The Citizen, 2019-09-05, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2019. PAGE 17.
By Jason Hovius
Brussels Community Bible
Chapel
Have you ever felt humiliated? My
guess is probably you have.
We’ve all been there. Whether or
not we feel we earned it, we have all
been maligned and demeaned in
front of someone we wish respected
us.
There’s a little story in 2 Samuel
10 about some of King David’s men
who were humiliated at the hands of
the Ammonites, a foreign nation
neighbouring ancient Israel on the
east. History shows a complicated
relationship between these two
nations. Even in recent history,
things haven’t changed much
between Amman (still Jordan’s
capital) and Jerusalem.
The Ammonites descended from
Lot, Abraham’s nephew. While
Israel grew in numbers in Egypt,
Ammon grew in size and power east
of the Jordan. Israel fled slavery in
Egypt and followed the fire and
cloud of God’s presence to the
land that had been promised to
Abraham. However, in
Deuteronomy 2:37, God very
specifically commanded Israel
not to trespass onto any of the land
of the Ammonites.
Over the next few hundred years,
Ammon, though unprovoked,
occasionally invaded Israel’s
territory. This happened during the
days of Ehud, Jephthah and Samuel,
who led Israel before Israel had a
king. Saul, Israel’s first king,
delivered an Israelite town called
Jabesh Gilead from Nahash, king of
the Ammonites, who had vowed to
gouge out the right eye of everyone
in the city.
Unlike Saul, King David had a
friendly relationship with Nahash.
When Nahash died, David sent a
delegation to Hanun son of Nahash
in order to express his sympathy. No
ulterior motives, just a thoughtful act
of kindness.
But David’s intentions were
misinterpreted. His men were
accused of being spies, and were
treated accordingly. “So Hanun
seized David’s men, shaved off half
of each man’s beard, cut off their
garments in the middle at the
buttocks, and sent them away.” (2
Sam. 10:4)
There’s a reason we don’t walk
around town wearing only a hospital
gown and a weird haircut. For most
of us, it would be humiliating.
People would stare and point and
have lots to talk about at the evening
dinner table. It is clear that Hanun’s
intention was to make complete
fools of David’s men. Can you
imagine their embarrassment as they
slunk their way back toward Israel,
clutching their clothing tightly
around them in a vain attempt to
maintain modesty in the eyes of the
general public?
David wisely advised his
delegation to keep a low profile in
Jericho until their beards regrew. In
the meantime, the Ammonites
amassed some armies and coaxed
Israel into battle. They were defeated
by David’s men.
This story reminds me a lot about
the Lord Jesus Christ. The Son of
God left heaven and came to this
earth with intentions of love and
mercy and grace. At his coming, the
angels announced “peace, goodwill
towards men”. His own stated
mission was to seek and save the
lost. How such a perfect and
beautiful person could be so rejected
and despised by so many is beyond
me. Even today, his name is
inexplicably hated and used as a
curse word.
David’s men were half shaved and
their rear ends were exposed, but this
pales in comparison to what was
done to Jesus. He was spit on,
stripped and mocked. His back was
beaten so brutally that it was like a
ploughed field. His beard was
plucked out of his marred and
bruised face. A thorny crown was
pressed savagely into his head. He
was completely naked and nailed to
a cross that was slightly elevated so
that people could stare and gloat.
Crucifixion was truly the most
shameful death that one could
experience (Phil. 2:8, Gal. 3:13).
Thanks to his humility and
submission, Jesus carried through
with his mission of love and
salvation for sinners. Hebrews 12:2
says that he endured the cross and
despised the shame. This means that
he considered the shame to be trivial
compared to the joy that would come
as a result of his endurance on the
cross.
Some Christians around the world
today face tremendous shame and
suffering because of their faith. I
hesitate to even mention some of the
disgusting atrocities committed
against them while their heartless
persecutors gloat. In extreme cases,
they and their families are treated
and disposed of as if they were as
worthless as garbage.
Since Jesus was truly humble, I
am not sure if Jesus experienced
feelings of humiliation like we do,
but the shame was evident to the
onlookers as he hung on the cross.
Hopefully his example of patient
endurance encourages us as we face
scorn and opposition for the sake of
the same good news that he
preached.
NDP nomination meeting set
huronchapel.com huronchapelkids.com huronchapelyouth.com
519-526-1131 ~ 119 John’s Ave., Auburn
Evangelical Missionary Church
Sat. Sept. 7, 7:30 a.m. - Men’s Breakfast
Wed. Sept. 11, 6:30 p.m. - Youth Group kick-off! (Gr.7-12)
Sun. Sept. 15, 9:30 a.m. - SUNDAY SCHOOL resumes
10:30 a.m. Worship
Pastor Phil Delsaut -
“Not Good, but Grateful”
(Col.1:1-17)
Sunday, September 8
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Nursery care available
519-887-6687
Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2
- a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and
made possible by the Brussels churches working together.
Worship & Sunday School - 11:00 am
Coffee & Snacks following the service
We invite you to join our church family in:
The Regional Ministry of Hope
BLYTH BRUSSELS
Trinity St. John’s
9:15 am 11:15 am
COME WORSHIP WITH US!
Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector
519-357-7781
email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca
The‐Regional‐Ministry‐of‐ Hope
St. Paul’s Trinity
WINGHAM 11:15 am
These Anglican Churches
Welcome You
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
From the Minister’s Study
Jesus’ patient endurance serves as example
The Huron Bruce NDP will hold
its federal nomination meeting and
campaign kick-off on Sept. 5 at 7:30
p.m. at the MacKay Centre, 10
Nelson Street in Goderich.
The purpose of the meeting is to
elect a federal NDP candidate for the
Huron-Bruce riding.
Prospective candidate and keynote
speaker Tony McQuail, an
environmentalist and sustainable
organic farmer from Lucknow, has
been active in the community for
many years and has experience in
local and provincial government. He
also brings a deep understanding of
the environment and positive ideas
about how to address climate
change.
Come out and hear Tony speak on
the NDP’s “New Deal for People”
and the importance of having a
political party that is “on your side”.
As Jagmeet Singh, leader of the
federal NDP noted: “Together we
can turn our vision for a more
prosperous, more sustainable and
fairer future … into a better future
for all of us.”
BRUSSELS
United Church
Sunday, September 8
Worship Service 11:00 am
Worship Leader
David Kai
All are Welcome
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, September 8
at 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.
650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School)
Sunday School for children
4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers
during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service.
For additional details please contact
Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
Office Hours:
Thursday ~ 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
blythunited@tcc.on.ca
Accessible
Sunday, September 8
Blyth United Church
Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches
OFFICE: 519-523-4224
There will be no service at Blyth United
See you at Threshers!
Serving lunch & supper upstairs at Blyth Arena &
Sunday booth at Threshers ~ Sept. 6, 7 & 8
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