How does David's kindness in 1 Chronicles 19:2 reflect God's character? Setting the Scene 1 Chronicles 19:2: “And David said, ‘I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.’ So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father.” David reaches across political boundaries to comfort a grieving son—an action rooted in covenant loyalty rather than mere diplomacy. The Hebrew Thread: ḥesed • “Kindness” translates ḥesed—steadfast love, covenant faithfulness, mercy. • ḥesed describes God’s own nature (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 136). David’s intent, therefore, is more than courtesy; it echoes the very love God shows His people. Parallels Between David’s Kindness and God’s Character • Initiating grace – David makes the first move; likewise “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). • Remembering past faithfulness – David honors Nahash’s earlier kindness; God “remembers His covenant forever” (Psalm 105:8). • Comforting the grieving – David consoles Hanun; God is “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). • Extending mercy beyond boundaries – Hanun is an Ammonite, a foreigner; God’s kindness reaches “all the families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3; Acts 10:34-35). • Reflecting steadfast commitment, not fleeting sentiment – David’s action springs from loyal love; God’s ḥesed “endures forever” (Psalm 118:1). • Risking misunderstanding and rejection – Hanun misreads David’s motives (v. 3-6); God’s overtures are often rejected (John 1:11), yet He persists in love. Scriptures that Echo the Same Divine Kindness • 2 Samuel 9:1-7 —David shows ḥesed to Mephibosheth, mirroring God’s grace to the helpless. • Psalm 23:6 —“Surely goodness and loving devotion will follow me all the days of my life.” • Titus 3:4-5 —“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us…” • Ephesians 2:7 —God displays “the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Takeaways for Today • God’s kindness is proactive, faithful, and boundary-breaking; David offers a human glimpse of that divine heart. • When believers practice loyal, sacrificial kindness, they participate in the very character of God (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12). |
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