War is not pleasant. It is harsh and destructive. People die. We should not enter into a war with the thought that no one will die, or we will not have the courage and endurance to finish the war and to win it. Even if you are drawn into war in self defense against an attacker, you have to have the means and the will to stop the threat. That often means going on the offensive to bring the war back to them rather than fighting only on your own territory.
As we read about the seemingly harsh actions by David against Ammon in 1 Chronicles 20, let us remember that Ammon attacked David in 1 Chronicles 19. David was responding essentially to stop the threat, and he did.
If you feel bad for Ammon, go back and think about how and why they started the war. Their leader made a war where friendship was offered because of bad advice. Sometimes people bring hard times on themselves, and this is one of those times. They are at fault. Do not blame the one who defended their nation and stopped the threat by defeating Ammon on their own territory. We will explore how this may apply to us individually after reading the scripture.
1Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led out the army and ravaged the land of the sons of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. And Joab struck Rabbah and overthrew it. 2David took the crown of their king from his head, and he found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there was a precious stone in it; and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. 3He brought out the people who were in it, and cut them with saws and with sharp instruments and with axes. And thus David did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
While we will not all be directly involved in war, we all have the opportunity, from the perspective of Ammon, to choose whether or not we start trouble or keep the peace. In our case it may be a feud or argument rather than a war. The weapons maybe the tongue and harsh words or it could be worse. Do not choose lightly to start conflict or to escalate it if you think someone else may be doing so. Instead, diffuse or de-escalate the situation. Ammon had the opportunity to completely avoid this difficult outcome if the king had been wise and diffused the situation instead of instigating trouble against David’s messengers and then preparing for war.
I invite you to pray with me:
Father, please lead and guide me. Give me wisdom to de-escalate situations rather than escalate them. Help me be graceful in tense situations. Let not my pride draw me into conflict that is not necessary. Help me to be a light to others and draw them to You. Please grant me peace. Amen.
Shalom
Devotion by John in service to Christ
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