Text: 2 Samuel 10:1-5
By: Jeremiah Emakpor (Deacon)
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Mankind, more often than not, acts on feeling or belief, rather than on proof. In other terms, people are wont to act on assumptions rather than on evidence. Assumption is a thing accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof. This is worrisome as those at the receiving end of these actions may be hurt. More worrisome is the reality that Christians are also among the culprits of ASSUMPTION.
A case study of Assumption and its consequences is contained in the text of this Admonition. The text informs us of the death of the King of the children of Ammon and his succession by his son named Hanun (Verse 1).
It tells us of how King David decided to show kindness to King Hanun because of the kindness King Nahash (Hanun’s father) showed him (King David) while Nahash was alive. This was a virtue David had imbibed-reciprocating kindness. The one that comes to mind was the one he had earlier shown Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son (see II Sam. 9: 1-8). However, the narration is silent on the nature, how and when such kindness was shown David by the late King. King David, we are told further, decided to send his servants to meet King Hanun in Ammon to condole him over the death of his father-Nahash (Verse 2).
The princes of the children of Ammon however read a wrong meaning to the visit of David’s servants to their King to sympathize with him. “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 princes said to Hanun (Verse 3).
Although the bible is equally silent as to what may have informed the conclusion made by the princes of the land (who were like advisers to King Hanun) concerning David’s friendly disposition toward their King, it may not be unconnected with the exploits of King David as to the numerous battles he had fought and won around the nation of Ammon as recorded in the preceding passages of the bible (II Sam. 8:1-14). Besides, their reason may also do with the fact that the Ammonites were foes of the Israelites (I Sam. 11:1-2, I Sam. 12:12).
Based on the concern raised by the princes, King Hanun, we are also told, shaved off half of the beards of David’s emissaries, cut off their garments midway, even to their buttocks and then sent them away (Verse 4).
When King David heard of what happened to his servants, he sent people to meet them in Jericho as they were very ashamed to return home. David advised them to remain in Jericho until their beards be grown again (Verse 5).
Relatedly, as Christians, our hand of fellowship to a fellow Christian or humanity could sometimes be misinterpreted to mean mockery or ridicule. Indeed, our good intentions have severally been rebuffed, condemned and sometimes, out-rightly repaid with punishment as was done to the servants of David. Such actions are usually borne out of hatred, envy, wickedness, suspicion o fear of the unknown (as was probably the case with King Hanun and his subjects). At the end, we are hurt, embarrassed, put to shame (Verse 4-5).
Sometimes, it takes a long time for us to overcome the disgrace and pains meted on us based on wrong interpretation of our actions by others: Just imagine how long it took for David’s humiliated servants to overcome the emotional pains, trauma of staying away from the comfort of their homes and company of their family members before their shaven beards were grown again.
Despite the damage already done to David and his subjects, the Ammonites were the first to draw the battle line. They even asked for the assistance of their ally-the Syrians to join them in fighting the Israelites just as some of us will recruit people of like minds as ours to help prosecute a wrong cause (Verse 6).
Christ’s good intentions for mankind salvation were mistaken for evil hence He was killed (Jn. 6:41-42, Matt. 27:19-26, Luk. 23:1-5, Jn. 19:7). Apostle Paul crossed dangerous seas for the sake of spreading the gospel; his good intentions were misconstrued. He was beaten, imprisoned and eventually killed by those for whom the gospel was meant (II Cor. 11:24-27).
King Hanun and his subjects paid dearly for their action with their life (Verse 13-19). Don’t pay with yours.
Read I Pet. 2:19-20, 3:14, 17-18, 4:15-16.
I pray we all heed this advice in Jesus name.
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