What Seems Good

In 2 Samuel 10 the Amalekites shamed the messengers of Israel and made themselves detestable in the sight of David. To protect themselves they had hired the Syrians to fight with them against the Israelites. Joab, the commander of Israel's forces, found himself surrounded with Amalekites on one side and Syrians on the other. So he divided his troops, put his brother Abishai in charge of one troop of fighters, and led the other himself. In verse 11 they pledged to help each other. Then comes this great word in verse 12: Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him." What does that mean? "May the LORD do what seems good to him"? It means that Joab had made a strategic decision for the cities of God, and he did not know how it would turn out. He had no special revelation from God on this issue. He had to make a decision on the basis of wisdom. He had to risk or run. He did not know how it would turn out. So he made his decision, and he handed the results over to God. And this was right.