RADICAL COMMITMENT: Day 255

Today’s Reading:  2 Samuel 10; 1 Chronicles 19, Psalms 20, 53, 60, 75

·         David defeats Ammon and Syria

·         The Ammonites disgrace David's men

·         Trust in the name of the Lord our God

·         There is none who does good

·         He will tread down our foes

2 SAMUEL 10:

David Defeats Ammon and Syria

10  After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. ² And David said, “I will deal loyally^[a] 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.^[b] 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.

1 CHRONICLES 19:

The Ammonites Disgrace David's Men

19  Now after this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his place. ² And David said, “I will deal kindly with Hanun the son of Nahash, for his father dealt kindly with me.” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. And David's servants came to the land of the Ammonites to Hanun to console him. ³ But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” ⁴ So Hanun took David's servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away; ⁵ and they departed. When David was told concerning the men, he sent messengers 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, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents^[a] of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah. ⁷ They hired 32,000 chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and encamped before Medeba. And the Ammonites were mustered from their cities and came to battle. ⁸ When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. ⁹ And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

Ammonites and Syrians Defeated

¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and they were arrayed against the Ammonites. ¹² 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 help you. ^{13 Lord do what seems good to him.”}Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the ¹⁴ So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians for battle, and they fled before him. ¹⁵ And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, Joab's brother, and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
¹⁶ But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates,^[b] with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. ¹⁷ And when it was told to David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to them and drew up his forces against them. And when David set the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him. ¹⁸ And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 7,000 chariots and 40,000 foot soldiers, and put to death also Shophach the commander of their army. ¹⁹ And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Syrians were not willing to save the Ammonites anymore.

The Capture of Rabbah

20  In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army and ravaged the country of the Ammonites and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. And Joab struck down Rabbah and overthrew it. ²  And David took the crown of their king from his head. He found that it weighed a talent^[c] of gold, and in it was a precious stone. And it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. ³ And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor^[d] with saws and iron picks and axes.^[e] And thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

Philistine Giants Killed

⁴  And after this there arose war with the Philistines at Gezer. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Sippai, who was one of the descendants of the giants, and the Philistines were subdued. ⁵ And there was again war with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. ⁶ And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended from the giants. ⁷ And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David's brother, struck him down. ⁸ These were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

David's Census Brings Pestilence

21  Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. ² So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” ^{3 Lord add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord's servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?”}But Joab said, “May the ⁴ But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem. ⁵ And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword. ⁶  But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.

⁷ But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. ⁸ And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” ^{9 Lord spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying,}And the ^{10 Lord, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’”}“Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the ^{11 Lord, ‘Choose what you will:}So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the ^{12 Lord, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.”}either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the ^{13 Lord, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”}Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the
¹⁴ So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. ^{15 Lord saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.}And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the ^{16 Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.}And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the ^{17 Lord my God, be against me and against my father's house. But do not let the plague be on your people.”}And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O

David Builds an Altar

¹⁸ Now the angel of the Lord had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. ^19 Lord.So David went up at Gad's word, which he had spoken in the name of the ²⁰ Now Ornan was threshing wheat. He turned and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. ²¹ As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. ^{22 Lord—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.”}And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the ²³ Then Ornan said to David, “Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all.” ^{24 Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”}But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the ²⁵ So David paid Ornan 600 shekels^[f] of gold by weight for the site. ^{26 Lord and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the Lord, and the Lord[g] answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering.}And David built there an altar to the ^{27 Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.}Then the
²⁸ At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. ^{29 Lord, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon,}For the tabernacle of the ^30 Lord.but David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the

PSALM 20:

Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God

20 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
    May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
² May he send you help from the sanctuary
    and give you support from Zion!
³ May he remember all your offerings
    and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

⁴ May he grant you your heart's desire
    and fulfill all your plans!
⁵ May we shout for joy over your salvation,
    and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

⁶ Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
    he will answer him from his holy heaven
    with the saving might of his right hand.
⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
     but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
⁸ They collapse and fall,
    but we rise and stand upright.

⁹ O Lord, save the king!
    May he answer us when we call.

PSALM 53:

There Is None Who Does Good

53  The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
    there is none who does good.

² God looks down from heaven
    on the children of man
to see if there are any who understand,^[b]
    who seek after God.

³ They have all fallen away;
    together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
    not even one.

⁴ Have those who work evil no knowledge,
    who eat up my people as they eat bread,
    and do not call upon God?

⁵ There they are, in great terror,
     where there is no terror!
For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you;
    you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

⁶ Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
    When God restores the fortunes of his people,
    let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

PSALM 60:

He Will Tread Down Our Foes

60 O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
    you have been angry; oh, restore us.
² You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open;
     repair its breaches, for it totters.
³  You have made your people see hard things;
     you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.

⁴ You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
    that they may flee to it from the bow.^[b] Selah
⁵  That your beloved ones may be delivered,
    give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

⁶ God has spoken in his holiness:^[c]
    “With exultation I will divide up Shechem
    and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
⁷  Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
     Ephraim is my helmet;
    Judah is my scepter.
⁸  Moab is my washbasin;
    upon Edom I cast my shoe;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”^[d]

⁹ Who will bring me to the fortified city?
     Who will lead me to Edom?
¹⁰ Have you not rejected us, O God?
    You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.
¹¹ Oh, grant us help against the foe,
    for vain is the salvation of man!
¹² With God we shall do valiantly;
    it is he who will tread down our foes.

PSALM 75:

God Will Judge with Equity

75 We give thanks to you, O God;
    we give thanks, for your name is near.
We^[a] recount your wondrous deeds.

² “At the set time that I appoint
    I will judge with equity.
³ When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants,
    it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah
⁴ I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
    and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn;
⁵ do not lift up your horn on high,
    or speak with haughty neck.’”

⁶ For not from the east or from the west
    and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,
⁷ but it is God who executes judgment,
     putting down one and lifting up another.
^{8 Lord there is a cup} For in the hand of the
    with foaming wine, well mixed,
and he pours out from it,
    and all the wicked of the earth
    shall drain it down to the dregs.

⁹ But I will declare it forever;
    I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
¹⁰  All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,
     but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?