Sermon for Sunday Evening, June 6th, 2026 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC)
Sermon Text:
[2 Samuel 10:1-19 ESV] 1 After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 2 And David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the Ammonites. 3 But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun 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. 5 When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.” 6 When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob, 12,000 men. 7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men. 8 And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate, and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country. 9 When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians. 10 The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. 11 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him.” 13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem. 15 But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates. They came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. 19 And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.
Introduction
Last time we had “Grace for a dead dog” – Mephibosheth being welcomed to the table of David the King.
Now we have a battle of Israel against Ammon and Syria.
David was kind in the last chapter.
Now, he is kind again.
But this time his kindness is rejected, and the result is not good for the Ammonite who rejects his overture of kindness.
We just read the passage, but I want to summarize it, in my my own words:
Here is my summary of the passage:
First thing to remember (or know) is the Ammonites. Think of Amman, the capital of modern Jordan. That is where the Ammonites are; to the east of the Jordan river; across the river from Israel. And like all of the neighboring states of Israel they are sometimes at war with Israel and sometimes at peace.
(v1) The Ammonites king Nahash dies, and the new king is his son Hanun.
(v2) And David decides to continues to “deal loyally” with that nation. He had had a good relationship with the father (King Nahash) and hopes to continue that relationship now with the son (the newly crowned King Hanun)
(v3) So, David send servants (Ambassadors) to console Hanun on the death of his father Nahash.
(v4) But the princes of Ammon think these are spies, and Hanun treats David’s servants poorly. Now, I must grant that if I were in Hanun’s position, I’d be a little suspicious of David’s overture, for it may be the case that when a new King takes over that it is a brief period of confusion if not chaos in the nation.
But if Hanun thought David was spying, the prudent thing would be to send the spies back, not to incite violence in mistreating them.
So what did Hanun do to the servants of David?
He “shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips”
This is very disrespectful, insulting.
Now, think about that, if you garment is cut off at their hips, then their privates are showing. Half of a garment is not suitable for wearing in public!
Then, half the beard is cut off.
Which half of the beard do you think they cut off?
One pastor I listened to on this subject thought it was the left side or the right side. (And I suppose he could be right if by “shaved off” it is understood not “cut” but “shaved” to the skin. But maybe it was the bottom half? (It can’t be the top half!) However exactly they cut off half of the beard, it was very disrespectful, and the men couldn’t be seen in society.
Well, if ever there was a pro-beard passage in the Bible!
(v5) David meets with his servants.
David meets with his servants and has them stay in one place (Jericho) until their beards grow back.
They can’t just shave off the other half and go back to society?
Well, there is no command of God for men to have beards (and some men can’t grow a beard if they try), but it was generally a cultural norm in Israel; a symbol of manhood and maturity. Grey beards, I’d think, would be even a higher status symbol!
(v6) The Ammonites became a stench to David.
With the ambassadors ill-treated, it was as if they had treated the king ill.
Knowing that David was upset with them, and apparently ill-prepared for war themselves – the Ammonites hire Syrian mercenaries.
David takes the insult personally, as indeed he should. Hanun of Ammon has disrespected David when he disrespected David’s men.
The Ammonites find out about David’s view of them — which really they should have known was going to be the result of their actions — and so they hire mercenaries to help defend themselves for the war that is going to come.
All of the mercenaries, more or less, are Syrians; they are people that live to the north. In total some 33,000 men. That is a considerable force, but they are mercenaries (out of the money) not soldiers protecting their own homeland.
(v7) Next, David gathers HIS forces.
They don’t have phones, but word travels fast.
(v8) Then the Ammonites draw up in battle.
The Ammonites are at the gate, while the mercenaries are in the open field.
The mercenaries are in the open field, it is thought, because of their great numbers and because of advantages they would have in that space, having chariots.
Which gates?
I thought, from the context, it was Jericho.
But others, looking at the parallel account in 1 Chronicles, argue that it is the gates of Rabbah, the capital city of the Ammonites.
