I Chronicles 19:1 "Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead."

David had been king over Israel for quite some time when this took place, The spoils of many battles prior to this time had brought David and his kingdom much wealth and portion amongst the neighboring nations. David is now on easy street, and this should be a word of caution to us, that when things seem to easy and going our way, look out, for trouble can be headed our way. The point is to plan ahead and keep yourself disciplined and under control.

When the king of Ammon died, David tried to show some kindness to his son, who had just became king of Ammon.

I Chronicles 19:2 "And David said, "I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Hahash, 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."

Pay attention to what is happening here. Carnal men simply cannot understand the graciousness of a servant of God. When a man truly and sincerely loves the Lord and seeks to please the Father, the carnal man just doesn't understand the love that flows out of him for those around him. However these carnal minds simply think that so show love is a sign of weakness. In their mind they think you become a push-over for them. However to a man or woman of God it is just the opposite. To show love for our Father is power, for love is the most powerful thing in the world. So these men of Ammon, and their king Hanun are going to misread the kindness that David is showing for them.

I Chronicles 19:3 "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?"

When David sent this group of men to comfort Hanun, the advisers to king Hunan advised him that this group sent by David were there to spy out the land. Hunan and the Ammonites will pay a dear price for listening to these false advisors.

I Chronicles 19:4 "Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off th eir garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away."

We read in II Samuel 10:4; "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 set them away." This shaving of the beard was an insult to the person, and to shave only half the beard, meant he was only half a man. To insult David's men, was to insult David and His God also.

I Chronicles 19:5 "Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Terry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return."

David would not have these men enter back into the community in such a manner, and David sent the men away until they could return with full beards. David was compassionate to these servants for the trouble they went through. David wanted each of them to regain their full dignity and respect before he put them back in service.

I Chronicles 19:6 "And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsement out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syria-maachah, and out of Zobah."

King Hanun saw that David was upset over this act, and fear came over him. He knew of the power and force of David and his army, and Hanun sent to hire an army to go out and fight for him. Mesopotamia is the area that we call Iraq today, and Syria of course is the area of the nation of Syria of today. It sounds much like the forces that are gathering today for war, as Ammon is the land that the nation of Jordan now occupies.

II Samuel 10:6 "And when the children of Ammon saw that they standk before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the serians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and the king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men."

"That they stank" is an idiom in the Hebrew, and it meant that even the name of Ammon was an insult to David and caused a stink in David's nostrils. David would not sit back and allow their actions to go by without punishment. Hanun knew that was was going to happen, and he sent out to his friendly nations to get outside help. These Syrian forces were mercenaries come to fight with Ammon for money, just a bunch of hirelings.

This also happens many times in churches, where you have a hireling behind the pulpit. He stands behind the pulpit, saying the words that men at the top hired him to say. He gives an appearance of something that he is not. Just when you have an army girded for spiritual battle, with their spiritual armor on and in place, the hireling flip-flops, and in ignorance the flock scatters. Though their bodies are there for a purpose, their minds are focused on the money, not the battle at hand. Doing a job for the monetary gain is worthless when the battle begins. When things get tough, these mercenaries are gone. Hanum's paycheck that they are their to earn will not help them once their bodies are lying dead on the battle field.

I Chronicles 19:7 "So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle."

I Chronicles 19:8 "And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men."

I Chronicles 19:9 "And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field."

As the battle began, king Hanun and his Ammonites stayed behind and sent these hirelings out to fight Israel and Joab. However the forces of Israel set a plan in motion, as they did not know what to expect from the enemy.

I Chronicles 19:10 "Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before the behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians."

I Chronicles 19:11 "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."

I Chronicles 19:12 "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."

When Joab saw the force that was coming against him, he wanted the most tested men right by his side in battle. Remember that both Joab and Abishai are the sons of David's sister, and each of these men took half of David's forces to fight in this battle.

I Chronicles 19:13 "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."

These two leaders each knew that they represented both God, and the people of Israel, and they were focused on giving their best on the battle field.

I Chronicles 19:14 "So Joab and the People that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle: and they fled before him."

As the Israelites drew their swords, and came to fight the Syrians, fear came over them and they scattered before the Israelites. That is exactly what can be expected by hirelings, for they are not about to risk their life for the sake of their wage.

Each of us face many battles in life that just look to much to overcome, and that is the point that we turn those matters over to God. He will kick those big rocks and things out of our way, and give us things that we can handle. At the same time, many people make the mistake of trying to do it all, and he will not step in, when you do not ask God for His help. Jesus said, "Take My yoke upon you..." for it is you that chooses to all our Lord to fight your battle for you. He will not interfere in your plans if you do not ask Him to be part of them. Our Heavenly Father can make your load light, change minds of those that would do you harm, and turn the battle when it seems impossible, but you are the one that must ask for the help. You and I are to plan our course the best we can, and ask for God's blessing over those things that are out of our control.

I Chronicles 19:15 "And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem."

Think of the fear that must have come over Hanun when he watched his pack of hirelings running from the Israelites. It was time to head into the city, and hid behind the protections of the walls.

I Chronicles 19:16 "And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them."

At the same time, when the Syrians say the Ammonites turning tail and running, they decided that it was time to work out a deal, and this pack of hirelings then agreed to fight the very ones that they were hired to protect. However by this time, David had joined with his army, and the Israelites set out to kill off anyone that lifted a sword in battle against Israel. David then turned to fight against Syria itself, but when the Israelites came against Syria, the king of Syria did not claim the mercenaries that were paid to fight, and king Hadarezer sought a deal with David, and they became servants to the nation of Israel.

I Chronicles 19:17 "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."

I Chronicles 19:18 "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."

I Chronicles 19:19 "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."

When the battle was over, the Syrians found out that there was peace in David and his kingdom. This is much like what will happen when Christ comes, and the souls of this world will find that there is true peace in Christ's kingdom. The on is a type of the other. The one is an ensample as to how things will be at another time, called the Millennium age. In the end even the Syrians were willing to serve David willingly, and in the Millennium age of Christ's kingdom here on earth, all will serve the Lord willing, or they simply will not exist following the judgment. So David has put down another challenge to his authority, and enters into a time of peace with his neighbors.