David was a man of many strong character traits. If you ask children who have been taught bible stories about David, they will tell you of his smooth stones and a slingshot that killed the giant. However, if you ask an adult, they will most likely tell you of his weakness that brought great sorrow. As a warrior he was mighty, but as a man yielding to the flesh, he was weak. David had a weakness for women. In II Samuel 11, he allowed his lust to control his actions.
In II Samuel 11:1, we find David staying at his palace in Jerusalem while all other kings went to war with their army. In the following verses David could not sleep so he went to the rooftop where it would be cooler in the evening. This is where he first saw Bathsheba. She was taking a bath in the courtyard of her home. David desired her and sent for her to come to his bed and lay with him. He thought he would have an affair while her husband was out to battle and send her home. However, she became pregnant and now it would be obvious she was with someone while her husband was fighting for his country.
II Samuel 11:1-5 “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. 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. 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? 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. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child
Now the plot thickens. Instead of confessing his sin and seeking forgiveness, David makes a plan. He sends for her husband to come home and give him a report of the battle. This was not an unusual thing to require, so Uriah her husband was not suspicious. When Uriah arrives, he gives his report and David tells him to go home and enjoy being home for an evening. He even sent a meal prepared for Uriah and his wife. Uriah was an honorable man and would not go home, but slept at the door of the king’s house. To add to David’s guilt, was a man of impeccable character that would not enjoy his home while the army he was part of was still in the fields fighting for their county. David did everything in his power to encourage Uriah to sleep with his wife. He got him drunk, and he still would not go into his house. David had deceived an honorable man.
II Samuel 11:9-13 “But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house? 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. And David said to Uriah, Tarry here today also, and tomorrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.”
David’s plan to cover his sin failed. Again, he has a choice to make. Confess and deal with the consequences or make another plan to cover his sin by committing another sin. David chooses the latter. He instructs Joab to place Uriah on the front lines of the battle and retreat from him. This would and did cause the death of Uriah. David is now guilty of murder!
II Samuel 11:14-15 “And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 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.”
David thinks he has covered his sin and after a period of Bathsheba’s mourning, he sends for her and marries her. I’m sure David thought the people would think well of a man who saw a widow with child, with no means of support, take her as his own wife and raise the child of his loyal servant. However, in II Samuel 11:27, we see the true results of his actions. “But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.”
David, a man God had blessed, a man who fought for God’s people, a man who was loyal to God and would not raise his hand against God’s anointed. had a weakness. His weakness was yielding to the lust of the flesh. He saw, he desired, and he made a way to sinfully fulfill his desires. We all have areas of weakness, but we do not have to yield to them. In I Corinthians 10:13, Paul teaches us that God will always provide an escape route when we are tempted. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” David did not have to yield to his temptation. He placed himself in this position because he didn’t go to battle with his men as was the duty and custom of kings. When he went to the rooftop he saw Bathsheba, at that point he could have turned away, but he chose not to. He chose his sin and continued to allow his weakness for sexual desires to control him.
Every day we are faced with choices that can lead to sin or righteousness. We are not robots, God made us with brains to choose right or wrong. We have a free will to yield to the fleshly desires or to yield to God. He will help us if we ask. He will provide a way to escape the temptation. Even when we place ourselves in a position to sin like David, we still have an opportunity to turn from sin. It is important that we stay close to God by studying His Word and praying. The stronger we are in Him the easier it will be to resist temptation. The Holy Spirit will alert our minds and hearts when we are about to put ourselves in a situation where we could sin. We are so blessed to have that indwelling of the Holy Spirit to guide us. We must remember that we can choose our sins, but just like David, we cannot choose our consequences. When we place ourselves in situations where we know there will be temptations we are on dangerous ground. This is the first sign that our weaknesses are controlling our actions.
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