Hi, Dwight. Thank you for asking my opinion. The Bible indicates that the Holy Spirit "came" at Pentecost and at that time indwelt believers. Jesus even said that unless he went away, the Spirit would not come. So in whatever sense David had the Spirit, it was not the same as what transpired shortly after the ascension of Jesus. It would be difficult to defend the position that David was filled with the Holy Spirit in the same manner that we are. Among his peers, however, he was righteous.So tell me, Jason, how do you reconcile David's apparent hateful words towards his enemies with Jesus' command to love your enemies, since they both had the Holy Spirit? I already presented my theory in my last post. How do you do it?
When it comes to David's hate of his enemies in the Pslams, maybe this is what Jesus was addressing in Matthew 5:43. "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies..."
When it comes to the threat of violence, the ethic of the Christian is clear -- we are called upon to do whatever is the most loving thing. That might require me to physically defend the innocent from a victimizer. And that might require me to lay down my life instead. There are very few examples of radical love in the world anymore, but that's what converted the masses during the days of the Colosseum. Jesus said whoever clings to his life will lose it, so perhaps our goal isn't always survival but, instead, the glory of God. And this is most starkly seen in those who are more willing to give up their lives as an example than to defend their lives for the sole purpose of staying on Earth. Nothing turns the heads of unbelievers more quickly than someone willing to depart from this life to ensure the good of others. If unbelievers see us clinging to life tooth and nail, perhaps they will suspect that we don't really believe our own message.