David’s errors were few and far between. However, they came with terrible consequences. The first one was his liaison with Uriah’s wife. God denounced that heavily and declared that the sword would not depart from his household. He brought his family under a curse because of that heinous sin. The second error is recorded in the closing chapter of the book of Second Samuel. He chose to number the men of war in Israel. That move was a regrettable move as thousands of men and animals perished when God visited the land in judgment. The first lesson today is that not all ideas are God’s ideas. That an idea is good does not necessarily mean that it is sourced from God. Believers are not to pursue only what is good; they are to go for what is perfect and acceptable to God. Some ideas may be good but not acceptable. Consequently, not all ideas are worth pursuing.

not all ideas are God’s ideas. That an idea is good does not necessarily mean that it is sourced from God…It is good to keep an open heart as God can choose to speak to us from unlikely quarters.

Secondly, the most antagonistic person may have some sense to lend you. Joab had caused David some sorrow. We can recall how he killed Absalom contrary to the king’s instruction. We also have it on record how he killed Abner and Amasa in cold blood. However, he offered the king a piece of timely advice in this place which could have saved him much loss. David did not listen. Perhaps, he was so consumed by the many misdeeds of Joab that he could not see the sense he brought. It is good to keep an open heart as God can choose to speak to us from unlikely quarters.