h/she does with power” May God bless these words.  The peace of God which surpasses all understandings will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen