When I think of David, I immediately recall the giant-slaying shepherd boy. David whipped Goliath! And, when I think about David, I recall the sad day when, as a conquering king, he was defeated by his own lust for the bathing beauty, Bathsheba.
“In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he said, ‘Isn’t this Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hethite?’ David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her” (2 Samuel 11:1–4).
This may not be politically correct, but let me start by saying... Woman! What were you thinking? From Bathsheba’s patio, she had a clear view of the king’s palace. She had seen David a hundred times as he strolled back and forth on his veranda. She knew he was up there ogling her naked frame. Bathsheba is not an innocent bystander in this sad tale! There. I said it.
And David, what were you thinking? As we’ve seen before, David had more than a half-dozen wives and other unknown concubines (2 Samuel 3:2-5; 5:13). The many bedrooms in the palace were filled with women who were vying for his attention. Why, David?
David should have been taking care of business. Idle minds are the devil’s playground. Instead of strolling on the rooftop, he should have been with his military men on the field of battle. “In the spring... kings march out to war.”
David should have listened to his servant. “Isn’t this Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hethite?” The servant’s eyes were pleading as he said, “Boss, that’s a married woman! Don’t do it!”
And David shouldn’t have tried to cover-up the sin. You remember. When Bathsheba announced her pregnancy, David recalled Uriah from the battlefield and tried to get him to go home to his wife. When that failed, he conspired with General Joab to have Uriah killed in battle. Oh, David.
David should have turned around and gone back to his bedroom. “Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). David should have turned away. The children’s song says, "Oh be careful little eyes, what you see. There's a Father up above looking down in tender love, Oh be careful, little eyes, what you see."
He should have known that there was a high price to pay. “Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned? Can a man walk on burning coals without scorching his feet? So it is with the one who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished” (Proverbs 6:27–29).
He should have trusted God to help him overcome. “No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). “Walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
Folks, this isn’t just a Bible story. It’s an important life lesson.
All Scripture quotation, except as otherwise noted, are from
Holman Bible Publishers’ Christian Standard Bible.
