“It happened in the spring of the year (after the year was expired), at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, ‘Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’ Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.” 2 Samuel 1:1-5
God called David a man after his own heart (Acts 13:22; 1 Samuel 13:14). David loved and feared God sincerely, but even he experienced a great fall while king of Israel. David committed premeditated adultery and murder.
During a time when the king went to battle, David remained at Jerusalem, and one ordinary evening he went to the roof, where he saw a beautiful woman bathing on her rooftop, and he desired her. David took Bathsheba and slept with her, and she got pregnant.
David then sent for her husband, Uriah (a faithful and loyal warrior and one of the mighty men of David, 2 Samuel 23:39), from the battlefront to get him to sleep with his wife so that he could pass off the baby as his. This did not work because of Uriah’s integrity and discipline despite David getting him drunk the second night.
When David realized he could not cover up his action, he sent Uriah back to the battle front with the letter containing his death sentence. In the letter, he told Joab, the commander of his army, to place Uriah at the forefront of the hottest battle and retreat from him so that he may be struck down and die.
Uriah’s death allowed David to take Bathsheba as his wife after her mourning period, cover up the affair, and legitimize the pregnancy. But God knew what he did and was displeased with David and sent the prophet Nathan to him to confront him and pronounce a series of judgments for his sin of adultery and bloodshed (2 Samuel 12:1-22).
No one plans to fall into temptation. Sin is insidious, and the devil is always watching to lay snares for us when we least expect it. We should never become complacent and think we cannot fall into sin because we love God. David loved God and still fell because he was vulnerable. The Bible warns us to be sober and vigilant because the devil walks about like a lion (sneaky and cunning) seeking whom to devour.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
There are several lessons we can learn from David’s fall that can help us take heed and be watchful so that we can guard ourselves against temptations and the snares of the devil.
1. Temptation often comes after a great victory.
Often, the greatest temptations come after a great victory. It is very easy to relax and become complacent when one has fought a battle and won or had great success; this is when many fall. In 2 Samuel 10, David had experienced a series of great victories against the Ammonites and Syrians. It was a year after this that he sinned during a time of peace and rest.
“When it was told David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in battle array against David and fought with him. Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand horsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there. And when all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them.” 2 Samuel 10:17-19
After a time of spiritual victories and subsequent successes in life, we should be careful not to relax on spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and diligence in holiness. It is when all seems to be going well that many fall into temptation because they relax on their spiritual vigilance. The seasons of success are the most dangerous times because many get complacent. Satan knows this and attacks during these times.
“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing (dissipation), drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.” Luke 21:34
2. The danger of physical and spiritual idleness.
A year after his great victory against the Ammonites and Syrians, at a time when kings go out to battle, for whatever reason, David remained in Jerusalem rather than going to war with his men and sent Joab instead. It was this decision that led to his fall. Being idle one evening, he arose from his bed and walked to the roof of his house, and from there he saw Bathsheba bathing.
“It happened in the spring of the year (after the year was expired), at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.” 2 Samuel 11:1-2
Had David been at war with his men, he would not have been in his house that evening. He, therefore, would not have seen Bathsheba naked and become vulnerable to this temptation. A popular proverb says, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” David was supposed to be at war, but he chose not to be. Additionally, he had sent Joab and his servants to battle and was without any accountability. He was exposed and vulnerable.
Being in the wrong place at the wrong time is dangerous. God gives us responsibilities to keep our minds productive, alert, and focused. When we shirk our responsibilities and spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, fellowship with brethren, and evangelism and choose to lie around doing nothing or engaging in carnal activities, we fall into a state of spiritual slumber and laziness, which makes it easy to fall.
Many people opt to stay home watching movies rather than go to church on Sunday, go to a party rather than the prayer meeting, refuse to go to work to stay in bed, or scroll on social media rather than study the Bible. All these worldly activities at the expense of spiritual and personal responsibilities set us up to find ourselves in tempting environments and vulnerable spiritual and mental states that make us susceptible to falling into sin. God forbids idleness because it exposes the mind to temptation and evil.
“Not slothful (lazy, idle), in diligence (zeal), being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11
“Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.” Proverbs 19:15
3. Beware of the lust of the eyes.
David could have resisted the temptation by looking away when he caught a glimpse of the woman bathing and going back to his house. But instead, he lingered long enough to behold her beauty and then followed up with an inquiry about her. He allowed her beauty and nakedness to entice him into sinning through lust. The Bible warns us about the lust of the eyes. The eyes are a gateway to the heart and body. What we see can snare us and become a fiery arrow of lust, which causes our downfall. An accidental glance can be resisted, but a lingering gaze can be fatal.
