Jump Start # 1414

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

Our writing this week has been focused upon David’s tragic loss of good judgment, his sin and the terrible consequences that he faced as a result. Sin always comes with a cost. It is never free. The Romans were told that the wages of sin is death. It is. Death spiritually. It can be the death to a marriage. It can be the death to a career. It can be the death of relationships with your children and your friends. There is a high cost to low living. Payday comes, whether we are ready for it or not.

A study of temptation and sin should also include the escape from temptation. There is a door provided by God. No temptation comes with only one option. There is always a right thing one can do. The right thing may cost much. It may be painful. It may be very difficult and hard. It could even include the loss of life, but believers know that death is not the worst thing that can happen to us. Every temptation has a way of escape. There is a door. The problem is that we often do not see the door. We may not see it, because we are not looking for it. The thought of the pleasure of sin is enough to blind our eyes to any real hope of escaping unscathed.

Our verse was David’s door. How could David escape the temptation to sin with Bathsheba? Our verse. It tells it all. David wasn’t wanting to escape. David wasn’t listening. But it’s there. It’s very clear.

The passage for today begins with the expression, “So David sent…” There is a lot of sending in this context. The chapter begins with David sending Joab to battle (v. 1). Our verse, (v. 3), David sent to find out about the bathing beauty he just saw. The next verse tells us that David sent messengers and took her (v. 4). Later, Bathsheba sent word to David that she was pregnant (v. 5). David sent Joab to fetch Uriah home (v. 6). David sent Uriah home, but he wouldn’t go (v. 8). David sent Uriah to drink with him (v. 13). David sent Uriah back to the battlefront with a note for Joab (v. 14). Joab sent a messenger to tell David about the events of the battle and the news of Uriah’s death (v. 18). David sent the messenger back to Joab with the words, “For the sword devours one as well as another” (v. 25).

David wanted to know about this woman he saw. He was thinking right. He was planning, but it wasn’t a good plan that he was working on. Word came about this woman. It was very detailed. Her name, her father’s name, and her husband’s name are all given. David knew these people.

Here was the door that was opened for David to escape. Word came that this was Bathsheba, the WIFE of URIAH. Two words. First, Wife. This woman is married. This woman is forbidden. Ten Commandments. The Thou shalt don’t covet thy neighbor’s wife. This is it. End of your scheming, planning and lustful thoughts. This ought to be the end of the story. She’s married and not to you. She’s not free to take. She’s not available. She is married.

The second word was URIAH. Uriah, one of David’s deepest and closest and most loyal friends. He is one of the mighty men of David. He has risked his life to protect the king. He is so loyal that he is allowed to live next to the palace. He is a foreigner, a Hittite, but he is Israel in his heart. How could David do something so disloyal to one who has been so loyal to him? How could he steal this man’s wife? She was not only married, but she was married to URIAH. This is strike one, strike two and strike three. You’re out!

A door of escape. There it was. Clear as anything. She’s married and she’s the wife of someone who has more character than David did at that moment. David ran right through that stop sign. He never saw it. His eyes were so full of lust and his heart was becoming so black at that moment that he never gave it any thought. But it was there. The door out was open. There was a door of escape. David knew, but David chose not to know.

Now we have to understand that it’s the same for us. There is a door of escape to every sin. Go through the Bible and you will see them. God warned Cain before he killed Abel. There was a door of escape. Noah preached but the people didn’t listen. Those were doors for that generation. The god of this world can blind us to the reality of what temptation is demanding of us. It can make us so drunk that we do not see clearly nor reason sensibly. Is it any wonder that God tells us over and over to be sober minded. This has nothing to do with drinking alcohol, but everything to do with being clear in our thinking and seeing what lies before us. When the fog lifted for the prodigal, he came to his senses. Sin doesn’t make sense when you are thinking clearly. But when you are in a fog, sin always seems to be the best choice. The door of escape will keep you from getting fogged in. I have driven in dense fog before. It’s terrible. You can’t see anything. Locals will tell you that “It’s thicker than pea soup.” I’ve never had pea soup but I know what thick fog is like. You can’t see street signs until you are right on top of them. You must drive slow. You can’t have your lights on bright because that just makes things worse. Living in a fog is just like that. A person fails to see what God wants. They fail to see the dangers and consequences of their actions. They cannot see the door of escape that will lead them out of the mess that they are in.

Bathsheba’s married to one of your mighty men. The spiritual David would have stopped. He would have pulled himself together and dropped to his knees and said, “God, what am I doing? What a wicked thought has dominated me. Forgive me. Cleanse me. Create in me a clean heart, O, my Lord.” But the unspiritual David said instead, bring her to me.

Some writers complain about how willing Bathsheba was. First, I doubt she knew what was stirring in the king’s heart. It was an honor to be called before the king. Her husband was out fighting for him. There are all kinds of thoughts she may have had, none of which would have involved immorality. She too, though, had the Ten Commandments. She too, had the Lord as her God. Once in the palace, once in his room, once in his arms and she was unable and maybe unwilling to leave. They both sinned. They both were wrong. The blame lies with David. The Bible points fingers at David.

Doors of escape. They are there. God provides them. He wants you to escape the clutches of Satan. He wants you to walk in holiness. We must know that there is a way out. We must know that the door is there. Look for it. Pray for it. See it and then open it and escape. “I couldn’t help it,” doesn’t fly Biblically. “I just had to,” is lame and lacking spiritual backbone. Find the door and use it.

Open eyes, listening ears and a heart that is connected to the Lord will find that door every time. It’s when we become blind like David was that we no longer care if there is a door. It’s then that the misery really begins. A moment of pleasure is lost in a lifetime of pain.

Look for the door. It’s there.

Roger