Today’s Devotional – We Need to Have Each Other’s Back

2 Samuel Chapter 10, starts out by telling us that after the king of the Ammonites died, David reached out to his son. “I’ll show him some kindness,” he said, “in the same way his father showed kindness to me.”

And so, David sent his men to the land of the Ammonites to express his sympathy to the king. It didn’t go well. Suspicious of David’s intentions, the king responded with violence. We read,

Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away. (2 Samuel 10:14, NIV)

Humiliated, the messengers returned to David, who told them to stay in Jericho until their beards grew back in. Unfortunately, however, that wasn’t the end of it. When the Ammonites realized they insulted David, they pushed all the more, gathering thousands of men for a battle. On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men. (v. 7)

What started out as an act of kindness, turned into a battle between Israel and Ammonites. Surrounded by armies both in front and behind them, Joab divided the troops into two groups. Putting one group under the command of his brother, Joab instructed him:

If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you. (2 Samuel 10:11, NIV)

Joab’s strategy illustrates the importance of supporting our brothers and sisters in Christ. It reminds us that:

1. We’re not fighting alone
2. We need to be there for each other as we fight the good fight

1 Corinthians 12 reminds us how we’re all a part of one body. When one part suffers we all suffer, which is why it’s so important to have each other’s back. To pray for each other. To comfort one another. To spur each other on.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1 Corinthians 12:26, NV)

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Tilling the Soil

Read 2 Samuel Chapter 10.

Planting Hope

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2, NIV)

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