“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army…. But David remained in Jerusalem.”
WARNING: The following contains plenty of biblical sex and violence. This is an “R-rated” Bible story. Reader beware...
King David should have been leading his troops and fighting battles together with his warriors. Instead he sent Joab, the commander of his army, to do the king’s job. In so doing, David gave away a small portion of his power.
Things got worse. Back home the king slept with the wife of Uriah, one of his most valiant soldiers. To cover up his sin, David eventually gave Joab the order to murder this loyal soldier. In so doing, King David now gave away a major portion of his power.
Instead of following the king’s order, Joab got the job done another way. He sent Uriah with a larger group of men to the besieged city wall. It was a suicide mission. Close to the wall Joab’s warriors would be an easy target for the enemy’s arrows. It was a stupid military tactic and Joab anticipated David’s wrath…
“Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would
shoot arrows from the wall?... Why did you get so close to the wall?”
2nd Samuel 11.20-21 NIV
Joab disobeyed a direct order of the king. David was livid but unaware of the subtle shift of royal power from himself to the commander of his army. Joab was able to quiet David’s fury with three simple words: “Uriah… is dead” (2nd Samuel 11.24). When David included Joab in his cover-up, he unwittingly gave up political power to his military chief.
It always happens that way. If you sin, those you recruit to hide your sin will eventually turn against you and use your secret to their own advantage. Joab kept David under his political thumb until the king’s death twenty years later. It was an uncomfortable balance of power from which David never fully recovered.
When you sin, it is never okay to panic and collaborate with others in a cover-up. If you hide your sin you give your power away to a force much greater than your own. Your destiny lies in the hands of those who will use your dirty, little secret to advance their own agendas. Don’t give them that kind of power. Instead, be strong in your repentance. Admit your sin to God and every involved party. Trust His word and refuse to cover it up:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
Don’t give your power away. You are as sick as your secrets. Tell the truth. Humbly confess your sin and retain the power of God in your life.
King David should have been leading his troops and fighting battles together with his warriors. Instead he sent Joab, the commander of his army, to do the king’s job. In so doing, David gave away a small portion of his power.
Things got worse. Back home the king slept with the wife of Uriah, one of his most valiant soldiers. To cover up his sin, David eventually gave Joab the order to murder this loyal soldier. In so doing, King David now gave away a major portion of his power.
“In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab…. In it he wrote, ‘Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.’”
2nd Samuel 11.14-15 NIV
2nd Samuel 11.14-15 NIV
Instead of following the king’s order, Joab got the job done another way. He sent Uriah with a larger group of men to the besieged city wall. It was a suicide mission. Close to the wall Joab’s warriors would be an easy target for the enemy’s arrows. It was a stupid military tactic and Joab anticipated David’s wrath…
“Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would
shoot arrows from the wall?... Why did you get so close to the wall?”
2nd Samuel 11.20-21 NIV
Joab disobeyed a direct order of the king. David was livid but unaware of the subtle shift of royal power from himself to the commander of his army. Joab was able to quiet David’s fury with three simple words: “Uriah… is dead” (2nd Samuel 11.24). When David included Joab in his cover-up, he unwittingly gave up political power to his military chief.
It always happens that way. If you sin, those you recruit to hide your sin will eventually turn against you and use your secret to their own advantage. Joab kept David under his political thumb until the king’s death twenty years later. It was an uncomfortable balance of power from which David never fully recovered.
When you sin, it is never okay to panic and collaborate with others in a cover-up. If you hide your sin you give your power away to a force much greater than your own. Your destiny lies in the hands of those who will use your dirty, little secret to advance their own agendas. Don’t give them that kind of power. Instead, be strong in your repentance. Admit your sin to God and every involved party. Trust His word and refuse to cover it up:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1st John 1.9 NKJV
1st John 1.9 NKJV
Don’t give your power away. You are as sick as your secrets. Tell the truth. Humbly confess your sin and retain the power of God in your life.
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4 comments:
A confession on ignorance.
I recall a time when I confessed to God of a sin I committed. I stood up dusted off my knees and walked away. Only my spirit was not lifted.
The Holy Spirit quickly made it clear to me that I needed to confess and make restution to the part I had sinned against.
I argued, I mean after all had I not gone to God, was it not more important to confess to God?
It was for me actually harder to confess before man than it was to confess before God.
Only the Spirit woudl not let me alone. I soon realized peace was only possible after I ended my rebellion and confessed and apologized to the person I had sinned against.
Even in the face of their pain, at the loss of their trust, and the demise of our friendshihp, I was aware of an internal peace taking residence.
I had not recalled that incident until your "Admit your sin to God and every involved party."
Perhaps because I learned I like the feeling of peace and quickly make my amends in full.
Wow! What a great comment and insight. Thanks One-Sided.
Dave
What a great lesson. The "R" should be for "Required Reading". We all need to come before the Lord and confess and ask for forgiveness from the one we sinned against...and that is so hard..We know God will forgive us...but man that's another story...
Thank you Kelly.
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