“In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites…However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace…he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.”
2 Samuel 11:1-2
David chose to stay behind in Jerusalem instead of staying ahead of his army in battle, and that choice led to the unthinkable. David’s normal God-focus turned to self-focus and he became lazy, napping while his soldiers were fighting! His unfocused eyes were easily attracted to another man’s wife. And even though he knew Bathsheba’s husband and father were his Elite soldiers and her grandfather was his Senior Advisor, David still yielded to temptation.
Losing focus of his God-given responsibilities led to a swift fall—from rape to a deceitful cover-up attempt, to the murder of a close comrade. David’s selfish choices brought incredible pain to an entire family and incredible shame on himself.
However, the man David murdered demonstrated a different focus. Even though David took him from the battlefield and offered him the comforts of home, Uriah kept his focus on the battle. He chose loyalty to God and his fellow soldiers over selfish pleasure, and that choice cost him his life! If Uriah had gone home that night, David’s sin may have been covered up, but secret sins always lead to disaster. So, Uriah’s unselfish choice actually spared others' lives.
NOW is not the time for us to stay behind either—
NOW is the time to stay focused and help spare the lives of many!
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