Alarming Sin: How could David….?

| Sermon Summary by Robbins Jesuraj |

Last week, BBC announced an unexpected event of killing of three members in a family of a BBC journalist, by a local guy with cross bow on the outskirts of London. When we hear such heartless incidents, a shiver runs down our spines.

We can feel very similar emotions, when we ponder on the event of David’s misconduct with Bathsheba (II Samuel 11, 12 and Psalm 51) and its aftermath. We are appalled with the question, “How could David indulge himself in such an alarming sin?”

Following are some of the lessons that we can learn from this incident. Firstly, each one of us have the capacity within us to commit such a grave act of sin. Because sin deceives our conscience, numbs our senses, multiplies as it tries to cover up one over another and finally leads to fierce consequences.

God warned Cain in Genesis 4:10 that sin is crouching at your door and desires to rule over you. Unless, we are not alert like what Paul advises in I Corinthians 10:12, we are also capable to fall.

Secondly, inappropriate leisure leads to downfall. David probably did not have anything to do in a late afternoon as he skipped going to war that spring. It resulted in an unplanned walk on his terrace which overlooked the entire city of Jerusalem. His wandering eyes and mind narrowed on Bathsheba. An empty mind being devil’s playground is evident in this case.

In this regard, it’s a good advice from Paul to keep our minds occupied with things that are lovely, pure and so on as in Philippians 4:8.

Thirdly, unchecked success leads to a sense of entitlement, to do what I want. David was victorious as described in II Samuel 8 as the king of Israel. They had a massive victory over Syrians as in II Samuel 10. Only the Ammonites were left out and it’s almost like a last war before the stability of his kingdom. All these successes seemed to have gripped David with presumed entitlement for leisure and pleasure.

“Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, O take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above”.

How true are these words of Robert Robinson, as he penned the famous hymn “Come thou fount of every blessing”

266 years back and of course this can be our prayer as well!