Jump Start # 1415

2 Samuel 11:5 “And the woman conceived; and she sent and told David and said, ‘I am pregnant.’”

  This week we have been looking at the moral failure of David. The sin of David and Bathsheba is not hidden by God. An entire chapter, 27 verses, details this sin and the cover-up and lies that David used. God shows the warts, scars and sins of His people, even the giants among us. None of us are without sin. All of us have done things that we are ashamed of. We all have disappointed God and broken His heart by our sinful choices. God reveals these things to tell the complete story. David is not our Savior. David is not perfect. Yet, after this mighty fall, God did not toss David out. His name is found among those who gained approval in Hebrews 11. He is forgiven. He returns strong. David’s lesson is more than historical, it tells us that even the best among us can fall. Preachers, shepherds, moms, it can and it has happened. David’s lesson also shows us that God is loving and forgiving. David’s story doesn’t end with him in a gutter. More than a dozen times in the New Testament, Jesus is called “the son of David.” The great kings, such as Josiah and Hezekiah are said to have walked in the ways of their father, David. There is a path that leads to sin. We see it here. There is a journey back to God. We find that here.

David saw Bathsheba, his neighbor, bathing. He gathered information about her and was told that she was married to Uriah, one of his mighty men. David sent for her and committed adultery. Bathsheba returns home. There is nothing in the text to make us think that David had an on-going affair with Bathsheba. The opportunity would be there, since she lived next to the palace. Once the line has been crossed, it is so much easier to cross it again. David seemed to get away with this sin. No one seemed to know. Weeks pass. Then word is sent to David. Our verse. Three words. “I am pregnant.” Those three words bring happiness and joy to a young married couple. It brings horrific terror to someone who is not married. In the times David lived, adulterers were stoned to death if they were caught. Remember John 8, the woman brought to the temple and tossed before Jesus? The cry there was to stone her. Three words, “I am pregnant.” Uriah has not been home. Bathsheba knows. David knows. Now panic takes over.

David had his servants go fetch Bathsheba. They knew that she came to the palace. People talk. Rumors will spread. The troops are away and mama just found out that she’s expecting. It doesn’t take much to figure out that someone other than Uriah has been with Bathsheba. She’s in trouble. In our times, a Bathsheba might think about an abortion. That hides the consequences but it doesn’t remove the sin. By the time our chapter ends, Uriah will be dead. He will be allowed to die on purpose in a battle which opens the door for David to marry Bathsheba and make things seem right. There doesn’t seem to be any thought about killing Bathsheba. David hasn’t dropped that far, at least not yet.

I am pregnant. David must do something. He calls for Uriah to come home. This is most unusual. You don’t bring one of your best soldiers home while battles are going on. Uriah comes. David wants him to go home and be with Bathsheba. That way, everyone will think it’s his child. Uriah is so committed to the king and his fellow soldiers that he won’t go home. Uriah is more committed than David is.

Plan A fails. David moves on to Plan B. He invites Uriah to the king’s palace. Food, feasting and drinking. This also is very unusual. Soldiers didn’t eat with the king and certainly not in his palace. David’s thinking is that if he could get enough booze in Uriah, then he will go home and be with Bathsheba and all will turn out fine. What does this tell us about alcohol? David knew. Put enough booze in a person and they will say and do about anything. Inhabitations go out the window the more liquor a person has in them. What does this tell us about parties where the alcohol is flowing? Booze flows on college campuses in unbelievable amounts. Binge drinking is a huge problem at most universities. What is not reported is how much fornication is taking place because of all the drinking. The two go together. David knew that. Uriah got drunk. However, a drunk Uriah has more principles than a sober David. Uriah will not go home.

Plan B didn’t work. David now goes to Plan C. He’s desperate now. He writes a note to Joab, the general. Put Uriah in the heat of the battle and withdraw the troops. This was to be Uriah’s death sentence. Three things to note about Plan C. First, Uriah carried this note. David so trusted him that he knew Uriah wouldn’t look at it. Uriah is loyal, and David is not. Second, David’s troops never withdraw. They are strong and have been victorious since he became king. This order was out of order. Third, Uriah wasn’t the only one who died because of this order. The text says, “some of the people among David’s servants fell; and Uriah the Hittite also died” (v. 17). Others died. David allowed the death of others. Wives lost husbands. Children lost their dads. All because David was trying to hide his sin. The pain and tears were great that day.

