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Unnecessary Conflict - Part 4

1 Chronicles 19v16-19

5th December 2008

This is the final part of our study of 1 Chronicles chapter 19.

1 Chronicles 19v16
After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they sent messengers and had Arameans brought from beyond the River, with Shophach the commander of Hadadezer's army leading them.

You'd have to say that the Arameans weren't what you'd call fast learners.

They'd heard the story of why the Ammonites were fighting against Israel. They knew that the Ammonites were at fault, and had created their own problems, and had escalated the conflict when they could have chosen to resolve it. The Arameans had allowed themselves to be drawn into the conflict by being hired by the Ammonites, and they'd been routed in a battle in which they had all the advantages.

But they chose to continue the fight.

And how often do we find ourselves at enmity with a neighbour, or even a brother in Christ, and chosen to prolong the conflict - and the pain - when we could have chosen to apologise and get on with our lives?

1 Chronicles 19v17
When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan; he advanced against them and formed his battle lines opposite them. David formed his lines to meet the Arameans in battle, and they fought against him.

David knew that the Arameans were forming a new army, and that meant they weren't going to back down. He knew he would have to deal with the situation. Surely, the Arameans knew this would be his response, but they persisted anyway.

Why is it so hard to back down? It wasn't even their fight.

1 Chronicles 19v18
But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach the commander of their army.

And again, God gave David the victory.

The final cost of not backing down - forty-seven thousand men.

If you have any fight with anyone, endeavour to resolve it. It will cost less that turning it into a feud with no end. And if you're in the wrong, be wise and admit it. As St Paul taught us:

Romans 12v18
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

1 Chronicles 19v19
When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites any more.

Eventually, when their losses became catastrophic, the Arameans stopped fighting Israel. And they had not only lost 47,000 men. They had not only damaged their relationship with Israel. They had also destroyed their relationship with the Ammonites.

The obvious lessons that we can learn from this story are:

I've heard people say "never apologise; it's a sign of weakness". That could be one of the worst pieces of advice ever given. It takes a strong person to apologise, and a wise one.