“Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead. 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. 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? Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away,” 1 Chronicles 19:1-4.
I am seeking to set forth the parallels in this passage with the kindness of God toward sinners, displayed in the Gospel message sent to those who “were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly,” Romans 5:6.
We have considered the greatness of the King, even the Lord, who sent the Gospel condolences and the spurning of the kindness by those to whom the expression of love was sent.
The chief manifestation of the rejecting of the Gospel is the humiliating of God’s servants.
History tells a sad and horrific tale of the sufferings of the servants of the true God.
Mention is made of this byPaul in his epistle to the Hebrews.
“And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth,” Hebrews 11:36-38.
The ‘Dark Ages’ was a time of great persecution of the people of God. The Roman Catholic Church is stained with the blood of many tens of thousands of men, women and children, whom it deemed were only worthy of destruction.
God has appointed a day when their blood will be avenged! Heaven will sing on that day! The hurting of His servants is counted by Him as a hurting of Him.
He said as much of the actions of Saul of Tarsus, later Paul the apostle, as related by Paul before king Agrippa.
“At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.”Acts 26:13-15.
Paul had never met Christ in the flesh but his persecution of the Christians was counted by the Lord as a persecuting of Him.
This same principle is seen in the parable of the ’Sheep and the Goats’.
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me,” Matthew 25:31-40.
The reverse of this took place when the King addressed the unbelievers, the goats.
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me,” verses41-45.
The Lord takes very personally the mistreatment of His people. Let Christians remember this to their comfort. He will most assuredly take revenge for such actions.
“And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever,” Revelation 18:24-19:3.
We come now to considering how this truth is pictured in the verses under consideration..
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS REJECTION OF DAVID’S KINDNESS WERE MOST SEVERE!
David reacted to the actions of the Ammonites against his servants. “And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men,” 1 Chronicles 19:8.
There is no getting away with despising and persecuting the people of God.
1. The actions of the Ammonites brought against them the army that had been most successful on the battlefield. “Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines. And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts. And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went,” 1 Chronicles 18:1-6.
The invincibility of Israel on these occasions is but a wonderful reflection of the utter and total invincibility of the Lord’s armies!
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS,” Revelation 19:11-16.
The opposition mounted by the Antichrist and his armies, amounted to nothing. They were destroyed more easily than we would swat a fly!
“And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh,” Revelation 19:19-21.
The devil, the chief protagonist of the Lord, fared no better!
“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. . . . And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever,” Revelation 20:11-3, 7-10.
That is how opposition to God and His servants will be brought to an eternal end, a most dreadful end indeed!
2. Joab’s understanding of the circumstance of these events gave him confidence in the outcome. “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,” 1 Chronicles 19:13.
The issue was not just the humiliation of David’s messengers. No, the whole kingdom of David was under attack. It was the safety of the people and the cities that was at stake.
In the light of this truth, Joab was confident that the Lord would do that which was ‘good’ (the best) in His sight.
The Lord is ABLE to do WHATSOEVER pleases Him!
“But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased,” Psalms 115:3.
We need to ever remember the Lord’s response to the most formidable of the devil’s attacks!
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure,” Psalm 2:1-5.
This is the Lord’s reaction to the all-out war that the devil will lauch against the Lord at the close of this age!
He laughs!
Let us likewise laugh at the devil’s puny, dwarfish attempts to overthrow and humiliate the Lord! It just cannot succeed!
3. That which began with the humiliating of the messengers of David, developed into a region-wide conflict. “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. 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. 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. 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,” 1 Chronicles 19:16-19.
It is in looking back we see what lies ahead!
Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church, “The mystery of iniquity doth already work,” 2 Thessalonians 2:7. That is, ‘the secretive spirit of lawlessness and sin.’ The term ‘iniquity’ was applied to the defiant and treacherous ‘Pharisees’, who from the very beginning of His ministry, opposed the Saviour and were to the fore in His crucifixion. Indeed, John the Baptist labelled them for what they were.
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Matthew 3:7.
That is the first mention of those who ever voiced opposition to the cause of Christ. The last mention of them in Matthew’s gospel shows their persistence.
“Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. . . . Some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day,” Matthew 27:62-28:4, 28:11-15.
The Gospel of Matthew is believed to have been written no earlier than AD 63, though some would date it some 30 years later. The point to notice is that the lie of the Pharisees and their fellow despisers of Christ, was still in circulation when the Gospel of Matthew first appeared. That means that it is possible that almost two generations after the ascension of Christ, the devil’s lie was being proclaimed!
THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY
That is but one of the manifestations of the “the mystery of iniquity” at work in apostolic days.
It has continued ever since and its presence is all too apparent today. Day after day, the news media report robberies, murders, assaults, molestations and every form of criminality on the street and homes of our land.
I am 82 years old. I spent my years from 10 to 20 living in Belfast and I can honestly say that there was never the lawlessness that there is now!
That is because “the mystery of iniquity” is INCREASINGLY at work and it will continue to do so until its final manifestation takes place and man finally will dare to think that he is able to challenge and overcome the Lord!
THE BEAST ARISES
“And I stood upon the sand of the sea (the Mediterranean Sea), and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear,” Revelation 13:1-9.
INCREASE
The animosity of the ‘beast’ toward the Lord and His people will increase until he goes forth against the Lord Himself. He will be a latter-day Goliath. However, his blasphemies will bring forth ‘great David’s Greater Son’ in answer to his blasphemous challenges. The end was foreshadowed that day long ago in the valley of Elah, some miles southwest of Jerusalem.
“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful,” Revelation 17:12-14.
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh,” Revelation 19:11-21.
These are words to savour and repeatedly to ponder and digest. THIS is how it will all end, just as it ends in that foreshadowed in that defiance of David, and the attempt to overthrow him and his kingdom ends with the submission of his enemies and a period of peace ensuing.
Eternal Peace.
However, the peace that will follow the scenes reported in Revelation, which I have just highlighted, will be EVERLASTING!
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this,” Isaiah 9:6-7.
May these considerations comfort your heart and strengthen you, Christian.
If you are not saved, then I wish to underline just how man’s sinful rebellion will MOST CERTAINLY END — even in the lake of fire!
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death,” Revelation 21:7-8.
Heed the plea of Moses: “O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!” Deuteronomy 32:29.
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
11th December 2025