2 Samuel 10

Bible Passage:  2 Samuel 10

At the start of Chapter 10, we see the beautiful act of David in honouring his covenant with Jonathan to his descendents was not confined to only his good friend.

The Ammonite king had once been an ally of David during his difficult years under King Saul (cf. 1 Sam 11).  But he had now passed away and his son, Hanun had succeeded him as king.  David wanted to extend his sympathies and kindness to him but instead of accepting David’s kind intentions, Hanun was ill-advised to humiliate David’s messengers.

This spelt war! And when the Ammonites realized their mistake, their hired mercenaries (lots of them) to help fight against David and his mighty men.  But Joab, David’s general, and David led the Israelites to firmly rout the Ammonites and their hired help.

Serves them right isn’t it?

I mean, David offered and olive branch and instead of accepting it, they declared war.  I am not sure why the advisors of Hanun advised him the actions he took but it does sound familiar to me…

Have you ever jumped to the wrong conclusions without bothering to gather all the facts?  I know I have…. and very ashamed to say… many times.

Hanun’s ill-considered response says much to me about accepting bad advice and asuming the worst about others.  Sometimes we tend to ‘see beyond’ what the matters really are and assume all sort of things and then react to these imagined scenarios.

But such reactions can stir up trouble and make enemies of friends.

Reading through the verses of wisdom in Proverbs 6:2-5; 12:18; 15:1, it causes me to think and reflect on the many occasions that I have been too quick with my words and have said too many unkind and uncalled for words against people who do not deserve it.

Lord… please help me not to deserve it too.

Surrounded by Troubles

Recently, I must admit, I have been greatly troubled.  There are just so many things that I cannot resolve or get a handle on and I am getting disappointed, dismayed, disheartened, distressed, disillusioned, discouraged and even to the point of being disconsolate.

But God being God, He has decided to show me in today’s passage, what He wants me to do.  I was not even supposed to be writing today but I am truly thankful for God opening my eye to see this and I hope it can help you too.

Joab was in the same tight spot.  When sent to attack the Ammonites, he suddenly found himself surrounded.  In front were the Ammonites, and behind him the Amareans (Syrians).  And he was not facing a small army (just the Amareans army aloned numbered more than 30,000).

But Joab had only one strategy in battle – attack.  Many generals would consider surrender when surrounded on both sides by the enemy, but not Joab.  He called the army to courage and faith and told them to press on.  It is quite interesting to see that in his arrangements, he made no allowance for the possibility of failure.  It did not seem to have occurred to him that the allied enemy forces might just be too much for them.

“Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
2 Sam 10:12

Do some of these words sound familiar?  It should (:  If you cannot remember … drop a note and I will remind you where we have read them before.

But in these words of Joab to the mighty men just before the battle, there are at least 3 great points that can also ‘jia you’ (give me the extra impetus) to face what I am facing now with greater conviction and strength…

Be of good courage, and let us be strong

Courage and strength are not matters of feeling or circumstance.  They are matters of choice, especially when God makes His strength available to us.  We can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10).

I guess when you are trying to do things on your own, you tend to forget that God is there.

And that is why you feel so weak and helpless and you allow things to overwhelm you.

Ok… I am talking to myself here.

When Joab was surrounded by his enemies, he did not see problems.  Instead, he saw an opportunity… and opportunity for him to find courage and strength in the Lord and knowing that his God will deliver him.

I want to be like Joab.

Let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God

Joab called them to remember all they had to lose.  If they lost this battle, they would also lose both their people and their cities.  This was a battle bigger than themselves, and the army of the mighty men had to remember that.

It is also a very good reminder for me too.  I need to be reminded that the work I am doing in Church is not just for myself.  It is also for the members and the house of God.

I am called to be a mighty warrior of God’s army.  Battles are to be expected.  Difficulties are a given.

But when I am reminded of why I am doing this… for our people and the church…. I am now given the courage and strength to carry now… to face the issues and work that lies ahead.

May God continue to remind me and give me the strength that I need in Him.

And may the Lord do what is good in His sight

Joab wisely prepared for the battle to the best of his ability and worked hard for the victory.  At the same time, he knew that the outcome was ultimately in God’s hands.

I am sure all of us knows this… that everything is to be done in God’s will and it lies in His hands.  But many a times, we tend to be forget this and want things done our way and according to how we see things should happen.

Or we think that since this is God’s work, it will surely happen and I do not have to do too much.  Somehow God will find a way to get things done according to His will.

This two extremes are not right.

There is a need to make use of our God given talents, abilities and put in our effort to plan, execute and follow through what we have to do for the house of God.  And still keeping in mind that it must be in accordance to God’s will, not ours.

It is difficult … especially when we are fully involved and have put in a lot of heart, soul and effort into the matter.  But we have to learn… I have to learn that ultimately, it is the Lord who knows what is best for me and His people.

Sometimes I wonder if I ever deserve the mercy and grace that God has shown me.

I said just now that I was not meant to write today’s passage but in doing it, it has helped me to reflect and learn several important lessons.  As I wrote this on a Sat night, it was after the Sabbath afternoon service where I was called to teach the RE Class as a last minute replacement.

I was a little bit peeved to be honest.  Ok…  not happy at all.

But the lesson was on Job’s Repentance…. and in teaching the class, it also helped me to see me for who I really am … that I was suffering from Job’s syndrome… (Rom 12:3a)

So two big lessons from God on a single day.

I am thankful…

Ashamed…. but grateful.

Now isn’t that the reason why we should read the Bible regularly so that we can really draw closer to Him day by day?