“David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: “Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another.”
We have all seen it, the character flip. The time when our good and kind character turns into a monster and everyone gasps in amazement. One of the most memorable ones is found in Star Wars Episode 3 when Anakin gets seduced to the dark side and becomes Darth Vader. But it happens in real life as well. I will bet even Jeffrey Dahmer and some of the notorious serial killers of our era had people that were shocked to hear of their secret lives.
2 Samuel chapter 11 is one of the most famous chapters in the Bible. It is the story of David and Bathsheba. I have heard many sermons over this passage; all very inspirational and moving. I wanted to point out something the Lord has shown me that is right in the middle of the drama.
When David sends Uriah to front of the battle to be killed to cover up his affair with Bathsheba, he sends a note to Joab, his first in command. After Joab hears of Uriah’s death, he instructs the messenger go and give an account to the king about the battle. Joab instructs him to be careful when you inform the king about the battle because David might get angry against him.
He will ask “Why did you get so close to the wall?” David, being a warrior, will no doubt be angry at such poor judgment on the battle field. Getting too close to the wall was poor judgment but Joab ordered the strike close to the wall in order to make sure Uriah was killed. Well, the messenger tells David about the battle and at the end of his report he states, “Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.” David, remembering his murderous plot, gives a messenger to bring back to Joab something that is completely opposite of his normal character. In the message David tells Joab, “Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another.” David will soon be confronted with his sin in the next chapter.
Your walk with Jesus is going to have some ups and downs. There are going to be times when you feel like you are doing everything right and there is nothing that can come between you and God. Then there will be times when you mess up and sin. When this happens, watch out for a character flip. A character flip is when you justify your own sin or shortcoming to satisfy your guilt. David did this. Joab knew David’s real character and how he cared for his men, but David did a character flip to cover up his sin with Bathsheba.
Sin is all around us and it controls much of this earth. Satan is waiting for you to sin and do a character flip to cover it up. Watch yourselves in walking with Christ because Satan roams about seeking for someone to devour. Or you could put it like this; seeking someone who will be willing to do a character flip to justify sinning. Don’t be that Christian! Let the Holy Spirit guide your every thought and step because if you sin, Satan has a way of making you sin more to cover it up.
The Bible says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Today, confess your sin, turn from your evil ways and let God give you perfect peace while you walk out His plan for you.
Prayer: Lord, we walk on this earth full of sin and we see how Satan has tricked many of us into the trap of sinning. Jesus was the only one to not sin and he was the eternal sacrifice for all mankind. Us, on the other hand, are born into sin and we have to fight that battle to stay away from sin every day. Your Word says that we are a new creation in Christ, old things are passed away and all things are new. Lord, help us live every day as this new creation in Christ. Help us to walk by faith and not by sight, acknowledging you in all our ways while you direct our paths. We stand on this promise and declare that sin no longer has a hold on us and it will no longer hold us captive. We will walk in victory and proclaim the goodness of the Lord all of our days. In Jesus name, amen.
Let It Go 
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