Daily Devotional for Wednesday, February 7

Joab’s Protest

“And Joab said unto the king, Now the Lord thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my Lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?” 2 Samuel 24:3.

Buyer’s remorse. You have probably heard this expression which describes the feeling one has after making a large purchase. Normally that person has a desire for something, usually a vehicle, and shortly after the purchase, that person wished he had not gone through with it. Usually that is right after the first payment. Somewhere along the line, a parent or a friend, or even that individual’s good sense, had warned him that the purchase was going to be too much, but he went through with it anyway.

David had received such a warning from his longtime military advisor Joab. David wanted a census. From the text it appears that David wanted this census for all the wrong reasons, and we also know from the text that it would cost him and his people dearly. Joab could see this, so he warned David against it. But David pursued his plan anyway, and he quickly had a serious case of buyer’s remorse.

Oftentimes, in decision-making, we lack the ability to see the consequences of all of our actions. We need friends around us who are wise and who love God more than they love us. These kinds of friends are willing to hear us reason out our plans and will help us shape our plans in ways that are God-honoring and not self-destructive. Moreover, we often need more than a friend but an actual advisor equipped to help us. God has given us not only friends, but wise pastors and elders in the faith. Through wise counsel we can avoid costly mistakes.

REFLECTION
Your decision is your responsibility, but coming to that decision can be, and often should be, a group effort. Surround yourself with godly wisdom in your time of need.

Jason Rutherford