power

Exercise for the soul

Physical exercise is a relatively new concept in America. If you remember Jack LaLanne, then you know that in the 1960’s there were not many people that believed they needed regular physical exercise and fitness centers were exclusive clubs for the rich and famous. The information age has turned the majority of people into couch potatoes that rarely break a sweat without an intentional effort. It takes work to keep your body strong, especially if you want to be active in your later years.

Speaking to the LORD in Psalm 138, David said, “In the day when I cried thou answeredest me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul” (Psalm 138:3). The word soul or nephesh in Hebrew is also translated as life and person (5315). The word nephesh is derived from the word naphash which means to breathe (5314), so you could say in one sense that naphash refers to having breath in you or being alive.

When David said that the LORD strengthened him with strength in his soul, he meant that the LORD gave him a sense of vitality and exuberance toward life. The Hebrew word translated strength is also translated as power, might, and boldness (5797). In order for David to be strong in his soul, he had to exercise, he had to do what the LORD instructed him to do in his word.

David not only listened to the LORD, he did what the LORD told him to do, even when it seemed impossible. David said, “Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it” (Psalm 139:5-6). The word translated wonderful, paliy is derived from the word pala which means to be beyond one’s ability to do (6381). David did not let the thought of impossibility stop him from doing what the LORD asked him to do. David realized that “although something may appear impossible to man, it still is within God’s power” (6381).

The thing that motivated David to exercise his soul was an awareness that God knew and understood him completely. David said, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and my uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways” (Psalm 139:1-3).

Thinking of the LORD as the trainer of his soul, David was willing to yield his life to the expert. David knew that the LORD wanted him to be a mighty warrior on the inside as well as on the outside. “The Hebrew system of thought does not include the opposition of the terms ‘body’ and ‘soul,’ which are really Greek and Latin in origin. The Hebrew compares/contrasts ‘the inner self’ and ‘the outer appearance’ or, as viewed in a different context, ‘what one is to oneself’ as opposed to ‘what one appears to be to one’s observers.’ The goal of Scriptures is to make the inner and outer consistent (5315).

Power gone sour

Power is a force that can be used for good or evil. Typically, power can be obtained from a position that is held or a relationship that entitles an individual to use another’s power. In an effort to obtain power, some are willing to kill or usurp the power that belongs to another. The easiest way to get power is to develop a relationship with someone that already has it, for instance a relationship with Jesus Christ entitles you to use the authority of his name to conquer the devil (Acts 4:7).

Joab, the commander of David’s army, had power because of the position he held and because of his relationship with David. After Absalom revolted against David, Joab killed Absalom even though David had commanded him not to. As a result, David replaced Joab as the captain of his host (2 Samuel 19:13). Because of the power he had as the commander of the Israelite army, Joab was able to retain his position in spite of David’s attempt to replace him. Joab did so by killing Amasa, the new commander (2 Samuel 20:10).

In this situation, it could be said that Joab had too much power. Although he worked for David, David was unable to fire him. At the root of the problem was the conspiracy between David and Joab to kill Uriah. When Uriah refused to have sex with his wife after being brought home from the battle field, David wrote a letter to Joab. “And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die” (2 Samuel 11:15).

David used his power over Joab to force him to commit murder. Joab was merely following David’s command when he retreated and left Uriah to die. Therefore, his decision to kill Absalom was in a way a sign that he no longer trusted David’s judgement and he would decide for himself who should live or die by his sword.

Although it may have been better for Joab to follow his own conscience, he did not have the right to use the power of his position as commander of the army to undermine David’s authority. When Joab killed Amasa, he was attempting to come between David and the LORD, who was ultimately responsible for David’s actions, suggesting that David was not fit to be king. David’s position as king made him more powerful than Joab. David could have had Joab killed in order to remove him from his position, but he didn’t. David let Joab alone and didn’t attempt to replace him again.