MISUNDERSTOOD AND HUMILIATED

PROCLAMATION

“And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.  Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me.  And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father … And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, ‘Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father ..hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?’  Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved of the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.”  2 Samuel 10:1-4 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  When Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, died, his son Hanun succeeded him.  King David heard that Nahash had died he wanted to show kindness to his son Hanun because Nahash had been kind to him. (2 Samuel 8:12)   So David sent a delegation to Hanun to express his sympathy regarding his father’s death. (2 Samuel 10:1-2)  But King Hanun listened to the commanders of his army and treated King David’s envoy as if they were spies.  He humiliated them, cut off half of their beards, and then sent them away naked from the waist down.  Then he formed an allegiance with the Syrians, with the Maakahites, and with the Tobites to prepare for war because he felt that he had offended David. (2 Samuel 10:6)  When David heard of this, he sent Joab and the entire army against Hanun.  They killed thousands of them and the rest fled. (2 Samuel 10:7-19)

 

APPLICATION

Our good intentions and our efforts to be kind to someone can be misunderstood.  Sometimes something as simple as a smile, or a kind word, or a random act of kindness can be completely misunderstood.  Even when we clearly state our intentions, our words may not be accepted or believed.  That may be caused by the person’s own suspicions, lack of trust, or paranoia.  The misunderstanding may also be the result of some misinformation or bad advice from others.  Their personal opinions are not a problem for us unless they choose to take actions against us because of them.  Then we need to pray and ask The Lord God for protection, guidance, and directions.  If we are left to our own devices, we will probably make an emotional response and commit a sin. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

UNIMAGINABLE GREAT THINGS AWAIT US

PROCLAMATION

“However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived,’ the things God has prepared for those who love Him; these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit.”  1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Paul began this chapter by telling the believers in Corinth that he only spoke to them about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ.  He said that his message and his preaching were not full of enticing words or reflective of human wisdom, but they were a demonstration of the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)  He declared God’s wisdom and power and said that no man has seen, or heard, or imagined what The Lord God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:6-9)  Here Paul quotes from the Old Testament scriptures. (Isaiah 64:4)  Then he said that it is by The Spirit of God that he preaches and not by anything that he learned from man. (1 Corinthians 2:10-14)

 

APPLICATION

It is possible to learn some things by what we see or by what we hear.  However, there are certain things which can only be learned and understood through the aid of The Holy Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-13)  This is why we as believers should prayerfully read and study The Word of God.  There are things in The Bible and in life that we will need help in order to understand.  However, there are some things which will never be understood by non-believers. (1 Corinthians 2:14)  Certain things are only for those who love The Lord and who wait on Him.  “Wait, I say, on The Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)  “Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)  For The Lord gives wisdom; out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 22:6)  We will all be enlightened, as the song says, “bye and bye.”  Only God can reveal to us what He has in store for us.

 

WE SIN BY NOT TRUSTING IN THE LORD GOD

PROCLAMATION

“Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.”  1 Chronicles 21:1 (NIV)

EXPLANATION
King David’s sins with Bathsheba and with regards to her husband Uriah are not recorded here in First Chronicles, but his sin in numbering the people of Israel is recorded.  David told Joab and his commanders to go and count all of Israel and report back to him. (1 Chronicles 21:1-2)  Joab questioned David but as king he overruled him and so Joab left and did as he was told to do. (1 Chronicles 21:3-6)  The Lord God was displeased with David’s action and He punished Israel because of it.  He gave David the choice of one of three punishment which He would inflict upon Israel.  David chose to throw himself and Israel at the mercy of The Lord. (1 Chronicles 21:7-17)  These events are also recorded in The Bible Book of Second Samuel. (2 Samuel 24:1-17)  It didn’t matter whether or not there were one thousand or one hundred thousand fighting men in Israel, his trust should have been in The Lord and not in his army.

APPLICATION

Our knowledge and understanding of the events of this world are limited and incomplete.  Only The Lord God knows everything about everything.  We are taught to rely on The Lord God and not to trust our own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)  It does not matter who or how many are against us if The Lord God is with us, (Romans 8:31) because with Him we have the victory. (1 Corinthians 15:57)  We just need to trust in The Lord God and let Him direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:5-7)

WAIT ON THE LORD

Proclamation:

“Then God said to Noah, ‘Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives.  Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you …”  Genesis 8:15-17 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of God which were written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After The Lord God spoke to Noah and told him to build the ark, Noah did all that God had commanded him to do. (Genesis 6:22)  Then The Lord God told Noah go into the ark and He shut him in. (Genesis 7:1-16)  Afterwards, it rained continuously for forty days and forty nights. (Genesis 7:12)  The rain caused a flood which lifted the ark, (Genesis 7:17) and covered the mountains by more than twenty feet, (Genesis 7:20) and all the animals and all mankind died. (Genesis 7:21-22)  The water covered the earth for a hundred and fifty days. (Genesis 7:24)  After the waters began to recede, Noah stayed inside of the ark.  Even when he could see that the surface of the ground was dry, Noah stayed in the ark until The Lord God said for him to come out of the ark. (Genesis 8:1-17)

Application:

Noah had faith in God, he was obedient and built an ark even before there was a cloud in the sky.  He entered the ark when The Lord God told him to do so, and he did not come out of it until God told him to come out.  Even though he could see that the ground was dry, he did not come out.  We need to learn to trust in The Lord and lean not on our own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)  Things are not always as they appear.  Relying on our five senses and our limited intelligence, instead of doing what thus saith The Lord, will get us into trouble.  We need to develop patience.  We need to pray before we act, (Philippians 4:6) and before we speak, and we need to learn to be patient and to wait on The Lord (Psalm 27:14)