“David answered Rekab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, when someone told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!”
- 2 Samuel 4:9-11 -

David, throughout our readings, refuses to be associated with any actions that would contradict his master – the living God. Unsurprisingly then, when he is brought Ish-Bosheth’s head (as with Saul’s death), he is not grateful but incensed that others would insult his integrity as a man of God. David shows great consistency and the Lord himself sees this in advising Solomon later: ‘if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father.’ Are we serving the Lord with wholehearted integrity, seeking glory for him alone, or are we searching for more for ourselves, more power and control over others? Beware, for this account reminds us of a God who clearly looks into and knows our hearts and acts with unswerving holy righteousness.

Apply: Think through your relationships, especially online ones. Are you using anyone to elevate yourself? What safeguards and accountabilities do you have in place to protect your integrity?

Prayer: Thank you, merciful Father that the ways you deal with me are always right, purposed to build my faith and bring me closer to my Savior.

(A Summary from Encounter with God)