July 21, 2010
David trusted the LORD for so many things in his life. Protection from wild animals, fighting Goliath, protection from Saul, and the many battles that he faced with other kings to name a few. But then he became comfortable in his own abilities... and the trouble began. His men go off to war as normal but he stays back. He sees a beautiful woman and decides that he wants her. He know she is the wife of Uriah, but he wants her (not for his wife, just for sex) and he is going to have her. So, he sends for someone to get her, and she later becomes pregnant.
Now David has a huge problem. Her husband is off at war so the truth of his actions could be exposed. So, he sends for her husband to come back for a few days from the war thinking Uriah will sleep with his wife then Uriah (and anyone else) will never know what happened. The problem was that Uriah came home but he didn't go to his wife's house. He was loyal to the army and the Ark of God and felt it was wrong for him to have comfort and live normally while they were still in battle. His actions don't fit with David's plan and schemes. So, David invites Uriah over and gets him drunk thinking that will cause Uriah to lose his integrity and go home to his wife. But David's plan doesn't work and Uriah still doesn't go home. So, David takes his scheme to a new low and he sends a message with Uriah to give to Joab. The message told Joab to put Uriah on the front lines so he would be killed in battle. David was later told that his plan worked. He felt no remorse. His answer was basically c'est la vie, what will be will be.
David didn't just slip up and "fall" into these sins. He actively pursued them. He sent for Bathsheba. He sent for Uriah to come home. He sent for Uriah to come and eat and drink with him. He sent Uriah back to the war carrying his own death sentence. He sent Joab a message saying to get rid of Uriah. And, to back up to the beginning of this, he sent his men off to war without inquiring of the LORD whether he should do so. David had become comfortable in his own abilities and no longer depended on God.
Uriah dies. Time passes. David marries Bathsheba and moves her into the palace, and she gives birth to their son.
II Samuel 11:27 - "...but the LORD did not like what David had done."
David doesn't get it. He still doesn't see the wrongness in his action. God sends Nathan the prophet to David. Nathan tells him the story of a rich man who took from a poor man his prized and loved lamb. David was very angry at the rich man's behavior. He told Nathan, "That man should die!" David was appalled because the rich man "had no mercy." Nathan told him, "You are that man." Like our Pastor said last Sunday: NEVER underestimate your capacity for low self-awareness.
The LORD told David through Nathan, "I appointed you... I saved you... I gave you... I made you... if that wasn't enough I would have given you more. Why did you ignore me? Why did you do what was wrong? I am bringing trouble to you from your own family." David finally "gets-it" and he recognizes his sin. Nathan tells him that the LORD has forgiven him but what he did caused other people to lose their respect for God and that his son would die. The child becomes ill. David lays on the ground and won't eat or sleep, and seven days later his son dies.
David and Bathsheba later have Solomon. The LORD loved Solomon. David sought forgiveness and he was forgiven and blessed again. But his consequences for his choices continued throughout his lifetime.
We all need to be aware of our "fatal flaws." Total surrender and our commitment to God cannot just be during the stormy times or we will be in danger of becoming self-sufficient, and like David, we will suffer the consequences of our choices.
Next Entry: II Samuel 13:1 – 14:33
David trusted the LORD for so many things in his life. Protection from wild animals, fighting Goliath, protection from Saul, and the many battles that he faced with other kings to name a few. But then he became comfortable in his own abilities... and the trouble began. His men go off to war as normal but he stays back. He sees a beautiful woman and decides that he wants her. He know she is the wife of Uriah, but he wants her (not for his wife, just for sex) and he is going to have her. So, he sends for someone to get her, and she later becomes pregnant.
Now David has a huge problem. Her husband is off at war so the truth of his actions could be exposed. So, he sends for her husband to come back for a few days from the war thinking Uriah will sleep with his wife then Uriah (and anyone else) will never know what happened. The problem was that Uriah came home but he didn't go to his wife's house. He was loyal to the army and the Ark of God and felt it was wrong for him to have comfort and live normally while they were still in battle. His actions don't fit with David's plan and schemes. So, David invites Uriah over and gets him drunk thinking that will cause Uriah to lose his integrity and go home to his wife. But David's plan doesn't work and Uriah still doesn't go home. So, David takes his scheme to a new low and he sends a message with Uriah to give to Joab. The message told Joab to put Uriah on the front lines so he would be killed in battle. David was later told that his plan worked. He felt no remorse. His answer was basically c'est la vie, what will be will be.
David didn't just slip up and "fall" into these sins. He actively pursued them. He sent for Bathsheba. He sent for Uriah to come home. He sent for Uriah to come and eat and drink with him. He sent Uriah back to the war carrying his own death sentence. He sent Joab a message saying to get rid of Uriah. And, to back up to the beginning of this, he sent his men off to war without inquiring of the LORD whether he should do so. David had become comfortable in his own abilities and no longer depended on God.
Uriah dies. Time passes. David marries Bathsheba and moves her into the palace, and she gives birth to their son.
II Samuel 11:27 - "...but the LORD did not like what David had done."
David doesn't get it. He still doesn't see the wrongness in his action. God sends Nathan the prophet to David. Nathan tells him the story of a rich man who took from a poor man his prized and loved lamb. David was very angry at the rich man's behavior. He told Nathan, "That man should die!" David was appalled because the rich man "had no mercy." Nathan told him, "You are that man." Like our Pastor said last Sunday: NEVER underestimate your capacity for low self-awareness.
The LORD told David through Nathan, "I appointed you... I saved you... I gave you... I made you... if that wasn't enough I would have given you more. Why did you ignore me? Why did you do what was wrong? I am bringing trouble to you from your own family." David finally "gets-it" and he recognizes his sin. Nathan tells him that the LORD has forgiven him but what he did caused other people to lose their respect for God and that his son would die. The child becomes ill. David lays on the ground and won't eat or sleep, and seven days later his son dies.
"You can be a "good" man, you can be a "great" man, you can even be a "godly" man, BUT no one gets a pass on accountability. We will ALL stand before the LORD and give an accounting for our actions."Pride led to David's downfall. David sinned in private, but he was held publicly accountable. What he thought was hidden brought him public humiliation. "While you watch, I will take your wives from you and give them to someone who is very close to you... and everyone will know it... you sinned in secret, but I will do this so all the people in Israel can see it." (II Samuel 11:11-12)
David and Bathsheba later have Solomon. The LORD loved Solomon. David sought forgiveness and he was forgiven and blessed again. But his consequences for his choices continued throughout his lifetime.
We all need to be aware of our "fatal flaws." Total surrender and our commitment to God cannot just be during the stormy times or we will be in danger of becoming self-sufficient, and like David, we will suffer the consequences of our choices.
Next Entry: II Samuel 13:1 – 14:33
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