June 27, 2017
It's a sordid story of sex, lies, and murder; hardly what we would expect from a man after God's own heart. Reading like a modern-day tabloid, all the details are there in 2 Samuel 11.
The problem begins with a king having too much time on his hands: "Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem." (2 Samuel 11.1)
Idle time quickly led to a sinful scenario: "Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance." (2 Samuel 11.2) What follows is tragic story of sinful degradation: lust, sexual immorality, an unplanned pregnancy, deception, and murder. Although King David would eventually repent (Psalm 51) and be forgiven, life would never be the same. The sin legacy was a household of conflict and turmoil.
All sin can be forgiven, but there are always consequences. Sin prevention is always better than sin confession. A key lesson from this tawdry tale of sin is avoiding situations conducive to moral failure. Sometimes we set ourselves up for a fall by deliberately placing ourselves in situations where sin is almost certain. Idle time, with too much opportunity to think about indulging. Lingering lustful looks, that lead to immoral action. Further sinful actions to "cover our tracks." It all so easily spirals downward.
Whatever we are preoccupied with becomes a pathway to action - good or bad. As such, this is the best advice of all: "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word ... Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You." (Psalm 119.9,11)
Steve
The problem begins with a king having too much time on his hands: "Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem." (2 Samuel 11.1)
Idle time quickly led to a sinful scenario: "Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance." (2 Samuel 11.2) What follows is tragic story of sinful degradation: lust, sexual immorality, an unplanned pregnancy, deception, and murder. Although King David would eventually repent (Psalm 51) and be forgiven, life would never be the same. The sin legacy was a household of conflict and turmoil.
All sin can be forgiven, but there are always consequences. Sin prevention is always better than sin confession. A key lesson from this tawdry tale of sin is avoiding situations conducive to moral failure. Sometimes we set ourselves up for a fall by deliberately placing ourselves in situations where sin is almost certain. Idle time, with too much opportunity to think about indulging. Lingering lustful looks, that lead to immoral action. Further sinful actions to "cover our tracks." It all so easily spirals downward.
Whatever we are preoccupied with becomes a pathway to action - good or bad. As such, this is the best advice of all: "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word ... Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You." (Psalm 119.9,11)
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2017
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy
https://www.createspace.com/4500045
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy
https://www.createspace.com/4500045
posted by steve @ 8:58 AM
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