Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the Lord.” For Saul said to himself, “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!” (emphasis added)

1 Samuel 18:17 (NIV)

Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.'” Saul’s plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines (emphasis added).

1 Samuel 18:25 (NIV)

When I read these two verses today, I couldn’t help but think of David’s treatment of Uriah the Hittite.

In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”

2 Samuel 11:14-15 (NIV)

What David did to Uriah is what Saul wanted to do to him. Although the circumstances differed, Saul and David sought to rid them of their “enemy” by having their real enemies kill them in battle. While Saul and David thought to hide their actions, as we see in 2 Samuel 12:9, nothing can be hidden from God.

Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 12:9 (NIV)

When I think about what Saul wanted to do and what David did do, I’m reminded of how our actions or lack of actions impact the world around us. Consider what James said about faith and deeds.

Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

James 2:15-16 (NIV)

In these verses, we see one Christian seeing another in need but doing nothing about it. Sure, they might pray for them, but such “prayers” don’t honor God or come from a posture of worship. Instead, they come from a selfish heart that knows what it ought to do but doesn’t do it. Therefore, such prayers are only offered as a sort of “consolation prize” in the hope that the one doing the praying won’t lose their perception of themselves as pious and righteous.

Such posturing reminds me of something else James said.

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

James 4:17 (NIV)

James 4:17 reminds us that we cannot ignore injustices in the world and hope that they will just “go away.” Neither can we be like Saul or David, who set something in motion and acted like they had nothing to do with it. Although Saul didn’t succeed in getting David killed in battle, David did succeed, which is not only ironic but tragic because David’s actions reflect the deplorable state to which he had fallen.

The prophet Micah had this to say about justice.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:7 (NIV)

Indeed, in Romans 12:15, we’re given this insight.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Romans 12:15 (NIV)

Although we might not think of justice when we read Romans 12:15, we can apply our rejoicing to those who rejoice when they receive justice, and we can also weep and mourn with those who fall victim to injustice. Still, when we can do something to help others and those who suffer unjustly, we should do so.