Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war, and charged the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling the matters of the war to the king, if it happens that the king’s wrath rises, and he says to you: ‘Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’ ” (2 Samuel 11:18-21)

The Consequences Of Sin

Sin is the transgression of God’s law. The danger of sin is not only in the act itself but in the consequences that come from the sin. Adam and Eve suffered expulsion from the garden because of their rebellion. Sin comes with so many entanglements that while forgiveness is granted, the lingering consequences can remain for a lifetime. During the days of the wars when David was king of Israel, the army of Israel destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged the city of Rabbah. David remained in Jerusalem and saw Bathsheba bathing while the king walked on the roof of his house. He had Bathsheba brought to his home, where he committed adultery with her, resulting in a pregnancy. When David learned of Bathsheba’s pregnancy, he had her husband, Uriah, brought home from the war to cover up his sin. Realizing Uriah would not go home, David sent a messenger to the commander of his army, Joab, to put Uriah in the heat of battle and to withdraw, leaving his mighty men to die at the hands of the enemy.

Joab obeyed the word of his king. While Joab besieged Rabbah, he assigned Uriah to a place where there were valiant men and attacked the enemy. The men of the city came out to fight, and Uriah was killed. Joab sent word back to David on the success of the war and told the messenger that if David got angry because of the men who were killed in the assault against the city, to remind the king that Uriah was also dead. The messenger did as commanded and told David about the war and the death of Uriah. David, in turn, told Joab not to be concerned about the death of Uriah and the other soldiers as war brings about terrible suffering. Joab was told to keep the fight against the enemy and overthrow the city.

God was aware of David’s sin. The king had not only committed adultery, but he also sinned in his deceit against one of his mighty men, caused a servant of the Lord to be drunk, and murdered him under the guise of war. His lies and deception were punished by the Lord as the child died, and the sword never left his house as prophesied by Nathan, the prophet. An overlooked consequence is Joab’s knowledge of the deceit against Uriah. Joab was the prince of the king’s army, and he knew David had murdered Uriah. He may not have understood why at the time, but the reasons would become abundantly clear. By association, David implicated Joab in the death of Uriah. The consequences of sin grew.

Satan does not tell how sin impacts a life. The devil convinces the heart to enjoy sin for a season without realizing there is a harvest to come. Sin will bring its own consequences, but more often, it lingers in the lives of others and has a greater impact. David implicated himself, Bathsheba, and the son of his sister. Others may have known about the deceit to kill Uriah. Because of one act of adultery, multiple lives were affected and impacted. Moses warned the people of Israel, “Your sin will find you out.” Nothing is hidden from the eyes of the Lord.

If the heart considered the consequences of sin long before the temptation, there would be less suffering in the world. The domino of David’s sin impacted generations. When Matthew wrote the genealogy of Jesus, he included the story of the “wife of Uriah.” Bathsheba was not named in the genealogy, as were Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth. Sin has long-reaching consequences and often has a greater impact. David’s sin embroiled others. Bathsheba could have refused, but she did not. Uriah could have refused, but he did not. The destruction of sin destroyed many lives. Divorce is never an act of two people. Pornography has ripple effects like a tsunami. Prejudice poisons hearts. An unwillingness to forgive can destroy generations. Pride divides churches. Sin must be stopped by courageous hearts willing to say no. Consider the consequences of sin – all of them.