Word reaches David that his plan worked. Uriah was dead. David must have known that this bothered Joab, his general. So, David sends another message. “Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another…” Don’t be bothered by this? Joab was now involved in this murder. His hands are dirty with David’s sins. How could it not bother him? Joab lost a great soldier that day. He didn’t just die in battle, he was allowed to die. He died because the troops pulled back and left him alone. But that one statement, “for the sword devours one as well as another,” means, “these things happen.” Don’t worry, that’s just life. How cold, callous and indifferent David is. You wonder if Joab was scared if David would do the same to him some day. Who could trust David now? He killed one of his mighty men.

The chapter ends, with David marrying Bathsheba, a baby is on the way and all seems fine. The last few words of this chapter are, “the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord.” God knew. God was disappointed. We are not told if Bathsheba ever knew the truth about her husband’s death.

All of this started with a look. It snowballed into major sins. At least four of the 10 Commandments were shattered by David’s choices and actions. Once we leave God, it is amazing how far one can drop and what all that they will do. Lying to our mates, stealing from our family, embezzling from work or church…the secrets…the cover-ups…the deceptions—there is no end to the bottom that we can drop to once sin has taken over.

Our lesson today tells us that there are consequences to sin. They may not be visible the moment we commit the sin. They have a way of catching up with us. They have a way of finding us. The call into the boss’ office. The police pulling up to the house. The elders wanting to talk to you. A note left on the kitchen table by your mate who has read your secret texts and emails and has now left you. The wages of sin is death. The broke prodigal looking at pig food…the young man sitting in the city jail…the divorce papers…the letter withdrawing fellowship…the pink slip from work…the foreclosure of the house…the wages of sin is death!

It’s hard to imagine the young shepherd boy, so full of faith, running toward the giant with five stones in his hand. So bold. So full of faith. So courageous. And now, this same person, signs his name to the paper that orders the withdraw of his troops and the certain death of one of his mighty men, Uriah. This is not a rags to riches story. It’s the opposite. He was on top. He was the man of God. He was the writer of Psalms. So good was he with Saul who wanted to kill him. Now, he is putting out contracts on his own loyal people.

You may think, “I’d never kill someone,” yet you might kill your love for your mate. You might kill friendships for a sale. You might kill your reputation for a deal. There are many ways we can kill. Sin is usually found in all of them.

As this chapter ends, Satan smiles. The king had been brought down spiritually. God had tears streaming down His cheeks.

May we think. May we learn.

Roger

Jump Start # 1414

2 Samuel 11:3 “So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”

Our writing this week has been focused upon David’s tragic loss of good judgment, his sin and the terrible consequences that he faced as a result. Sin always comes with a cost. It is never free. The Romans were told that the wages of sin is death. It is. Death spiritually. It can be the death to a marriage. It can be the death to a career. It can be the death of relationships with your children and your friends. There is a high cost to low living. Payday comes, whether we are ready for it or not.

A study of temptation and sin should also include the escape from temptation. There is a door provided by God. No temptation comes with only one option. There is always a right thing one can do. The right thing may cost much. It may be painful. It may be very difficult and hard. It could even include the loss of life, but believers know that death is not the worst thing that can happen to us. Every temptation has a way of escape. There is a door. The problem is that we often do not see the door. We may not see it, because we are not looking for it. The thought of the pleasure of sin is enough to blind our eyes to any real hope of escaping unscathed.

Our verse was David’s door. How could David escape the temptation to sin with Bathsheba? Our verse. It tells it all. David wasn’t wanting to escape. David wasn’t listening. But it’s there. It’s very clear.

The passage for today begins with the expression, “So David sent…” There is a lot of sending in this context. The chapter begins with David sending Joab to battle (v. 1). Our verse, (v. 3), David sent to find out about the bathing beauty he just saw. The next verse tells us that David sent messengers and took her (v. 4). Later, Bathsheba sent word to David that she was pregnant (v. 5). David sent Joab to fetch Uriah home (v. 6). David sent Uriah home, but he wouldn’t go (v. 8). David sent Uriah to drink with him (v. 13). David sent Uriah back to the battlefront with a note for Joab (v. 14). Joab sent a messenger to tell David about the events of the battle and the news of Uriah’s death (v. 18). David sent the messenger back to Joab with the words, “For the sword devours one as well as another” (v. 25).

