The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Tuesday
May 27, 2008
Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent a message to
inform David.
So David sent word to Joab: "Send me Uriah the
Hittite." When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were
getting along and how the war was progressing. Then he told Uriah, "Go on
home and relax."David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the
palace. But Uriah wouldn't go home. He stayed that night at the palace
entrance with some of the king's other servants.
When David heard what Uriah
had done, he summoned him and asked, "What's the matter with you? Why didn't you
go home last night after being away for so long?"
Uriah replied, "The Ark and
the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, and Joab and his officers
are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep
with my wife? I swear that I will never be guilty of acting like that."
2
Samuel 11:5-11
Ouch! Can you imagine such loyalty? Apparently Uriah loved not only his wife and his King, but also his country and fellow soldiers. He could not imagine being given the freedom to give in to selfishness when his country was at war; can you imagine how that must have made David feel?
It is easy for us to look at David's behavior with a "holier than thou" attitude. However, when it gets down to the basics aren't we the same way? Maybe we haven't committed adultery in the flesh, but have we done this spiritually? Have we spent too many hours playing golf, shopping, or sitting in front of the computer or television? Have we neglected our duties and given into the flesh while others are out witnessing for the Lord? Yes, we are guilty! Thankfully, we have the power of the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin. In general, we don't need someone else to make us feel guilty.
Back in 1985 I attended a retreat called "The Emmaus Walk." Now, back then I thought I was a truly loving person. Then, as I experienced that weekend and the love shown by the people who sacrificed their time to present the weekend to me I realized that I had no clue what love was. I was simply a clanging cymbal.
Thankfully, David did eventually learn from his mistakes, but the rest of the story will unfold throughout the week. Let us just know that we can't cover up our sin. It is best to just repent and start all over from scratch. Let us be loyal to our God and express that loyalty by loving the least of these.
Father, I cannot imagine the disappointment You experience every time we mess up and forget whose we are. I trust Your grace to cover me, but help me to never rape grace! I love You Lord and I want my love for You to be expressed by loving others who feel totally unlovable. Help us live this day from a foundation of loyalty and love.
