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1 Chronicles Chapter 19 (ESV)
1 Now after this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his place. 2 And David said, “I will deal kindly with Hanun the son of Nahash, for his father dealt kindly with me.” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came to the land of the Ammonites to Hanun to console him. 3 But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” 4 So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away; 5 and they departed. When David was told concerning the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.”
6 When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah. 7 They hired 32,000 chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and encamped before Medeba. And the Ammonites were mustered from their cities and came to battle. 8 When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. 9 And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.
REFLECTION:
- Amon is adjacent to the east border of Israel. Ben-ammi, the ancestor of the Ammonites was born from the incest of Lot and his daughter (cf. Gen 19:30-38). The Ammonites and the Israelites were enemy for generations. The military power of the Ammonites reached its peak at the time of the Judges. David was the first military leader who suppress the Ammonites forbidding them to disturb the Israelites for many years. Because of over-suspicion, Hanun misunderstood David’s intention and brought trouble to himself. Because of past experience, people are easily suspicious of others and question their intention. While we should be cautious and wise in dealing with others, we should not infer they have malicious intentions in all things. Reflect whether you always suspect other people’s intention in your relationships.
- Hanun did not admit his mistake and seek forgiveness and reconciliation with David, but rather spent a large sum of money to hide his fault. He paid a great price for this (20:1-4). Hiding a fault is often much more costly than admitting it honestly. People try to find an excuse to hide a fault but the result will be even worse. When you commit a mistake, it is better to confess immediately and seek forgiveness and reconciliation. This will lessen the pain and trouble for both parties. From Hanun’s covering up of his fault, reflect how you treat your own mistakes.
PRAYER:
Ask God to forgive your trespasses because nothing can be hidden from God. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb 4:12); Ask God to cleanse you and lead you to walk on the path of righteousness.
