Tag: Bathsheba
A contrite heart!
Scripture reading for June 13th: Psalms 50-54
David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of his friend, Uriah, is recorded in scripture in 2nd Samuel 11-12. This was a dark blot on the life of a man that had walked closely with God for about 50 years. King David had decided to stay home from the war with Israel’s enemies to rest and relax. He let his eyes wander as his heart grew cold and ended up in bed with his neighbor’s wife. She became pregnant, David decided to try to frame his friend. When this didn’t work, he had his friend murdered!
Murder and adultery required that the perpetrators be stoned to death under God’s law. (Leviticus 20:10)(Leviticus 24:17) In King David’s confession of these sins, he considered them to be against God alone. God granted David forgiveness under the law because of a broken and contrite heart! A broken and contrite heart takes responsibility for sin. It admits to breaking God’s law instead of denial or blame. (Psalm 51:3-5) David recognized that he was sinful from birth. He was born in sin because of Adam’s sin!
Repentant hearts also recognize the importance of truth. (Psalm 51:6) Jeremiah stated that the heart was deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. (Jeremiah 17:9-11) God alone can search the hearts of men and cleanse them. David asked to be cleansed with hyssop. While in Egypt, the Israelites used hyssop branches to sprinkle the blood of the sacrificial lambs on the doorposts of their houses to keep the death angel from striking the first-born. Only the sprinkled blood of Jesus, God’s final sacrifice can cleanse sinful hearts and protect us from the angel of death.
Broken hearts desire the joy and salvation that comes from God’s grace of forgiveness. (Psalm 51:9-12) All of this brokenness leads to a life of humble service and witness! Those who are forgiven much, love much. Out of this love they want to do God’s will and praise His Name! (Psalm 51:13-15)
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart , Oh God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:17
How the mighty have fallen!
Scripture reading for March 29th: 2nd Samuel 11-14
In my years in the church, I have witnessed a number of moral failures. Many of these have been in ministry and were men and women of God who had powerful ministries and were great people of influence in the church and community. Those in ministry have caring hearts and are often the target of Satan. Satan knows that if he can get a man or woman of God to compromise, he has a good opportunity to trip up many in the church as well. These moral failures were often a result of pride and lack of accountability.
King David decided to stay home from the battlefield and take a break. He was about 50 years old at this time. While resting at home, he saw his neighbor’s wife bathing and sent for her. They had a sexual encounter and she conceived a child. (2nd Samuel 11:4-5) When David was notified, he sent for her husband, Uriah. David hoped to have Uriah spend time with his wife but the plan failed. King David sent Uriah back with orders for Joab, his army commander, to have Uriah killed in battle.
David’s failure to restrain his passions brought an unwanted pregnancy. David essentially had Bathsheba’s husband murdered. (2nd Samuel 11:25-27) David then married Bathsheba. This turn of events displeased the Lord!
Sexual sins are deadly! David’s son, Solomon, also born to him through Bathsheba, wrote that the door of adultery leads to hell and death. (Proverbs 7:26-27) God has joined the man and woman together as one in flesh and spirit. They are a picture of Christ and His bride, the Church! (Ephesians 5: 31-32) When we separate what God has joined together, we open the door to violence between the parties involved. (Malachi 2:15-16) David was moved on by Satan to have Bathsheba’s husband murdered and the child that was conceived died as a consequence!
Check your own heart today in this area of sexual lust and sexual sins. Have you been looking at things you should not be looking at? Have you entertained temptation rather than resisting it? Are you emotionally involved with someone who is not your mate? Flee temptation today and turn to the Lord for forgiveness and help! David’s own advice can be found in Psalm 32: 1-6!