(Read 2 Sam 11:18-24)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” In yesterday’s message we learned that Uriah was killed. Joab did not know why Uriah was to be killed, but he did not question the King. Joab did as David requested and Uriah was dead. Joab then sought to take advantage of the opportunity to cover up some of his own bad news. He had to send periodic reports to the King and he knew David would not be happy with the current report, but since Uriah was dead, he was hoping that David would overlook the negative aspects of his report. So the Commander told his messenger, “Report all the news of the battle to the King. He might get angry when you tell him about the men killed. He might ask, ‘Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn’t they know there would be shooting from the walls? Wasn’t Abimelech son of Gideon killed at Thebez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall?’ Then tell him, ‘Uriah the Hittite was killed, too.’” The piece about Uriah was almost a footnote, but a footnote that Joab was hoping would bring him favor with the King.
The messenger went to Jerusalem and gave a complete report to David. He said, “The enemy came out against us in the open fields and as we chased them back to the city gate, the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king’s men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite.” Normally David would be upset about the report, but on this day it is obvious that all he really cared about was whether or not Uriah was dead. The King replied, “Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged. The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow! Fight harder next time, and conquer the city!” It’s sad but both David and Joab made light of Uriah’s life. David was basically happy that Uriah was dead. Uriah had done nothing but be faithful and now he was dead. Not because he did something wrong, not because he made a mistake, but because David (a man with a harem of wives) could not control his sexual urges and would not admit to his transgression. This was surely the low-point of David’s life. But David went on to write some of the most powerful and memorable Psalms. Even after committing such a horrible travesty David went on to be used of God mightily. Why? We will learn that David repented and he still wanted to be used of God. And God chose to use him, not because David was so good, but because He is. Once again, this is the essence of the Grace message.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Everyone has lapses in judgment. None of us are perfect and we all make mistakes. You could make the argument that David had a lapse in judgment, that he was not normally this way and that he simply made a mistake. Prior to having Uriah killed David was not perfect, but he had not ever done anything this bad. This was a terrible decision and if we would be honest, we have all had our share of poor (and even terrible) decisions.
2. Everyone has issues. Some may argue that this was not just a terrible decision, but a flaw in David’s character. Having someone killed is not just a mistake. This was not like spilling a glass of milk. David was cold and calculated in devising Uriah’s murder and one could easily say that it shows a major flaw in his make-up and not just his decision making. Okay, so maybe it does. Maybe David had a major flaw in his character. But that is not bad news, it is actually good news. Because David was used of God prior having Uriah killed and he was used of God afterward. This gives us hope, because none of us are issue-free. We all have issues and we are all in need of Grace and Mercy.
3. Our perfect God is in the business of using imperfect people. If God only used people who are issue-free, then there would be no one to use. Our churches would have no Pastors, Ushers, Greeters or Singers. No one would qualify to preach the Gospel. No sick person would be prayed for. I would not be writing this devotional. If God required us to be perfect we would all be men-most-miserable. However, there was a perfect man and His name was Jesus. Jesus lived a sinless and perfect life. Jesus was righteousness-personified and God now offers that righteousness to us. There was no sin in Jesus, but God made Him sin. There was no righteousness in us, but God made us righteous when we accepted Jesus as Lord. So now God sees us as righteous and perfect, not because of what we do or fail to do, but because of what Jesus did! We are saved by Grace, not because we are good. We are saved by Grace, not because we are perfect. We are saved by Grace, not because we are sinless. We are saved by Grace and then used by Grace for God’s glory. That my friends is the Gospel and it is Great News!
Closing Confession: Father, You know I am not perfect and I am far from it. You know I have had too many lapses in judgment to even remember them all. I have made more mistakes than I want to acknowledge. I have sinned against You more times than I want to count. I have transgressed against man more times than my ego would let me realize. I am not perfect, I am not sinless and I am not righteous in and of myself. I have issues and I acknowledge the fact that I do. I am flawed and have more kinks in my armor than I want to point out. But You don’t use me because I am perfect. You don’t use me because I am so good. You don’t use me because I am self-righteous. You choose use me because Jesus was perfect. You choose to use me because Jesus was and is so good. You choose to use me because Jesus was righteousness-personified and when I accepted Jesus as Lord You MADE me righteous. You have DECLARED me righteous, therefore, I accept and walk in that righteous. I am who You say that I am. I can do what You say that I can do. I can have what You say that I can have. And I shall become who You have called me to be. You called me, from my mother’s womb, with purpose and grace. You assigned me a purpose and You gave me the grace to fulfill that purpose. You gave me an assignment, and You also give me the grace to accomplish the assignment. I seek to maximize my purpose and potential while I am in the land of the living and I pursue my purpose with confidence. My confidence is not rooted in me or my goodness, it is rooted in You and Your goodness. By Grace I shall do all You have destined me to do in life, and I access Your Grace through the vehicle of Faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
