“What David Didn't See”

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

BIBLE READING: 2 Samuel 11-12

“In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.” (2 Samuel 11.1)

David should have been out leading and fighting, but instead he was at home being lazy. Because David was not doing what he should have been doing, it put him in a position to see something he should not have seen. And because his mind was already in a state of laziness, things in his life spiraled quickly.

“…David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her… And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”” (11.4-5)

From his rooftop, David saw clearly an opportunity for pleasure that moved him to act. Sadly, his actions put him in a position he never wanted to be in. That’s because there were some things David didn’t see from his rooftop that day.

• He didn’t see the effects his choices would have on others. The military would lose a great leader. Bathsheba would lose a husband and a child. David’s family would suffer violence and division. The reality of life is that sin affects others.
• He didn’t see the inner turmoil he would suffer. David knew he was the reason for the child’s suffering and death. He knew nothing he did would change the consequences. He was responsible and it’s burned in his heart (see Psalm 51). Sin’s effects always go deeper than mere circumstances, and in some cases can cause deep wounds.
• He didn’t see how deeply his sins hurt God. Obviously, God was displeased but he reminded David just how personally this affected him (2 Samuel 11.27b; 12.7-9, 14). We must understand that God is not ambivalent to our sins. He cares about our choices, and it hurts him when we choose to give into temptation.

By the end of the story, the pleasure and fulfillment David saw were gone. What remained were the consequences and hurt from his choices. This is the nature of sin. Satan only wants us to see the most pressing fulfillment and pursue it. But how does that end up?

We must train ourselves to see what we don’t want to see. Armed with God’s word, we aren’t ignorant of Satan’s schemes (1 Corinthians 10.13; 2 Corinthians 2.11), and we must not be unprepared (1 Peter 1.17; 5.8). We must consider our weak points and arm ourselves with God’s word. We need to have clear boundaries to protect ourselves and our families. Most importantly we must learn to repent when we do sin.

When David was confronted with the truth, he didn’t deny reality. Instead, he was humble and put himself at the mercy of God. We all find ourselves in the wrong at some point and in need of forgiveness. In those moments, the most important thing we can do is humble ourselves, confess our sins and make some changes. When we do, we will find grace and peace from our Father.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1.9)

Share