Daily Devotional

“David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, ‘Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die’” (2 Samuel 11:14,15). 

It’s a dangerous place to work for soldiers, but even more deadly when children are involved. When large military vehicles came barrelling down a road in Afghanistan, a group of children were on the road picking up shell casings that could be recycled for money. Sergeant Dennis Weichel, 29, and a few other soldiers in the convoy got out of their vehicles to move the kids out of the way of the heavy trucks. 

After the children were moved back, one Afghan girl darted back onto the road to pick up another casing that lay underneath a passing Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle. These huge, armoured trucks can weigh 16 tons and are meant to protect soldiers from roadside bombs. Dennis spotted the girl and quickly moved to get her out of the way. He succeeded, but not before he was run over by the armoured truck. He later died from his injuries. Weichel had been in Afghanistan for only two weeks when he gave his life to save a girl from certain death. 

The story of David’s sin involves a brave and loyal soldier named Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba. His name means “the Lord is my light” and his behavior certainly revealed a character worth emulating. When David tried to cover up his adulterous affair with Uriah’s wife by calling the unsuspecting man back from battle duty, Uriah refused to spend the night at home, but slept at the door of the king’s house. Desperate to hide his sin, David next sent a letter through Uriah to Joab, commander of the army, directing him to put the faithful soldier on the front lines and then withdraw support from him. Uriah later died as a hero. 

Uriah’s death could not cover David’s sin. But Jesus’ death on the cross covered our sins completely. David later wrote, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1). 

Dear Jesus, thank You for giving Your life to cover my sins. I give my life to serve You today.