- araratchurch
- Jun 11, 2024
- 3 min read
“When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done.”
2 Samuel 11:26-27 NLT
Isn’t it ironic? People go to great extents to avoid the penalty of their transgressions against the laws of the land. Additionally, we may bend over backwards to be judged positively in the court of public opinion. But sadly, consideration of what God thinks, God’s judgment, is often relegated to last place!
The only thing we can assume from the truth that people often ignore, minimize, or outright dismiss God’s judgement, is that they don’t take seriously the reality of the judgment of God. As we previously discussed on Day 8, many suppose God doesn’t really see what they are doing.
But also, perhaps the fact that the judgment of God is many times not immediate, more immediate judgments, or consequences, are given more consideration. Indeed, the Ecclesiastical writer addresses this consideration.
“When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off.”
Ecclesiastes 8:11-12 NLT
Consider the case of the religious leaders who believed in Jesus, but did not throw in with Him, because they didn’t want to lose their place in the synagogue.
“Many people did believe in him [Jesus], however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.”
John 12:42-43 NLT
Also consider that Caiaphas outright declared that it was better for them to kill Jesus, an innocent Man, than to lose what they had.
“If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.” Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.” So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.”
John 11:48-50, 53 NLT
And yet, in God’s hand, is our eternal existence. Yes, with Him is the decision regarding whether we will live eternally in His presence, or face eternal destruction in hell. Indeed, Jesus spoke of this:
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Matthew 10:28 NLT
Even King David—the Lord’s sweet psalmist—chose to displease the Lord—not only in his sin—but in his determination to “fix” his situation without seeking the Lord! David chose to take a woman who was not his. Then he chose to try to cover up his deed. And, when the coverup failed, he decreed Uriah’s death.
Perhaps David forgot that justice is defined by God. If God is not honored, there is no justice. If there is no justice, God is displeased.
“Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked. The Lord looked and was displeased to find there was no justice.”
Isaiah 59:15 NLT
And, if God is displeased, bad things happen. But how will it go for David?
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Jun 10, 2024
- 4 min read
“Then Joab sent a battle report to David. He told his messenger, “Report all the news of the battle to the king. But he might get angry and ask, ‘Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn’t they know there would be shooting from the walls? Wasn’t Abimelech son of Gideon killed at Thebez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall?’ Then tell him, ‘Uriah the Hittite was killed, too.’” So the messenger went to Jerusalem and gave a complete report to David. “The enemy came out against us in the open fields,” he said. “And as we chased them back to the city gate, the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king’s men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite.” “Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged,” David said. “The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow! Fight harder next time, and conquer the city!””
2 Samuel 11:18-25 NLT
Generally, what keeps us from doing the right thing is that there is a wrong thing we want to do more than we want to do what is right.
Additionally, sometimes people act as though they are hapless victims of their own desires. That is, if something crosses their minds, or some desire is stirred by their senses, they allow the thoughts and/or desires (let’s also throw feelings into the mix) to “percolate” until the desire(s) becomes “too strong” to resist.
I once had a young person sit before me and straight-faced-declared that their “desires” must be stronger than other young people’s desires. And, again, straight-faced, they used this assumption as the excuse, no, the “reason,” for their sexual promiscuity.
Now, the fallacy in such an assumption may be quite evident when presented in terms of another person. However, we might not so quickly detect the flawed, self-serving assumption concerning our own strong desires. In fact, we may erroneously suppose that all of our struggles are somehow worse than those experienced by others.
Peter addresses this “it’s worse for me” fallacy concerning fiery trials.
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”
1 Peter 4:12-13 NLT
The apostle Paul warns against thinking our temptations are unique.
“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
Of course, it’s the human tendency to suppose our struggles are harder for us than the struggles others face. But the fact is, that assumption is simply because it is happening to us and we feel the struggle.
Indeed, it is easy to encourage other Christian brothers and sisters concerning their struggles, reminding them of their ability to overcome through Jesus Christ. However, we may find ourselves not being quite so “full of faith” when the struggle is our own.
Child of God, through Jesus Christ we have been given victory over sin’s control, indeed, victory over any kind of struggle. Therefore, we should not live as slaves to our desires.
“Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.”
Romans 6:12-16 NLT
Through Christ, it is not beyond our control to do the right thing. But when we let our own desires blind us, we no longer see rightly and may actually make provision for sin.
““And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”
Matthew 7:3-5 NLT
Yes, allowing our desires to be our master, leads to spiritual blindness. Spiritual blindness leads to what we referenced on Day 10 as “situational ethics.”
Again, if you entertain a desire, “flirting” with acting on it, your way of being and doing will eventually accommodate it.
Imagine, King David set in motion what would result in the death of Uriah. His command led to the use of battle tactics David never would have otherwise employed. But this time it’s “different.” This time he got what he wanted: Uriah is dead.
King David did an unthinkable thing. But at least his problem is solved…or, is it?
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Jun 8, 2024
- 3 min read
““Well, stay here today,” David told him, “and tomorrow you may return to the army.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. Then David invited him to dinner and got him drunk. But even then he couldn’t get Uriah to go home to his wife. Again he slept at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard.”
2 Samuel 11:12-13 NLT
Have you ever heard of situational ethics? You know the philosophy: If the situation is bent in a certain direction, then I’ll do something, that in another situation, may have seemed to be wrong. But, in this situation, not so much. In the middle of our big fluffy buns of rationalization is still rotten baloney.
And then there’s the excuse used by some people, having done something against their general ethics, and/or something illegal, or something fraught with terrible consequences, that they were drunk, or high, or hurt, or depressed, etc., so they “fell” to the temptation.
Let’s take a look at Uriah. His sense of honor and duty did not allow him to go “relax” with his wife even when delayed from returning to the battle field. And that’s with the added feature of Uriah having been made drunk! Yet, he still remembered the oath he had made to his men, his cause, and his God.
Some might wonder why he didn’t just go home and be with his wife. After all, it would have ended up saving his life. But Uriah had no idea of the treachery that was afoot. But even if he had somehow known the fate awaiting him if he didn’t relent, he probably held his oath dearer than his life.
Remember, although we have no death wish, we know that there is a life beyond this life that must not be forfeited in exchange for the temporary life we have here.
“The one who loves his life [eventually] loses it [through death], but the one who hates his life in this world [and is concerned with pleasing God] will keep it for life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must [continue to faithfully] follow Me [without hesitation, holding steadfastly to Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]; and wherever I am [in heaven’s glory], there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”
John 12:25-26 AMP
Of course, I’m not saying that Uriah would’ve displeased God if he had gone home and been with his wife. We don’t know that. The point I’m making is that there are things more important than saving this life. And, if we continually go against what matters, continually go against what is pleasing to God, not only are we risking our eternal life, but what good are we doing living that way (a compromised servant of sin) in this world?
You may be concerned that you could not hold fast to what is right in difficult situations, in a hard press. Well, if it depended entirely on you, you are right to worry. But remember, the Lord has given us His spirit to provide the strength we need to endure temptation!
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man [who places his faith in wealth or status] to enter the kingdom of God.” They were completely and utterly astonished, and said to Him, “Then who can be saved [from the wrath of God]?” Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people [as far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.””
Mark 10:25-27 AMP
Whereas Jesus was referencing the temptations associated with having riches, the principle in the above scripture still applies: What we can’t do in our own strength, we can do in His strength! We have but to be willing and obedient.
Turning to King David: The Lord did not cause Uriah to refuse to go home and be with his wife. But the Lord did use this to hem David in. What now that his plan was a major fail? What will he do? Has his slide finally been interrupted?
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!