David's great sin

1In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.

2One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”4Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. 5The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

6So David sent this word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent him to David. 7When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. 8Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. 9But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house.

10David was told, “Uriah did not go home.” So he asked Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a military campaign? Why didn’t you go home?”

11Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents,^a and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”

12Then David said to him, “Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13At David’s invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master’s servants; he did not go home.

14In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.” (2 Samuel 11)

Thoughts: David teaches us here what not to do.  He also teaches us that everyone- even someone after God's own heart is vulnerable to sin.  Here are some things we learn-
1) David should have answered his call- he stayed home when most kings went to war (vs. 1).  2) He should have stayed in bed instead of looking around from his roof at night; 3) When he saw a woman bathing, he should not have continued to look and should have gone back down- instead he pursued her.  4) When he found out he was married (especially to such a loyal soldier) he should have backed down; 5) He should not have sent messengers to get her.  6) When she came he should not have had sex with her.  7) When she became pregnant he should not have tried to cover it up with Uriah; 8) He should not have tried to kill Uriah (or have him killed). 
    There are always many ways we can stop sin.  Sin is not irresistible.  God's grace and help can aid us in putting the brakes on sin in our lives.  We do not have to give into our natural (we are naturally selfish- like animals) ways.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to resist sin and instead ave myself heartache and trouble.