Daily Devotional for Friday, December 29

David Displeased God

“And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord,” 2 Samuel 11:27.

We can easily remember many well-known details in Bible stories. When you think of the story of David and Bath-sheba, what comes to mind? Maybe you think of how beautiful she must have been. Maybe you think of the child God took from them because of their sin. Something else you probably remember about this story was that King David had Uriah (Bath-sheba’s husband) sent to the front lines of battle so he would be killed (2 Samuel 11:15).

We often forget, though, that some of the king’s servants also died as a result of David’s evil plan (verse 24). His military commander Joab closely approached a fortified city where the enemy could shoot from the wall. This was an unwise strategy because the attacking army was left exposed to enemy fire. When Joab sent a messenger to David to report on the progress of the war, he even anticipated David would be angry because they had approached “so nigh unto the city” (verse 20). This poor plan made the Israelites sitting ducks for the enemy. But Joab also told the messenger that when the king asked why they had gotten so close to the enemy city, the messenger was to report that “Uriah the Hittite is dead also” (verse 21).

The messenger reported the results as commanded by Joab. The enemy had prevailed against Joab’s army, and some of the king’s servants— including Uriah—were killed. David should have been heartbroken by this loss of life and incensed by this ludicrous battle plan, but instead he further encouraged Joab to overthrow the city. David was passive because he had gotten what he wanted. Uriah was dead.

Remember, no one else may know what you have done, but God knows.

JUST A THOUGHT: God sees your actions! Are they pleasing or displeasing to Him?

Chris Floyd