Newly-Crowned

II Samuel 10

This chapter describes how Hanun, who has just taken his father's place as king of Ammon, gives in to silly superstition (aka he's deceived by a lie) and brings about destruction upon his people, the children of Ammon.

After David shows kindness to Mephibosheth, Saul's lame grandson (for Jonathan's sake), He decides to show kindness to Hanun (for the kindness of Nahash, Hanun's father, showed to David). (This is also another crazy thing to consider- Just as David did, God blesses those who bless us. And this just fits the theme of blessing/cursing passing along from father to son. So if you care about your children, be a blessing, and they'll be blessed for it too! Also, thank your parents if you are blessed because of their love and kindness to the Lord!) Anyhoo here's the story:

2 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thikest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

5When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bathrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.

7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

[The Syrians then flee before Joab and the Israelites with him, then the Ammonites flee before Abishai and the Israelites with him (after seeing the Syrians do so), and then the Syrians gather together & Hadarezer sends them to fight with David. This time, not only do they flee before Israel, but David kills 700 chariots of Syrian men, 40,000 horsemen, and Shobach their captain] (GET IT, KING DAVID)

vs 19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

David was trying to bless Hanun the children of the land of Ammon with honour and comfort the whole time! If only Hanun had believed David's servants/messengers and accepted his blessing rather than becoming all defensive and fighting because of superstition, thousands of lives wouldn't have been taken. But it's awesome how God got the glory regardless. Kings made peace with Israel and became servants to them. The people now had the fear of the Lord!

This event just cracks me up bc Hanun is like so many of us believers who act as if God is just out to get us. We believe He's always trying to think of ways to trick us and get us out of control so he can destroy our lives or keep us from fun when in fact He wants to bless his children. He knows that when we're in control, we screw ourselves over and miss out on true blessing.

Stop being so defensive. Stop believing lies. Use the judgement of the Word. "Let my sentence (judgement/verdict) come forth from thy presence"- Spend time with the Lord and realize he wants to bless you! If you are a child of God, there is no greater thing he wants for you than for you to be blessed in Him. That may not mean perfect circumstances, but it does mean Him- and He is the ultimate prize.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.