2 Samuel 12:13

2 Samuel 12:13 says, And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.  David confessed his sin to Nathan, and Nathan said God had put away his sin, so he wouldn't die immediately.  God puts aside our sins when we confess them and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and we will never die spiritually nor be separated from Him.  Verse fourteen adds, Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.  Nathan then added a howbeit and that was that since David’s actions would bring dishonor to God,  He said the child was going to die.  We might think this a great injustice to the child, but the child would immediately be transported to heaven, which is the greatest reward of all.  David and Bathsheba would be the ones to suffer.  What we need to realize is that when we as Christians sin there will be consequences in this life even though we have everlasting life with God.  Verse fifteen continues, And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.  After Nathan left, the child of David and Bathsheba was stricken by the LORD and became very sick.  Again, from the human perspective this might seem very cruel, but God sees things from the eternal perspective.  Since we are all just passing through this life to then either go to heaven or hell, the only two choices, the child was rewarded with everlasting life with God.  Verse sixteen states, David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.  David prayed to God for the child, fasted and laid down on the ground before God and the people.  David was sincere in his appeal to God and so must we be anytime we pray.  Verse seventeen adds, And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.  The elders of his house attempted to get David up and have him eat, but he wouldn't do it.  Like David, if we are sincerely humbling ourself before God, we should not allow others to stop us from doing so.  Verse eighteen continues, And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? After a week, the child died and David’s servants were afraid to tell him for fear of what he might do to himself when he heard the news.  Our fellow believers should never be afraid to tell us bad news because they are afraid of how we will react.  Verse nineteen declares, But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.  When David heard how his servants were whispering, he perceived that the child was dead and asked them.  They told him that the child was dead.  If we have bad news that we are reluctant to share with someone, we certainly have to tell them the truth when they ask us.  Verse twenty adds, Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.  After receiving the news, David got up, cleaned up, went to the house of the Lord and worshipped Him, and then went to his own house and asked for food.  When we realize that something we have been praying and agonizing about is settled, we need to get up and worship God before we do anything else, even if we don't get the answer that we wanted.  Then, we need to get on with our life following God's leadership.  

2 Samuel 12:1

2 Samuel 12:1 says, And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.  The prophet Nathan was sent by God to David.  As Christians, we need to go where the Holy Spirit sends us.  Nathan under God's guidance spoke to David about two men in the same city, one rich and one poor.  We certainly have enough of that in the world today.  Verse two adds, The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:  Verse three continues, But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.  The rich man had large flocks and herds, which he probably thought little about other than the fact that they were his.  The poor men had but one little lamb, which he had lovingly raised and treated like a daughter.  I believe those who are poor often tend to take a personal interest in and value what they have more those who are rich.  Verse four states, And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.  When a traveler came to the rich man, instead of killing one of his own lambs, he took the poor man's lamb and killed it.  I believe that figuratively speaking there are rich men today who are taking poor people's lambs.  Verse five adds, And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:  David was very angry at this rich man and said as the LORD lived, the man would die.  It is easy for us to have righteous indignation against other people, but we need to remember that we are all sinners saved by grace.  Verse six continues, And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.  David said that in addition to being put to death that the rich man would restore to the poor man four fold, because he had felt no pity in what he did.  I believe as a general rule the truly rich have little compassion on the poor.  They build bigger houses and yachts and such as the poor struggle just to have enough to eat.  Verse seven declares, And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;  Nathan the said to David that he was the rich man whom he had just condemned to death.  Of course, even if Uriah were alive, David could not restore his wife fourfold.  Nathan then gave David the message from God, saying that He had appointed David king of Israel and delivered him from Saul’s hand.  David was truly blessed by God.  As Christians, God has delivered us from sin and death, and we are truly blessed.  Verse eight continues, And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.  God pointed out all that He had given David  and told him if he needed more God would have given it to him if he had asked.  God has blessed us with everlasting life, and if we want more, we simply need to ask and He will always supply our needs.  David’s real problem was giving in to his wants and putting his plan into action to get what he wanted.  We should to never be guilty of this.  Verse nine asks, Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.  Nathan asked David how he could despise the commandment of the LORD by having Uriah killed by the Ammonites so that he could have his wife.  David may have thought no one would know what he did, with the possible exception of Joab, but God knew.  If we as followers of Christ sin against God's commandments, no one else may ever know, but God always will.  Verse ten adds, Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.  God then told David that he would never be free of war in his life because of his despising God and taking Uriah's wife.  If we give in to sin, until we repent and ask God's forgiveness, we will never have peace in our life as Christians.  Verse eleven continues, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.  God said that He would raise up evil from within David’s own house and that another would take his wives.   We can debate on whether God actually raises up evil, but personally I believe He simply knew what was going to happen without His protection.  I don't believe that God uses the mistreatment of others, which is what was going to happen to David's wives, to punish us.  We are all responsible for the consequences of our sins, and if others are harmed by them, I don't believe that God causes evil to punish us.  Verse twelve concludes, For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.  God said that even though David had committed this sin in secret that the people of Israel would see what happened to David.  There are no secret sins that we can hide forever.  God knows, and one day I believe that even as Christians if we sin one day we will have to answer for them before God.  Though we have everlasting life through our faith in Jesus Christ, this is never a license to sin.

