1Ch 19:1-4 | KingComments | STEP | This chapter is devoted to a separate description of David’s war against the Ammonites and the Arameans, or Syrians, nations already mentioned in the previous chapter (cf. ). The reason for the war with the Ammonites is a proof of compassion from David. Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, dies. David wants to console his son and successor, Hanun. This proof of kindness is misunderstood. The reaction to David’s condolences ( ) is a straightforward declaration of war. Hanun shows in this chapter a very different attitude to David’s kindness than Mephibosheth has shown ( ). There is suspicion that David’s true intentions are not of a peaceful nature. The princes of the Ammonites suggest that he tries to subdue them to himself by feigned condolences. Hanun shows that he does not know David. What David does is seen by him as hypocrisy. The messengers of David are being treated unjustly and sent away. For an Easterner, shaving the beard is a deep humiliation. Sending the half-naked on the street is also an unprecedented humiliation. A more deeply hurtful treatment is hardly conceivable. When David hears of the humiliation, he realizes that what is done to his messengers is in fact directed against him. Yet his first reaction is not to seek retaliation for himself, but his first concern are his humiliated messengers. He lets them say they have to take time to restore. In this, David is an example of the Lord Jesus. His attention always goes first and foremost to his own suffering for Him and not to retaliation for those who cause this suffering to His own. At His time the retribution also comes. There are many people in the world like Hanun. If you talk to them about the love of God and the Lord Jesus, they don't want to hear anything about it. They do not allow Him to come into their lives. They see Him as an intruder, as One Who has not got good, but bad intentions toward them. Whoever bears witness of his Lord out of love for the lost man, may come across the same treatment as the messengers of David and, what is more, the same treatment as the Lord Jesus received: “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” ( ). By the way, it suits us to be good and compassionate neighbors and also to be grateful for all the kindness that is shown to us.