War: Man vs. Man

In this enlightening episode, our host Dr. Andrew Farley delves into the heart of human conflict, emphasizing the significance of breaking the cycle of animosity through love and forgiveness. When conflict becomes an "us vs. them" battle, it often leads to a zero-sum game where everyone loses. Dr. Farley presents this insight with clarity, highlighting the harmful consequences of such a mindset. By drawing parallels from some of the most violent biblical stories, he underscores the importance of dealing with conflicts in a healthy, Christ-like manner. As he eloquently puts it, peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of God's love and justice amidst the turmoil.

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Throughout this episode, Dr. Farley emphasizes the importance of finding a middle ground in conflicts, just as figures like David did. David, a man perpetually in the midst of conflict, displayed Christ-like characteristics by offering mercy and compassion even when pursued by enemies, including Saul and his own son, Absalom. Jesus' teachings further underpin the significance of love and mercy, as Dr. Farley draws from the Sermon on the Mount. Ultimately, the pursuit of peace, according to Dr. Farley, is an active endeavor, where we fight for love and mercy rather than hatred and revenge. The episode leaves listeners with a profound message - peace is a conscious choice and a reflection of Christ's attributes, even in the face of adversity.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Let us pray. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will
be called children of God. Matthew Chapter five, verse nine.
Heavenly Father, I come to you to day in search
of peace. My mind can become burdened by complicated relationships
and conflict, but I know that you live in my heart,

(00:24):
and you alone can give me the hope and courage
to continue. I look to you to day to be
my patience and strength as I walk through these challenging times.
I seek solace in your grace and counsel. I trust
the fruit of your Holy Spirit as my patience and
self control. In the darkest moments. I trust you to

(00:46):
inspire me toward love and forgiveness in my broken relationships.
You alone are my source of inner peace and joy
for every season, no matter how difficult life becomes. In
Jesus name, Amen, thank you for praying with me today.

(01:07):
Now discover the profound intricacies of scripture through prey dot
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Speaker 2 (02:24):
When we make conflict about us versus them, it becomes
a zero sum game where there can only be one
winner and one loser.

Speaker 3 (02:37):
David's men whispered to him, saying, now is your chance.
God has given Saul to you on a silver platter.
David approached Saul quietly. Saul was dozing off an easy target.
It would be nothing for David to cut his throat
and be done with the madness. David stood over Saul
in the darkness of the cave for a few moments.

(03:00):
David drew his blade and crouched down next to Song.

Speaker 2 (03:05):
It takes a break in the cycle to restore what's
been broken. It takes love and forgiveness. Hello, I'm doctor
Andrew Farley with today's episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.
Today we are still at war, wrestling through biblical conflict

(03:26):
and turmoil by revisiting some of the more violent Biblical stories.
At the end of this mini series, I hope we
all understand better how to relate with God, ourselves, and
each other in a healthy, grace filled way. Remember, peace
is not the absence of conflict, It's the presence of

(03:48):
God's love and justice in the midst of it. Last episode,
we looked at mankind's eternal struggle with God. Today we
look at our struggle with one another other. If you're human,
no doubt you've experienced conflict with another person. Often, the
people we struggle with most are the people we're closest to.

(04:11):
Interpersonal conflict is nearly unavoidable. Competing desires, cultures, and expectations
can cause strife, even between people who love each other.
Where does this strife come from? And how are we
called to find peace in the midst of it. Conflict

(04:32):
is often caused when two people's expectations compete against each other,
and to get what they want, they try to assert
dominance over the other person. We saw this between Joe
ab and Abner when their desires for Israel clashed and
a civil war broke out between Judah and Israel.

Speaker 3 (04:57):
Abna rose up to meet Joe Abb at the pool
of Gibbeon. The two commanders stood on opposite ends of
the water, with their armies behind them. Abner's brows furrowed
as he looked at Joab. Abner was a decorated soldier.
He was grisly and battle hardened. He was right hand
to the king and used to governing a nation on

(05:18):
his own. Joab was the nephew of David Younger and
used to being on the run. He looked at Abner,
knowing full well he was stronger and able to crush him.
Yet he did not want to. Being with David for
so long had taught him mercy he saw killing as
a last resort. Abner shouted to Joab, saying, send twelve

(05:40):
of your best men forward, and they shall fight between us.
Joab paused and looked back at his men. They nodded,
understanding that the unity of Israel was at stake. Joab
looked back at Abner and said, let them rise. So
twelve men from each army came forth. Each team rushed
into battle beside the water. They were equals blow for blow.

(06:03):
Each swipe of their sword was blocked, and every attempt
at a stab was thwarted. The twenty four men were
so evenly matched that each of them fell by each
other's swords. Each man grabbed the other's head and thrust
their blades into the other, causing both to fall. Abner
watched as his men fell, so he sent his army
after Joabs. The battle was fierce. Israel's army, led by Abner,

(06:28):
was organized, tactful, and tested. Judah's army, led by Joab,
was wraw, scrappy, and trained by years in the wilderness
with David. Abner and the men of Israel were succumbing
to the weight of David's men, though their armor and
swords were more polished. They lacked the direction and heart
that David imparted.

Speaker 2 (06:50):
The fight between Joab and Abner escalated, leading to Abner
killing Joab's brother. Thirsty for revengeab retaliated by murdering Abner
on the eve of a peace agreement. If left unchecked,
hatred and bitterness can have a ripple effect across generations.

