A Book By Its Cover

“Do you think that David really honours your father because he has sent comforters to you? Did his servants not come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?”
1 Chronicles 19:3

Just that verse... You see, what had happened was the King of Ammon had died and his son took his place. David loved the people of Ammon because they showed kindness to him and so he sent his servants just to comfort the people but the young king got very poor counsel from his leaders. King David meant well but his servants were treated disgracefully because they misunderstood what David was wanting to do. They humiliated David’s servants, the Bible tells us. They actually shaved half of their hair off and they cut their garments so their buttocks were exposed and they sent them away in humiliation.

Now, obviously, that really angered the King of Israel, David and as a result, it cost the whole nation of Ammon severely and dearly because they were totally defeated. David turned on them and conquered them.

Never judge a book by its cover. Have you heard that saying before? Well you know, the people who publish my books... they had a workshop up in their head office. I will never forget that one of their chief executives, Mrs Sua Du Plessis, who I have very high regard for, said in the meeting: “Never judge a book by its cover.” She said the cover of a book has a tremendous impact. As a test, they got a beautiful cover of a book and filled the middle of the book with empty blank pages and put it on the shelf to prove how important it is to understand presentation. And people would come in, buy the book, take it to the counter and as they were about to pay for it, the assistant would say, “Have you looked inside the book?” There was nothing inside that book. You see, what they had done, they had misunderstood the whole purpose of the book.

Now David’s servants went to say we want to show our commiseration because of the death of your father and what happened as a result? Well, they misunderstood them - They thought that they were coming to spy.

I want to say to you, be careful that you don’t judge people unintentionally because it can cost you dearly.

Today, always think the best of people and their best intentions and you will find that the day will go so much easier for you.

Have a wonderful day,
God bless you.