David’s plan to scapegoat Uriah doesn’t work. He is neck deep in his sins. He is drowning and reaches for a last ditch chance to cover up his sin. His next move is beyond what you would think someone could do with power. He makes a move against Uriah that will change the future of his entire family.
As the story continues David takes Step #5: Cover Up Your Sins…
The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. In the letter David wrote, “Put Uriah on the front lines where the fighting is worst and leave him there alone. Let him be killed in battle.” Joab watched the city and saw where its strongest defenders were and put Uriah there. When the men of the city came out to fight against Joab, some of David’s men were killed. And Uriah the Hittite was one of them. Then Joab sent David a complete account of the war. Joab told the messenger, “Tell King David what happened in the war. After you finish, the king may be angry and ask, ’Why did you go so near the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from the city wall? Do you remember who killed Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth? It was a woman on the city wall. She threw a large stone for grinding grain on Abimelech and killed him there in Thebez. Why did you go so near the wall?’ If King David asks that, tell him, ’Your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.’ “The messenger left and went to David and told him everything Joab had told him to say. The messenger told David, “The men of Ammon were winning. They came out and attacked us in the field, but we fought them back to the city gate. The archers on the city wall shot at your servants, and some of your men were killed. Your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.“ David said to the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ’Don’t be upset about this. The sword kills everyone the same. Make a stronger attack against the city and capture it.’ Encourage Joab with these words.” 2 Samuel 11:14-25 (NCV)
When we try to cover up our sins or flaws there is a price that we pay that we may not see at first. It does something to how those who are closest to us can see us after we try the cover up. These are the problems with a cover up. Cover ups lead to…
Corroding the faith others place in you. David is sending a death sentence in a letter to Joab. He hands it to Uriah, the one who is to die, and waits to hear the news. What do you think Joab thought when he got the letter? He had to question within himself what David was doing. Maybe he didn’t, but I know in my life when someone is just plain wrong and they try to act like they haven’t sinned or failed it makes me not trust them. We all have that person who just can’t admit they are wrong. They drive us crazy and makes us sometimes question everything about them.
Obligating someone else to protect your lie. David not only uses Bathsheba but he is bringing Joab into his circle of deception. But it gets worse, when you realize that not will Uriah die, but the men fighting with and under him will also die. Joab obeys David’s order and so he is pulled into the sin with him. When we don’t admit our sins we risk the integrity of those we care about the most.
Valued friendships can be damaged. I wonder if Joab ever looked at David the same. They were friends that became leaders. Joab was David’s most trusted military man. Yet after he kills Absalom, David’s son, he is removed a commander. He then supports the wrong successor to David’s throne against David’s wishes. Solomon has him killed after he becomes king of Israel. David has lost a true friend and I wonder if it started with this cover up.
Erasing your own guilt by putting it on someone else. When Joab sends word back to David the reaction is almost comical. David sends word back to Joab and tells him not to feel bad about it. It is like David has no idea he told Joab to make sure Uriah is killed. He just might feel justified in killing Uriah because he didn’t put the arrow or knife in him. If you tell a lie long enough and loud enough you eventually even believe it yourself.
Revealing your view of the people around you. When you will not admit your sins or how you have used people it will eventually show through our actions. David used Bathsheba, tried to trick Uriah to hide it and then commands Joab to end the trouble with a murder. David’s heart is not where it should be. This is the start of trouble he could not have dreamed about. He uses the people he should be helping and leading. He tries to cover up his sins with their lives and friendship.
Solomon, David & Bathsheba’s son, writes in Proverbs: If you hide your sins, you will not succeed. If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy. Proverbs 28:13 (NCV) Maybe David eventually talked things through with Solomon and told him a little story of a time he did not confess but tried to cover it up.
One Final Question: Will you try to cover up or come clean?