So David sent this word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent him to David – 2 Samuel 11:6.

For Meditation

In the matter confronting you today, is it going to be “I was wrong,” or “How best can I camouflage it?”

Humility takes the first course, but sin has a way of dragging the prideful down the sinking hole of the second option.

Look at David. In the season when kings went to war, David relaxed in his palace. On a bright and cool evening, he took a pleasure tour of the city from his rooftop and saw what delighted his heart—a bathing beauty (2 Samuel 11:2). Unlike saint Job, David had not learned to covenant with his eyes not to look at a maiden twice (Job 31:1). With all eyes glued on Bathsheba and his heart trapped in desire, he sent for her and satisfied his sensual cravings (2 Samuel 11:3-5). Be careful what your eyes want you to see.

A person can wipe his mouth and pretend he has eaten nothing, but the stomach will always reveal your hypocrisy. The rumbling started for David when Bathsheba sent word to David that she was pregnant with him. The king had a choice between “I was wrong” and “How best can I camouflage it?” He chose the easier alternative. You know the story.

David schemed to make Bathsheba’s husband responsible for the pregnancy by bringing him home to her from the battlefield. That plot failed on the integrity and commitment of the valiant soldier to his nation. David dug deeper into the miry pit and sent Uriah back to the battlefront, armed with his death warrant (14-15).

We worsen our situation when we employ a high hand to deal with the results of our mistakes. Every step we take sinks us deeper into a quagmire. Anything short of full confession multiplies our troubles.

The takeaway is that we cannot dismiss the consequences of our sinful deeds or even an honest mistake with a momentary action of our own devices. It must take its natural course to resolve. What we have sown, we must reap (Galatians 6:7-8).

Someone has said that grace forgives the sin and restores the soul, but that which is sown waits for the planter to reap. How so true!

David received God’s forgiveness when he finally confessed his sins (2 Samuel 12:13-14). Yet harvested the consequences in a troubled family life that broke his heart. His example teaches us to take responsibility early and fall on God’s grace. The soul will find peace in Him, though we carry a basket load of repercussions. You have a better chance by confessing, rather than doubling down in denial and camouflage lane and complicating matters. It will catch up with you anyway, as David learned.

So what do you have to confess today?