Good morning,
David is King of Israel. God has preserved David and allowed him to defeat their enemies. Then David makes a series of critical mistakes. He committed adultery with Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite. Remember, David had at least 4 wives of his own at this time and multiple concubines. So how did this happen?
First, David was not where he was supposed to be.
“And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.” (11:1)
David chose not to be at the battle. He was not leading his men. This gave him time for other pursuits.
Second, David saw a woman washing herself. Had he turned and gone back to bed, all would have been fine.
“And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.” (11:2)
Third, he enquired who she was.
“And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” (11:3)
Fourth, his lust turned to action. Bathsheba was brought to David, he lay with her, and a baby was conceived. The Bible calls this adultery. The Mosaic law required both the man and woman to die.
“And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.” (11:4-5)
Fifth, David schemes to have Uriah come back from the battlefield and lay with his wife. Uriah was not willing to go home. Here’s why.
“And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.”
His heart was right with God.
Sixth, David has Uriah killed. David failed to realize that God knew all things. He thought getting rid of the evidence would suffice.
“And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.” (11:15)
“…Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.” (11:21)
Seventh, David takes Bathsheba to be his wife. David seemingly has covered his tracks. God, however was not pleased by David’s actions.
“And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.”
DAVID’S DECEPTION REVEALED. Nathan tells David a story about a rich man with many flocks and a poor man with one ewe lamb. The rich takes the ewe lamb to feed his guests. David becomes angry. Then Nathan said to David.
“And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;8 And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.11 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.” (12:7-11)
CONCLUSION
Sin has consequences. We can never do anything in secret, because God ALWAYS knows.
Be where you are supposed to be.
Walk away from temptations.
Don’t allow temptations to become lusts.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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