2 Samuel 11:14

2 Samuel 11:14 says, And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.  Having failed in his plan to make Uriah believe that he was the father of the unborn baby, David devised another plan and sent a letter to Joab to have it put in effect.  He was now involving another in his sinful actions, and if we allow sin back into our lives, we often have others involved in it as well.  Verse fifteen adds, And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.  David told Joab to put Uriah in the hottest battle and then withdraw support from him so that he would be killed.  Joab was under David’s command, but he still could have refused to do this.  Even if someone is in power over us and commands us to do something sinful, we always have the choice to say no.  Verse sixteen continues, And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.  Joab assigned Uriah to a place where he knew valiant men were, or where there was the most danger.  All Uriah had ever done was be a loyal soldier and be married to Bathsheba.  We should never attempt to destroy those who are loyal servants of God, no matter our reasoning.  Verse seventeen states, And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.  The people of the city that Joab sent Uriah to battle against came out and killed some of Joab's troops, including Uriah.  It could even be that Uriah would have been assigned to this battle without David’s instructions, but David had made Joab and himself responsible for his death by their actions.  Even though someone might have been destroyed without our actions, if we deliberately seek their destruction we must bear the responsibility for our actions.  Verse eighteen adds, Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;   Verse nineteen continues, And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,  Joab sent a messenger to David to update him on the war technically, but he was actually telling David that Uriah was dead as we will see.  Joab was not acting as an honorable soldier, but as an agent of sin.  We as Christians should never allow ourselves to become a party to the sins of others.  Verse twenty says, And if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?  Joab said that David might question his tactics in approaching so close to the wall of the city where it would be very dangerous.  Verse twenty-one adds, Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.  Joab said that they had the example of Abimelech being killed by a woman with a piece of pottery when he got too close to the wall.  I believe Joab was afraid that David might use the bad tactics to get rid of him, but he included the fact that Uriah was killed in the action.  He knew what David wanted done and did it, but I am not sure that he totally trusted David to not then have him killed, but he did have the knowledge of David's instructions that he could use in his defense.  Those who are joined together in sinful actions often are afraid to totally trust each other, especially if one has power over the other one.  Verse twenty-two continues, So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.  The messenger brought the report to David.  I believe that all David really wanted to hear was that Uriah was dead so he could hide his sinful action.  Personally, I don't believe David was concerned about the others who died as well. He had gotten what he wanted.  Those engaged in sinful actions often are not concerned about others that they may harm as well.  Verse twenty-three states, And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.  Verse twenty-four adds, And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king’s servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.  The messenger gave an accurate report of what had happened, concluding with the fact that Uriah was dead.  Of course, he didn't realize that this was the purpose of the raid to start with.  Verse twenty-five continues, Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.  David sent a message back to Joab telling him not to be disheartened by what had happened and that there was no determining who would die in war, even though they had conspired to make sure that Uriah did.  David was covering their actions as a normal outcome of war.  We should never be surprised if people engaged in sinful actions today attempt to make what they are doing seem to be a normal thing.  Verse twenty-six says, And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.  Bathsheba had been unfaithful to Uriah, but she still mourned his death.  She didn't know anything about David’s plot to have Uriah killed, and she was now an expectant mother without a husband.  She did not know David’s intentions either at this time.  Verse twenty-seven adds, And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.  After her time of mourning, David sent for Bathsheba and she became one of his wives and they had a son.  It would seem that things had turned out as David wanted, but he had a big problem.   God was displeased with David’s actions.  No matter how successful we may be in carrying out actions that are sinful in God's eyes, He will always know and we will always have a problem. 

