2nd Samuel chapter 10

The Ammonites & Syrians Defeated

Before we do is there anybody who would like to share anything that they Learned from camp this last weekend ?

Also who had a birthday this week ?

Come on up

So today we are going to be going through 2nd Samuel Chapter 10, Kind of Similar to chapter 9 because in chapter 9 David shows Kindness, ( His kindness was shown to Mephibosheth, Johnathans Son, a Descendant of Saul, a man who was crippled in both feet)

Here in Chapter 10 He shows Kindness again but the kindness isn’t recieved as well as it was in Chapter 9

It actually wasn’t recieved at all

Davids Kind gesture was taken as a hidden motive, when in reality he was just trying to be nice

Sometimes in Life we can do things out of the kindness of our hearts and for what ever reason those kind gestures that we do are not recieved well by others

its very sad when that happens, all you are trying to do is be nice and yet it isn’t recieved. Or it is recieved in a wrong way

You see in this world that we live in today we can expect for kind gestures to be taken as hidden motives, like we are about to read

Kind gestures can be taken out of context simply because someone thinks that you are not being genuine

When I think about this it reminds me of a time when Holding the door open for a Lady was taken as chivalrous , but in todays society some people will take that as sexist because they think that you think a woman can’t open her own door……..

As people especially as believers its very important that we believe the very best in people and we don’t Judge their motives or there heart

No one truly knows another persons motives until they actually find out

Jumping to conclusions before communicating always causes issues

An emotional response is never going to get us anywhere but in trouble

so lets Start reading through the Text

2 Samuel 10:1–5 NKJV

1 It happened after this that the king of the people of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 2 Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the people of Ammon. 3 And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?” 4 Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away. 5 When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”

So if any of you remember Nahash was actually an enemy of the Nation of Israel

Back in 1st Samuel chapter 11 Saul went to battle with the people of Ammon and they were lead by King Nahash

David actually befriended Nahash because they were both enemies of Saul . David at one point during His life lived among Nahash and His people when he was being hunted by Saul

So there relationship was somewhat friendly

Now David has been a stand up kind of Guy his whole Life

at the beginning of Second Samuel we saw how hurt David was when he heard about the Death of Saul

2 Samuel 1:11–12 NKJV

11 Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

God had given David a heart for people even when they were His enemies

So here We see that even though Nahash is technically an enemy, David still had compassion for a man that Helped him at one Point

Which is why He sent messengers to Hanun the son of Nahash, to give His condolences

Davids heart in mourning with Hanun the son of Nahash was pure and innocent, He had no Ill intentions

We know that for sure simply based off of the character of David

Now regarding what Hanun Did to Davids messengers,

going back to verse 4 , shaving off the beards of Davids Men left them with an un recognizable appearance

it actually made them to be in direct violation to the old testament Law of Moses

Leviticus 19:27 “27 You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard.”

Isaiah 15:2 “2 He has gone up to the temple and Dibon, To the high places to weep. Moab will wail over Nebo and over Medeba; On all their heads will be baldness, And every beard cut off.”

Jeremiah 41:5 “5 that certain men came from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, eighty men with their beards shaved and their clothes torn, having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the Lord.”

Baldness or beards that were shaven were a sign of rebellion or mourning but in this case for the men of David it was a sign of Humility

they were humiliated by Hanun and his men because it was believed that they were there to gather intelligence, against the enemy

the beard itself was also a sign of Masculinity to the men that were alive during this time period

This brings me to my first point in this chapter and that is

1) Understanding Someones Motives

the example here that we see from Hanun is not a very good example

for what ever reason our Human nature tends to judge other peoples motives often

i’m guilty of it and i’m sure everyone of you is guilty of it too

but judging another persons motives is saying that you know without a doubt exactly what they are thinking and the heart behind it and that is simply not true

Many times in life have I over reacted over something so stupid just to find out it was the complete opposite of what I was thinking

Its crazy how far our feelings and emotions will take us when we are in an emotional state responding to something like a kind gesture

someones actions may not be there motive

someone may do something innocently that may have a perception but you don’t truly know exactly the motive behind what they are doing

I think one of the the things that the enemy loves to use to divide the church, is our ability to cast judgement on things we know nothing about ( Like we see here with this gentlemen Hanun)

Now biblically speaking God sees things in a way that we don’t naturally

Naturally our brains due to the sinful nature in us loves to go and side with things that are not true

things that are emotional and irrational Jeremiah 17 verse 9 says

Jeremiah 17:9 “9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”

Our hearts naturally are the complete opposite of the Heart of God. Which do you think you should follow when it comes to judging someones motives before you know the whole truth ?

