The Danger of Goodness Taken For Granted
We are one chapter away from the infamous moment of David and Bathsheba. For all the ink that has been spilled over that moment, we do well to look at the preceding experience David has in 2 Samuel 10.
2 Samuel 10:1–4 (ESV) After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 2 And David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the Ammonites. 3 But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away.
David has shown kindness to as many as he can find on route to the throne of Israel. It began at the end of Saul's reign and continues to this moment. He showed kindness to Saul, and to Ishboseth his son, to Saul's commander Abner. He showed kindness to the men too tired to chase down the Amalekite raiders by sharing the returns with them. He showed kindness to his family and the nation - bringing them food. He just finished showing kindness to the last living descendant of Saul - Mephibosheth by restoring his lands, seating him at his table and giving him servants.
Now David takes his kindness to another level. The words, "after this" in verse 1 indicate that what happens in 2 Samuel 10 is linked to what happened in chapter 9. David is increasing his concern for others, restoring relationships and building bridges. He's going to start blessing the nations around him. In fact, David is going to epitomize what the Lord originally intended for His people, to be a prosperous and generous blessing to the nations.
The occasion of this kindness is the death of the Ammonite king. David remembers a certain loyalty which scripture does not actually record. The Ammonite king was an enemy of Saul and perhaps helped David out of animosity toward Israel during David's exile. David most likely readily received such help as he ran for his life. So David decides to send a delegation to console son of Nahash over his father's death.
The return for David's kindness is rampant animosity. They humiliate David's emissaries by shaving off half their beards (a symbol of masculinity) and cutting off their garments to expose them. The goal was utter humiliation. David's response will be swift and vigilant.
Anticipating retribution, the Ammonites quickly prepare for war.
2 Samuel 10:6 (ESV) When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob, 12,000 men.
A long military campaign is summed up in the rest of the chapter and David's legendary ability utterly destroys both the Ammonites and the Syrians. The battle is won but the wounds to David's soul must have stayed. For it will be after this insulting experience that David will send out Joab on his behalf to fight the wars of Israel while he stays home only to be tempted by the lusts of the flesh.
For me, this chapter speaks to a very important lesson for Christians. We must never put too much stock in the response of the world to our acts of kindness and mercy. Like David, we may reach out to an unbeliever and only get insults in return. This is what the Early Church regularly experienced. They experienced it so much that Peter wrote these words:
1 Peter 2:12 (ESV) Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
We should expect the state of hardened man to reject God's goodness. We should expect to be repaid evil for good. That is the world's method. Let us learn here from David to not expect too much so that we give up the right actions and open the doors to devastating temptations.
Interestingly, Joab provides great counsel for God's people as they wage war in the spiritual realm against a hostile enemy looking to sour us. When the battle seemed overwhelming, he cried out:
2 Samuel 10:12 (ESV) Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.”
The pathway to courageous Christianity in an increasingly hostile and hateful culture is to do good and let God produce the results He wants.
2 Samuel 10:1–4 (ESV) After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 2 And David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the Ammonites. 3 But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away.
David has shown kindness to as many as he can find on route to the throne of Israel. It began at the end of Saul's reign and continues to this moment. He showed kindness to Saul, and to Ishboseth his son, to Saul's commander Abner. He showed kindness to the men too tired to chase down the Amalekite raiders by sharing the returns with them. He showed kindness to his family and the nation - bringing them food. He just finished showing kindness to the last living descendant of Saul - Mephibosheth by restoring his lands, seating him at his table and giving him servants.
Now David takes his kindness to another level. The words, "after this" in verse 1 indicate that what happens in 2 Samuel 10 is linked to what happened in chapter 9. David is increasing his concern for others, restoring relationships and building bridges. He's going to start blessing the nations around him. In fact, David is going to epitomize what the Lord originally intended for His people, to be a prosperous and generous blessing to the nations.
The occasion of this kindness is the death of the Ammonite king. David remembers a certain loyalty which scripture does not actually record. The Ammonite king was an enemy of Saul and perhaps helped David out of animosity toward Israel during David's exile. David most likely readily received such help as he ran for his life. So David decides to send a delegation to console son of Nahash over his father's death.
The return for David's kindness is rampant animosity. They humiliate David's emissaries by shaving off half their beards (a symbol of masculinity) and cutting off their garments to expose them. The goal was utter humiliation. David's response will be swift and vigilant.
Anticipating retribution, the Ammonites quickly prepare for war.
2 Samuel 10:6 (ESV) When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob, 12,000 men.
A long military campaign is summed up in the rest of the chapter and David's legendary ability utterly destroys both the Ammonites and the Syrians. The battle is won but the wounds to David's soul must have stayed. For it will be after this insulting experience that David will send out Joab on his behalf to fight the wars of Israel while he stays home only to be tempted by the lusts of the flesh.
For me, this chapter speaks to a very important lesson for Christians. We must never put too much stock in the response of the world to our acts of kindness and mercy. Like David, we may reach out to an unbeliever and only get insults in return. This is what the Early Church regularly experienced. They experienced it so much that Peter wrote these words:
1 Peter 2:12 (ESV) Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
We should expect the state of hardened man to reject God's goodness. We should expect to be repaid evil for good. That is the world's method. Let us learn here from David to not expect too much so that we give up the right actions and open the doors to devastating temptations.
Interestingly, Joab provides great counsel for God's people as they wage war in the spiritual realm against a hostile enemy looking to sour us. When the battle seemed overwhelming, he cried out:
2 Samuel 10:12 (ESV) Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.”
The pathway to courageous Christianity in an increasingly hostile and hateful culture is to do good and let God produce the results He wants.
Comments
Post a Comment