King Hanun
2 Sam 10:1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
2 Sam 10:2 Then said David, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
David sends ambassadors to the new king of the Ammonites to comfort him at his father's death.
2 Sam 10:3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
The inexperienced king had unwise counselors who did not trust David's ambassadors, thinking that they came as spies.
Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Prov 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Prov 1:9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Prov 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
We have the wisdom of God's word. We are not without truth.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
2 Sam 10:4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
The king mocked the servants of David, shaving off half their beards and uncovering their behinds. They were representing David, so this was as unto David. This is an old testament type of God sending his son into the world and him being treated with contempt, God takes this as unto himself. Remember the parable of the husbandmen in Mat 21:33-40. The King sent his servants and they were treated shamefully. Then he sent his son and they killed him. This angered the king; he would punish them.
2 Sam 10:5 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
David did not wish to further shame his servants. He told them to stay in Jericho until their beards were grown out. Your heavenly father sends you on a mission of goodwill into the world. If you are treated shamefully, then rejoice, they did so to his son, Jesus. You are not required to continue in shame.
Mat 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Mat 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Ammon and Syria war
2 Sam 10:6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
Their actions were a bad smell and an offense to David. Rather than repent or apologize they hired mercenary soldiers from Syria to fight with them. Might does not make right.
Jer 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
2 Sam 10:7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
Joab was to lead David's mighty men of valor into battle. The first hearing of David's mighty men, was when he was in hiding from Saul. They were a bunch of misfits, but God made them a mighty army. This is a picture of God's church, the army of God.
1 Sam 22:2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
2 Sam 10:8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
The armies of Israel came to the gate of the city of the Ammonites and the Ammonites faced them for battle, behind Israel in the field were the armies of the Syrians, they were surrounded.
2 Sam 10:9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
When surrounded by the enemy, they did not give up, something for us to remember.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Joab chose the best of his mighty men to go against the Syrians, who were tough fighting men.
2 Sam 10:10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.
2 Sam 10:11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.
Another Christian principle from this is unity, though divided against the enemy, they were one heart.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
2 Sam 10:12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.
Be of good courage, we fight for our country and people. The LORD spoke this also to Joshua, and it is for us. We trust in the LORD.
Josh 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
2 Sam 10:13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
2 Sam 10:14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
The enemy was no match for the power of God. All battles are fought in the spirit first.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
When we stand before the devil trusting in the LORD, he will flee and he will return again another day. God is our strength, not our flesh. Someday the enemy of our souls will be cast into the lake of fire. Then we shall be with our Lord forever. Until that day we must continue being connected to our Lord, our defender.
The enemy returns
2 Sam 10:15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
2 Sam 10:16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
Apparently the Syrian army was not used to defeat, they came again to oppose Israel. This time with fresh reinforcements from beyond the river.
We must be ready for the return of the enemy. We should not think that our victory in the past will go uncontested. Yes, it is play for the devil, play for the generals and warfare for us. I am thinking of what Jesus said about driving out demons from a person. That may not be the end of warfare. The person must stay close to God, study His word and exercise his faith.
Mat 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Mat 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Mat 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
But, this need not be the case. God was with Israel to overcome their enemy and he will overcome again and again. We must keep our trust in God.
2 Sam 10:17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
King David went with the men to fight the enemy.
2 Sam 10:18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.
The first battle was a retreat, this one was taking the possessions of the enemy. With God we win the victory, again and again and again. See the spoils of victory as we go forth under the power of our LORD. The captain of their host was defeated, he died in battle. Satan is defeated, only not yet destroyed. When King Jesus comes to battle, satan will be bound in chains.
2 Sam 10:19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
The Syrians brought gifts to Israel, no longer did they serve Ammon. When we are bought from satan through our Lord Jesus, he gives us gifts and we return our gifts and our labor of love to him.
Rev 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
We no longer serve the enemy of God nor shall we fear him. The Lord is our help.
Psa 121:1 ... I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
Psa 121:2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Psa 121:3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Psa 121:4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
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