“In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 11:1 ESV).
In the Spring, when kings go to war, David stayed home. Yet, he sent his army off to engage in a conflict. Perhaps he told himself that he deserved a break. The leader who usually led from the front, didn’t even leave his house. And so, a kind of restless ennui seems to have settled on him. After sleeping late, he strolled around on the roof of his palace, while his troops marched to battle. It was in that moment, that the most dangerous foe in David’s career was observed.
Was it another giant from Gath preparing to charge? No. Was it an enemy archer taking aim at the king? No. It was a beautiful woman, bathing on the roof of a nearby house. In that moment, that lazy, unfocused moment, David’s heart was breached by a spiritual battle more deadly than any giant’s sword or assassin’s dart. David’s unguarded eyes fell upon beautiful Bathsheba and his casual glance turned into a lustful look.
In the next few days, David, the man “after God’s own heart,” went from apathy to adultery and from spiritual malaise to premeditated murder. David, the champion, was defeated by sexual temptation. Thinking himself safe within the confines of his palace, he was overcome by man’s ancient foe. Staying home, David let down his guard and stepping onto sin’s slippery slope, he slid all the way down to the bottom.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we pray today as Your Son has taught us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. Strengthen us by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.