When King Nahash of the Ammonites died, David sent ambassadors to his son to show sympathy. He did it because as he said, “Nahash was always loyal to me.”
The ambassadors were rebuffed and shamed, which angered David. You’ll find the story in 2Samuel 10.
The Ammonites, realizing they had angered David, hired Aramean warriors to help them. Together, they drew up battle lines to fight David. Joab, leader of David’s army realized that he had two fronts for the battle. He divided his soldiers and sent his brother Abishai to fight the Ammonites on one front (entrance of the city gates), while he took other soldiers to fight the Arameans on the second front (in the open fields).
Joab’s instructions to his brother Abishai contain an important lesson. “’If the Arameans are too strong for me, then come over and help me,’ Joab told his brother. ‘And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come and help you. Be courageous! Let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. May the Lord’s will be done.’” [2Samuel 10:11-12]
We need each other. The enemy is on the prowl knowing that his time is short. He is not shy and comes at people from all directions. In Isaiah 52 God promised Israel that He would go before them and be their rear guard. That promise is true for His children today.
Still, we need each other. When we are battling the enemy, we need our brothers and sisters to join us in the battle. We need to hear someone promise us … If the enemy is too strong for you, I will come and help you.
