1. David was a man after God’s own heart, sought and worshiped God, composer of worship music, valiant, a courageous leader, willing to wait on God’s timing to make him king and not take matters into in own hands. Yet, he was not cautious in his relationship with women.
2. During the time while Saul was king, he had at least 3 wives, and after Saul’s death and becoming king, he took another 5, the last of which was Bathsheba. While some of these might have been political alliances and multiple wives was common at that time, the practice reflected a lack of self control that eventually led to adultery and murder.
3. How could someone with a heart for God get involved in such tragedy? David, now king had led his army to fight many times, but the writer of 1 Chronicles highlights a slight shift in his practice in I Chronicles 19:8, “When David heard about [an army coming to fight Israel] he sent Joab.” Later, he lead the army to defeat the enemy. But notice how the chronicler begins in chapter 20: “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, Joab led out the armed forces.”
An innocent pattern of staying home created the opportunity for a temptation that David did not resist. Even though he had 7 other wives, he chose to follow his lustful desires which led to adultery, murder, and established a model the led to the downfall of his son, Solomon.
4. While we may be aware of those things which are great temptations or weaknesses in our lives, we may pass over the innocent looking steps that create an opportunity for Satan to work. David remained king, but the consequences of his sin produced shame, disgrace, civil war, and lead to the failure of Solomon, even though he was the “wisest man” of his time. Accomplishing great things for God, leading others to worship, and being greatly blessed of God was not a vaccine against temptation.
5. We need to as God to make us sensitive to follow His leadership in temptation, and not allow us to create opportunities for failure by our own making.
