Title: Grace Rejected/2 Samuel 10:1-19
Contents <2 Samuel 10:1-19> "Grace rejected"
In 2 Samuel 8, the accounts of David's many wars are recorded. The content of today's text is to record the specific reasons, details, and results of the fight with Ammon mentioned in 8:12. In particular, only the battle with Ammon is described in detail because it contrasts with David's favor toward Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9. What the two incidents have in common is that David is showing favor, but each is being kind because of their father. The difference, however, is that they reacted differently to David's favor. David received the help of Jonathan in the past and became a sick man in return for it, and when he showed God's grace to Mephibosheth, who was deprived of his father's land and possessions and was living in another's house without a house or theft, his reaction was grateful and joyful. It was humbly accepted. However, Nahash's son Hanun rejected David's kindness. It did not end as a mere refusal, but rather an action that provoked war with Israel.
God did not allow only these Ammonites to touch them during the conquest of Canaan. The reason was that he was a descendant of Abraham's nephew Lot. It was because God had given them an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 2:19) "When you come near the Ammonites, do not trouble them, and do not quarrel with them; I will not give you the land of the Ammonites as an inheritance, for I have given it to the children of Lot as an inheritance."
Because the Ammonites were Abraham's nephew Lot, God gave his descendants an inheritance as well. However, they interpreted David's favor from a political point of view, thinking that the condolence delegation sent by David was a disguised person to spy on their country, and shaved half of their beards and even cut off the middle of their clothes. Given the circumstances at the time, this was a very shameful act. Because in the Middle East, men's beards were a sign of freedom. However, having his beard cut off means that he is a slave by his status. And at that time, it is guessed that it was a huge insult to weave the outerwear of the gods without underwear to the middle of the buttocks in a situation where only the priest wore underwear.
To David, who had truly sent a hand of peace, Hanun was acting to provoke war. As if he knew this and expected what David would do if he did this, he hired the Syrian soldiers around him and started the war. 2 Samuel 10:6 “And the children of Ammon, knowing that they hated David, sent and hired men of Beth-rehob and of the Arameans of Zobah, twenty thousand infantry, and King Maacah, and a thousand of his men, and twelve thousand of Tob.”
The only consequences of David's grace, which were thus rejected, were war and death. 2 Samuel 10:18 "And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred men of Syrian chariots and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Zobak, the commander of the army, and died there."
The consequences for those who reject the grace of the cross are the fact that they cannot be forgiven forever. This is called the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29). Those who dishonor the Spirit of grace will receive only judgment. Heb 10:29 “How much more severe punishment will be deserved by those who have trampled upon the Son of God, and have regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and dishonored the Spirit of grace.”
Why is the grace given by God so rejected? It means that I also have power. Human beings want to be recognized for their existence in the presence of God by not being able to understand their own subject and raising their shallow self-esteem. As a result, they become enemies with God and only result in a declaration of war against God.
Psalm 20:7 "Whether by chariots or horses, we will boast in the name of the LORD our God" . Therefore, when Israel wins a war, it does not win because it is stronger than its enemies, but because God's righteousness is given among them. That is why God views the power of the human world as a sin. When human beings are given power, they set out against God with that power. Nevertheless, humans keep demanding power. The content of praying at church is also asking for strength. This is a re-enactment of the second Tower of Babel event.
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" The subject of the power here is not me, but the Lord of power working in me. Nevertheless, sinners insist that they can do it unconditionally.
A saint is not one who shows off his power, but only one who confesses that I have no power and testifies of the power of Jesus Christ. Like Mephibosheth, as they said, 'I am like a dead dog', it is the saints to recognize that they are worthless. “We are the fragrance of Christ before God, both among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: to one an odor from death to death and to another an odor from life to life. Who can bear these?” (2 Corinthians 2:15-) 16)
Although it is a miracle for humans to accept the gospel, it is only by God's will, and conversely, rejecting the gospel must be understood in terms of the fulfillment of God's word. (Isa 6:9)
Therefore, we must remember the words of the Apostle Paul. “Do not become weary in doing good!” (2 Thessalonians 3:13)