David may have been a man of war, but he was also a man of great administrative ability. The orderly management of his kingdom is clear from these chapters. If only he had ordered his earlier moral decisions as well!
One of our friends reading through the bible with us again commented on how much bloodshed there was. It is important to remember that not all the bible records is necessarily what God wants or approves. The bible accurately records all sorts of human behavior and activity. God does not approve of it, but he always uses it for his glory and for our good. David is an excellent example of God’s power, holiness and grace.
David sinned. Like all of us, he fell short of God’s standards of goodness. God is holy–perfect, without sin. And he must punish those who violate his laws. But he is also gracious–over and over again we have seen his tender heart respond to the sinner who repents. David was a sinner. David repented. And God used both David’s sin–his warlike tendencies–to punish the sin of the nations surrounding Israel, and to make God’s power and glory known to the world. He also used David’s tender heart and talent to help lead the people of Israel and establish the line that would bring the promise of the Savior of the world! Enjoy the detail, but don’t get lost in it! God is in it, but more important, God uses it.