Lent 2025 Day 13: Wed 19 Mar
2 Samuel 11:14-27
14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In it he wrote, ‘Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so that he will be struck down and die.’
16 So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. 17 When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died.
18 Joab sent David a full account of the battle.
…22 The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say.
…25 David told the messenger, ‘Say this to Joab: “Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.” Say this to encourage Joab.’
26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 27 After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.
David sent Uriah to the front line of battle. Joab the commander knew that the orders David had sent along with Uriah were, in effect, his death warrant. David had left the dirty work to Joab and had made him culpable too. Joab followed orders and positioned Uriah in a dangerous place and then left him unprotected.
Now David was able to claim Uriah’s widow Bathsheba as his wife. No-one would ever think that the baby was conceived in sin. It was a gruesome plan, but now David has successfully covered up his actions, and no-one but Joab would know what had really happened. A royal wedding follows, and the bride wears white for David. Easy solution.
Joab remains loyal, but he does not come to a good end, nor does his dynasty.
Did Joab bear any blame?
Father God, I am reminded that murder is wrong, but that Jesus spoke of harbouring angry thoughts against someone as breaking the Law. There are no grades of sin, for any sin puts a barrier between us. Help me keep my account with You short. Amen.
46:58 Der Heiland fällt (Arioso)
22. Recitative B (Chorus II)
The Saviour falls down before his Father;
through this he lifts up himself and everyone
from our fall to God's grace again.
He is ready to drink the cup of death's bitterness,
in which the sins of this world are poured and which stink horribly,
since it is pleasing to our loving God.
23. Aria B (Chorus II)
Gladly will I compel myself
to take on the Cross and the Chalice,
yet I drink after the Saviour.
For his mouth, which flows with milk and honey,
has sweetened the grounds and the bitter taste of sorrow,
through his first sip.
24. Evangelist And he came back to his disciples and found them sleeping, and said to them:
Jesus Couldn't you then remain awake with me one hour? Stay awake, and pray, so that you do not fall into temptation! The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Evangelist For a second time he went away, prayed and said:
Jesus My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass away from me, then I will drink it; thus may your will be done.
Ends at 53:28
Paul