I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Samuel 8-11.

As I read this today I was struck by a comparison between David and Uriah.  When David sent the Israelite army out to battle the Ammonites over the insult to his ambassadors, the key word is “sent”.  While his men went out to fight for his honor, King David remained behind in Jerusalem enjoying the luxuries of being king.  Meanwhile, when Uriah was sent to Jerusalem as a messenger, rather than going home to sleep in his home with his beautiful wife he spent the night in the barracks out of solidarity with his fellow soldiers who were on the battlefield.  But Uriah did not choose to forgo the comforts of home just out of solidarity with his comrades.  He also did so because the Ark of Covenant was on the battlefield.  He did so out of respect for God.  David was subject to the temptation of sinning with Bathsheba, and all that followed, because he did not do what he should have done.  If King David was going to send his men to war, he should have joined them.  Because he did not he fell prey to temptation and sinned grievously.  The same can apply to us.  If we do the things which we ought to do we will be less likely to be subject to temptation which we are unable to resist.