That's Not Exactly What I...

Good morning!

2 Samuel chapter 10 is a story of many unintended consequences.  There are several lessons we can draw from it.

David is on the throne of Israel when a neighboring king dies.  David, being the big-hearted guy he was, sent a delegation to the neighboring kingdom with condolences for the dead king's family, including the new king, who was the dead king's son.

Lesson #1 is;  be careful whom you listen to.  (Yes, mother, I know you are not supposed to end a sentence in "to".)  "For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."  (Prov. 2:6)  The new king's leaders advised him to treat the delegation badly, because their paranoid assumption was that the delegation was not one whose purpose was to console, but rather to spy.  So, they apprehended the men, roughed them up in a disgraceful way, and sent them packing.

"When it dawned on the Ammonites (those were the neighbors)  that, as far as David was concerned, they stunk to high heaven..." (2 Samual 10:6 The Message version)  they hired 33,000 mercenaries from nearby {the Arameans}to defend their city.  It seems to me that it would have been much simpler to just apologize, but maybe that is a woman's perspective...
Lesson #2:  when you mess up, try apologizing, and be sincere about it.
Proverbs 15:1 {CJB version)  "A gentle response deflects fury, but harsh words make tempers rise."

So, David gathered up his soldiers and sent them out to settle the score.  His delegation had been humiliated, and he was not going to stand for that.  The ruling principle of that day was "eat or be eaten", and he had to avenge this great insult.

Lesson #3:  be careful whom you align yourself with (again, Mama, sorry...dangling participle).
When the battle started, the "hired guns" tucked tails and ran off!  And, the Ammonites did too, right back to the city.  I guess they had cowardice in common.  Proverbs 13:20 says, "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." 

David's group returned to Jerusalem to see what David wanted them to do about these yahoos, who had decided to re-group and mount another aggressive attack.  {Seriously?!}
Lesson #4:  Don't beat a dead horse.  When you find yourself astride a dead horse, DISMOUNT!  It is important to know when to quit...or at the very least, change tactics.

David put on his battle gear and led his troops back to the land of Ammon, where the Ammonites and Arameans were decisively defeated.  When the other kings who were allies of the Aramean king heard what had happened, they made peace with David and became his vassals.  {wise decision!}

In our lives, we are never going to escape unintended consequences.  However, God promises to give His wisdom to those who ask Him for it.  James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him."  (ESV)
If we will seek to follow God and His way, He will teach us; we will gain His wisdom and avoid many pitfalls.

Dear God, give us your wisdom today and every day, so that we can avoid as many pitfalls of life and their unintended consequences as possible.  We want to walk in the light, as you are in the light.  Please teach us Your wisdom, that we may "shine like the brightness of the sky above and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." (Dan. 12:3).  Then, we will walk....resplendent!  In Jesus' name, amen.