What Do You Desire? What Is God's Desire?

Follow Along with the Message

A Story of Temptation, Lust, and Murder                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16.18).

We begin with some of these truths regarding temptation.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10.12-13).

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures (James 1.13-18).

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4.15,16).

Two background thoughts – (1) David loves Mephibosheth (chapter 9) and (2) the brilliant warrior king David killed 700 charioteers, 40,000 horsemen and their king (chapter 10). Incredible. But he cannot control his lust for a woman he did not know.

General Observations – slower pace (exploration of human character) – utter silence of the characters – feelings subordinated to actions – filled with irony – no interest in the hesed shown to Mephibosheth – just the eros of human flesh that drives him – “he took her” – “There is nothing but action. There is no conversation. There is no hint of caring, of affection, of love –  only lust.”

He saw her (v.2).                                                                                                                                             

She is Uriah’s wife (v.3).                                                                                                                            

Despite her marriage to another man, he took her (v.4). He lay with her (v.4).                            

She is pregnant (v.5).                                                                                                                                  

David sends for Uriah (v.6).

David is in control – seemingly – but he cannot control a pregnancy – he cannot control Uriah – he puts Uriah under the influence but he cannot control his influence. Though the king sent Uriah to his wife and followed it with a present, he refused to go into his wife but he bunked with the servants. Two times? Maybe three? Yet David controlled Joab and he dictated Uriah’s death (mentioned 5 times – 15,17, 21, 24, and 26). Uriah is dead – he arranged and controlled it all.

David’s evil actions contrast even more with the integrity of Uriah’s heart and actions (v.11).

The bottom line – “The thing that David has done was evil in God’s eyes” (v.27).

Yahweh may be silent but He is not sightless. David may have Bathsheba’s flesh and Uriah’s blood, but He will have to face Yahweh’s eyes. David’s dominating action ceases to be in the face of Yahweh’s eye. “The thing that David had done was evil in the sight/eyes of the LORD” (v.27).

It is as if David can cleanse his hands and weave his cover-up without any interference – until he runs smack into the judgment of God.

• Wrong place
• Wrong question
• Wrong view of God
• Wrong view of the flesh
• Wrong view of sin
• Perhaps the worst sin in the OT (given who David is)?

All this despite of the promise God made to him (2 Samuel 7.14-16).

Some Reflections

• Don’t be too quick to judge David at the expense of your own sin – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3.23).
• David - little did he know that his greatest war was just across the roof, and he would be doomed. He was totally unprepared for this kind of war.
• As far as I can tell no one stepped up to confront David. Surely others knew?
• Often, we are most susceptible to sin when we are thriving. Remember Moses from Numbers 20?
• He did not inquire of God (as he so often did in terms of war).
• Our enemy is out to destroy us.
• Stay humble before God.
• Redemption and grace are coming for David. He came for us. Will you come to Him today?