QT 3/9/2023 2 Sam 11:1-5, Taking work seriously

2 Samuel 11:1–5 (ESV) —

1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

2 It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. 3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”

 

NOTE: In the previous year's battle, David did not go with the troops either. So, it is not clear that is the issue, although the text does draw attention to the fact. Work is important for us spiritually and in other ways. When we don't work, our free time opens us up to temptation. It is not 'going to work' that protects us, but the actual process of working. One can go to work and be tempted by a co-worker. The problem is not the co-worker, but that we are not working and keeping our focus on the task before us.

 

There is a process shown in this passage. David is not busy. "He arose from his couch." He is bored and his mind wanders -- he has created opportunity by not working. He sees a woman bathing -- he is tempted. At this point he has a choice. He chooses poorly by inquiring about the woman. Now he has engaged his mind in the woman and not in an appropriate task such as work. He continues to take actions that lead to him committing adultery and then later murder. Sin is a ravenous animal. Satan is a roaring lion.

 

His twin sins of adultery and murder rent the tapestry of blessing woven so carefully in the previous narratives. Although David repented of the sins he had committed, irreparable damage had been done; the dynastic covenant promises graciously given to David remained, but the Torah blessings resulting from obedience vanished. [Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 361).]

 

These actions cause irreparable harm to himself and the kingdom. Actions have consequences. God will forgive but God will also judge him.

 

A lifetime of respectable behavior can be ruined by a moment of foolishness. And some of it is only because we gave the enemy a foothold.

 

PONDER:

1. What is(are) the foothold(s) that I am giving to the enemy?
2. Where am I not focused on working as I should be?
3. How can I work harder to keep my focus on that which is good?

 

PRAYER: Lord, your words "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" are so apropos. One little sin can destroy a lifetime of good. There are irrevocable decisions which incur heavy consequences. Keep me from those stupid choices. Help me to maintain busyness in the right things.