Dave Dishman

It never pays to humiliate someone, especially if you can’t back up your smack. King David sent a group of his advisors to visit Hanun, the new king of Ammon. The king’s advisors took David’s show of kindness as a ruse to spy out their land and conquer it. Hanun responded by humiliating David’s messengers. He took David’s servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away.

With beards covering only half their faces (beards were a big deal back in the day), and their buttocks showing, these men limped back in shame. After consoling his ambassadors, David set out to punish the king of Ammon. He did so thoroughly, with thousands dying and the nation coming under the control of Israel.

Hanun blundered in his statecraft. No war needed to start and no one needed to die. A gesture of kindness was reciprocated with callous reproach. I wonder why Hanun and his advisors were so untrusting? Hanun’s father treated well with David. Why the change? Was it pride, or fear, or simply men with chariots itching for a fight? Regardless, their foolish advice led to disaster.

I’m reminded to treat people with good intentions until proved otherwise. In this case, David extended a hand in friendship only to have it bitten off in return. To slap away a kindness, or ignore a sincere attempt at friendship, always results in reaping bitter fruit for yourself and those around you.

2 Samuel 10

Photo by Joseph Corl

When hiking in the woods you don’t want to get between a mama bear and her cubs. A friend of mine was literally chased up a tree when she found herself in this situation. Among humans, a mother’s love forms one of the most powerful bonds on the planet. Mother’s Day is a big deal because mothers are big deals.

A mom extends love and devotion towards her children despite the less than stellar actions of the kids. In this, she mirrors the Lord. Psalm 106 starts with Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

The psalmist then lists several ways the people of Israel tested the Lord’s love. They craved meat in the wilderness, they jealously opposed Moses, they bowed to an image of a calf and refused to enter the promised land. Later they worshipped the Baals and sacrificed their living children to demonic gods. God delivered discipline, but he never left.

When the people returned to the Lord, he blessed them once again: Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

Despite our background of sins against God and man, the Lord showers those who cry to him in humility with a profusion of faithful love. We don’t deserve it, but God grants it. It’s called grace—unmerited favor—and as he did for the children of Israel, the Lord also extends such love to each and every one of us.

Psalm 106

Photo by Cristina Glebova

Forty men swore an oath to neither eat or drink until they murdered Paul. The apostle’s preaching so angered many of the religious folks in Jerusalem they sought to silence Paul permanently. The chief priests bought into the idea and the plot took wings.

However, Paul’s nephew heard the rumor and reported it to Paul, who sent him on to the Roman authorities. They surrounded Paul with several hundred soldiers and moved him out of town. The nefarious plan failed. I always wonder if the conspirators starved to death, or renounced their vow when they got hungry?

I also wonder how Paul’s nephew heard of the scheme? Did he know some of these hot-headed young men? Was he asked to join in? Did he overhear whispered conversations in back alleys, or was he tipped off by an informant? Regardless, and despite the danger to himself, this young man flew directly to Paul with the news. He looked up to his uncle and protected him.

Had Paul been killed, we would not possess the letters he later wrote from Rome. No more Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians or Philemon. By saving Paul’s life his nephew blessed us with teachings that would have never been written. The Scriptures we possess come to us through a variety of twists and turns. The bravery of an unnamed nephew is one of the more obscure ones.

Acts 23:12-35

Photo by Lacie Cueto

Last week a spring snowstorm hit Colorado, dropping 8″ of heavy snow in our area. While the moisture is much welcomed in our drought stricken state, the storm wreaked havoc on mature trees. Dozens in our neighborhood suffered broken limbs and even split in half as the heavy snow on their fully leafed out branches pulled them apart. Roads and driveways were blocked until crews with chainsaws cleared the way. At our house we lost several branches, but our trees survived, so I’m grateful.

Immediately after the storm cleared our street filled with neighbors. A crew worked on the tree of our friend who just had her knee replaced. We live on a quiet side street with people who know each other, many of us having been in our homes for years. Checking on each other is normal. It’s nice to know we’re seen and known when storms gather.

David encourages his people in Psalm 122 to pray for the peace of Jerusalem! The seat of judgement, the home of the temple, the place of governance, Jerusalem held a special place for the nation. Peace in Jerusalem radiated out to the borders of Israel and beyond. Calmness in the City of David blessed all, those who followed the Lord and those who did not. This common grace benefited everyone.

As I think of David’s call to pray for his city, I realize I can pray for mine as well. I pray for the peace of Erie, Colorado. I pray for the peace of my neighborhood, and for blessings on my neighbors. I pray for the peace of Washington D.C. and other cities of power. David’s call to pray extends to you and me. As we pray for the peace of our towns and cities, we extend God’s grace to our neighbors whether we know them or not. As the storms gather, and they always do, pray for peace—it still benefits everyone around us.

Psalm 122:6

Photo of our neighbor’s tree during the snowstorm