1 Chronicles 19 reminds me there are many types of “enemies” from our past. For some it is addiction, for others it is lust or just running with “the wrong crowd”. Many of us put those enemies under control when we became believers. The chapter warns that we cannot become too friendly with old enemies. The chapter begins with King David learning the king of the Ammonites died. He said, “I will show kindness [to his son] because his father showed kindness to me.” And “David sent a delegation to express his sympathy“. The Ammonite nobles advised their new king, “His men come to you to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it“. Instead of welcoming the dignitaries, they “seized David’s men, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle… and sent them away… they were greatly humiliated“. This was the greatest of public insults. A man’s beard was symbolic of his status and his power. Cutting off their clothes exposed everything and made them appear as slaves. So shameful was their appearance that David sent them to “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back“. Simply put, when we become too friendly with those old enemies, we fail to see their danger. So many men and women have been publicly exposed and humiliated after returning to an old addition and learned too late, it can take a lifetime for “your beard to grow back”.
With this rebellion against King David, the Ammonites “had become a stench in David’s nostrils“. And their reaction is typical. They did not apologize, they prepared for attack. They brought in mercenary soldiers from Syria. I really believe that often there is a spiritual component to relapse. Satan always uses our failure to drive a wedge between us and God. “They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers… while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle“. Notice, the King David reacted strongly, “David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men“. Coming together with friends that are fully equipped for the spiritual battle is the surest way to recovery. The army of Israel was between “battle lines” with the Ammonite in front and the hired army behind. But notice what happens when our brothers stand at our side. Joab the commander of Israel’s’ army divided the troops with his brother saying, if the Syrians are “too strong for me, then you are to rescue me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you“. When the Ammonitessaw their hired help fleeing,”they too fled“. It appears Israel won the battle with nothing more than unity. Friend, don’t try to fight your battle alone.
But the Syrians did not give up; they “gathered more troops and prepared for battle against Israel“. This time David himself took to the battlefield. “He gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan… and they fought against him. But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers …and the commander of their army”. Ultimately they realized the futility of fighting against God and “they made peace with David and became subject to him. But what about you and I, where is our victory? Romans chapter 8 teaches us “If God is for us, who can be against us? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Christ Jesus, who died more than that, who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” The answer is NO ONE!