Read 1 Chronicles 19
Courage for Peace
2 So David sent a
delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. When David's
men came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, 3
the Ammonite nobles said to Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father
by sending men to you to express sympathy? Haven't his men come to you to
explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun seized David's
men, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and
sent them away.
WHAT began as an expression of sympathy, honor and peace
from David to the Ammonites turned into a ferocious war of great destruction. Hanun
and his men deeply humiliated David’s men who headed home looking to be slaves
instead of men of rank and honor. The beard to a man in this culture was a
proud symbol of their manhood. For all intents and purposes, these men were
naked before their own people.
Thus a war breaks
out as David avenges this insult. What would have kept the peace?
First of all, the
antagonist Hanun could have rejected his servants’ advice. He seems to have
forgotten the supporting relationship between his father and David. There was
no evidence supporting their claims. He could have stood courageously for what
was right against useless suspicion.
Second, David
could have acted against the cultural pressures and said, “Let’s talk to Hanun.”
The easy thing for David to do was to get even with Hanun. The trouble is,
getting even usually means getting the upper hand with worse actions in return.
Yes, David should have been mindful of the harm revenge would bring to his own
people. He could have said, “Let’s find a way to peace.”
A Moment’s Thought: Peacekeeping takes courage.
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