1 Chronicles 19 Devotional

A King Who Covers Shame

“When someone came and told David about his men, he sent messengers to meet them, since the men had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.””1 Chronicles 19:5 (BSB)

David means to show kindness. When the Ammonite king dies, he sends men to console the new king, Hanun (19:2). But Hanun's princes read the kindness as spying, and Hanun shaves the messengers' beards, cuts off their garments at the hips, and sends them away in disgrace (19:3-4). The insult becomes a war, and the rest of the chapter tells of hired chariots and battles won.

Before any of that, though, there is a quieter verse. When David hears what has happened, he sends messengers to meet his men, because they have been thoroughly humiliated, and tells them to stay in Jericho until their beards grow back (19:5). The king does not make his servants walk home carrying their shame. He shelters them until they are restored. It is a small picture of a greater King. Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame (Hebrews 12:2), taking disgrace on himself rather than leaving his people exposed. Whatever humiliation you carry, you can bring it to a King who covers his servants.

To think about: What shame have you been carrying alone that you could bring to Jesus, who bore shame for you?