mike clarensau

78. Don’t let this upset you. The sword devours one as well as another (2 Samuel 11:25).
David’s effort to console Joab likely feels sickening to the General. He has lost men because of David’s scheme to cover up his sin. Now David consoles him by turning him loose to exact his anger on the city under attack. Joab will vent that anger and destroy the city, but the true target of his anger remains–David. Breaches of integrity become gaping holes. The effort to cover them or fill them with justification looks and smells bad to those closest to us. By doing wrong and not taking responsibility for it, much corruption is allowed to continue until everyone but the perpetrator has had enough. That day is coming for David.