Bible Reading--II Samuel 1-24
II Samuel records the 40 year reign of King David. It not only recounts his great successes leading the children of Israel, but also his personal failures. Of course, the greatest of these failures was with Bathsheba. David, "at the time when kings go off to war" sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army, "but David remained in Jerusalem."(II Samuel 11:1) How often do problems begin by our just not being where we ought to be?
Of course this led to David seeing Bathsheba bathing, bringing her into the palace, and committing adultery with her. When David learns that Bathsheba is pregnant he then tried to cover up his sin by having her husband, Uriah the Hittite, brought home from the battle. David's plan to get Uriah to sleep with his wife is foiled by Uriah's refusal to indulge in such pleasures saying, "The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my lord's men are camped in the open fields. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!"(II Samuel 11:11)
And if David's previous actions weren't bad enough, he then sends Uriah back to the battle carrying the letter to Joab that says, "Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die."(II Samuel 11:15) David gave the order that caused one of his loyal and elite soldiers, a member of "The Thirty"(II Samuel 23:24,39), to be killed.
How often have I looked at others who have fallen into sin and thought, "How could they do such a thing?" How could David, a "man after God's own heart," do something so terrible? Instead I need to realize that, but for the grace of God, I could do the same. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"(Jeremiah 17:9) Instead of looking at others may I examine my own life and be sure that I am where I'm supposed to be.
"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" I Corinthians 10:12
Of course this led to David seeing Bathsheba bathing, bringing her into the palace, and committing adultery with her. When David learns that Bathsheba is pregnant he then tried to cover up his sin by having her husband, Uriah the Hittite, brought home from the battle. David's plan to get Uriah to sleep with his wife is foiled by Uriah's refusal to indulge in such pleasures saying, "The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my lord's men are camped in the open fields. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!"(II Samuel 11:11)
And if David's previous actions weren't bad enough, he then sends Uriah back to the battle carrying the letter to Joab that says, "Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die."(II Samuel 11:15) David gave the order that caused one of his loyal and elite soldiers, a member of "The Thirty"(II Samuel 23:24,39), to be killed.
How often have I looked at others who have fallen into sin and thought, "How could they do such a thing?" How could David, a "man after God's own heart," do something so terrible? Instead I need to realize that, but for the grace of God, I could do the same. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"(Jeremiah 17:9) Instead of looking at others may I examine my own life and be sure that I am where I'm supposed to be.
"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" I Corinthians 10:12