2 Samuel 10:1-6 A Righteous Person Proactively Builds Trust and Cohesiveness

2 Samuel 10:1-6 A Righteous Person Proactively Builds Trust and Cohesiveness

Some time after this, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king. 2 David said, “I am going to show loyalty to Hanun just as his father, Nahash, was always loyal to me.” So David sent ambassadors to express sympathy to Hanun about his father’s death.

But when David’s ambassadors arrived in the land of Ammon, 3 the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, their master, “Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! David has sent them to spy out the city so they can come in and conquer it!” 4 So Hanun seized David’s ambassadors and shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame.

5 When David heard what had happened, he sent messengers to tell the men, “Stay at Jericho until your beards grow out, and then come back.” For they felt deep shame because of their appearance.

6 When the people of Ammon realized how seriously they had angered David, they sent and hired 20,000 Aramean foot soldiers from the lands of Beth- rehob and Zobah, 1,000 from the king of Maacah, and 12,000 from the land of Tob.

Background

An insult delivered by the new king of Ammon brings him into direct conflict with David. What he thought is a timely opportunity to raise his profile has in fact brought an untimely end to his rule. Today’s passage teaches us the importance of building trust and cohesiveness with the people around us and in the community. At the same time to guard our hearts by rejecting counsels that appeal to personal gain.

Observation

I am going to show loyalty to Hanun just as his father, Nahash, was always loyal to me

Nahash, King of Ammon once crossed swords with Saul and was defeated when he attacked the people of Jabesh Gilead (see 1 Samuel 11). However, Nahash apparently is in good terms with David. Thus, as part of David’s diplomacy efforts, he sends his envoy to express sympathy to Hanun who succeeded his father.

Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! 

Hanun has none of his father’s diplomatic instincts and is quickly taken in by his commanders’ foolish counsel. This self-destructive scheme is birthed out of Hanun’s own need to demonstrate his worth as a newly crowned king, as well as the commanders desire to demonstrate loyalty towards their new king. Upon the arrival of David’s ambassadors, Hanun seized David’s ambassadors and shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame.

When the people of Ammon realized how seriously they had angered David, they sent and hired 20,000 Aramean foot soldiers

When David realizes what has happened, he located the men to Jericho until their beards are grown. However, David did not initiate military action against Ammon because of this. On the contrary, Hanun hired mercenaries in the thousands in anticipation of David’s retaliative strike.

Truth

A righteous person creates trust with all; he will proactively offer friendship and cooperation.

The prophet Isaiah says, “And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.” Isaiah 32:17. A righteous person builds bridges in order to create trust and cohesiveness towards a better world. On the contrary, an evil person is divisive; he creates chaos and strife for his personal benefit. David, by his gesture of honor and sympathy towards Hanun shows himself as righteous and peace loving. Even when his kind gestures are despised and his ambassadors humiliated, David did not initiate military retaliation. As for Hanun, despite being a new kid on the block showed himself to be unreasoning, arrogant and aggressive.

Many people do not have the instinct to reach out to others with the aim to create trust and cohesiveness. They would rather remain distant, private and reserved supposing that would mean safety for them. But when others try to reach out to them, they see that as an intrusion of their privacy. Nevertheless, it is good policy to always maintain good relationships with everyone at the workplace. We build bridges and cohesiveness by honoring people’s work, by appreciating their efforts, and by being sensitive to their needs. People are not just warm bodies employed to accomplish work tasks; they are people with feelings, dignity and who have dreams of their own.

A leader must be careful to reject counsel that appeal to pride and selfish gain.

Unrighteous counsel seeks personal gain above justice, equity and humility. Unrighteous counsel is always focused on short-term gain without regard for others. On the other hand, righteous counsel is noble and magnanimous, although it may appear foolish and meaningless to the unrighteous. The Ammonite commanders are well aware that Hanun, being a newly crowned king wants to prove his worth by standing up to David as a convenient enemy. Thus, they exploit Hanun’s need for affirmation by ingratiating themselves to him through a suggestion of espionage on the part of David.

Applications

Do you have a tendency to doubt people’s sincerity when they offer their gestures of good will towards you? Perhaps, you should learn to trust people a little more and reciprocate with your friendship and acts of kindness.

Are you accustomed to offering counsel that are clever and pragmatic but borders on deception?

Dear Lord, give me the humility to serve others and to be served by them. Use me to build cohesiveness in my workplace, family and church. Give me the wisdom to understand and discern the counsels of others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.