Love That Never Fails

61. Falling into Temptation

Over time, King David was very successful in battle, winning the victory over many nations.  He certainly was a skilled leader but there was more to it:

"In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.

He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went."
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭8:1, 6, 14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The victory was a gift and special blessing to David, given to him by his loving Lord! Whether we realise it or not, God is also blessing us in so many ways throughout the day, protecting us and putting us in the right place at the right time, showing us His loving kindness at every turn, as we continue to trust Him.

In addition to his skilled leadership, David had many wonderful attributes, including a kind heart which was extended towards Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan. (2 Samuel 9) However after making many good decisions, David was tempted and sadly suffered a major lapse in judgement!

"One 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, and 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." Then 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.

The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, "I am pregnant." So David sent this word to Joab: "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent him to David. When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. Then 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. But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master's servants and did not go down to his house. David 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?"

Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, 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!"

Then 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. At 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.

In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In 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." So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David's army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died.

When Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord."
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭11:2-17, 26-27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This seems so uncharacteristic of David, but serves as a reminder of how easy it is to fall into temptation. In a very short space of time, David had committed adultery and murder!  God's Word has plenty to say about temptation —Jesus teaches us to pray about it:

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. '"
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In the garden of Gethsemane, He reminds his disciples to:

""Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.""
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26:41‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul reminds us that God will provide a way out:

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this reminder of how easy it is to fall into temptation. Even when everything had been going so well, David suffered a lapse in judgement where one indiscretion quickly led to another! I am sorry for the times I have headed in a direction that has led to sin. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for my sins, once and for all!

Lord please help me to remember Paul's advice to:

"....put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Lord may Your Spirit keep me from temptation today. May my shield of faith extinguish every arrow from the enemy! I just want to serve You mightily! Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil.

Yours is the Kingdom, power and the glory,
Now and forever,
Amen.