BIBLE HIGHLIGHTS 2 SAMUEL 9-12

The Israelite nation was engaged in a military campaign against the Ammonites, but David
was residing in Jerusalem. One evening while strolling on the rooftop of his palace, he noticed a
beautiful woman bathing at a neighboring home. He failed to exercise restraint but began to
desire her passionately. Learning that she was Bath-sheba, the wife of Uriah, a soldier in his
army, David summoned her. For what purpose? Well, please me there at 2 Samuel 11:4 and
let’s see. Yes he wanted to commit adultery with her and he did, and In due course Bath-sheba
sent word to David that she was pregnant.
Now David is trapped. If their sin was exposed, the penalty for both of them according to the
law was death. So he devised a plan. He called Bath-sheba’s husband, Uriah, back from battle
then instructed Uriah to return home with hopes that this would make it appear that Uriah was the
father of Bath-sheba’s child. But to David’s surprise Uriah did not visit his wife, that was because
when an Israelite army was engaged in a military campaign, the men refrained from sexual
intercourse, even with their own wives. So David devised another plan. He invited Uriah for a
meal and got him drunk, but Uriah still would not go home to his wife.
Now in desperation David saw only one way out. He sent Uriah back to the battle with a note
to the army general, Joab. The intent of the brief note was very clear: How clear was it. This time
notice verse 15. And so by the stroke of a pen, the powerful king seemed to have covered his
tracks, sending Uriah to his death. And so, through all of this, as king, David remained silent
about his sins. Perhaps he was trying to justify his actions to himself saying that I didn’t kill Uriah,
he died honorably in battle as all the other soldiers. Could this sort of justification concerning a
serious sin happen to you, brothers? And if so, what do you need to do?
According to Jeremiah 17:9 The Bible warns: “The heart is more treacherous than anything
else and is desperate. Who can know it?” When the heart wants something desperately, as in
the case of David wanting Bathsheba, this can lead to serious trouble, and so it would be vital
that we make adjustments quickly. Why? Well, if we are not careful, we can become the victims
of self-deception, because the ‘treacherous heart’ will use all sorts of reasonings to try and justify
sin by even lying out of a situation. That is the actions of a spiritually sick person. What is the
cure? Well notice the counsel that the apostle James gives. Turn with me there to the book of
James 5:14,15 And so, If a serious sin has been committed, we need to reveal this to the
responsible ones in the congregation and seek their help, so that we can have a clean standing
with Jehovah before this system comes to an end.