Chapter 11

Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof, he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. (2 Samuel 11:2)

There is little room for debate on the immodest behaviour exhibited by this woman, who would eventually be known by the name Bathsheba. Even though it was becoming late in the day and presumably the time of day when most people slept, she was well aware that her bath could be seen from the rooftop of the castle. Bathsheba was nonetheless liable for her wrongdoing, despite the fact that any immodest behaviour on her part did not absolve David of his transgression.

We must never be an occasion for sin in others, even in how we dress. Paul’s word in 1 Timothy 2:9 is relevant here: the women should adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation.

The principle would be illustrated in an exaggerated way in the life of Solomon, David’s son. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. David and Solomon show us that if one woman isn’t enough, 1000 women aren’t enough.

If David would think about the cost he would have to bear because of this one-night stand. Sin will always cost a person. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). If David only knew that this illicit pursuit of pleasure would directly or indirectly result in:

· An unwanted pregnancy

· The murder of a trusted friend

· A dead baby

· His daughter raped by his son

· One son was murdered by another son

· A civil war led by one of his sons

· A son who imitates David’s lack of self-control, leading him and much of Israel away from God

We can't help but think of all of the children who had to go to bed on September 11, 2001, alone because their parents were killed or otherwise incapacitated as a result of the awful assault on the United States. Adultery still leads to the same type of devastation in today's world. Due to adultery, a far larger number of youngsters go to bed each night without either parent present in the home.

And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. (2 Samuel 11:27)

How did this displeasure manifest itself?
David's intimate connection with God changed significantly from earlier in his life. In Psalm 32:3-4, David explains the barrenness that he experienced during this time in his walk with God:
3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah