1 Kings 5:1 KJV
And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
When I generally think of the Jews I think of a people who were, in many respects by God's design, an isolated people. When they entered into the Promised Land their objective was not to befriend the inhabitants, but to destroy them. They were at war among both the Canaanites and the neighboring countries all of their history. And in Jesus' day the Samaritan woman testified
John 4:9 KJV
........ How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
But this does not mean that every Jew was at odds with every Gentile. David, who was a man of war, never entered into conflict with Tyre. And if it is true that "Hiram was ever a lover of David" it is safe to assume that the relationship was reciprocal. David loved a neighboring Gentile king! It should not be surprising however, because David attempted to show kindness to a king whose nation had been many times at war with his own.[1]
As Christians we are to be a peculiar people, unique and different than those of the world. We are at odds with the world's system and its prince. But that does not mean we must always assume an aggressive posture or that we must never allow ourselves to have close relations to even people who are unsaved. We might win more people to Christ with honey than we do with our spiritual weaponry!
[1] 2 Samuel 10:1-2
And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
When I generally think of the Jews I think of a people who were, in many respects by God's design, an isolated people. When they entered into the Promised Land their objective was not to befriend the inhabitants, but to destroy them. They were at war among both the Canaanites and the neighboring countries all of their history. And in Jesus' day the Samaritan woman testified
John 4:9 KJV
........ How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
But this does not mean that every Jew was at odds with every Gentile. David, who was a man of war, never entered into conflict with Tyre. And if it is true that "Hiram was ever a lover of David" it is safe to assume that the relationship was reciprocal. David loved a neighboring Gentile king! It should not be surprising however, because David attempted to show kindness to a king whose nation had been many times at war with his own.[1]
As Christians we are to be a peculiar people, unique and different than those of the world. We are at odds with the world's system and its prince. But that does not mean we must always assume an aggressive posture or that we must never allow ourselves to have close relations to even people who are unsaved. We might win more people to Christ with honey than we do with our spiritual weaponry!
[1] 2 Samuel 10:1-2
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