“In the spring at the time when kings go out to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army.” It sounds innocent enough. David sends out his army to fight while he stays at home.
In a sense he had earned a bit of a rest. David had been through the arduous time when he was running from Saul’s murderous intentions.
Then, he successfully consolidated the empire and became king over Israel. He followed this with battles against all the key enemies of Israel, defeating in turn the Philistines, the Moabites, Ammonites and the Arameans.
Perhaps, he could be forgiven for sending out his armies under his best generals and staying back in Jerusalem.
However, we know what happened next. David falls into sin with Bathsheba and organizes the murder of her husband. After many successes and wonderfully righteous decisions, David fails morally and spiritually.
Sometimes we say flippantly, “nobody’s perfect!”—but what does that really mean?
