King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
Chapters: II Samuel 10, I Chronicles 19, Psalms 20
Message: II Samuel/I Chronicles: Israel Defeats Ammon
Hello My Friend,
It was a melancholy day yesterday, my husband is anti Mother’s Day because his mother passed away in a similar way that my mother did a few years before we met. He does not show emotion much, but I could see that he was grieving. Even though we know our loved ones are in heaven and much better off, our human side will always feel like a part of us has left with them. Nevertheless, we know in our hearts that we will see them again and that makes all the difference. We do not always understand God’s ways, but we can understand one thing, and this goes back all the way to Adam, all who, in good faith, call on the name of the LORD will be in heaven.
[Psalms 20:1-7 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; 2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; 3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. 4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. 5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. 6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.]
While this Psalm was written to encourage us to trust in the LORD over all the earth’s resources and human strength, it also speaks directly to the believer who is walking through a season of uncertainty. David understood that the day of trouble comes to every life, and he knew that no earthly power could secure the soul or guarantee victory. As we return to the reading of I Chronicles and continue in the reading of II Samuel, we find that one of David’s friends had died, the king of Ammon. However, Hanun, the new king and his son, after listening to some ill advice caused an uproar.
[I Chronicles 19:1-3 Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead. 2 And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him. 3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?]
The king of Ammon had once shown kindness to David by sheltering one of his brothers when the king of Moab massacred the rest of his family. Even though Israel and Ammon were not allies, there was a measure of goodwill between David and Nahash because of that act of mercy. So when Nahash died, David simply wanted to honor that kindness. However, these men had falsely accused David of just sending his men there to see what they were up against to take it over. I suppose that given David’s track record with taking on so many nations, that they were a little frightened. Yet their fear led them to behave in a way that was not only dishonorable, but childish.
[II Samuel 10:4-6 Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. 5 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return. 6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men.]
The suggestion that David’s messengers were spies was deliberately crafted to provoke Hanun into hostility. The princes of Ammon wanted him to view David as an enemy, not a friend. Their accusation was not born of truth, but of fear and suspicion, and it served a strategic purpose: to push Ammon toward war. Having regained confidence in their own strength, the Ammonites believed they were ready to challenge Israel once again. However, they knew they could not do it alone, so they hired the Syrians to help them defeat Israel. Thanks to Hanun and his alter ego, Israel has another battle to fight. When word reached David, he immediately sent Joab to assess the situation and orchestrate a strategy for the coming conflict.
[I Chronicles 19:10-13 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians. 11 And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon. 12 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee. 13 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.]
Joab was not the most God‑fearing leader, but he was no fool. Even he understood that victory does not rest in human strength alone. At this moment, Joab recognized that if the battle was within the will of God to be won, then Israel would prevail. Yet he also knew that even if they lost, they were still responsible to conduct themselves in a way that honored the LORD. Their duty was faithfulness; the outcome belonged to God. Sometimes it is in God’s will that we lose a fight. But no loss in the life of a believer is ever a failure, because God never wastes a battle. He always has a purpose behind every outcome, victory or defeat.
[I Corinthians 3:13-15 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.]
There is great learning and insight that comes when God allows us to be knocked down once in a while. Yet in every battle, God sends out His very best to fight, they may not want to fight, they may even want to hide, but if God has chosen them for the battle, whether win or lose, they have to trust that He knows what He is doing and let Him lead the way. Joab understood this much: win or lose, they were to show courage, trust God, and leave the results in His hands. Well, that strategy worked, as soon as the Syrians saw Israel’s army they took off.
[II Samuel 10:13-16 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. 14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem. 15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.]
When Joab advanced with the men who were with him, the Syrians quickly realized they were no match for Israel, and they fled before him. Their retreat sent a ripple of fear through the Ammonites. When the children of Ammon saw the Syrians running, they too abandoned the field and retreated into their city. With the immediate threat gone, Joab returned to Jerusalem, the battle seemingly resolved. The Syrians, humiliated by their defeat, regrouped. They gathered themselves together, unwilling to accept the loss. However, when David got word of where they were he immediately set the battle in array against them.
[I Chronicles 19:17-19 And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him. 18 But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host. 19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.]
This moment reveals a pattern we often see in spiritual warfare: just when it seems the battle is over, the enemy regroups. Victory in one area does not mean the conflict is finished. Sometimes the opposition returns stronger, larger, and more determined than before. Yet none of this catches God off guard. Even if we lose a battle here and there, we are still on the winning side. God’s will is not always comfortable, and it is not always joyful in the moment, but it always leads us toward something better, [I Corinthians 15:57-58 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.]
Today’s Prayer: God, As much as I do understand that You are with me through every battle, that still does not mean I am willing to fight. Your timing is everything and as long as I wait patiently, and trust You, I know that my faith will get the victory every time, even in defeat. I thank You for bringing me this far, and to imagine what mess I would be in if You were not in my life would be frightening. I know You have more waiting for me as I patiently allow You to prepare me, strengthen me, and keep me humble. I ask You to give me Your power to wait on You, to not become discouraged, and to have courage even if I am the only one trusting You. I trust that You will bring me to victory, my Lord, my strength, my Redeemer. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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