Fridays with David

Read 2 Samuel 11:18-24 – Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war, and charged the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling the matters of the war to the king, if it happens that the king’s wrath rises, and he says to you: ‘Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’” So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent by him. And the messenger said to David, “Surely the men prevailed against us and came out to us in the field; then we drove them back as far as the entrance of the gate. The archers shot from the wall at your servants; and some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.” (NKJV)

Joab’s is ready to thwart David’s criticism of his military strategy by blaming David for his desire to have Uriah killed—and he’s right. Joab is insulating himself against the king’s reaction by using David’s own lack of integrity against him. How does David think he will maintain the trust of his men when he acts in such a horrific manner? David’s sin has corrupted him, his captain and his army. David’s plan for Uriah’s death has compromised Joab and likely brought his military wisdom into question with others. If David might wonder at Joab’s actions, won’t the men fighting with him see the reasons for criticism too? The loss of Uriah is the immense and immediate tragedy, but it is not the only loss suffered on this day. Lack of integrity and unwholesome actions have a way of spreading through an organization, damaging many more than those who were targeted. If you don’t do what is right, the list of those who see your choice is longer than you think and it affects more people than just you.

– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.