Monday, July 29, 2013

Lust Over Loyalty: A Deadly Choice

2 Samuel 11:1-27

David had just shown great loyalty to his late friend, Jonathan, by taking in his crippled son, Mephibosheth, as part of his family. Perhaps that went so well that he wanted to do it again, this time toward the recently deceased King Nahash of the Ammonites. So, David sent ambassadors to his son, now King Hanun, to express his sympathy. King Hanun, however, was not quite as consenting as Mephibosheth. His commanders convinced him that it was a ploy to conquer his city, so he seized David's ambassadors and ridiculed them - shaving half their beards and cutting off their robes just below the buttocks.

Of course with that, the Ammonites inadvertently declared war and David was too happy to oblige. The Ammonites enlisted the help pf the Arameans, but still, it was not enough. The Israelite army soundly defeated the combined forces, and the Arameans learned their lesson - they shied away from helping the Ammonites anymore. So, now David had one good experience with showing loyalty and one not so good. That may have had something to do with what happened next, or maybe not.

In the spring of the year when it was actually 'time' for war, David stayed home, but sent his men out (already the wrong path). So, he was just back at the house, chillin' on the roof, looking out over the city when he just happened to notice a beautiful woman bathing in her house. So he immediately looked away in embarrassment...NOT; that's just what he should have done. Instead, he took it all in, going so far as to send someone to get the scoop on her (misstep number two).

He found out that her name was Bathsheba and that she was the daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah, the Hittite. He knew that Uriah was out at war, so he had no problem sending for her, having sex with her, and sending her back home...and, he was the king after all. It even worked out that she just happened to have just finished her purification from menstruation, so she was fresh. But, God don't like ugly, no matter who you think you are.

Bathsheba popped up pregnant! She sent a note to David stating as much, and then the real drama began. Of course David couldn't let that slip out, so he tried to cover it up. He sent for Uriah to come home under the guise of checking on how the war was going. Then he told him to go home and relax, you know, since he had been fighting so hard. In David's mind, Uriah would go home, sleep with his wife, and no one would suspect that the child wasn't theirs. But, it would have been disloyal to the rest of the troops, and to David, for him to do that; so he didn't.

When David caught wind of that, he started to panic. He tried again to convince Uriah to sleep with his wife, but he was too loyal(and he didn't even know the half of it). Finally, when David saw that this way wouldn't work, he arranged to have Uriah killed; in battle, of course, so that it seemed normal. Once he was dead, David allowed Bathsheba time to mourn, then took her as one of his wives. She gave birth to a son, but God was displeased with him.

My, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. There were so many things wrong in this story, from which we can learn. Don't indulge sinful lusts, don't abuse the power God has given you, don't commit adultery, don't lie, admit your faults and ask forgiveness. The list goes on and on. It all comes down to loyalty, though. David was a man after God's own heart and, understandably, respected. But at the end of the day, his loyalty to God was shaken and, ironically, he had a man killed because of his loyalty to him.

Lord, help us to remember where our loyalty lies. Keep us faithful to you in all things. Remind us of your will and commandments when we are tempted to stray. Let us be ever mindful of the path that you have set before us, and choose the steps that you have ordered. When we do fall, help us to accept our shortcomings, learn from them, and receive the restoration that only you can provide. We love you, Lord. Allow us to show you everyday of our lives. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.