Honor Instead

S

(2 Samuel 10:2) And David said, "I will deal loyally [kindly] with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally [kindly] with me."

O

David's sense of justice and goodness guided him to try to console Hanun (the new king of the Ammonites) whose father had just died ... even though the Ammonites had long been cruel oppressors of Israel. David's risky kindness was repaid with insults and eventually physical violence against the whole nation. All of this was ultimately an affront to God who was guiding David.

A

I like Joab's response to the Ammonite attack (v. 12); Joab was commander of Israel's armies. (1) "Be of good courage"; that is, stir up from deep within you the highest character that God makes available to you. (2) "And let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God"; that is, remember that we live and serve with great consequences for our loved ones and future generations. (3) "And may the Lord do what seems good to Him"; that is, remember that God's good purposes transcend this conflict and our tiny perspectives.

P

Jesus, I commit myself to treating people honorably, kindly, and generously--even though I risk them mistreating and maligning me in the process. I'd rather live and die honorably, serving You well, than to shrink back to small, vindictive responses.