How does 1 Chronicles 19:2 connect with Jesus' teachings on loving others? context—david’s gesture of kindness • 1 Chronicles 19:2: “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, Israel’s king, reaches across political boundaries to comfort a grieving foreign prince. • The action is unsolicited; Hanun has done nothing for David. The king chooses grace because of prior kindness. threads that run to jesus’ teachings • Initiative of love – David “sent messengers.” Jesus likewise presses disciples to act first, not wait: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) • Love that crosses lines – Hanun is an Ammonite, historically hostile to Israel. Jesus’ Good Samaritan story (Luke 10:30-37) highlights mercy across ethnic boundaries. • Love rooted in covenant loyalty – David’s word “kindness” (Hebrew ḥesed) points to loyal love. Jesus fulfills and expands this loyal love, commanding, “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34) shared principles—old testament model, new testament mandate • Remember past mercies – David honors Nahash’s earlier kindness. Jesus teaches gratitude that overflows in mercy: “Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matthew 10:8). • See grief, meet grief – David consoles in loss; Jesus weeps with mourners (John 11:35) and calls us to “weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15). • Risk misunderstanding – David’s embassy is misread and humiliated (1 Chronicles 19:3-4). Obeying Jesus’ love can invite rejection, yet He says, “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.” (John 15:18). • Love without reciprocity guarantee – David acts before knowing response; Jesus instructs, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?” (Matthew 5:46). practical pointers for today • Identify one “Hanun” in your sphere—someone outside your circle or even skeptical of your faith—and initiate a tangible kindness. • Let past kindnesses you have received motivate fresh acts of mercy. Keep a running list of God’s favors and human helps. • Accept that love may be misread. Rejection does not invalidate obedience; it aligns you with both David’s experience and Christ’s example. • Anchor every act of service in covenant faithfulness, not fleeting emotion. Love because you are loved by the covenant-keeping God. conclusion—ancient echo, present call David’s resolve in 1 Chronicles 19:2 foreshadows Jesus’ clear command: love reaches out first, crosses boundaries, risks rejection, and mirrors the steadfast love of God. The king after God’s own heart points us to the King of kings, who perfects that same love on the cross and invites us to live it daily. |
    |