2 samuel 23: ²⁴ Other members of the Thirty included:

Asahel, Joab’s brother; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem; ²⁵ Shammah from Harod; Elika from Harod; ²⁶ Helez from Pelon; Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa; ²⁷ Abiezer from Anathoth; Sibbecai from Hushah; ²⁸ Zalmon from Ahoah; Maharai from Netophah;
²⁹ Heled son of Baanah from Netophah; Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah (in the land of Benjamin); ³⁰ Benaiah from Pirathon; Hurai from Nahale-gaash; ³¹ Abi-albon from Arabah; Azmaveth from Bahurim; ³² Eliahba from Shaalbon; the sons of Jashen; Jonathan ³³ son of Shagee from Harar; Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar; ³⁴ Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah; Eliam son of Ahithophel from Giloh; ³⁵ Hezro from Carmel; Paarai from Arba; ³⁶ Igal son of Nathan from Zobah; Bani from Gad; ³⁷ Zelek from Ammon; Naharai from Beeroth, Joab’s armor bearer; ³⁸ Ira from Jattir; Gareb from Jattir; ³⁹ Uriah the Hittite.

There were thirty-seven in all.

 

in this chapter it talks about the special fighting men of david and the amazing feats they performed and how God helped them in battle... look at the last name... uriah the hittite... this was the husband of bathsheba... he was one of the closest men to david.. one of the inner circle... yet when david saw bathsheba.. he even asked who she was and they said she was the wife of uriah the hittite.. so david KNEW what he was doing when he called her to the palace and slept with her... he knew who he was betraying.. that this was one of his most trusted men... THEN... because she got pregnant and he couldn't get uriah to sleep with her so he could pretend the child was uriah's.. then he has him killed....

 

yet this is a man that is called a man after God's own heart....

 

what can that really mean deep down.. a man after God's own heart? and if God still felt david was so special after all the things he did... what about us... first of all.. how we judge ourselves as not being useable by God because of our previous life.. but on top of that.. look at how we look at someone else who screws up royally... we assume they can't really be in relationship with God because if they were.. wouldn't they do better... wouldn't they be righteous and holy all the time like we think we are....

 

sheesh!! we are so screwed up and judgemental... yet God overlooks these things in david.. in us.. and surely in the people we think we are judging too.... people are just people.. we will never be God.. we will continue to fall... I may not fall in the area you are falling.. and we are expected to live at a higher level.. we are expected to STRIVE daily to be more like Christ... but in being more like Christ.. we need to stop feeling like we can look at someone else's failure and decide that it is a reflection of their relationship with God.. surely it is not...