“And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, ‘Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’ Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.” 2 Samuel 11:2-4
God always makes a way of escape in every temptation since he knows what we can bear. David was not helpless; he chose to follow through on what he saw and planned the execution of his sin. We should be careful what we look at because the eyes can be doorways for lust to enter. In these days of mobile phones, the internet, and social media, the temptations are even greater. We need to make a covenant with our eyes like Job did and take precautions to guard ourselves against looking at or even coming across anything sinful.
“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16
“Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you.” Proverbs 4:25
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman?” Job 31:1
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
4. Sin cannot be hidden.
David’s sin immediately bore the fruit of an illegitimate pregnancy. He had sent messengers to bring her in that night and hoped to cover up the matter, but it produced what could not be hidden. Sin has a way of exposing itself eventually. For David, the consequences were immediate.
“And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, ‘I am with child.’” 2 Samuel 11:1-5
The Bible says everything secret will be revealed and what’s hidden will be known, whether now or on the day of judgment. No one gets away with anything. Sin may sometimes be hidden from men, but it is known by God. 2 Samuel 11:27 says, “But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.”
“For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.” Luke 8:17
“But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23
5. Sin begets more sin.
After Bathsheba’s pregnancy, David spiraled very quickly into a series of horrific, sinful actions to cover up his adultery. He asked Joab to send Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, home from the battlefront to get him to sleep with his wife to pass off the pregnancy as his. When Uriah’s integrity kept him from going home, David got him drunk, hoping to dull his senses enough to go home and sleep with his wife, but even this did not work.
David finally, in an act of desperation, sent Uriah to his death with a letter to Joab to place him at the forefront of his battle so that he would be killed. After Uriah’s death, David took Bathsheba to be his wife after her period of mourning to cover up his sin. Uriah was a loyal warrior to David, a man of integrity and one of David’s mighty men, but even this did not stop David from killing him once sin had corrupted his heart. Even worse, David had the Ammonites, Israel’s enemies, be the ones to kill Uriah in battle.
“In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, ‘Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.’… When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.” 12 Samuel 11:14-15, 26-27
David’s cold, premeditated, and evil murder of Uriah shows how sin gives birth to even more sin. In an attempt to cover up sin, more sin is always committed. The apostle James says that when sin is full-grown, it leads to death. In David’s case, this was true even physically. His sin of adultery gave birth to conspiracy and murder.
“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” James 1:14-15
David also involved other people in his sin, making them co-conspirators, including the messengers he sent to bring Batsheba to him and return her home, Joab, the Ammonites, and the battlefield messenger sent by Joab to give a scripted and false report to cover up Uriah’s death. Instead of stopping and repenting, David tried to cover up his sin, piling up his sins and guilt before God.
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Sin is insidious and corrupting; like leaven, it spreads to infect everyone around it. What began as a one-night affair led to a murderous conspiracy and the death of an innocent man. One act stained David’s legacy forever and brought him untold sorrow and anguish.
6. Sin hardens the heart.
After everything David did, he did not repent until God sent Nathan the prophet to him with a story that brought David back to his senses. The fictional story of a rich man with many flocks and herds who, instead of slaughtering one of them for his visitor, took the solitary lamb of a poor man broke David’s heart. It was made worse by the fact that, as Nathan said, the poor man’s lamb “grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him” (2 Samuel 12:3).
David was angered by the rich man’s evil, selfishness, lack of pity, and sense of privilege and swore that this man should die and restore fourfold for the lamb. Nathan told David that he was that man because he had taken Uriah’s only wife and even used his privileged position as king to kill him. David had more pity and outrage for a poor man he did not know and a lamb than for Uriah, who had served him faithfully and whom he killed mercilessly and took his wife.
“Then the Lord sent Nathan to David… ‘A traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.’ So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, ‘As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity. Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man.’” 2 Samuel 12:1, 4-7
How could the man after God’s heart act with such coldness of heart? Sin hardens the heart, especially when it is coupled with self-deception. There is also a demonic aspect, of course. David was so caught up in his sin and cover-up that he had all but shut God out of his heart and conscience, deceiving himself and becoming a hypocrite. This is the danger of opening up the door for sin in our hearts; it corrupts and blinds even the best of men. It took a prophetic word from God to pierce through David’s deception.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3
Although David eventually repented, many other people in the Bible became so hardened and deceived by sin that they never repented. For example, Judas and King Saul. We should learn from them and avoid sin at all costs lest it destroy us.
7. Sin has dire, often irreversible consequences.
Although David repented after Nathan confronted him, and God forgave him, there were real, dire, and irreversible consequences for his sin that God did not absolve him of.
