When Kind Acts Are Not Accepted

In 1 Chronicles 19, we learn that although we may want to show kindness towards someone, it may not be well received. Just as what happened with David, people speculate why we are acting the way we are, and even sometimes retaliate without asking questions. You may have seen this with people you have helped or done something kind for, but instead of taking what you did with gratitude, they tell you to leave them and their family alone. Some people may even go so far as to call the cops on us, because they may have thought that we were overstepping our bounds. Now, this does happen on occasion, but other times people just put their defenses up when they shouldn’t be. My friends, as Christians, we should show love and kindness towards God and our neighbor. This also means our enemies, though it may be difficult and things may become more difficult for us by doing this. This can be said for what happened to David and his people in Israel. It is recorded 1“that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead. And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.” (1 Chronicles 19:1,2) So everything appeared to be well with the children of Ammon and David until the children of Ammon started to think the worst of David, instead of taking what he did as a kind gesture.

We can see how things for David started to blow out of proportion, where it shouldn’t have in the next few verses. It reads, 1“but the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land? Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away. Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.” (1 Chronicles 19:3-5) This caused David to get his defenses ready, for he noticed that the children of Ammon were joining forces with the Syrians, in order to wage war against Israel. However, in all this commotion, David said, 1“be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the Lord do that which is good in his sight. So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.” (1 Chronicles 19:13,14) This was just the beginning of the war that was waged, but David and his men won because God was with them. Think about what David said that helped them. He said to be of good courage and to act valiantly for God. My friends, if you do this, then you will also win the battles in your own life. The enemy will have nothing to do but flee your sight.

Let us pray:
Lord, instill in us a heart to love everyone. Help us to not be biased in who we help, but that all people will be benefited because of Your love in us. I know that I am not the one who is doing any kind act, but You, Lord, who is in me. I just pray that people will recognize Your hand in these moments and not speculate if I am doing things for the good or not. All things are good that come from You. So abide in me at all times. Cast out any darkness, that You may stay awhile and abide in me, as I am in You. Light up my life, oh Lord. Take every evil temptation from my mind and heart and cast it far from me. I do not wish to have the enemy trying to take me down when all I want to do is serve You. His lies are not valid anymore, and I want everyone to know that if they would just trust in You for answers, that You would provide for them. People don’t have to wait till they die to receive Your blessings, for they are here for us now. You have amazing talents to give each one of us. Even Spiritual gifts that will take us to the next level in Your kingdom, Lord. If people could be filled up with the Holy Spirit, then they would not wish to live in sin any longer. Instead, they would be reaching out for You at every moment to find peace. Yes, Lord. You are our deliverer. Even us, as messengers, do we go forth in faith knowing that only You are doing the work in us and not ourselves. If we show love or kindness to someone, it is because You did this, and they are blessed because of You, not me. We are Your hands and feet, and I wish that we would all want to be Your disciple. Then, more people would be blessed. Some may not be happy, but the elect will be. I believe in You. I love You. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

1 Chronicles 19
11 Chronicles 19 (KJV)
1 Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.
2 And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.
3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?
4 Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.
5 Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah.
7 So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
8 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
9 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.
10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.
11 And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.
12 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.
13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the Lord do that which is good in his sight.
14 So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.
15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
16 And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
17 And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.
18 But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.
19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.
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