DAVID’S VICTORY OVER THE MOABITES

VICTORY OVER THE MOABITES

In a further review of David’s victories, today we will consider David’s victory over the Moabites.  This was a rather ironic victory. That is because David’s great grandmother, Ruth, was from Moab.  Also, his grandfather, the Son of Ruth and Boaz, was Obed-Edom. 

OBED-EDOM

Obed-Edom was the man who kept the Ark inside his home. As a result, David sought God’s will. While Obed-Edom housed the Ark David prayed and decided what to do next.  Obed-Edom is also recorded as one of David’s mighty men.  Further, the scriptures report that Obed-Edom was a Levite from Moab.  Moreover, through a series of unlikely circumstances, Obed-Edom became a gatekeeper in The Tabernacle of David.  I have to wonder how Obed-Edom felt when he participated with David in conquering the Moabites. 

SORTING OUT THE CAPTIVES

Not only did David capture Moab, he also killed 2/3rds of the captives. He allowed 1/3 of the captives to live.  The remnant of 1/3 were commanded to bring tribute to Israel. 

The method of how David decided who of the Moabite captives would live and who would die was very strange.  He measured the captive men with a cord.  Every third measure of the cord was allowed to live.  The rest were killed.  As we have already mentioned, those who were left were considered captives and required to pay tribute to Israel.

THE KING OF MOAB

Additionally, this conquest was ironic because David once enjoyed the support of the King of Moab. This Moabite King previously helped David when David ran from Saul.  Consequently, David turned to this King and asked him to protect his mother and father while he was unable. Had this King allowed tragedy to come to Jesse and his wife after promising David they would be protected? No one seems to know.  Could this be the reason King David ignored his ancient roots and connections with Moab?

THE ROOTS OF MOAB

Roots are always tested.  What survives is the REAL root.  In conclusion, Moab did not survive the conquest of Israel. 

The Hebraic word for “root” is Shoresh.  Shoresh is spelled Shin-Resh-Shin.  Note that this spelling of the word for root is a palindrome.  It is spelled the same forwards and backwards.  Thus the word is like a mirror image of itself when you fold it in half.  Did this side of David’s roots not pass the test?  Is that why the Moabites of David’s day were not spared, except to be used for tribute?  Maybe the sparing of the 1/3 was an act of grace in remembrance of this fact.  Or did this elimination of Moab go back to a time before the life of David?

To clarify, the roots of Moab go back further than David.  They go all the way back to Abraham’s nephew  Lot.  The nation was named after its founder – Moab.  Moab was the incestuous son of Lot and his daughter.  It seems this son of Lot settled east of the Dead Sea.  He worshipped Chemosh.  Perhaps Moab’s history of idol worship had a lot to do with what happened to them. 

Moab was later ruled by Balak and Mesha. These two clashed with Israel for centuries.  However, because of Ruth, then Obed-Edom, then Jesse, and ultimately, Our Messiah, Yeshua, some of Moab was saved.  Maybe the good Moabites explain why this remnant of 1/3 were left.

LATER WORDS OF ZECHARIAH

Long after David’s time, the prophet Zechariah lived. He had a lot to say about the fate of Moab.  He specifically mentions The House of David. 

Zechariah 13:13 says, “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.” 

We know David had blood on his hands. Blood-guilt was the reason he could not build a house for God to dwell in in Jerusalem.  Some believe God was displeased with the way David slew these Moabites. There are those who believe this was the reason David was not allowed to build a house for God.  Zechariah, at a much later time, gives prophecy which explains how all will play out in eternity.

 Zech 13:8 says, And it shall come to pass throughout the whole land, says YHVH, that two-thirds in it will be cut down and die, and one-third will be left in it.

Here is that same strange measurement again.  2/3rds die and one third live.  Do these events have connections that will tell us more?

ZECHARIAH AND THE HOUSE OF DAVID

These scriptures from Zechariah took me on a search to understand the prophecies of Zechariah. I desired to understand more of their relationship to The House of David during end times.   What I saw is the fact that a fountain flows in the millennial kingdom.  That fountain is full of the cleansing and purifying blood of Jesus.  All of those who confess their sins will be forgiven and cleansed inside this fountain that flows from Jesus. 

Yeshua spoke of this once at The Feast of Tabernacles. In John 7:37-39 John explains: “On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: “Streams of living water will flow from within him.'”He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.…”

 The fountain of cleansing would be necessary for the House of David to reign forever. This cleansing fountain will be made available through the Messiah. Yeshua is the descendant of David who will rule in the future.  David believed that Messiah would come.  He asked for such cleansing from his sins in advance. David confessed and stated his belief before Messiah walked the earth.   We know David had blood-stained hands. God will grant this cleansing, not only for David, but for you and me. 

TWO THIRDS AND A REMNANT

Zechariah 13:1 says:  In the whole land,” declares the Lord, “two-thirds will be struck down and perish; (notice the measurements used here and how they run parallel to what was done to the Moabites by David)  yet one-third will be left in it.  This third I will put into the fire;  I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’  and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” 

Those Moabites who were godly will live in eternity.  They will be refined like gold and silver. They will shine like the gold the remnant of David’s day were required to bring into the Kingdom of David. Zechariah prophesied of what is coming to those who follow God. 

Zechariah 13:8-9 speaks of another type of measuring.  It is a measuring of the people left on the earth. The prophet speaks of those of the resurrection who have not yet been washed in the blood of Messiah.  “‘In the whole land,” declares the Lord,  “two-thirds will be struck down and perish;  yet one-third will be left in it.This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold.  They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

CLEANSED AND REFINED IN THE FOUNTAIN

I believe this passage speaks of those who were not previously given the chance to believe on Messiah. Yeshua came after their time. They too will be given the chance to call upon the LORD.  Those who do will be saved.  These will be plunged into this fountain flowing with the blood of Yeshua.  They will be cleansed and refined. 

God will bring fire to the earth.  All of the dross (those things that are not holy or do not belong to Him) will be burned away.  What is left will have gone through the fire of God.  Those who have been refined by fire will live forever and ever.  This happens when the One from David’s House, the Messiah, rules the earth for 1,000 years. 

WHEN THE BROKEN ARE HEALED

The subject of the captives of Moab can be very ironic.  This story speaks of a broken people. However, it is the story that helps us to see how God delivers all who believe.  This same fountain and fire will be the salvation of David.  Zechariah 13:1 was fulfilled by the water from Jesus’ pierced side after the crucifixion. 

So, in the days of David, Jerusalem was cleansed of the Moabites left in the land.  All but 1/3 were killed. The 1/3 who were left paid tribute to Israel.

Our next lesson will cover another of David’s great victories. Each victory carried its own unique meaning.

PRAYER: Father, help us to understand what we do today affects how we will live in eternity. Teach us to follow Yeshua and to walk in Your ways. Let our deeds and actions reflect Your deeds and actions. May we, like Ruth and Boaz, pass on your ways to our next generations.

MUSIC TO HELP YOUR SOUL REJOICE: https://youtu.be/-JtKnHERdAU?si=sY4JhM6fCp8xBuYD There is a Fountain Filled With Blood, William Cowper (1731-1800)