No Offense, None Taken

In 1^st Chronicles 19, King David hears the news of the death of the King of the Ammonites. In order to continue the good relations with the son as he had with the father, he sends a funeral delegation as a sign of respect. The new king’s officials misjudged the messengers as undercover spies seeking to facilitate the overthrow of his kingdom. His response is to degrade and humiliate the men and send them back to David. David is offended by this act and the Ammonites respond by hiring an army to protect themselves from his wrath. David then responds to this “arms” race by mobilizing his forces. The Ammonites counter by seeking the aid of their neighbors the Arameans. In the end, war ensues and the Ammonites are crushed and their allies are forced into peace. This comedy of errors serves a warning to us today that we must be careful how we perceive others actions toward us.

How many relationships have been ruined when one took offense at an action the other never attended to be offensive? We must be wise enough to ignore those voices that try to turn others well meaning actions in attacks. In the end you bring only more trouble onto yourself.

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Ecclesiastes 12:10

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