1 Chronicles 20
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And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.
2 And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.
3 And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
4 And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.
5 And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam.
6 And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot and he also was the son of the giant.
7 But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him.
8 These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
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Commentary
While Joab and the soldiers are risking their lives, David indulges in lustful thoughts and is overcome by them. He commits adultery with Bathsheba and orders the murder of Uriah. Sad end for what to David seemed harmless. The wages of sin are death. Wrong thoughts generate improper feelings that culminate in disastrous deeds.
When the Amalekite capital was practically won, David was brought to command the ultimate attack. The city of Rabbah was left in ruins and David received the glory. Oppression and violence ensued. Many Amalekite cities were ravaged and the people forced to hard labor. The fact that David had put the defeated king's crown on his own head received great prominence, but in the eyes of God it was not important. When we give place to sin in our lives, our scale of values is impaired.
What God values is righteousness of life, the fruit of communion with Him. If we don’t enjoy praying and meditating on God's goodness, if our practices lean towards boastfulness and shrewdness, then our life will be a failure even if we receive men’s applause.
Jobson Santos
Adventist Media Center
Brazil
