David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.
When David’s envoys came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Haven’t his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?” So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away. … They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maakah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba, while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle. (1 Chronicles 19:2-4, 7 NIV, 1-28-13)

No good deed.

If you think doing the right thing every time will make your life easy, read this chapter. It starts with David being nice. It ends with war.

Deceitful people see deceitful motives and respond accordingly.

And don’t expect them to learn quickly. Instead of learning from the first defeat, Hanun doubled down. Reinforced his first mistake by denying the mistake and investing more heavily in his error.

That is how people are. Might as well get used to it.

But don’t forget to notice how God is. God took care of David throughout this. And He will take care of you.

[Father, help me to not be discouraged when screwed-up people act lie screwed-up people. And help me to never lose sight of your faithfulness.]