The Grands Letter (1 Chron/GLJ)
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D. on May 13, 2026 6:36 am (CST)
Dear Grands,
1 Chronicles 19:9-13, “The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings, who had come, were by themselves in the field.
10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him in front and in the rear, he selected from all the choice men of Israel and they arrayed themselves against the Arameans.
11 But the remainder of the people he placed in the hand of Abshai his brother; and they arrayed themselves against the sons of Ammon.
12 He said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.
13 “Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
Battles of any size are never encouraging. Death and devastation are always the result. It was clearly the same in this case. Hanun was the son of the late Nahash, king of the Ammonites. David had shown kindness to Nahash, but sons are often not like their fathers. Hanun dealt harshly with David’s servants and ultimately sought to defeat him in battle. Either he had not heard of David’s strength in warfare, or his opinion of himself outweighed all thoughts of defeat. Neither was to Hanun’s advantage.
On the other hand, David prepared himself well not only in the assembling of his forces but by way of prayerful encouragement of his men and the families left behind. Ultimately, David’s forces won the victory and ultimately made peace with the hostile Arameans.
Sometimes we have to overcome others before they come to peace with us. Certainly, we ought not to thoroughly devastate them. Rather, we ought to bring them to a spiritual way of thinking, such that results in their commitment to Christ and His teachings. Those kinds of “enemies” become far better friends. And in the end, friends are what we are seeking. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Prov. 17:17).
Heartily in Christ,
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
United States of America
“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom
