Today's Reading:

2 Samuel 10
1 Chronicles 19
Psalm 20
Psalm 53
Psalm 60
Psalm 75

The key takeaway from these chapters is to act with kindness and loyalty when possible, especially to those who are hurting or grieving. We are also to use strategic wisdom, trusting in God’s outcome. Know that God is sovereign and the ultimate supreme power, therefore go with confidence in all that you do for Him.

Joab told his brother to “be strong and courageous… for our people and for the cities of our God.” We have a human responsibility to be prepared, fight bravely, and to help each other. All the while, we are to trust in God’s sovereignty. He is the ultimate supreme power, and we are to let Him decide the end results in all battles, whether personal, relational, or spiritual. (As my husband Steve says, “Do your best, and let God do the rest.”)

David chose to show kindness to Hanun simply because his father had once shown him kindness, even when it looked risky. Joab, surrounded by enemies, encouraged his brother to “be strong and courageous” while trusting God for the outcome. When have you had to choose between playing it safe or showing unexpected kindness and loyalty, even when it feels costly or unwise? How did trusting God with the results change the way you approached that situation?

 

After David had defeated the Ammonites, their king, Nahash, died. David wanted to show kindness to Hanun, the king’s son, because his father had once shown David kindness. David sent messengers to comfort Hanun, who was now the new king. Note that the kindness David had shown Mephibosheth in the last chapter was now being extended to the new pagan king, even though the Ammonites were former enemies. As Christians, we too should be extending comfort and kindness, especially in times of grief. Being followers of Jesus, we are not to hold back care and compassion, even if they are not “one of us.”

Hanun’s commanders were worried that David’s messengers were only pretending to show kindness in order to spy out and overthrow the land so David could conquer it. Hanun had the Israelite messengers’ beards shaved half off and cut out the back of their pants to humiliate them in public shaming. (It was symbolic of castration, being partially naked in public, exposing private parts, and the uncovered buttocks). A full beard was a sign of dignity and a free man; shaving it half off made them look silly. The Israelites' circumcision was often mocked by enemies in an attack on their sacred sign of God’s covenant with Israel. This was all meant to strip them of honor and treat them like slaves or prisoners.

David, in response, told the men to stay in Jericho until their beards grew back. This gave them dignity and not be humiliated further in front of their own people. He did not want them to come home and face more shame in front of their families.

Because of the shameful act, the Ammonites realized David was furious and that war was coming. They hired mercenaries from the Syrian (Aramean) to help fight Israel. David heard of the army and sent out his commander, Joab, with David’s “mighty men.” Joab and the men were surrounded. Instead of giving up, Joab showed leadership and faith. He split the army between himself and his brother Abishai, calling out for them to have courage and faith going forward.

The Lord gave Israel a victory. David’s men killed 700 Syrian charioteers (or 7,000 according to 1 Chronicles; most scholars agree the difference may come from counting the crew, or different parts of the army). They also killed 40,000 foot soldiers. The Syrian commander Shobak (called Shophak in Chronicles) was also killed. In the end, the remaining Ammonites and their allies became afraid or unwilling to help each other anymore. The Ammonites eventually became a vassal nation under Israel, paying tribute and serving David.

Psalm 20
Trust in God’s protection and strength over human power. Bring peace over us. This ties into the chapters from 2 Samuel 10 and 1 Chronicles 19. It was like a prayer that David or others would pray for him before the battle against the Ammonites. Be so in tune with God and wanting His will that your plans are already His plans, which will succeed. The psalm’s prayers began with the word “May”: May the Lord answer you, May He send you help, May He remember your offerings, and May He give you the desire of your heart. David asked God to send help from the sanctuary, meaning His holy presence. God is the only real hope and the one who brings victory. The end of the psalm declared, “Now this I know…” After all of the “May’s” it shifted from hope to certainty. He knows that the Lord saves His anointed king. Some trust in chariots and horses (the high power military of that time), but we trust in the name of the Lord.

Psalm 53
This psalm states that we are not in control; God is. So let go of the path you want to follow and trust Him instead. Psalm 53 was like a rewritten version of Psalm 14 about the fool who said there is no God. The psalmist asked, “Does anyone understand and seek Him?” His answer is that all are corrupt and turned away, therefore no one does good. God will overwhelm the ones who attack His people and scatter their bones left on the battlefield, left unburied. God will despise them as they have done the same to Him. Denying that God exists is foolish, which leads to corruption and judgment.

Psalm 60
Note that this psalm is the only one “for teaching” (Miktam). While fighting the Syrian army, Joab killed 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. God was angry with Israel. The psalmist begged for God’s help after they lost to their enemy. “You have given us wine that makes us stagger,” meaning that He made them drink from the cup of wrath. Edom was in the Transjordan area, and they had succeeded in taking over the garrisons that guarded Judah’s (S) southeastern borders near Egypt. Shechem (west) and Sukkoth (east) would be divided and given to His people. Gilead (east) and Manasseh (west) were the northern areas of kingship. Ephraim was the Northern kingdom called Israel through Jacob’s wife Rachel. Judah was the southern kingdom through Jacob’s wife Leah. The scepter is the Lord’s chosen to rule Israel. In verse 8 it mentioned Moab, Edom and Philistia who were all constant enemies of Israel. David was exhausted but put his trust in the Lord.

Psalm 75
This was a corporate psalm about having confidence in God as He chooses the time and places of judgment. He stands firm. When the enemy powers are strong, know that God is sovereign and always judges fairly. Do not lift up your “horns” (be arrogant in your own power). The wicked are arrogant and foolish; they will drink from God’s cup. “Full of foaming wine mixed with spices,” this was an intoxicating combination symbolizing disorientation and the foaming fermentation of wrath, “drained to the dregs” of devastation and punishment. Have gratitude to God, as it brings us closer to Him.

Today's Discussion question: 

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