Daily Devotional for Wednesday, December 13

David the Sinner

“And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 2 Samuel 11:3.

Do you notice how easy it can be to fall into temptation when you are not where you are supposed to be? This is exactly what happened to David. Chapter 11 opens “at the time when kings go forth to battle” (2 Samuel 11:1), but then the record states that David sent Joab to the battle while he stayed behind in Jerusalem. Already this was foreshadowing how David’s decisions would unfold. He was the king, and yet he was not where kings were supposed to be. As he was wandering around at nightfall, he caught a glimpse of a beautiful woman bathing. He inquired about this woman and got information that should have put an end to his inquiries. She was the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah, both part of David’s mighty men (2 Samuel 23:34, 39) fighting in the battle. Instead of leaving her alone, he sent for her and slept with her. We know that sin brings forth destruction (James 1:13-15), and David’s sin started to spiral out of control. After finding out Bath-sheba was pregnant, he plotted to have Uriah come home to make it seem possible that he fathered the baby. When Uriah was too noble for this plan to work, David sent Uriah back with a letter that instructed Joab to put Uriah in the front of the battle to be killed. After Uriah was killed, David married Bath-sheba, and their son was born.

It is important for us to remember that God will always give us a way out of temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). David chose to stay in Jerusalem. He could not control that Bath-sheba was bathing, but he chose to watch her. Even after knowing who she was, he chose to send for her. God gives us free will and the ability to flee from temptation. David loved God and worshiped him, but still fell into sinful behavior that led to the deaths of innocent people because of small sinful choices.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Are there areas of sinful desires or temptations in your life that you need to address? Flee from even the appearance of evil and cling to what is good.

Ashley Ridings