THE DETERIORATING EFFECT. 2nd Samuel 11
James, the half-brother of the Lord Jesus Christ, wrote [Jas.1:15], “Then, when desire (lust) has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” This verse describes the whole sordid narrative of this chapter. David abandoned his responsibility and purpose as the leader of the people, focusing instead on his comforts and desires. When tempted, instead of looking away, he looked at Bathsheba with lust and deliberately sinned against God, her, and Uriah. Trying to cover up one sin, he committed more grievous sins that were eventually exposed. Even though his sin was discovered, his consequences continued to affect others with evil and far-reaching effects.
Believers do not plan to sin and commit themselves to unfaithfulness, but we are not immune to temptations, nor are we powerless to deal with sin because "sin shall not have dominion over you." However, if we get complacent and settle down to comfortable living and circumstances that give us ease, we are in danger of yielding to temptation in a way that we would not if our hands were filled in our work for the Lord. The story of David's fall in this chapter is a warning to every child of God of what can happen in one day, even after a life of devoted service to God had characterized us.
The "time when kings go forth to battle" was when the roads were dry enough for travel, and food was plentiful enough to feed armies of men. It is a principle in leadership that those who fight the actual battle need to know their leaders are there for them to give direction to provide the desired result because they can see the big picture. Tried and proven leadership is invaluable when the pressure is on, and the enemy is out to stop what is right. Leaders are susceptible to temptation like anyone else. Still, they are called upon to conduct themselves according to a high moral standard so those who follow them have an example. David fell into sin because he was not where he should have been doing what he should have been doing.
He lacked a defined purpose for his daily activities when he felt he was not responsible for the warfare he had delegated to Joab to accomplish. He focused his attention when he was at ease on getting something he had no right to. He turned into it in the time of temptation instead of away from it. There is always a way to escape temptation. God provides that. In taking his action, David chose to sin deliberately rather than act wisely. Then, he tried to cover sin by sinning, further calculating to use the sin of deception. Then, as if that wasn't bad enough, he tried to cover his sin of adultery and his sin of deception with the sin of murder. All the laws taught in the Ten Commandments were broken as he went further down the road of moral deterioration.
When sin is allowed, it is almost impossible to stop once it gets started. The longer it continues, the deeper we sink into its clutches and the less we want to face and forsake it. Because sin tends to multiply, we are in danger of sliding down the slippery slope of sin until we become a castaway. In His mercy, love, and wisdom, God plainly tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” [1 Jn.1:9].
Sin is a sin no matter who commits it, and the Bible treats it as a sin against God, not a minor mistake or a simple, insignificant matter that involves only another person. The sin of carelessness leads to complacency, and complacency leads to temptation. Temptation leads to the actions, thoughts, and results of sin if we are not committed to keeping busy for the Lord. The apostle Paul was very specific when he wrote to Timothy, “Flee youthful lusts” and “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
The punishment David inflicted on others to cover his sin was on him for the remaining years of his life through far-reaching consequences in his own family. The farther he went in deception, the worse it became in harmful consequences. Bathsheba had just purified herself from her monthly period, so it was plain that she was not pregnant by Uriah when she told David she was going to have a child from him. His lustful desire and authority as king had brought her to him and led him to the sins of adultery and murder. That was not the last of his troubles. In his family, Amnon was guilty of incest, Absalom of rebellion, and later, David when he insisted on an uncalled-for census.
Sin is impossible to control and stop once we deliberately allow it to start. The greater the sin, the less desire we have to face it, and the harder it is to correct the effects of it. Dealing with temptation is a deliberate action on our part. We need to flee temptation and resist temptation. Earnest prayer for divine help to make us willing to do what is right is required. The word of God, hidden in the mind and heart by memorization or reading daily, combats our moral weakness. There are times when we need the help of other people to overcome our times of temptation through wise and scriptural counsel.
The whole event exposed the moral weakness and deterioration of all the parties involved. David was undoubtedly wrong in his condition, position, and actions. Bathsheba was wrong to reveal herself openly even though she was going through a biblical practice of purification. She was wrong to commit adultery even with the king, although she was not really in a position to deny his request. Joab was wrong to submit to a blatant attempt at murder. The contract to murder Uriah was under his power to not be allowed to be carried out. He had stood up to David before. It was not a big deal to him to arrange for another man's death. He did what David wanted and did not grieve over the action he allowed. It may have been because Uriah was from the line of Ham and probably had a different skin color that he was not seriously bothered by such injustice.
Uriah's loyalty and allegiance to his king and fellow soldiers made him a trusted man. His bravery and skill as a warrior made him one of David's "mighty men." His discipline and commitment to what he was given to do by those higher in authority establishes that he was a man of high moral character, living even when those around him were deteriorating morally. It is up to us what we allow in ourselves and to ourselves in these days of declining moral standards and resisting divine authority. The principles of holy living are not subject to the opinions of men because they are established on the unchanging word of God.
Though from another nation and likely a much different culture, he chose to live in Jerusalem and be linked with God’s chosen people, the Jews. He was not a man of reserve when it came to doing battle for his king and was joined in fame and history to David’s mighty men. He was not afraid to obey orders from his superior and venture out in the battle, but he held up his end in the conflict. His name was honored; he was one other people could trust. To have this man beside you meant you were with one of the best, but because of a deceptive leader, “Uriah the Hittite is dead!”
The ark was in David’s sheltering tent. The soldiers were camped on the battlefield when the king called for him to return home, but he would not go to his own house and wife because he was engaged in warfare. He did what he was told by “obeying the powers that be,” but he likely wondered: What is behind this scheming? Why did David call him home when he was on a battlefield? The darkness that came into David’s heart made him willing more to sin, and sin, “when it is finished, brings death.” So, when the word was out, “Uriah the Hittite is dead!” it gave his sinful heart a deceptive and temporary relief.
The effects of David’s stay in Jerusalem while his men were on the battlefield were: a son conceived outside of marriage was born but died a slow death as a child. Amnon and Absalom were murdered, and a plague caused many people to die because of one man's lust and hypocrisy.
How far can a believer go to cover themselves once they have sinned? Can such evil in a true believer take place? Can a child of God sin so often and still experience God’s grace? Sin raises its ugly head when usually you least expect it. One sin can follow another until its dark and dreadful course is spent – like when – Uriah the Hittite is dead!
O Lord God! Stop the course of one who forgets what's wrong and bring to true repentance one who is weak now, even though once he was strong. Turn them back to Thee, Lord, before they go too far. Stop them by whatever means necessary before they mar their testimony completely. Let no one ever say of this Thy servant– Uriah the Hittite is dead! Let conscience assert its power to turn one back to Thee with a humble and contrite spirit who trembles at Thy word. Let the memory of Thy grace and love cause them from sin to flee as fast and far as possible. Help all who own Thy name; never forget we are not our own. May we be conscious of our need for Thee whenever temptations come so no one will say of any of us – “Uriah the Hittite is dead!”
When reading this passage of scripture, the lessons are indelibly printed on the recording part of my mind. I know I am susceptible to evil and can become blind to what I once knew to be true. I fear lest I become wicked even now when I’m in my old age and think I am past the sins of the flesh, the world, and the devil. Please, O Lord God, keep me from turning up some dark page and lest some say of me – Uriah the Hittite is dead!