The story of David and Bathsheba is chronicled in 2 Samuel 11. Although many people remember David for his faith in facing Goliath, or his steadfast integrity in submission to Saul, or his strong and faithful leadership in administrating Israel, but his great shame comes when he, enticed by the beauty of another man's wife, commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah.
Much can be said about this episode, but suffice to say that the narration has profound implications for how we should live and handle desire when we are tempted to commit sin.
A short synopsis: David, although he should have been at war for Israel, was up on his roof in the day's heat. He gazes across the city to see the beautiful Bathsheba, whom he decides is too beautiful not to take for himself. He sends for her, she comes to him, and they know each other. However, Bathsheba is a married woman, wed to one of David's chief military general. David, still overcome with ravenous passion, executes a plan to have Bathsheba's husband killed.
Much has been said in the past about David's great sin, both in committing adultery but even more so in his devious plot to have Uriah killed. And although David is the main character of this story, the role of Bathsheba in the adultery and sin should not be downplayed or overlooked. Bathsheba was equally sinful for her part.
The point of this story, beyond the value of historical narration, is to exhort God's children to be mindful of desire when it entices us to transgress the righteousness of God. We need to be on guard, not so much against the external locus of sin, but the internal one. Let us then take heed to the story of David so that we might not be led astray by our own desires.
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