And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?" 2 Samuel 10:3

In sincerity David sent condolences to the king of Ammon when the previous king (the new king’s father) died (v.1-2). The new king’s advisers convinced the young king of Ammon that David had sinister motives—which David did not! The Ammonites wanted to go to war against Israel, but because they were afraid to lose, they hired the Syrians to help (v.6). Israel defeated both Ammon and Syria (read the rest of the chapter.)

This chapter is a great lesson in not jumping to conclusions about other people—especially when they are doing something kind. Because the Ammonites misjudged David, they went to war with and lost to Israel.

This chapter is also a great lesson about not joining in a fight that is not your own. Because the Syrians joined the Ammonites in a fight that was not their own (and one that the Ammonites shouldn’t have been in either), they too were defeated by Israel.

Patience and self-control are two in the list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. May love for Christ and walking in the Spirit produce patience and self-control in us—not to mention not being quick to assign malicious motives to kindnesses shown by others.