2 Samuel 11:14-25 New International Version (NIV)
14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”
16 So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. 17 When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died.
18 Joab sent David a full account of the battle. 19 He instructed the messenger: “When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, 20 the king’s anger may flare up, and he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? 21 Who killed Abimelek son of Jerub-Besheth[a]? Didn’t a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If he asks you this, then say to him, ‘Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.’”
22 The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say. 23 The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance of the city gate. 24 Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.”
25 David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage Joab.”
Wed. July 8 - 2 Samuel 11:14-25 Destructive Plans One of the reasons cover-ups are so bad is that they can quickly spin out of control, just ask Richard Nixon! David’s plans to cover up his adultery and abuse of power ultimately fail. But, instead of admitting his failure he goes even further… this time plotting murder! David’s life reveals something about the nature of sin: it will ask us to give more than we were willing to give and it will take us further than we wanted to go. David has already destroyed a family now he is going to destroy someone’s life. Apart from God is only destruction, maybe not right now, but sooner or later it happens, and those destructive plans and decisions affect a lot more people than we often realize. They affect our families, our friends, our co-workers, strangers. When we are focused on ourselves we never stop to think about others. What if God has a better way planned for you? A plan to bless you and use you to bless others. Doesn’t that sound like a lot more fun?!