Monday, September 25, 2023

2 Samuel 11:1

2 Samuel 11:1 says, 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.  After a year, when the weather permitted and kings went out to battle each other,  David sent Joab and the army of Israel out and they destroyed the Ammonites and besieged the city of Rabbah.  Though the rest of the Ammonites were defeated, the people of the city of Rabbah were able to hold out for a while.  We may have sins that hold out for a while after we have defeated most of them by the power of God.  David did not go but remained in Jerusalem.  We should not send others to fight against evil in the world as we ourselves remain in safety.  Verse two adds, 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.  While remaining in Jerusalem, David was walking on his rooftop when he saw a beautiful woman washing herself.  Instead of being out leading his army, David had idle time on his hands, and was about to bring dishonor to himself and to God.  If we begin to just sit back and enjoy life instead of actively doing what God calls us to do, then we open ourselves up to temptation and it is always going to seem beautiful at the time.  Verse three continues, And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?  Instead of looking away and not allowing himself to be tempted, David sought to find out who the woman was.  He was told that she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.  Matthew Henry says that David may have been intending to marry her if she wasn't married and to leave her alone if she was and she was.  Still, David already had several wives which is not God's plan, and Bathsheba had a husband.  We should always turn away from temptation when it first appears.  Verse four states, 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.  Instead of forgetting about Bathsheba, David sent for her and they committed adultery together.   I am not sure if she did this because she wanted to or because of the power of David as king.  As Christians, I can say that we should never use our position of authority if we have one to lead someone else into sin.  Verse five adds, And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.  Bathsheba became pregnant and sent word to David.  Since Uriah was in the field of battle, David now had a problem.  How could Bathsheba and he explain that she was pregnant when her husband had not been home.  Our sins will often lead us into a dilemma, and we can either confess them and seek forgiveness or try to hide them and create even more problems.  Verse six adds, And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.  David decided to attempt to hide his sin by sending for Uriah.  If he were home with Bathsheba, the child could be his.  We should never attempt to hide our sins, especially by using others to do so.  Verse seven continues, And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.  When Uriah came, David attempted to make it seem as though he were simply seeking an update on the war.  Sin was compounding as David was now lying about his reason for sending for Uriah, and if we allow sin into our lives as followers of Christ, we should not be surprised if it begins to multiply.  Verse eight says, And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.  David then told Uriah to go home and sent a lot of food with him.  This may have been David's way of attempting to atone for his sin, but we can never buy our way out of sin.  Of course, Bathsheba is sort of forgotten in this situation.  We are not told that she was in on the plan.  Verse nine adds, 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.  Uriah didn't do what David expected and wanted him to do, but slept in the servants quarters instead of going home.  We cannot depend on others to bail us out of sin, but must always just take responsibility for our sins and ask God's forgiveness, no matter how bad it may make us look in the eyes of the world.  Verse ten continues, 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?   When David was told that Uriah had not gone home, he called him and asked him why he hadn't.  David couldn't very well say to Uriah that he was spoiling his plan.  Other people may not cooperate with us if we attempt to use them to cover up our sin, especially if they are honorable people.  Verse eleven states, 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.  Uriah said that since the Ark was in a tent and Joab and Uriah's fellow soldiers were sleeping in the field that he would not go to his house and enjoy himself.  I don't believe that God expects us to simply sit back and enjoy life while giving no thought to our fellow believers who may be struggling.  Verse twelve adds, And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.  David told Uriah to stay another day and night, then he would allow him to return to the battle.  David was evidently hoping that the desire to go to his own house would be too much for Uriah to resist.  We should never attempt to cover up our sins by hoping that others will go against their beliefs and bail us out of the situation by allowing us to put the consequences of our sins on them.  Verse thirteen continues, 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 got Uriah drunk, but Uriah still went to sleep with the servants and not in his house.  We certainly should never lead others into sinful actions in order to attempt to cover up our sins,which is what David was attempting to do.

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