David wanted to know about this woman he saw. He was thinking right. He was planning, but it wasn’t a good plan that he was working on. Word came about this woman. It was very detailed. Her name, her father’s name, and her husband’s name are all given. David knew these people.

Here was the door that was opened for David to escape. Word came that this was Bathsheba, the WIFE of URIAH. Two words. First, Wife. This woman is married. This woman is forbidden. Ten Commandments. The Thou shalt don’t covet thy neighbor’s wife. This is it. End of your scheming, planning and lustful thoughts. This ought to be the end of the story. She’s married and not to you. She’s not free to take. She’s not available. She is married.

The second word was URIAH. Uriah, one of David’s deepest and closest and most loyal friends. He is one of the mighty men of David. He has risked his life to protect the king. He is so loyal that he is allowed to live next to the palace. He is a foreigner, a Hittite, but he is Israel in his heart. How could David do something so disloyal to one who has been so loyal to him? How could he steal this man’s wife? She was not only married, but she was married to URIAH. This is strike one, strike two and strike three. You’re out!

A door of escape. There it was. Clear as anything. She’s married and she’s the wife of someone who has more character than David did at that moment. David ran right through that stop sign. He never saw it. His eyes were so full of lust and his heart was becoming so black at that moment that he never gave it any thought. But it was there. The door out was open. There was a door of escape. David knew, but David chose not to know.

Now we have to understand that it’s the same for us. There is a door of escape to every sin. Go through the Bible and you will see them. God warned Cain before he killed Abel. There was a door of escape. Noah preached but the people didn’t listen. Those were doors for that generation. The god of this world can blind us to the reality of what temptation is demanding of us. It can make us so drunk that we do not see clearly nor reason sensibly. Is it any wonder that God tells us over and over to be sober minded. This has nothing to do with drinking alcohol, but everything to do with being clear in our thinking and seeing what lies before us. When the fog lifted for the prodigal, he came to his senses. Sin doesn’t make sense when you are thinking clearly. But when you are in a fog, sin always seems to be the best choice. The door of escape will keep you from getting fogged in. I have driven in dense fog before. It’s terrible. You can’t see anything. Locals will tell you that “It’s thicker than pea soup.” I’ve never had pea soup but I know what thick fog is like. You can’t see street signs until you are right on top of them. You must drive slow. You can’t have your lights on bright because that just makes things worse. Living in a fog is just like that. A person fails to see what God wants. They fail to see the dangers and consequences of their actions. They cannot see the door of escape that will lead them out of the mess that they are in.

Bathsheba’s married to one of your mighty men. The spiritual David would have stopped. He would have pulled himself together and dropped to his knees and said, “God, what am I doing? What a wicked thought has dominated me. Forgive me. Cleanse me. Create in me a clean heart, O, my Lord.” But the unspiritual David said instead, bring her to me.

Some writers complain about how willing Bathsheba was. First, I doubt she knew what was stirring in the king’s heart. It was an honor to be called before the king. Her husband was out fighting for him. There are all kinds of thoughts she may have had, none of which would have involved immorality. She too, though, had the Ten Commandments. She too, had the Lord as her God. Once in the palace, once in his room, once in his arms and she was unable and maybe unwilling to leave. They both sinned. They both were wrong. The blame lies with David. The Bible points fingers at David.

Doors of escape. They are there. God provides them. He wants you to escape the clutches of Satan. He wants you to walk in holiness. We must know that there is a way out. We must know that the door is there. Look for it. Pray for it. See it and then open it and escape. “I couldn’t help it,” doesn’t fly Biblically. “I just had to,” is lame and lacking spiritual backbone. Find the door and use it.

Open eyes, listening ears and a heart that is connected to the Lord will find that door every time. It’s when we become blind like David was that we no longer care if there is a door. It’s then that the misery really begins. A moment of pleasure is lost in a lifetime of pain.

Look for the door. It’s there.

Roger