2 Samuel 11:1

2 Samuel 11:1 says, And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.  After a year, when the weather permitted and kings went out to battle each other,  David sent Joab and the army of Israel out and they destroyed the Ammonites and besieged the city of Rabbah.  Though the rest of the Ammonites were defeated, the people of the city of Rabbah were able to hold out for a while.  We may have sins that hold out for a while after we have defeated most of them by the power of God.  David did not go but remained in Jerusalem.  We should not send others to fight against evil in the world as we ourselves remain in safety.  Verse two adds, And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.  While remaining in Jerusalem, David was walking on his rooftop when he saw a beautiful woman washing herself.  Instead of being out leading his army, David had idle time on his hands, and was about to bring dishonor to himself and to God.  If we begin to just sit back and enjoy life instead of actively doing what God calls us to do, then we open ourselves up to temptation and it is always going to seem beautiful at the time.  Verse three continues, And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?  Instead of looking away and not allowing himself to be tempted, David sought to find out who the woman was.  He was told that she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.  Matthew Henry says that David may have been intending to marry her if she wasn't married and to leave her alone if she was and she was.  Still, David already had several wives which is not God's plan, and Bathsheba had a husband.  We should always turn away from temptation when it first appears.  Verse four states, And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.  Instead of forgetting about Bathsheba, David sent for her and they committed adultery together.   I am not sure if she did this because she wanted to or because of the power of David as king.  As Christians, I can say that we should never use our position of authority if we have one to lead someone else into sin.  Verse five adds, And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.  Bathsheba became pregnant and sent word to David.  Since Uriah was in the field of battle, David now had a problem.  How could Bathsheba and he explain that she was pregnant when her husband had not been home.  Our sins will often lead us into a dilemma, and we can either confess them and seek forgiveness or try to hide them and create even more problems.  Verse six adds, And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.  David decided to attempt to hide his sin by sending for Uriah.  If he were home with Bathsheba, the child could be his.  We should never attempt to hide our sins, especially by using others to do so.  Verse seven continues, And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.  When Uriah came, David attempted to make it seem as though he were simply seeking an update on the war.  Sin was compounding as David was now lying about his reason for sending for Uriah, and if we allow sin into our lives as followers of Christ, we should not be surprised if it begins to multiply.  Verse eight says, And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.  David then told Uriah to go home and sent a lot of food with him.  This may have been David's way of attempting to atone for his sin, but we can never buy our way out of sin.  Of course, Bathsheba is sort of forgotten in this situation.  We are not told that she was in on the plan.  Verse nine adds, But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.  Uriah didn't do what David expected and wanted him to do, but slept in the servants quarters instead of going home.  We cannot depend on others to bail us out of sin, but must always just take responsibility for our sins and ask God's forgiveness, no matter how bad it may make us look in the eyes of the world.  Verse ten continues, And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?   When David was told that Uriah had not gone home, he called him and asked him why he hadn't.  David couldn't very well say to Uriah that he was spoiling his plan.  Other people may not cooperate with us if we attempt to use them to cover up our sin, especially if they are honorable people.  Verse eleven states, And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.  Uriah said that since the Ark was in a tent and Joab and Uriah's fellow soldiers were sleeping in the field that he would not go to his house and enjoy himself.  I don't believe that God expects us to simply sit back and enjoy life while giving no thought to our fellow believers who may be struggling.  Verse twelve adds, And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.  David told Uriah to stay another day and night, then he would allow him to return to the battle.  David was evidently hoping that the desire to go to his own house would be too much for Uriah to resist.  We should never attempt to cover up our sins by hoping that others will go against their beliefs and bail us out of the situation by allowing us to put the consequences of our sins on them.  Verse thirteen continues, And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.  David got Uriah drunk, but Uriah still went to sleep with the servants and not in his house.  We certainly should never lead others into sinful actions in order to attempt to cover up our sins,which is what David was attempting to do.

