David Shed Too Much Blood

Our Lord Jesus may often be contrasted to King David, for while there are certain parallels, our Savior is far greater and far better than David ever was.

David was forbidden from building God's house. God told him that his son would be a man of rest, and would build Him a house. Solomon built the temple, but the promise to David was only fulfilled in his son, the Lord Jesus, for He is the true and final Man of Rest unto His people, and He has built the ultimate house of God, His Church.

David himself confessed the reason why God forbade him from building God's house: because he had shed much blood, and made great wars.

While David was charged with defending his people Israel, nevertheless, at times David exceeded what was necessary for defense, and shed much unnecessary blood.

For example, God had specifically instructed Israel to leave Moab, Ammon, and Edom alone, because He would not give Israel any of their territory. But David invaded, subjugated, and occupied all three nations, even though the kings of Moab and Ammon had shown him kindness during his dark days. He attacked these nations even when they had done no violence to his people.

Who can forget how David had his faithful servant Uriah murdered, and over a dozen men with him, all to cover up David's adultery with Bathsheba. He also murdered the helpless sons of Saul to appease the Gibeonites.

David obtained peace and rest for Israel, but he did it by violent and bloody means, sometimes unjustly.

But our Lord Jesus is meek and lowly of heart, and He provides rest for His people. He provides that rest, not by shedding the blood of others, but by shedding His own blood to save us!