“David sent this order to Yo’av: ‘Send me Uriyah the Hitti.’ Yo’av sent Uriyah to David. When Uriyah had come to him, David asked him how Yo’av was doing, how the people were feeling and how the war was going. Then David said to Uriyah, ‘Go down to your house and wash your feet.’ Uriyah left the king’s palace and was followed by a present of food from the king.”-2 Samuel 11:6-8
So the grand cover-up scheme has begun.
And who is instigating this deviousness?
None other than the King of Israel himself.
A man who should have been the very epitome of righteousness and justice has sunk to the level of a mafia boss.
David sends for Bathsheba’s husband, Uriyah.
It would’ve taken a few days for the messenger to reach the battlefield and for Uriyah to travel back to Jerusalem.
One thing for sure is when the king calls you, you drop everything.
No pit stops, no snacks, no showers…
You hightail it straight to the palace.
David tries to play it cool.
He doesn’t wanna look nervous…
So he makes some ridiculous small talk.
He asks about Uriyah’s boss, Yo’av, the soldiers, and how the war’s going.
But let’s face it.
We all know he doesn’t give a damn about Uriyah or the war.
All he cares about is covering up his lust-driven sin that led to him sleeping and impregnating the wife of the very man he was now talking to.
After the fake chit-chat, David orders Uriyah to head home and “wash his feet.”
“Wash your feet” is one of those idioms we see often in Scripture.
It’s a polite or indirect way to suggest someone relax, rest, or enjoy the comforts of home…
Sometimes with a hint toward marital intimacy.
In ancient Hebrew culture, people walked everywhere in sandals…
So washing your feet was one of the first things you’d do when entering a house…
Especially after a long journey.
It symbolized unwinding and settling in.
But in certain contexts…
Like the one we’re dealing with here…
When David told Uriyah to go home and “wash his feet”…
It was a full-blown euphemism, homies.
David was encouraging Uriyah to sleep with his wife, Bathsheba.
But this had nothing to do with good intentions.
David wanted to make it look like Bathsheba’s baby was Uriyah’s, not his.
“Washing your feet” had nothing to do with hygiene in this case
It was a crafty nudge toward the bedroom.
So here’s your takeaway for today.
The very person who was supposed to protect, lead, and live righteously…
In this case, King David…
This was the very person who was…
Spinning lies…
And using people like pawns in his private game of cover-up.
And that’s the tough truth we gotta wrestle with folks.
Sometimes the people we should be able to trust the most…
They are the ones quietly working against us.
Not everyone who smiles at you has your best interest at heart.
Some are just playing nice to hide their mess.
So stay sharp.
Discern wisely.
And don’t be fooled by titles, charm, or holy-sounding words.
Even a king can act like a crook.
Ya feel me?
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