Settling Scores - With God's Approval?

I'm reading 1 Kings.  The first two chapters are about then end of King David's life and the transfer of power to King Solomon.  What strikes me is that the intrigue isn't much different than we see today.  As Ecclesiastes says "ain't nothing new under the sun!" 

 

For example here is King David giving Solomon instructions on how to settle a couple of old scores.  I especially liked the second one where King David says something like 'hey I said I wouldn't kill him but after I'm gone you do what you think is best (hint, hint).'  :)

1 Kings 2:5-9(NKJV)

“Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed. And he shed the blood of war in peacetime, and put the blood of war on his belt that was around his waist, and on his sandals that were on his feet. 

Therefore do according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace.

“But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.

“And see, you have with you Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a malicious curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 

Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man and know what you ought to do to him; but bring his gray hair down to the grave with blood.”

Then the rest of the chapter tells a couple of stories about how Solomon wacked several of the folks from the old guard who had wronged King David and replaced them with is own people.  Solomon even went so far as to have one guy killed on the alter. 

 

The guy was clinging to the alter thinking it would keep him from being killed.  Solomon gave the guy a chance to come down before they killed him and he refused so Solomon had him killed on the alter.

 

What strikes me about this is that I don't see God disapproving of this anywhere.  And why should he?  These were not innocent men.  They were men who had wronged King David and were now simply reaping the consequences of their actions.  But I'm sure there are people who read 1st Kings 2 and think "it isn't fair".

 

Another way of saying "isn't fair" is "isn't just".  Since I don't see God condemning this anywhere are those people saying that God is unjust?

"Toxic masculinity" - LOL!

I just finished reading 2nd Samuel 23 and the thought that struck me was "I guess God didn't get the message about how bad "toxic masculinity" is."  :)  I am being facetious of course. 

To set the stage it is getting to the end of David's life.  It is chronicling the "Might Men of David".  Here is an example.
 

2 Samuel 23:8-12(NKJV)

These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief among the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time. 

And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. 

He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder. 

And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. 

But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

What I noticed  is that the men God holds up as examples and heros here are all men of valor.  Men skilled in the art of war.  Men willing to fight to the death for the things they believe in. Men loyal to their King. 

In other words.…masculine men!  :)

"Gird up the loins of your mind" What???

Is that Scripture's way of saying get some cajones?  :)

One of the things we intentionally taught our kids was mental toughness. 

Here is just one example of how that paid off.  My youngest son Jed was pitching in a Little League game.  I think he was 11.  There were two adults on the other teams sideline just mercilessly verbally harrassing my son.  So much so that the home plate umpire called time and went over and told them to knock it off. 

The thing is, the harassment didn't bother Jed at all.  He had a smile on his face and just kept pitching, and pitching well.  What the umpire didn't know was that the two adults who were harassing him were two of his travel ball coaches.  They knew he was mentally tough enough to take it! (Yeah, that was a proud Pappa moment :)

So I ran across this verse this morning and it seems to be preaching mental toughness although with some strange wording. 
 

1 Peter 1:13(NKJV)

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 

 

Loins of your mind?  I don't know about you but with the reference to the loins it seems to me that Peter was telling people to get some mental cajones or in other words get some mental toughness. 

Pretty cool!