Two Out of Six

507 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 11:18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war, 19 and charged the messenger, saying, "When you have finished telling the matters of the war to the king, 20 if it happens that the king's wrath rises, and he says to you: 'Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? 21 'Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?' -then you shall say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'" 22 So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent by him. (2 Sam 11:18-22) This ruse of David and Joab is too much. Joab purposely used proven faulty military strategy to assure the death of Uriah. He put Uriah and others in a position so vulnerable that a woman would be able to kill them. Joab, being the good general that he was, knew warfare history and tactics. In the battle of Thebez, Gideons' son (Abimelech) met his demise by standing too close to the wall of the city where a woman simply using gravity dropped a millstone on his head. Jg 9:53 But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull. Joab's strategy would make it easy for David to feign anger over the loss of men, and “Oh, by the way David, your loyal servant Uriah died in the battle.” Mission accomplished. Well played David and Joab. David and Joab knew military strategy, but apparently had forgotten the heart of God as it concerns actions toward the innocent. Listen to what the Holy Spirit speaking through Solomon says in Pr 6:16-18, “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,” David devised a wicked plan to shed the innocent blood of Uriah. In one incident he managed to violate two of the seven things that God especially hates. He paid for it later on, but the amazing thing about it all, is that God forgave him, and He is willing to forgive us of our own wickedness as well through faith in Jesus.

Keep Me From Driving Others Away

# 368 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 26:19 "Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.' ( 1 Sam 26:19) David wants to get to the bottom of this deadly cat and mouse game with Saul. Is it the Lord's doing, or has Saul been riled up by those around him? David makes it plain that it is not a good idea for men to be behind this. Cursed be those people who's actions drive others away from the inheritance of the Lord! Because in effect, they are saying, “Go, serve other gods!” In Prov 6:16-18 we read, “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. Is someone sowing lies and the seeds of discord into Saul's mind? ....Woe to them. Jesus speaks even more harshly to those who would act in such a way as to keep someone away from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord. He says in Lu 17:1,2, “Jesus said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that causes of stumbling should come; but alas for him through whom they come! 2 It would be well for him if, with a millstone round his neck, he were lying at the bottom of the sea, rather than that he should cause even one of these little ones (these children of God) to fall.” There are enough temptations and false teachings and attractions in the world to lure people away from the faith, let them never come from our own words or actions as followers of Christ. Oh God, do not let me be the cause of someone falling from the faith. Do not allow me to chase one soul away from the cross of Christ. Guard me from sending any message with my words or deeds that would excuse sin, denigrate Your Word, or trample on Your message of saving grace. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen!