READING:
One-year plan: 2 Samuel 23-24, John 2
Two-year plan: Numbers 19-20, Mark 10:32-45
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All of us need someone in our life to confront us when our choices and motives are off base. In today’s Old Testament reading, we see Joab playing that role in King David’s life. David demanded a census of his troops, likely to gain a sense of just how strong he and his kingdom were. Joab somehow read David’s heart and confronted him with decided intentionality: “May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times more than they are—while my lord the king looks on! But why does my lord the king want to do this?” The parallel verse in 1 Chronicles 21:3 is even more clear: “Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”
Each of us needs this kind of confrontation when our heart is leaning toward arrogance and sin. We need somebody who can read our face, hear our words, recognize our motives, and test our hearts—someone who will erect a proverbial wall in front of us when he or she sees us headed toward disaster. If you don’t have that person in your life, I challenge you to prayerfully seek someone.
Sadly (and tragically for the people of God), David ignored Joab’s pleas, and his action resulted in a plague on Israel that cost 70,000 Israelite lives. Had David listened to Joab’s concerns, he would have avoided much anguish. May you and I be more willing to listen!
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Do you have this person in your life?
PRAYER: “Father, grant me grace to listen when others who love me speak into my life.”
TOMORROW’S READINGS:
One-year plan: 1 Kings 1-2, John 3
Two-year plan: Numbers 21:1-22:21, Mark 10:46-52