When one fails to see what is most important, he becomes susceptible to things that can DESTROY him.
Among the most familiar sins recorded in the Scriptures is King David's adultery with Bathsheba. Why did he do it? The answer "because he saw a beautiful woman bathing" is only partly correct. Actually, David's sin also resulted from some things he failed to see from the top of his palace. By looking at David's blind spots, we may learn how to deal with our own.
First, David did not see the people's need for a leader. It was at "the time when kings go out to battle" (2 Samuel 11:1 NASB) that David sent others to war but stayed home himself. Israel's army may have won, but her leader lost because he did not lead. The same is true today. Before you sin, ask: "How will this action affect my ability to lead and influence others for the Lord?"
David also overlooked his good friend Uriah the Hittite, who was Bathsheba's husband. This man was one of David's mighty men - one of his most loyal followers (2 Samuel 23:39). When David saw Bathsheba, he did not see himself deceiving her husband, Uriah, getting him drunk, and having him killed. If he had, he might have denied his own lust and temporary pleasure. Before you sin, ask: "How will this decision affect my friends and those who have put their trust in me?"
The king failed to see an innocent baby. The child conceived by David and Bathsheba would die as a part of David's punishment (2 Samuel 12:14). If the king had foreseen the baby suffering with an illness for seven days, the sorrow that David himself would experience, and the lifetime of guilt that he would carry, he might have avoided his adulterous encounter. How many sinless babies have been aborted, their precious lives thrown away, as the result of sexual misconduct? Before you sin, ask: "How will this choice affect my children and other innocent people?"
David became blind to his loyal wife, Abigail. This good woman provided for David and kept him from sin despite her foolish husband, Nabal. She became David's wife after Nabal died (1 Samuel 25). How would David's choice of another woman affect Abigail? Apparently, he never asked. Before you sin, ask: "How will this conduct affect my dedicated, God-fearing spouse and my covenant before God to be faithful to my spouse until one of us dies?"
King David lost sight of Tamar, Amnon and Absalom. Turmoil would characterize David's household. Amnon, his son, would assault and violate his own half-sister Tamar. Absalom would murder Amnon, become a fugitive, and take over the throne. David would hear of Absalom's death and mourn, saying, "Would I had died instead of you" (2 Samuel 18:33). Before you sin, ask: "How will this behavior affect the way my children turn out and the long-term direction of future generations?"
David lost sight of his God-given throne. If David had realized that because of his immorality he would forfeit his anointed position as king and run from his own son, would he have sent for Bathsheba? Likely not. Before you sin, ask: "How will this deed affect my calling to serve the Lord in my current position?"
At the heart of it all, David did not see God when he was on the palace roof. He became blind to God's authority in his life, God's righteous wrath toward sin, God's broken heart when one rejects His will, and God's grace, which had blessed and sustained him from the beginning. Before you sin, ask: "How will this decision affect my relationship with the Lord? My prayer life? My spiritual peace and confidence? My eternal salvation?"
What happened to David can happen to us. Note: "[If] anyone does not have them [qualities of spiritual growth], he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins" (2 Peter 1:9 NIV). It is when one fails to see what is most important that he becomes susceptible to things that can destroy him.
Do you want to be strong and prepared when temptation arises? Then take some time, go up on your palace roof, and concentrate on the things David didn't see there.This item originally appeared in Gospel Advocate (November 2000)
