Thursday 17 September, 2020

26 Meanwhile Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal citadel. 27 Joab then sent messengers to David, saying, “I have fought against Rabbah and taken its water supply. 28 Now muster the rest of the troops and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise I will take the city, and it will be named after me.” 29 So David mustered the entire army and went to Rabbah, and attacked and captured it. 30 David took the crown from their king’s head, and it was placed on his own head. It weighed a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones. David took a great quantity of plunder from the city 31 and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes, and he made them work at brickmaking. David did this to all the Ammonite towns. Then he and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.

In this passage, we return to the battle that started in Chapter 11. The Israelite army destroyed the Ammonites, then laid siege to the city of Rabbah. It was noted then that David stayed behind in Jerusalem when he should have been with the Army. What happened next, when David stayed home, is the story of Bathsheba, David and Uriah.

While that was happening, Joab is leading the army against Rabbah, and he is just about to win. Joab knows something is wrong with David and it happens because David is not where he is supposed to be. So, Joab sends for him saying, you better come quick. If you don’t, I will capture Rabbah and get the credit instead of you. Joab knows how to get David’s attention.

Don’t forget what happened to Saul when David led the army to victory. David got the credit and people loved him more than Saul.

David’s mistake started by being in the wrong place (at home) when the right place was leading his army. How many of our mistakes happen because we are not in the right place? It was David who said in Ps 119 “your Word have I hidden in my heart so that I might not sin against you”. I know for myself, when I haven’t spent time in God’s Word I’m in the wrong place. Spiritually and emotionally, when I’m struggling, I’m not in the right place.

Just as Joab called David back to the right place and leading the army, the Holy Spirit also calls us back to the right place, of being in God’s Word.

Father, being in your Word is the right place to be. Thank you for always calling us back to you, to your Word.

Written by Andrew Martin