In 1 Samuel 16:7 “7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

though are hearts are wicked naturally, doesn’t mean that our hearts always have evil intentions

God is the one to cast judgement on our motives and he is the one who sees the true heart we have

so it is not our Job to judge what is in someones heart, thats the Lords Job, and if people have evil intentions and evil motives, then God is going to be the one they have to answer to

1 Corinthians 4:5 “5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”

1st Cor 4:5 NLT Version Says it this way: ( So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due)

Hanun Got this one wrong, He listened to the outside influence of His men and Judged the men of David wrongfully

They, instead of receiving the kind gesture from David and his Men, Persecuted the men

Now as believers, as followers of christ We know that we will have to endure some form of suffering while we are here on earth

we are not exempt from suffering, in fact when we suffer as christians , we know that we are doing something right that the enemy Hates !

In 2nd Timothy Paul tells Timothy this very thing

2 Timothy 3:12“12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

Even More so when we look back into the Gospel of John

John 15:18–21 “18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”

Persecution is also something that we can rejoice in, when we are being persecuted it means that we are doing a good Job for the Lord

Matthew 5:11 “11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.”

Matthew 5:12 “12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

So Davids Men even though they were Humiliated, were doing the right thing

they followed the Lead of their King and even though the true heart behind the gesture was not recieved well,

the Lord took care of the situation for them, as we continue to read on

Matthew 10:16 “16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”

2 Samuel 10:6–14 (NKJV)

6 When the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob(Ree-Hob) and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers; and from the king of Maacah(maay-uhh-cuhh) one thousand men, and from Ish-Tob twelve thousand men.

7 Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men.

8 Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate. And the Syrians of Zoba, Beth Rehob, Ish-Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

9 When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best and put them in battle array against the Syrians.

10 And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, that he might set them in battle array against the people of Ammon.

11 Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.

12 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.”

13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.

14 When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai, and entered the city. So Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went to Jerusalem.

SO now here in these verses we see the Ammonites offended David and His men

SO they go and Hire sum 33,000 men that were paid for to fight this great battle they had created

1 Chronicles 19:6 “6 When the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, Hanun and the people of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Syrian Maacah, and from Zobah.”

the strategy of the enemy was to try and force the nation of Israel to fight on two separate fronts

this would have caused a split in Davids army and made it much more difficult to fight

but this is where we are going to camp out for probably the rest of our time

David had a faithful man by the name of Joab

Joab through out scripture is known to be competent, Loyal, wise, and at times very violent . He’s everything a King would need to be a commander for an army

Now Joab was not a perfect man, He actually was kind of rebellious and David should have killed Him back in chapter 3 after he had killed Abner, but for what ever reason David Spared Him

It was possible that he spared him because of His devotion and loyalty to King David

but he was still not the best man by any means

but when we read through the text we can kind of see why David would have Kept him around and forgiven Him even though he didn’t deserve it

2) Be a Helper

Joab Chose the finest in the military to go and fight the Syrians that were hired by the ammonites

and he also split the army in two giving His brother Abishai the other Half to fight the two fronts

If we read verse 11 again we can see a little more into the character of Joab

vs 11 again says 2 Samuel 10:11 “11 Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.”

believers have one thing in common and that is Jesus

we all serve Jesus and we all are in the sanctification process developing a heart for Jesus

Part of that Process means that we believers HELP other believers

Joab was a man that was a HELPER , He knew what it would take in His position to be successful and he was willing to HELP out His brother to have the same success

Many of us can be selfish at times in our walk and we can get caught up in what we need from others and what God can do for US

at some point its okay for us to sacrifice and Help others

Christianity is Not a selfish walk its a walk that HELPS others to grow

there are many different verses in the Bible that paint the picture of being a Helper for Christ

Helping others has many different looks to it

Luke 12:33–34 “33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

if we have the means, sell your possessions and give to those in need,

helping others with possessions here on earth is what we are called to do and when we help others , we benefit with spiritual blessings that are stored for us in heaven

The treasures in heaven is treasure that doesn’t need to worry about thieves stealing it, where mother nature can not destroy it, its spiritual not material !

