2 Samuel 10-14 CSB
Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from Saul… and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more. Why then have you despised the Lord’s command by doing what I consider evil? You struck down Uriah the Hethite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife—you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword. Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hethite to be your own wife. 12:7,9-10
These are by far the darkest days in David’s life. He had everything he ever wanted and he knew the intimate favor of the LORD. Then, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, a furtive glance… none of which were sinful in and of themselves. But, that is when the test comes. We all are exposed to temptation from time to time, and often through no fault of our own. It’s what follows that makes the difference. Do you run to God with that temptation? Do you take the thoughts captive in Christ and do you have an intentional plan for getting your mind right? Or, like David, do you dwell on it and let it slowly eat you alive from the inside out?
We have all been there and we have been faced with the choices that come after seeing the trap the enemy has laid for us. It might be physical lust, or it might be pride, jealousy, or some other kind of sin; more times than we care to admit we blunder headlong into those traps instead of walking away like we know we should. In the story, David pursues his lust and makes a fatal choice that leads to more and more sin and more and more heartache. By the time we reach chapter 12 David is eaten alive with guilt and the prophet Nathan comes to confront him over what, up to this point, only David truly knows. The story is captivating and terrible, but it is also very raw and very real. No matter how much David has, he always wants more.
Finally, when confronted with his sin David does the right thing; he confesses and repents instead of trying to argue or deflect. This is spiritual maturity on David’s part and God is gracious and forgives him. But, here is one thing we must never forget. Even though God will forgive our sins, it doesn’t mean He always removes the consequences of our sin. Vs. 13 makes it clear that David was forgiven, but it also makes it clear that his sin caused a ripple effect all around him. The child conceived out of wedlock dies; his daughter Tamar suffers at the hand of her brother, and Absalom commits murder. Later, Absalom leads a rebellion against his father, and the sword and bloodshed never leave the house of David. The next time you are confronted with a temptation, remember that there is more at stake than just your forgiveness. What repercussions will plague you and your family because you had no self-control? Remember that self-control is not a choice; it is a fruit of the Spirit. Only by continually abiding in Him can you be prepared when the temptations come. People are counting on you to do the right thing.
