Jump Start # 1413

2 Samuel 11:2 “Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.”

We continue our journey this week with David, Bathsheba and Uriah. This chapter shows the collapse of David, his sins and his attempt to keep the appearance of everything being fine. It wasn’t fine. Our verse today is written with such details, we’d think the writer was seeing all of this first hand. God did. God recorded these words. But notice, it was evening. David had been laying on his bed. He got up and went for a walk on the roof. He saw a woman bathing. She was beautiful. Each phrase is full of detail. We don’t miss a thing. It’s as if we are right there ourselves.

Our thoughts today surround the concept of temptation. It is amazing how something so innocent can turn so quickly into temptation and the opportunity to sin. Everyone can second guess this story. If David had only stayed in bed. If Bathsheba had been more hidden. It’s easy to backseat drive through the Bible, but then find ourselves running blindly into temptation without any thought.

Through the years many have pointed fingers at Bathsheba. Critics have said that she should have known that the king could see her from up there. She should have used more thought as to where she chose to take a bath. Some have gone so far as to think that she was purposely trying to seduce the king. Some think she was flirting with him. That’s a whole bunch of assuming and as far as the text tells us, she was simply taking a bath. Very common. Very innocent.

Temptation can race upon us so fast. It can turn a simple moment into a nightmare. David saw her. That in itself wasn’t the sin. There are immodest images on billboards, magazine covers, TV commercials and even the neighbor sunbathing. It’s all around us. Some might call David a dirty old man. That’s not a fair accusation. You put a nearly naked, or a completely naked woman who is beautiful in sight of a man and temptation will ring his door bell.

There are two thoughts here:

First, ladies must understand that a man is wired physically. The sight, touch, sound, smell is all it takes for a man to revive his engine on the inside. This is why, especially among women, that modesty is so important. What you wear, how you wear it, your tone, your eyes, your body language can send signals that you never intended to send. Advertisers know this. Beautiful women adorn ads and commercials. The less they wear, the more they are noticed. Whether it’s beer, cars, vacation spots, or up coming shows, the attention grabbers will make sure that a beautiful woman is there. Modesty doesn’t just take place in the church house. It’s something that God’s people are concerned about everywhere, including weddings.

Our text never lets us know whether or not Bathsheba knew the king was watching her. I’d hope that if she did, she’d gone inside her house.

Second, David saw her. What happens next determines whether the situation remains a temptation or turns into a sin. We remember that Jesus was tempted, yet He never sinned. Satan may knock on the door of your heart. He can stand there all day knocking and knocking. But the moment you open the door and allow him in, sin takes place. David saw her. The next three words tells it all. “So David sent…”  David pursued. David wasn’t finished looking. David dwelled. David opened the door and allowed Satan to enter. A peek became a thought which turned into a wrong action. There were no brakes slowing David down.

Now, what are some things that David might have done to keep this temptation from becoming a sin? The first thing would be to turn away quickly and immediately. He might have seen someone bathing and had he turned, he may not have even seen if it was a man, woman or how good looking they were. Seeing something and staring at something are not the same thing.

Next, leave the situation. Get out of there. Of all the sins listed in the Bible, the common answer to sexual sins are to flee. Joseph fled when his boss’ wife tried to seduce him. The Corinthians were told to “flee fornication.” Timothy was told to “flee youthful lusts.” It’s not a time to argue, debate, find verses, discuss the situation. Get your running shoes on and get out of there. For the modern David’s, turn the TV channel, walk out of the room, get away from a situation that may harm you. The David’s today do not have to walk upon their roofs to see naked women, they can just surf the ‘net with their phones, tablets and computers. Porn is a huge problem among Christians, male and female. It’s crashing marriages. It’s addictive, progressive and deadly. It’s easy to point the finger to David, but many of us would do well to just look in the mirror and understand that the temptation to look is powerful, strong and not easy to overcome. It poisons the heart and it ruins the soul.

Don’t look. Don’t put yourself in a situation where that may be a real problem. Pray. Ask God to help you have a clean heart. Learn. Do better.

One other thought here, wives help your man to be pure. Don’t just think, “That’s his issue and his problem,” you are a team. Ever since the two became one, you are in this together. So help him. Encourage him. Help him be stronger spiritually.

David looked and then David sent…his life would never be the same after that.

Roger