Day 4

DAVID SINNED

"When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long." Psalm 32:3

Who would have thought David could act in such an unthinking, selfish and downright ungodly way? His dream had been fulfilled (2 Sam. 5:3). His fame had spread abroad as God had used him to subdue Israel's enemies and he was known and loved as God's man at home (2 Sam. 8:14,15). In his land there was peace and he had received the most wonderful of God's promises (2 Sam. 7:12-16). What could a man who had everything desire?

The war against the Ammonites was going well. In the capable hands of Joab with God's guidance success was assured. What need was there for David to be with the army? He stayed behind in Jerusalem for a well earned break, relaxing, enjoying the blessings God had given him. He was off guard. Satan knew only too well the weaknesses of this man and temptation came invitingly into a fine, calm evening (2 Sam. 11:2). David 'wanted' and he followed the delightful desires of his imagination forgetting that rigid reality would inevitably follow!

Having stolen another man's wife he tried to cover up his sin by sending Uriah back home. Then if Bathsheba were to be pregnant it would be assumed to be Uriah's child. But honest, faithful Uriah didn't go home (2 Sam. 11:9-11) and the desperate David had him killed (v15).

The desire was pleasurable, the sin enjoyable, but the consequences were appalling. Satan invites and allures, then he crushes and destroys. God knew what he was talking about when he commanded "Don't covet" Ex. 20:17. Even if David had succeeded in covering up his sin the change in himself was agony to bear. See the discover text.