Whenever I’m reading through the books of I and II Samuel in the Bible I have a nagging sense of dread.
It’s not like I don’t already know the story—practically by heart. No, it’s the joy and encouragement I derive from the story of the young shepherd boy turned king…David. And knowing that he fell and fell hard. This is a young man about whom God said, “He is a man after My own heart.” Yet even he (David) was not immune to the enticing power of sin.
So, long about chapter 11 of 2 Samuel it arrives—the story of David and Bathsheba. To me it has the same feel as the story of Adam and Eve in the garden—a sort of paradise lost deal. Life is about as perfect as it could be yet we want more. We have perfect fellowship with God, yet, we want more. We are financially set. Our health is good. People admire us—we seem to be prospering in every way. In short, we’re comfortable, yet…
It’s not enough.
Sin wants more. Our flesh wants more–always more. But there’s a battle for the believer—a tug of war before the final outcome is determined. And we have to learn how to make sure these ‘tug of wars’ end the right way or heartache is sure to be the result.
1 Corinthians 10:13 says,
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
In other words, on the path to sin there are plenty of exits we can take.
Here were just a few of David’s potential off ramps (the ‘off-ramps’ are in bold and always with the word, “And.”)…
“ 2It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on(D) the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. 3And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this(E) Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of(F) Uriah the Hittite?” 4So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. ((G) Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. 5And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”
6So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab was doing and how the people were doing and how the war was going. 8Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and(H) wash your feet.” And Uriah went out of the king’s house, and there followed him a present from the king. 9But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. 10When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?” 11Uriah said to David,(I) “The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and(J) the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and(K) as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.” 12Then David said to Uriah, “Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank,(L) so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with(M) the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
14In the morning David(N) wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him,(O) that he may be struck down, and die.” 16And as Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant men. 17And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite also died. 18Then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting. 19And he instructed the messenger, “When you have finished telling all the news about the fighting to the king, 20then, if the king’s anger rises, and if he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? 21(P) Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'”
I count no less than 20 potential ‘exits’ off the highway to Heartache that David could have taken. Some of the “ands” should have been conviction off ramps, others should have been, at the very least, opportunity off ramps. David ignored them all.
Next time you find yourself on temptation highway, look for the off ramps that God has promised and don’t forget to learn some lessons along the way! At the very least, know that’s one road you never need to take again.