(v9) Joab chooses chooses some of the best men of Israel to go against the Syrians
(v10) Abishai has the remaining men against the Ammonites.
(v11-12) They trust in the Lord.
Joab: “12 Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him.”
That is great faith, to take the theme from this morning’s sermon.
Really, we see such a great understanding of faith here; it is dependence on God.
This doesn’t mean sitting back and doing nothing, but it means that we seek to do the right thing in all times, looking to the Lord for direction, and whatever the result we say “Praise be to God.”
That’s hard. Because very often in this world there are “results” that we don’t like. But we cannot ascertain, we cannot see God’s full plan. Yet we are promised that God works all things out of the good of His people who trust in him.
And we say “may the Lord do what seems good to him.”
Joab is not trying to change the Lord to do what Joab wants, but he changes his own self to accept what the Lord will do.
(v13-14) The Syrians fled the battle. (As mercenaries do)
Then we have the battle. And the Syrians flee, as mercenaries do. But they also had the “crack” troops up against them, so that may have contributed.
But here we might see the different between the hired hand and the family member. It’s not wrong to hire someone, but it might be wise to hire family. I often think about La Carreta Mexican Restaurant in Winston-Salem North Carolina. I’d go there about once a week for the four years I lived there. And I think it was a huge family that ran the place. One person took the orders, one brought out water, another brought out drinks, another brought out food, another bussed the dishes. And presumably others cooked, and there was a person taking payments at the cash register. All family, all working in lock step. There was no laziness or running away; it is family, you do what you can for each other.
And surely that is the case in any battle in world history. If a person is defending their home, they are going to fight a lot harder, and there is no possibility of retreat, because they have nowhere to retreat to.
(v16-19) Syrian losses make them afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.
Then we see the result of the Ammonites actions. Now, the Syrians are afraid to help them anymore.
So when we started the chapter, the Ammonites were on good terms with all their neighbors. Now, things under the new king have fallen apart. Israel is their enemies, and Syria is no longer a helpful ally.
So what is the lesson?
Not just the history, but the truths that we may learn.
1. While mercenaries and allies are fickle supporters, God is constant and sure.
2. A Warning Against Rejecting God
This story reminds me in some ways of the parable of the Wicked Tenants in Matthew 21.
The landowner plants a vineyard and leases it to tenant farmers.
When he send his servants to collect his share of the harvest, they are beaten and killed.
The owner then sends his own son, but they kill him as well.
The attitude of the Ammonites is like that of the tenant farmers in the parable. Rejecting and putting to death the servants of the king. And the result is not good for them.
3. God is merciful, and God is just.
Matthew Henry:
Jesus Christ, the Son of David, sent his ambassadors, his apostles and ministers, after all his servants the prophets, to the Jewish church and nation; but they treated them shamefully, as Hanun did David’s ambassadors, mocked them, abused them, slew them; and it was this that filled the measure of their iniquity, and brought upon them ruin without remedy; for Christ takes the affronts and injuries done to his ministers as done to himself and will avenge them accordingly.
4. David’s action is a shadow of Gospel mercy.
He is doing a good thing. Showing mercy, even to those outside of Israel.
How can you show mercy to those outside? Outside of your family? Outside of your church?
– Visiting the sick.
– Writing letters to inmates.
– Responding to calls.
But know that your mercy will not always be welcomed.
Isn’t that sad? But its true.
Conclusion
Are you accepting God’s message of Mercy?
Who would possible reject God’s mercy?
Who indeed?
All do it.
The kindness of David was rejected.
The kindness of the Son of David, Jesus Christ was rejected.
But even so, the plans of the Lord continue. That “which seems good to him” indeed happens. And while we might say the worst thing ever to happen was the death of the lamb of God, we know that in His plan, it was the greatest thing to ever happen.
So let us be reminded of the mercy of God, accept Him, and show mercy unto others.
Let us pray.