June 21, 2026 - God's Silence

2 Samuel 11:22–27 (NET)
11:22 So the messenger departed. When he arrived, he informed David of all the news that Joab had sent with him. 11:23 The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and attacked us in the field. But we forced them to retreat all the way to the door of the city gate. 11:24 Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall and some of the king’s soldiers died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.” 11:25 David said to the messenger, “Tell Joab, ‘Don’t let this thing upset you. There is no way to anticipate whom the sword will cut down. Press the battle against the city and conquer it.’ Encourage him with these words.”
11:26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband Uriah was dead, she mourned for him. 11:27 When the time of mourning passed, David had her brought to his palace. She became his wife and she bore him a son. But what David had done upset the Lord.

General public perspective:

• A soldier of Israel died in battle.
• Left behind a pregnant widow.
• The King cares so much for his men that he brought this widow into the palace.
• David was most likely praised for this action.

Perfect architecture to this chapter.

Upset – Same word David used to Joab.
Ra’a’ – upset, displeased
Root: Ra – evil, bad, wicked, harmful
Meanings:

• Be displeasing
• Be sad
• Be injurious, evil
• Be evil, wicked (ethically)

Sense of to break or to fracture something.

God’s silence… (no mention of God’s direction up to this point in the chapter)

Just because God is silent, it does not mean that He is not doing something.

• David could have been at war.
• David could have looked away.
• David could have stopped at her name.
• David could have listened to his servants warning.
• David could have sent her home.
• David could have confessed when she became pregnant.
• David could have given up when Uriah didn’t go home the first night.
• David could have given up when Uriah didn’t go home the second night.
• David could have stopped before writing the letter.
• David could have come clean after Uriah’s death.
• David could have repented during the time of mourning.
• David could have repented before Nathan’s arrival.

When God is silent, it does not mean that He does see.
How long has God been patient with you?
Do not mistake God’s silence for blindness.

1 Kings 15:4–5 (NET)
15:4 Nevertheless for David’s sake the Lord his God maintained his dynasty in Jerusalem by giving him a son to succeed him and by protecting Jerusalem. 15:5 He did this because David had done what he approved and had not disregarded any of his commandments his entire lifetime, except for the incident involving Uriah the Hittite.

We cannot treat sin with a bandaid.