(Read 2 Sam 11:14-16 NLT) So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver. The letter instructed Joab, “Station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so that he will be killed.” So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy’s strongest men were fighting. And when the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight, Uriah the Hittite was killed along with several other Israelite soldiers.
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” After having tried everything he could think of to get Uriah to sleep with his wife Bathsheba, in hopes of covering up the mess he had created, David did the unthinkable. The same man who was anointed and appointed by God to be king, the same man who killed the giant with a slingshot and a stone, the same man who had enough integrity to spare Saul’s life on more than one occasion, decided to have Uriah killed instead of admitting his mistake. David wrote a note for Commander Joab. The note was simple and straightforward, cold and calculated. The note read, “Station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so that he will be killed.” But in a time prior to cell phones, faxes and email, David needed a courier. So, to add insult to deceit, David used Uriah to carry his own death sentence to Joab. Uriah willingly and faithfully carried the note, without peeking in to see what it said, maintaining his integrity to the end. And Joab, when he received the note, without questioning it, did as David instructed and had Uriah killed.
After taking Uriah’s wife, David took Uriah’s life. Why? All to cover up a foolish decision he made in a few moments of uncontrolled passion. Although David had made many mistakes prior to this one, he had never committed a mistake so egregious. And what he did afterwards, to cover up his mistake, was no mistake at all. David thought about what he was going to do. I am sure he considered telling the truth. I am sure he contemplated bearing the shame. But David chose murder over coming clean. This murder was premeditated. David carefully planned Uriah’s death, killing a man who had done nothing to him, but be faithful. If Uriah would have been a lesser man he would have slept with his wife while his men were in the field and he would have never been killed. But the lesser man in this story is David. David committed the unthinkable and the fact that we still honor David, after thousands of years, is a testament of God’s amazing grace. We will see later that David went on to repent and God still used him mightily after this heinous act. Not because David was perfect, but because God is perfect. Not because David was so good, but because God is so good. Do you know what that is called my friend? It’s called Grace. Not just any Grace. No, it’s the Grace of God, and yes, it is amazing!
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. You must guard your heart at all times. David’s son Solomon later wrote, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Prov 4:23). If you let your guard down, even for a few seconds, you might make a decision you will later regret. David made a poor decision, in a moment of uncontrolled passion, that led to a terrible situation. He then made a series of poor decisions in an attempt to cover up his mess. Bathe yourself in prayer every day and ask God to be with you as you seek to make decisions that will keep you on the path to His desired destination for your life.
2. God knows you won’t be perfect. God does not use you because you are perfect, He uses you because He is perfect. God does not use you because you are so good, He uses you because He is so good. The Old Covenant (the Law) put emphasis on man. The Law was man working for God. The New Covenant (Grace) puts emphasis on God. Grace is God working for man.
3. Don’t let one bad decision lead to more. David could have, and should have, repented immediately. But he allowed adultery to grow into murder. Don’t make the same mistake. Don’t wallow in guilt, shame and condemnation. Your mistake has not disqualified you from God’s best for your life, because God qualified you for it. God made plans for you, before the foundations of the world, and He already knew you would mess up. So be quick to repent, receive forgiveness, forgive yourself, and continue to strive towards maximizing your purpose and potential. You can’t earn His blessing anyway, all you can do is receive it by GRACE and access the GRACE through FAITH.
Closing Confession: Father, I guard my heart with all diligence, because I know that out of it flows the issues of life. I don’t want to make a poor decision, in a moment of uncontrolled passion, that will lead to ruin. I seek to make decisions that are birthed from my time of prayer and intimacy with You. By faith I declare that I make decisions that are pleasing in Your sight; decisions that take me incrementally closer to Your overall expected end for my life. But Father, You already know I am not perfect and I will make mistakes. Thank You for helping me to understand that my mistakes do not disqualify me from what You already qualified me for. You knew everything I was ever going to do, before I was born, and You considered all my works when You made plans for me before the foundations of the world. You now choose to use me, not because I am perfect, but because You are perfect. You choose to operate through me, not because I am so good, but because You are so good. With this understanding, I am quick to repent when I do something wrong. I refuse to wallow in guilt, shame or condemnation. I repent, I receive forgiveness, I forgive myself and I move on, striving to maximize my purpose and potential while I am in the land of the living. I don’t allow one bad decision to lead to more. I cut it off and move on, because I know I have been made righteous. Jesus had no sin in Him, but You made Him sin. I had no righteousness in me, but You made me righteous. I enter this day settled in the righteousness Christ Jesus died to give me and I am determined to be used of You, for Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