The first consequence was that the sword would never depart from David’s house for shedding innocent blood. This was fulfilled in the life of David’s children. His son Absalom killed his half-brother Amnon for raping his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:1-29). Absalom rose against his father, David, in a coup, leading him to flee into exile (2 Samuel 15:1-14). Later, Joab, David’s army commander, killed Absalom against David’s wishes (2 Samuel 18:9-15).
The horrific deaths of David’s children caused him great grief, but they were the consequences of his shedding Uriah’s innocent blood. David had cut short Uriah’s life, not allowing him to have descendants or children, and this was the price to pay.
During Solomon’s reign after David’s death, Solomon had his half-brother Adonijah killed for trying to take the throne from him (1 Kings 2:24-25).
The second consequence was that God would raise an enemy in David’s house and give him David’s wives, and this man would lie with them in broad daylight before all Israel. This was fulfilled in 2 Samuel 16 when Absalom’s own son, under the advisement of David’s trusted counselor Ahithophel, did exactly that. God allowed this evil act of betrayal to happen to David because of his adultery with Uriah’s wife.
“Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’” 2 Samuel 12:9-12
The third consequence was that God took the life of David’s son, conceived in adultery with Bathsheba. Nathan told David that this was because David had caused God’s enemies to blaspheme him by his sin.
“So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.’ Then Nathan departed to his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill.” 2 Samuel 12:13-15
God is not a respector of persons. The Bible says that what a man sows, he will reap. Some types of sins have dire consequences, especially shedding innocent blood and adultery, since they destroy lives and break holy covenants.
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7
8. Sin causes God’s name to be blasphemed.
Prophet Nathan told David that because of his sin, which was known despite his attempts to cover it up, he had given an opportunity or occasion for God’s enemies to blaspheme. David was known to be a man of God, and his terrible sins were a direct stain on God’s name, too. All the enemies of God and all Israel knew that David was chosen of God and that God had been with him every step of the way, fighting his battles. And so David’s sin allowed his enemies to mock him and mock God.
“However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.’ Then Nathan departed to his house.” 2 Samuel 12:14-15
“For ‘the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,’ as it is written.” Romans 2:24
When a child of God sins, it is a direct insult to God’s name and his holiness since we are called by his name. God’s grace and mercy are not a license to sin. David learned this the hard way.
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:26-31
9. All sin can be forgiven with sincere repentance.
David repented sincerely of his sin of adultery and murder. When Nathan confronted him, he did not make excuses but said plainly, “I have sinned against the Lord.” David understood who he had ultimately sinned against: the Lord, who had made him king and brought him this far. He also humbled himself with fasting and pleaded to God in prayer for his son when he got sick after God’s judgment. Up until the child died, David wept before the Lord for mercy.
“So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” 2 Samuel 12:13
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10
Psalm 51 records the heartfelt prayer and broken repentance of David after his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. David did not make any excuses for himself but threw himself at God’s mercy with sorrow over what he had done. He even says in his prayer that his sin is ever before him, which means it is something David carried his entire life and felt remorse about even if God had forgiven him. That is the posture and nature of true repentance; it carries godly sorrow at offending God.
“To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done this evil in Your sight—that You may be found just when You speak and blameless when You judge… Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.” Psalm 51:1-4, 14
10. Full restoration is available.
After David repented and humbled himself before God with fasting, he accepted his son’s death, rose, and worshipped God. David did not wallow in self-pity after he repented. He accepted God’s mercy and went on to fear God even more and serve him in even greater measure.
“When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, ‘Is the child dead?’ And they said, ‘He is dead.’ So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.” 2 Samuel 12:19-20
David’s sin humbled him and changed him and deepened his love for God. Many people allow their sins to drive them away from God, but David did not do this; instead, he allowed his sin to draw him closer to God. In his Psalm 51 repentance prayer, David asks God to create in him a clean heart, not to take away his presence from him, to restore his joy of salvation, and to uphold him with his generous spirit so that he does not fall again. He also promises to teach transgressors God’s way after his restoration and convert sinners to God.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You…. For you do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; you do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:10-13, 16-17
David went on to fulfill his promise to God and never fell again. His psalms and his life recorded in the Bible are still converting sinners to God and teaching transgressors God’s ways to this day. God is merciful and ready to forgive and restore those who genuinely repent, no matter what they have done. David’s sins were very grave, but God restored him fully and honored him greatly.
Genuine repentance pleases God, as it is a sign of humility, faith, and trust in him and reveals a desire to please him. No matter our sin, what we do after that is what matters. Yes, there will be consequences for sins, but these do not negate God‘s unfailing mercy and restoration. He remembers our sins no more when we genuinely repent, and he fully restores our fellowship with him. David said that the ones whose sins are forgiven are blessed!
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” Psalm 32:1-5
Bible in a year today: 2 Samuel 13-14, 1 Corinthians 7, Psalm 109
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