2 Samuel 10:13

2 Samuel 10:13 says, And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.  The Syrians fled before Joab almost as soon as the battle began it seems .  As long as we remain faithful to God, spiritually all our enemies have already fled from an everlasting perspective.  There is no enemy that we need to fear, even death itself.  Verse fourteen adds, 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.  Seeing that the Syrians had fled, so did the army of the Ammonites.  If we are spiritually victorious over one enemy, then others may flee from us as well.  Joab and the armies of Isreal did not pursue either enemy, but returned to Jerusalem.  When we are successful in defeating spiritual enemies, we don't need to chase after them, but need to simply return to our relationship with God for further strength.  Verse fifteen continues, And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.  The Syrians then gathered themselves after they had been defeated.  Even though I don't believe we need to chase after defeated spiritual enemies, that doesn't mean that they will never come back to bother us.  Some sin that we have overcome may tempt us again, which is why we need to remain close to God and the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse sixteen states, 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.  Since his troops that had gone to help the Ammonites fled, Hadarezer brought more of the Syrians to fight against Israel.  As stated, we may have overcome a particular sin and then have it come back as an even stronger temptation to us.  Verse seventeen adds, And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him. Though Joab had not pursued the Syrians when they fled, David gathered the troops of Israel together to fight against them when they began to prepare to go to war against Israel.  Under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, even if we do not chase enemies we have already defeated spiritually, if they do come back to attack us again, we need to be ready to battle them.  If our faith in God is strong, the battle should not be long, no matter how strong they may be when they return.  Verse eighteen continues, And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.  Once more,the Syrians fled, and David destroyed seven hundred of their chariots and forty- thousand horsemen, as well as Shobach their captain.  David had God on his side, so the battle was not long.  We as Christians have God on our side, so no matter how strong our enemies may think they are, spiritually they will always flee as long as we remain faithful to Him.  Verse nineteen concludes, And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.  When the other kings that were servants of Hadadezer saw that his troops had been killed before David, they made peace with Israel and no longer helped the Ammonites.  If by faith we defeat one enemy, it may keep others from even attacking us.  

2 Samuel 10:7

2 Samuel 10:7 says, And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.  When David heard what the people of Ammon had done to his servants that he sent to them in peace, he sent for Joab and all the army of Israel.   Those who reject and ridicule God today will one day face His punishment, and He doesn't need an army to carry it out.  Verse eight adds, And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.  The army of Ammon and those that they had recruited to help them came out to face the army of Israel.  They divided in to two groups, with the Ammonites to protect their city while the Syrians were to flank the Israelites.  We should be ready for the forces of Satan to attack us from all sides.  As stated many times, we should not be surprised when the people of the world unite against God and His people, who are those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.  Verse nine continues, When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:  Joab saw what they were planning and chose the best men of Israel to fight the Syrians under his leadership.  We cannot all be the best of God's army today, but we are all a part of it as Christians and we must be ready to take on the enemies of God wherever He leads us to do so.  Verse ten states, And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.  The rest of the army, Joab put under the command of his brother Abishai.  We may be a leader in the church, just as Joab was the leader of David's troops, but even if we are, we need to realize that we cannot do everything ourself.  Verse eleven adds, 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 come and help thee.  Joab told Abishai that if the Syrians proved to be too strong for him, that Abishai was to come help him and that if the Ammonites proved to be too strong for Abishai that he would come help him.  We as followers of Christ must always be willing to come to the aid of our fellow believers if we see them being overcome by the world.  Of course, if they were going into battle under the direction of God they should have had faith that He would give them the victory, just as He has already done for us spiritually when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.   Verse twelve continues, Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.  Joab then did put things in God's hands.  He said that they were to go to protect their people  but that God should do what seemed good to Him.  Putting everything in God's hands is all we can ever do.  

2 Samuel 10:1

2 Samuel 10:1 says, And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.  Nahash, the king of the Ammonites died and his son Hanun became king.  One thing is certain, and that is that earthly rulers all ultimately die, but our king, Jesus Christ, lives forever.  Verse two adds, Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.  Though the Ammonites had been cruel enemies of Israel, Nahash had shown kindness to David, so he decided to show kindness to Hanun, Nahash's son.  David sent comfort by the hand of his servants.  We should never judge people by the actions of even the majority of the people of a nation, but should always judge them individually.   Verse three continues, And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?   Hanun's advisors told him that David had sent his servants to spy on him instead of giving him comfort.  People of the world may always question our motives if we as Christians offer them help in their time of mourning.  Verse four states, 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.  Hanon took actions to greatly shame David’s servants, leaving them with a beard only on one side and half-naked and sent them home.  I believe that there is still nothing that some of the lost people today enjoy more than trying to bring shame to Christians.  Verse five adds, 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.  When David heard what had happened, he told his servants that had been shamed to remain in Jerusalem until their beards had regrown.  If we as Christians are somehow shamed by the world today, I don't believe we should allow this to permanently keep us from serving God.  The shame may not be visible like a half-shaved beard, but it like the half- shaved beard should be overcome soon.  Verse six continues, And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.  When the people of Ammon saw that they now stank before David, or had now made themselves his enemy by their actions, they began to hire others to help them.  The enemies of God, even if they don't always get along, will often unite in their battle against God's people, the followers of Christ.