patriarchs and prophets-第186章
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the Ammonitesa monarch who had shown kindness to David when he was a
fugitive from the rage of Saul。 Now； desiring to express his grateful
appreciation of the favor shown him in his distress； David sent ambassadors
with a message of sympathy to Hanun； the son and successor of the Ammonite
king。 〃Said David； I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash； as his
father showed kindness unto me。〃
But his courteous act was misinterpreted。 The Ammonites hated the true God
and were the bitter enemies of Israel。 The apparent kindness of Nahash to
David had been prompted wholly by hostility to Saul as king of Israel。 The
message of David was misconstrued by Hanun's counselors。 They 〃said unto
Hanun their lord； Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father； that he
hath sent comforters unto thee？ hath not David rather sent his servants unto
thee； to search the city； and to spy it out； and to overthrow it？〃 It was by
the advice of his counselors that Nahash； half a century before； had been
led to make the cruel condition required of the people of Jabesh…gilead；
when； besieged by the Ammonites； they sued for a covenant of peace。 Nahash
had demanded the privilege of thrusting out all their right eyes。 The
Ammonites still vividly remembered how the king of Israel had foiled their
cruel design； and had rescued the people whom they would have humbled and
mutilated。 The same hatred of Israel still prompted them。 They could have no
conception of the generous spirit that had inspired David's message。 When
Satan controls the minds of men he will excite envy and suspicion which will
misconstrue the very best intentions。 Listening to his counselors； Hanun
regarded David's messengers as spies； and loaded them with scorn and insult。
The Ammonites had been permitted to carry out the evil purposes of their
hearts without restraint； that their real character might be revealed to
David。 It was not God's will that Israel should enter into a league with
this treacherous heathen people。
In ancient times； as now； the office of ambassador was held sacred。 By the
universal law of nations it ensured protection from personal violence or
insult。 The ambassador standing as a representative of his sovereign； any
indignity offered to him demanded
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prompt retaliation。 The Ammonites； knowing that the insult offered to Israel
would surely be avenged； made preparation for war。 〃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 Syria…maachah； and out of Zobah。
So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots。 。 。 。 And the children of
Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities； and came to battle。〃 1
Chronicles 19：6； 7。
It was indeed a formidable alliance。 The inhabitants of the region lying
between the river Euphrates and the Mediterranean Sea had leagued with the
Ammonites。 The north and east of Canaan was encircled with armed foes；
banded together to crush the kingdom of Israel。
The Hebrews did not wait for the invasion of their country。 Their forces；
under Joab； crossed the Jordan and advanced toward the Ammonite capital。 As
the Hebrew captain led his army to the field he sought to inspire them for
the conflict； saying； 〃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。〃 1 Chronicles 19：13。 The united forces of
the allies were overcome in the first engagement。 But they were not yet
willing to give over the contest； and the next year renewed the war。 The
king of Syria gathered his forces； threatening Israel with an immense army。
David； realizing how much dependent upon the result of this contest； took
the field in person； and by the blessing of God inflicted upon the allies a
defeat so disastrous that the Syrians； from Lebanon to the Euphrates； not
only gave up the war； but became tributary to Israel。 Against the Ammonites
David pushed the war with vigor； until their strongholds fell and the whole
region came under the dominion of Israel。
The dangers which had threatened the nation with utter destruction proved；
through the providence of God； to be the very means by which it rose to
unprecedented greatness。 In commemorating his remarkable deliverances； David
sings：
〃The Lord liveth； and blessed be my rock； and exalted be the
God of my salvation：
Even the God that executeth vengeance for me； and subdueth
peoples under me。
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He rescueth me from mine enemies：
Yea； Thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me：
Thou deliverest me from the violent man。
Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee； O Lord； among the
nations；
And will sing praises unto Thy name。
Great deliverance giveth He to His king；
And sheweth loving…kindness to His anointed；
To David and to his seed； forevermore。〃
Psalm 18：46…50； R。V。
And throughout the songs of David the thought was impressed on his people
that Jehovah was their strength and deliverer：
〃There is no king saved by the multitude of a host：
A mighty man is not delivered by much strength。
A horse is a vain thing for safety：
Neither shall he deliver any by his great strength。〃
Psalm 33：16； 17。
〃Thou art my King； O God：
Command deliverances for Jacob。
Through Thee will we push down our enemies：
Through Thy name will we tread them under that rise up
against us。
For I will not trust in my bow；
Neither shall my sword save me。
But Thou hast saved us from our enemies；
And hast put them to shame that hated us。〃 Psalm 44：4…7。
〃Some trust in chariots； and some in horses：
But we will remember the name of Jehovah our God。〃
Psalm 20：7。
The kingdom of Israel had now reached in extent the fulfillment of the
promise given to Abraham； and afterward repeated to Moses： 〃Unto thy seed
have I given this land； from the river of Egypt unto the great river； the
river Euphrates。〃 Genesis 15：18。 Israel had become a mighty nation；
respected and feared by surrounding peoples。 In his own realm David's power
had become very great。 He commanded； as few sovereigns in any age have been
able to command； the affections and allegiance of his people。 He had honored
God； and God was now honoring him。
But in the midst of prosperity lurked danger。 In the time of his greatest
outward triumph David was in the greatest peril； and met his most
humiliating defeat。
（717）
Chapter 71
David's Sin and Repentance
The Bible has little to say in praise of men。 Little space is given to
recounting the virtues of even the best men who have ever lived。 This
silence is not without purpose； it is not without a lesson。 All the good
qualities that men possess are the gift of God； their good deeds are
performed by the grace of God through Christ。 Since they owe all to God the
glory of whatever they are or do belongs to Him alone； they are but
instruments in His hands。 More than thisas all the lessons of Bible
history teachit is a perilous thing to praise or exalt men； for if one
comes to lose sight of his entire dependence on God； and to trust to his own
strength； he is sure to fall。 Man is contending with foes who are stronger
than he。 〃We wrestle not against flesh and blood； but against
principalities； against powers； against the rulers of the darkness of this
world； against wicked spirits in high places。〃 Ephesians 6：12； margin。 It is
impossible for us in our own strength to maintain the conflict； and whatever
di
