THE DEVIL'S TRAP (5).

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*THE DEVIL'S TRAP (5).*

*Scripture Treasure.*

*And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.*

*And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.*

*And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.*

*And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

People know they are wrong while they do the wrong thing.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

Uriah was in a siege. He was dealing with two very powerful but dangerous people.

As for Uriah, may be too faithful at times can be an overdo that can pave the way for foolishness.

Though the bible never teaches that being too faithful is an overdo but Jesus teaches us *".....be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.* Matt 10:16.

Jesus was saying that we be wise as serpents which are known for their ability to sense danger and react or take precautions accordingly as much as we be like the dove which is gentle, kind, humble and compassionate.

Uriah missed out on the former as a serpent but was active on the latter as a dove.

It was most likely he would have come back home safely from the war but for two people who did not appear as his war opponents but were more dangerous and fatal than the big war he was fighting at the war front.

The story of David and Joab teaches us how people around you could plan your downfall yet unknown to you.

It teaches us that people have control over what they do wrong and can pursue to any extent to execute their evil agenda without any regard to your life.

1 Samuel 11:14-24 tells us how David and Joab killed Uriah and how Joab sent a report to David thereafter that the plan was successful and Uriah had been killed.

Joab, by his actions, was at active participant in the murder of Uriah.

He could have turned down David's evil plot. Let us refer to two instances in the scriptures.

First, in 1 Chro 21:1-5, he was recorded to have questioned David when David issued instructions to count the army of Israel.

Second, Joab obeyed to kill Uriah but did not obey to spare Absalom.

Joab was a complex and unpredictable army general, ruthless and willing to only trust in his judgment.

He obeyed David's instructions to kill Uriah but he did not refuse David's instructions to be careful with Absalom, 2 David told Sam 18:5 *".....Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom."*

Would it not be an esteemed integrity for an officer and a gentleman expected of Joab to have disobeyed David’s order to kill an innocent and dedicated soldier?

He later disobeyed David's instruction not to kill the king's son and rebel called Absalom 2 Sam 18:5.

Rank or seniority is not integrity. The story of Uriah teaches us that a truthful recruit or a non-commissioned officer or a lowest ranked officer can outclass a seemly higher officer in the military who is untruthful.

The conspiracy of David and Joab is a bad example of military exploitation of innocent juniors who are asked to do what they know is wrong.

At what point would any officer refuse an instruction to do what is evil? It would take the fear of God to do this.

At what point can a junior officer disobey an unlawful order? It takes the fear of God to do this.

Should we not rather fear God than men? Acts 5:29.

Joab reaped what he sowed.

Solomon eventually ordered Benaiah to kill Joab, who had previously killed two "innocent men," Abner and Amasa, without David's knowledge. 

David, on his deathbed, told Solomon to have Joab killed, citing Joab's past betrayals and the blood that he was guilty of, 1 Kgs 2:29-34.

There is a maxim that says 'what goes around comes around'

This maxim finds expression in Gal 6:7

*Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.*

Proverbs 11:21 *Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.*

Joab lived by the sword and died by the sword, Matt 26:52, but an innocent man had been cut off in his prime time.

Many who fell into the devil's trap did not live to tell their tales or live to learn this life's lesson.

This is the evil of the devil's trap.

Becareful.

*Remorse corner*

The devil's trap, when fallen into, kills people before their time. Do not be foolish before you are wise!

Eccl 7:12 *Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?*

*Call to Word action.*

1 Peter 5:8

*Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Pray that you do not fall into the devil's trap.

*Prayer.*

Lord, help me and deliver me from the devil's trap in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and have a blessed day.

God bless you.

Shalom.