The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Chronicles 19:1-4,
"In the course of time, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him as king. David thought, 'I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.' So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.
When David's envoys came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, 'Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Haven't his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?' So Hanun seized David's envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away."
This, of course, led to war. David, in an expression of kindness to the successor to the throne of the Ammonites, sent envoys. They were treated horribly. As I say, no good dead goes unpunished.
However, that is never the whole story. The Lord has a way of making bad things turn for the good for those who love him - and David loved the Lord. While David may have raged at what happened, and while the text doesn't say, but may have wondered what he did to be treated in such a horrible way, it all culminated for the good for David.
The Ammonites were routed by David's forces and the mercenaries hired by them, the Arameans, became subjected to him. "But they [the Arameans] fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophak the commander of their army. When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore." Verses 18-19.
The power of the Ammonites and the Arameans was finally broken, and David's rule was extended to the Euphrates. The account is also provided in 2 Samuel 10.
Paul makes the point that even when it seems like no good deed goes unpunished, the Lord will ultimately work it for our good, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us... And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:18, 28.
"In the course of time, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him as king. David thought, 'I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.' So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.
When David's envoys came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, 'Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Haven't his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?' So Hanun seized David's envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away."
This, of course, led to war. David, in an expression of kindness to the successor to the throne of the Ammonites, sent envoys. They were treated horribly. As I say, no good dead goes unpunished.
However, that is never the whole story. The Lord has a way of making bad things turn for the good for those who love him - and David loved the Lord. While David may have raged at what happened, and while the text doesn't say, but may have wondered what he did to be treated in such a horrible way, it all culminated for the good for David.
The Ammonites were routed by David's forces and the mercenaries hired by them, the Arameans, became subjected to him. "But they [the Arameans] fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophak the commander of their army. When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore." Verses 18-19.
The power of the Ammonites and the Arameans was finally broken, and David's rule was extended to the Euphrates. The account is also provided in 2 Samuel 10.
Paul makes the point that even when it seems like no good deed goes unpunished, the Lord will ultimately work it for our good, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us... And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:18, 28.
How wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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