READING: 1 Chronicles 20:1, 2 Samuel 11:1–12:14, Psalm 51, 2 Samuel 12:15-25, 2 Samuel 5:14-16, 1 Chronicles 14:3-7, 1 Chronicles 3:5-9
Every moral failure among Christian leaders begins with some decision. Sometimes it’s rebellion. At other times, it’s simply an unwise decision. That decision may have taken place some time before the fall, but it still factors into the problem. We see that truth in today’s reading about David’s fall into adultery with Bathsheba.
What we learn is that when his forces went to war with the Ammonites (and, at a time of the year when the weather most likely allowed kings to “normally go out to war” [1 Chron 20:1]), King David instead stayed in Jerusalem. Bible scholars differ as to whether this decision was a faulty one, though many see the words, “David stayed behind in Jerusalem,” as at least a hint that something’s about to go wrong. For some, the explicit, almost unexpected comment about David’s decision implies trouble still to come. What we do know is that David deliberately sought the beautiful woman he saw from his roof and committed adultery with her.
A decision not to go to war. A decision apparently to take more than one glance at the woman. A decision to seek who she was. A decision to sleep with her. A decision to try to cover up sin. Decision after decision snowballed into the tragic story of the murder of Uriah—and we are reminded today of the importance of deciding well in every decision.
May God help us.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: What steps will you take today to make sure you make wise, godly decisions?
TODAY’S PRAYER: “Father, protect me from unwise decisions today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 2 Samuel 12:26-31, 1 Chronicles 20:2-3, 2 Samuel 13:1–14:33
