4/8/26

David, attempted to comfort Hanun the king of the Ammonites when his father died. However, Hanun did not trust that David was doing this in righteousness. Hanun therefore turned against David and defiled his gift of comfort, by mocking David's men and embarrassing them.

Our text reveals that this put them in a place they didn't want to be. 2 Samuel 10:6 NASB95 Now when the sons of Ammon saw that they had become odious to David, the sons of Ammon sent and hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob and the Arameans of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob with 12,000 men.

When we mock a gift or are not accepting of it we make ourselves odious to the giver. John 3:16 NASB95 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

God gave the gift of His Son and yet many people have mocked Him in unbelief! They have made themselves odious to God, when they are not accepting of the greatest gift ever given. Thankfully God is a forgiving God and we have multiple opportunities to accept His gift of love in His Son.

At some point, the offer will be removed and those who have not received Him will experience the wrath of God. They think that when the time comes, they will join in with a large group of others who have refused the gift and they will protect each other. Hanun, hired 33,000 people to join with him but what he found out was that they had to take care of their own odious scent. When the attack came they ran off more concerned for themselves than for Hanun. He was left all alone and so were the hired hands. It was Everyman for his stinky self.

They went away and they hired more people and they attempted to fight but again lost.

Following scripture reads of David and his army: 2 Samuel 10:12 NASB95 “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.”

Men blessed by the gift of love will fight strong and courageously, while those who are odious can't stand their own stench.

It is wise to be sold out, accepting the gift from God with love and appreciation. Live your life with God as of first and foremost importance because everything else will leave you all alone, after causing you to be odious.

Follow God in appreciation for His wonderful gift. Then live for Him and we will be covered in the righteous aroma of Christ, instead of our own sinful stench.

Love Bro. Scott