During my years of living in the country of Jordan, I often passed the traditional site of “Uriah’s Murder.” Uriah, a member of Kind David’s army, had a beautiful wife named Bathsheba. King David desired a sinful relationship with Bathsheba. To have her, David ordered Uriah into the heat of the battle, knowing that he would be killed.
By all accounts, David was a great leader and king. Though he was one of God’s choicest men, David gave way to selfish desires that left a terrible blot on his name.
The Scriptures do not hesitate to reveal and denounce sin. When necessary, God’s Word pulls aside the curtain and discloses the human heart. We are stunned as we think of a man like David, wondering how he could have fallen so low.
David’s “Deceitful” Heart
David’s fall is a confirmation of the solemn fact of man’s natural heart condition is a heart of deception. Before the flood of Noah’s day, God tells us that he “saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” (Gen. 6:5). Jeremiah the prophet in his day cried: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9).
Instead of relaxing in Jerusalem, David should have been directing his troops. It was the spring of the year when Kings began their military campaigns. David was a warrior king and ordinarily led his men. It was under his leadership that his nation became strong. God empowered him and constantly blessed him. At this particular time, he sent Joab to subdue the Ammonites, “but David remained in Jerusalem” (2 Sam. 11:1). In other words, David failed to follow the path of duty.
A Warning from David’s Life
David’s failure has a direct message for us. The Scripture says in Ephesians 6:10-11: “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Read carefully the next verse (v.12): “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms" (emphasis added).
We can note that every believer has a spiritual battle to fight. We cannot fight spiritual battles by fleshly means. If we are to stand in the evil day, we need divine help. God will keep us from evil if we will commit ourselves to Him.