David’s Comfort (2 Samuel 10:1-2)

1 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.

• 1-2 King of the Ammonites / Nahash:
  • The Ammonites:
    • Descendants of Lot (Abraham’s nephew), through an incestuous relationship with his youngest daughter (Genesis 19:36-38).
    • When Israel came into the promised land, God instructed them to leave the Ammonites alone.
      • Deuteronomy 2:19 (ESV) — 19 …do not harass them or contend with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot for a possession.
    • But during the period of the judges, Ammon cultivated hostility towards Israel.
      • Saul’s first victory for Israel, as a matter of fact, was over King Nahash, the now-deceased Ammonite king (1 Samuel 11:1-11).
• 2 His father dealt loyally with me: So Nahash and the Ammonites had behaved kindly to Israel for a long while.
  • Some suspect Nahash had even offered refuge to David during his flight from Saul.
  • David wanted to continue their peaceful and mutually advantageous relationship.

• David’s desire to console Hanun is appealing.
  • It reminds us much of Christ who longs to console a broken and weary world.
    • John 3:16 (ESV) — 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
    • Isaiah 45:22 (ESV) — 22 “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
    • Ezekiel 18:23 (ESV) — 23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
    • 1 Timothy 2:3–4 (ESV) — 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
    • 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) — 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
• Ways David’s consolation mirrors Christ’s.
  • 1 He sent messengers.
  • 2 His message was misunderstood (see v. 3-4).
    • Remember: Christ has sent us to this world.
    • Are you ready to be, like David’s messengers, misunderstood?
      • Acts 17:6 (ESV) — 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also…”
• Ways David’s consolation is exceeded by Christ’s.
  • Jesus sent himself before he sent messengers.

David’s Love (2 Samuel 10:3-5)

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. 5 When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.”

• 4 Shaved off half the beard and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips:
  • Hanun, believing David had terrible motives, humiliated David’s messengers in two ways.
    • 1 By shaving off half their beards.
      • Vertically.
      • Jewish men, especially leaders, wore beards as a symbol of maturity and authority. The naked face was an embarassment.
    • 2 By cutting off their garments.
      • Forced indecency.
      • Other translations: “At the buttocks.” Mini-skirts!
      • Later, Isaiah prophesied that the brutal Assyrians would do this to defeated captives and exiles (Isaiah 20:4).
• 5 The men the were greatly ashamed: Of course.

• David’s love for his men by covering their shame is appealing.
  • Reminds us of the Lord who is the ultimate remover of shame.
• David gave them three things to solve their shame.
  • 1 New clothes (implied).
  • 2 Jericho: Distance.
  • 3 Until your beards have grown: Time.
    • Jesus gives you new clothes, but also will give you space and time to overcome shame.
      • Paul’s time in Tarsus — preparatory time and distance.
      • Bridge residents.
      • My time in Bible College.
      • Time to grow…
    • Note: It was their shame which served as a vehicle for David’s love. So our shame is often a vehicle for the love of Christ.
• Jesus became ashamed for you and me.
  • Hebrews 12:2 (ESV) — 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
  • His beard was plucked out. His robe was stripped. His body was crushed.

David’s Servants (2 Samuel 10:6-14)

6 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. 7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men. 8 And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate, and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country. 9 When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians. 10 The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. 11 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 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.” 13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

• 6-14 The Ammonites saw that / stench to David / Syrians fled: The Ammonites responded to their declaration of war by attacking Israel.

• David’s servants are appealing.
  • 1 Strategic.
    • 9-10 Best men / Syrians / the rest / Abishai / Ammonites
    • Matthew 10:16 (ESV) — 16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
  • 2 Willing to help one another.
    • 11 If the Syrians are too strong / you shall help me / Ammonites / I will come
    • Nehemiah 4:19–20 (ESV) — 19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
  • 3 Courageous.
    • 12 Good courage / let us be courageous
    • Reminiscent of God’s commands to Joshua and all Israel (Deuteronomy 31:6-7, 23; Joshua 1:6-7, 9).
      • Joshua 1:9 (ESV) — 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
      • Tap into that ancient mentality like Joab did!
  • 4 Responsible for others.
    • 12 for our people / for the cities of our God
    • Missions
      • Acts 13:2 (ESV) — 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
  • 5 Trusted in God.
    • 12 May the LORD do what seems good to him

David’s Power (2 Samuel 10:15-19)

15 But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates. They came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. 19 And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.

• 15 But when the Syrians saw: They had come to help the Ammonites, but had been defeated by Israel, so they gathered themselves together to fight Israel again.
• 16 Hadadezer, the king of Zobah (8:3-8), appears for a second time. He’d been defeated once before. Now, linking with the Syrian armies, he was at the head with Shobach the commander.
• 17-18 When it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan. The Syrians readied themselves for a fight, but fled before Israel, giving David a massive victory, including the mortal wounding of Shobach.
• 19 Only then did all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer make peace with Israel and become subject to them. The Syrians would not try to save the Ammonites anymore.

• David’s power is appealing.
  • David’s compassion and love do not negate his power.
    • He came to Ammon in kindness.
    • But he came again in wrath.
      • Ultimate peace did not come through his benevolence, but his strength.
• Christ will return in power.
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (ESV) — 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
  • 2 Peter 3:1–13 (ESV) — 1 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
  • 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
  • 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.