CAN LOVE CONQUER ALL?

While love can overcome evil (Romans 12:21), often it doesn’t. To think otherwise is to minimize the power of evil and to neglect the lessons of history.

David had shown unmatched love to his oppressor, King Saul, in many ways. However, Saul had become very jealous of David and had even convinced himself that David was trying to usurp his crown. Therefore, on many occasions, he sought to kill David. On one occasion, as he pursued David, he grabbed some shut-eye in cave where David and his men were hiding. They counseled David to take Saul’s life. However, David explained that he wouldn’t touch the “Lord’s anointed.” Instead, he cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

After Saul arose and walked to the other side of the valley, David called to him and explained that he could have killed Saul. When Saul saw that David had merely cut the corner his robe, instead of thrusting the sword through him, he was moved to tears:

·       He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” (1 Samuel 24:17-21 ESV)

It seems that love had conquered evil. However, to believe this is to minimize the power of evil. In just a short time, Saul was again pursuing David’s life without the slightest provocation. On this occasion, David and Abishai sneaked into Saul’s encampment as they slept. Once again, instead of killing his enemy, David merely absconded with Saul’s sword. Once they reached safety on a distant hilltop, David called to Saul holding the evidence of his good intentions – Saul’s sword:

·       Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake…Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” (1 Samuel 26:21, 25)

Certainly, after this occasion, Saul had learned the lesson love, and love had conquered evil? There is absolutely no evidence of this. Instead, David continued to flee King Saul, even though he was now more occupied by the invasion of the Philistines, which had resulted in his death.

The life of Saul demonstrates the overwhelming power of sin to those who willingly succumb to its seductions. Saul had no excuse. He had been a good king, chosen by God, and abundantly blessed. On many occasions, God’s Spirit had rested upon Saul. He had even prophesied as one of the Prophets of Israel. However, Saul later became aware that the Spirit of God had departed from him, because of his rebellion against God, and had been replaced by an evil Spirit (1 Samuel 16:14-16), which tormented him. However, he never repented of his consistent pattern disobedience against the Lord.

These accounts also display the limitations of love, even the most persistent and self-sacrificial love. Since love can fail, these accounts also demonstrate the need for something else – God’s justice and judgments.

Today, there is a growing disdain for judgment and punishment along with the idea that God will judge, even with a judgment that carries eternal consequences. Many now refuse to believe in such a righteous God, preferring a god of their own making, a soft-cuddly god, on with whom they feel comfortable, whose medicine chest only contains love. However, as any parent can tell us, love also requires discipline and punishment.

Because the West tends to believe that enough love will conquer all, therapy and rehabilitation have displaced punishment as the treatment of choice. The West no longer has any patience with the concept of “evil.” Instead, we have adopted the therapeutic model that claims that we are merely a product of our environment, and products do not deserve punishment. However, we should not forsake the club for the sake of the carrot. When we find that love cannot conquer all, we also recognize that both have their place.