In chapter 10 of 2 Samuel, we read of several encounters David has with his enemies. The enemies of the Israelites combined forces and came against Israel, but when they engaged David’s army, they fled from them. The Army listened to Joab’s exhortation. He told them, “Be strong. We must fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God.” Then again, a larger coalition gathered against David’s army. David himself led the charge and completely destroyed the advancing enemy. Verse 18 says, “David killed seven hundred Aramean chariot drivers and forty thousand Aramean horsemen. He also killed Shobach, the commander of the Aramean army.” The enemy forces then fled from David and his men. All his enemies turned tail and ran. I wonder if David’s Psalm 21 is about this. He writes: “Although they scheme and plan evil against you, they will not succeed. They turn their backs and flee because you aim your bow at their faces.”
The wicked flee in the face of being discovered in their sin. This is a theme that’s been instilled in the life of all mankind since the beginning of creation. In Genesis chapter 3, verse 10, we read how Adam responded to God’s call to him after eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He knew then that he was evil. Adam said, when God asked him where he was, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself.” Sin may bring some momentary pleasure, but in the end, fear soon replaces the pleasure.
David’s son, Solomon, probably said it best in Proverbs 28:1. He writes, The more modern version of the movie “True Grit” upgrades the older John Wayne movie from the ’60s. I like the new one much better because the basic soundtrack from the beginning to the end is the musical version of the old hymn, “Leaning on the everlasting arms.” It’s about a young girl who is determined to avenge the murder of her father. The killer is always just a little bit ahead of her hunt. He runs with other criminals and doesn’t stay in any one place for long. He’s running, not from the law, but from a guilty conscience. The movie opens with Solomon’s words in Proverbs 28:1. He writes, “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” After watching that movie, I recorded in my journal that it holds a Hollywood record. It was nominated for the most Academy Awards in one year but didn’t win any of them, but I still think it was a great movie.