Acts 20:35 “35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ””

if you look around at some of the most joyful people, its because they recognize that in this life, they are called to be Helpers for Christ

giving is an outlet that is far more rewarding that receiving

I think its very easy as a christian to get comfortable and to become a consumer rather than a Helper that Gives to Help

IDK even people that don’t believe in Jesus , you see all of those youtube videos , idk how many of them are real, Im sure some are but the ones where you see a guy give some homeless guy 100 bucks and then they set them up to see what they would do. Then they get some other dude to go over and ask Him for money. 9 out of 10 times the homeless dude will give most of if not all of what he was just given

but you see they Joy they have when they give to others , it is a blessing to Help others that are in need

Many of you have been on disaster relief trips , Alabama, or Florida , when you are there to help people who are in need of Help you see the blessing that it is to them and it encourages us even more to continue doing the Lords work

those are spiritual blessings that are good for our soul here on Earth

If it doesn’t bring you Joy to help other people then man you gotta pray for your heart

Galatians 6:9 “9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Sometimes like we were talking about earlier, its hard to continue day in and day out helping others

its a sacrifice to develop a giving heart that Helps others

Some of you will see that God has called you to ministry, ministry is all about Helping others to grow and mature in their walk, and a huge portion of that is to sacrifice your time , talent , and sometimes money (treasure) to Help others

Luke 6:38 “38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.””

Helping is without a doubt a call on any Christian/ Believers Life !

Joab Was a Man that Was willing to Help out His brother , so should we !

Another verse I want to focus on out of this Passage is Verse 12

3) Be Strong and Courageous with your Faith

2 Samuel 10:12 “12 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.””

So Joab and His character again is being unraveled , a man that should of been killed is showing us why he wasn’t

Not only was Joab someone who was willing to help at all costs but he was encouraging

He encouraged the men that he was going into battle with to be of good courage

Courage: is the ability to do something that frightens you

courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to look fear in the eyes and still move forward

( Share the Mountain Bike story with Timmy going down a 15ft Straight Wall) He said uhhhhh I hate Fear !!!!!!

Courage/courageous is yet another thing that we see we are called to be for the Kingdom of God over and over again:

Joshua the Man that was the successor to Moses, in the book of Joshua is commanded 4 times in the first chapter to be strong and Courageous

considering he was going to embark on a Journey that was impossible without the Strength of God

Joshua 1:6 “6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.”

Joshua 1:7 “7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 “9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””

Joshua 1:18 “18 Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.””

Being strong and courageous is not always for ourself , its for the people around you that you have been called to lead

Most good leaders that I know have a special ability to set aside fear and to Just go for it. They are strong and courageous men + women that understand that strength and courage come from God

courageous people also have the ability like Joab to encourage others to be courageous

2 Timothy 1:7 “7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (Scottis Favorite verse rn)

1 Chronicles 28:20 “20 And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.”

(Solomon Being a Leader, David Being a Leader)

1 Corinthians 16:13 “13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”

Psalm 56:3–4 “3 Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. 4 In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?”

Deuteronomy 31:6 “6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.””

its pretty interesting because we see all of these verses through out the bible and God calls us to be things that are difficult to be with our Human Nature

Being strong and courageous to us is difficult but he calls us to do it because it forces us to lean on Him for the very strength to do it !

Psalm 31:24 “24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.”

Ephesians 6:10 “10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

I think you guys get the Point, what ever life throws at you, it may be an army out to Kill you, one thing God calls us to be is Strong and courageous , not weak and scared

We may be weak and scared but we Have God to lean on and to Help us in those times

4) God Is in control

Now lets look at the Last Part of Verse 12 It Says “ and may the Lord do what is good in His sight”

at the end of the Day no Matter what is thrown at us, what ever we prepare for , God is ultimately in control of the situation

He dictates the outcome of anything and everything we go Through

The sovereignty of God means that God is the supreme ruler of creation and has the power to control all things

So wether a circumstance is good or Bad, Gods sovereignty is ultimately in control

I mean Not to get too Political but look at what happened with our President

In 2016 He probably should have won the presidency and i believe there was a lot of evil powers at work that didn’t allow Him to win

but he should of won and i believe he did win

but if he would have won that second Presidency i don’t believe we would be where we are as a nation

God used all that bad that came from 2016 and he completely turned it around

Some of you were at the Prayer Walk yesterday but we got to Hear Shon the Leader of Love Life and Pastor Lance talk about how amazing it is that we have the Most Pro life Administration we have ever Had in the History of Our nation Leading our country

I truly believe that all that happened in 2016 was part of Gods bigger Plan to bring more souls to Him and to expose everything that was going on in Our government.

But that is the Sovereignty of God , Good or bad

Psalm 103:19 “19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.”

Psalm 115:3 “3 But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.”

Ephesians 1:11 “11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,”

Joab was a Man that was a Helper, He was a man that was strong, and he was a man that was courageous

A man with Godly character

Lets finish the Last part of the chapter

2 Samuel 10:15–19 NKJV

15 When the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together. 16 Then Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River, and they came to Helam. And Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them. 17 When it was told David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in battle array against David and fought with him. 18 Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand horsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there. 19 And when all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.

God was in control, Davids men prepared for any outcome and they Got to experience Gods sovereignty through defeating the Syrians

Lets Pray