Saturday 26th October
Read 2 Samuel 11:22-25
“The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say. 23 The messenger said to David, ‘The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance of the city gate. 24 Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.’
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.’” (NIVUK)
Every version of the murder varies, from David’s instructions to Joab’s actions, to Joab’s explanation to the messenger’s retelling. The space devoted by the author to recount the murder and attempted cover-up is extensive.
One wonders why?
Each retelling ends with the full-stop that is Uriah’s death. Each retelling emphasises how every party to this heinous murder of an innocent man struggles to describe it in such a way as to assuage his guilt. Each retelling emphasises that sin expands to fill the available space and drags everyone lower into the muck. Everyone seeks to avoid responsibility.
This is understandable given the magnitude of the crime, but also serves to warn us that even in small things, any instinct to cover-up likely betrays shame and guilt best expunged through confession… It is wearying to read and wearying to bear and the load is best laid elsewhere.