(07:11):
When we make conflict about us versus them, it becomes
a zero sum game with only one winner and one loser.
This can lead to betrayal and a spiral of revenge
that won't stop until everyone has lost. It takes a
break in the cycle to restore what's been broken. It

(07:35):
takes love and forgiveness. We've surveyed many stories of conflict
rising and being diffused with love, stories of individuals like
Joseph who forgave those who wronged him and moved past
disputes without further bitterness or animosity.

Speaker 3 (08:00):
I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into slavery.
Please do not hate yourselves for what you have done
to me. God sent me here to preserve the lives
of thousands of people, Joseph said. He explained to them
how God had used him to save the lives of
the land and all those who dwell outside of it.

(08:23):
So it was not you who sent me here, but God,
Joseph said. Joseph found himself ranting, yet could not help himself.
There was so much he wanted to share in, so
much lost time he had with them. Finally, he gave
them an invitation, one that would change the course of
human history. God has made me lord over all of Egypt.

(08:47):
Come down to me and dwell in this land with me.
Bring your families, flocks and herds, and I will provide
for you. Joseph offered this so that his family might
be saved from the coming years of femine.

Speaker 2 (09:03):
David was a man of war, and his life was
marked with continual conflict. Nations raged against David, and kings
sought to kill him. However, the people he struggled with
most were those closest to him. Saul, his mentor and
father in law, sought to kill him several times and

(09:25):
drove him out of the country to be hunted like
an animal. Yet David returned Saul's animosity with mercy and forgiveness. No,
David didn't waver in his convictions or allow Saul to
kill him, but he found a third way. David broke
the cycle of bitterness and resentment by displaying the fruit

(09:49):
of God's spirit.

Speaker 3 (09:54):
David's men whispered to him, saying, now is your chance.
God has given Saul to you. You on a silver platter.
David approached Saul quietly. Saul was dozing off an easy target.
It would be nothing for David to cut his throat
and be done with the madness. David stood over Saul
in the darkness of the cave for a few moments. Quietly.

(10:16):
David drew his blade and crouched down next to Saul.
He grabbed a part of his robe, raised the blade,
and cut off a small sliver of his robe. Then
David left quietly and did not disturb Saul any further.
David walked back into the cave where his men were
waiting for him. Illuminated by the fire, small tears could

(10:38):
be seen on David's cheeks. David looked at them and said,
I shall not put my hand against God's anointed. I
should not have laid even a finger on him. So
David persuaded his men to not harm Saul.

Speaker 2 (10:52):
David was also pursued by his son, who wanted to
usurp the throne and kill the rest of his descent.
Absalom showed David nothing but contempt, but David didn't waver
in offering his son mercy, even though his advisers counseled
against it. In extending mercy, David stopped the cycle of

(11:15):
violence and revenge. Of course, no one can perfectly live
out this type of mercy and forgiveness toward their enemies,
and that was Jesus's point, as he showed the Jews
of his day the perfect standard of forgiveness and mercy
that only God can achieve. Jesus exposed their hardness of

(11:39):
heart and compared it to the true standard of God's law.
Listen to the words of Jesus.

Speaker 3 (11:46):
Here, then, Jesus said something that would change everything. You
have heard people say an eye for an eye, But
if anyone slaps you on the cheek, you ought to
turn the other chief. Do not return evil for evil.
Love your enemies, bless those who scorn you. Everyone is

(12:07):
good at loving those who love them in return. However,
the mark of a pure heart lies within someone who
is able to love the unlovable.

Speaker 2 (12:17):
Jesus exposed to the hypocrisy of those who were beating
their chests and claiming they could live up to God's
standard in the law. But the truth is they were
far from their goal. And under the law, no one
arrives at a place of true, heartfelt mercy and forgiveness. No,

(12:38):
the law only exposes the motives of impure hearts before God.
But what about us today? Yes, forgiveness can be a
challenging journey, but as a believer living under God's grace,
you have a new heart that's inclined to forgive and
extend grace to others. It's important to remember that forgiveness

(13:03):
is not progressive. It's a one time choice that you
can make as an act of your will. For example,
you might take a moment to acknowledge the pain you
experienced by saying it hurt me. When this step allows
you to identify and process your emotions caused by the

(13:24):
hurtful event. Then once you've acknowledged the pain, you can
choose to forgive and release the person who hurt you
from anything they may owe you, even if they were
to repeat their hurtful actions. What do they owe you?
They owe you respect, they owe you an apology, They

(13:45):
owe you better treatment, but you can release them from
what they owe you because you are now a forgiving
person at the heart level. And remember, forgiveness is not
a feeling, a choice you can make as a new
hearted and forgiving individual in Christ. It's important to note

(14:06):
that forgiveness doesn't mean forgetting or erasing your memories. Instead,
it's about canceling the debt that the person owes you,
freeing yourself from bitterness and resentment. If old feelings or
memories do resurface, you can thank God for the time

(14:26):
that you chose to forgive that person and rely on
that decision going forward. Embrace the truth that you have
a new forgiving nature as a result of your new
heart in Christ. This new nature enables you to extend
grace and forgiveness to other people, reflecting the grace and

(14:48):
forgiveness you've received from God. Remember you're not alone in
this journey of forgiveness. Lean on the power of Christ
within you and trust that He'll guide you through the process.
You have the capacity to forgive and extend grace because
of your new identity in Christ. Embrace this beautiful aspect

(15:13):
of your new life in Him. Thank you for listening
to today's episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. Follow
the podcast so you can learn about the Bible in
this entertaining and inspiring way. Download the Prey dot com app,
and for more encouragement in God's grace, visit Andrewfarley dot org.

(15:37):
That's Andrewfarley dot org.