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DAVID EXPOSED TO TEMPTATION (II)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8
2 Samuel 11

Matthew 5:27-30

 

“And if thy right hand offend thee,

cut it off, and cast it from thee…”

 

DAVID EXPOSED TO TEMPTATION (II)
 
David’s first step led to a lustful reaction and, in turn, this led to David losing the battle, figuratively speaking. He was known not to lose any battle in war, but here he was before a weapon of the evil one.
 
Scripture records that the woman was very beautiful to look upon. This is where men’s weakness lies. David was aware of this, but he yielded to that temptation. Instead of turning away and attending to his duties, he concentrated his thoughts on the woman. He was already committing the sin of adultery. Jesus warned about this kind of behaviour citing what the law of God said. He told His audience of the commandment that “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exod 20:14), and He added that whosoever looked at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matt 5:27-28). David is not alone in this failure. Even today, the majority of men are guilty as the Lord judged. Agreeing with this observation, Matthew Henry said,
 
“Observe the occasions of David’s sin; what led to it. 1. Neglect of his business. He tarried at Jerusalem. When we are out of the way of our duty, we are in temptation. 2. Love of ease: idleness gives great advantage to the tempter. 3. A wandering eye. He had not, like Job, made a covenant with his eyes, or, at this time, he had forgotten it. And observe the steps of the sin. See how the way of sin is down-hill; when men begin to do evil, they cannot soon stop. Observe the aggravations of the sin. How could David rebuke or punish that in others, of which he was conscious that he himself was guilty?”
 
David yielded to the temptation as he lost self-control. He lusted after the woman and enquired after her. It was an unbecoming move coming from a king who was known to follow the Lord in many of his decisions. Sin knows no rank.
 
THOUGHT: Overcoming temptation comes by constant obedience.

PRAYER: Father, “lead us not into temptation” (Matt 6:13).

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