The Tragedy of Denying our Gifting
We come to the fateful episode of David's life. His tryst with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah.
2 Samuel 11:1 (ESV) In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
The first thing we see David doing wrong is not going out to fight when he should have. He is king. This is what they do. The reason spring is mentioned is because of the dry ground it affords military marches and conquests. On top of this, we must remember that David's chief gift is military strategy. This is God-given gift. He wasn't called to sit on it and relax. I find that the less I give myself to what I know God has called me to do, the more time I have to ponder the enemies alternatives and be tempted by fleshly indulgences.
Why does David stay home? I believe it has to do with this enemy - the Ammonites. Remember the last chapter when David showed kindness and was humiliated in return by the Ammonite king. Perhaps he is gun shy. Perhaps he is rethinking what his kingdom is about. The point is, David gave in to his FEELINGS and not his calling. Instead of persevering through the trouble others had caused he let HOW PEOPLE TREATED HIM determine his course of action.
2 Samuel 11:2–5 (ESV) It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. 3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”
David decides more drastic measures are in order:
2 Samuel 11:14–15 (ESV) In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.”
This one is painful to read. The great king who knew strategy on how to put away people who got in his way (See Goliath) is now using those gifts to destroy the lives of his own community. You should know that Uriah is mentioned as one of David's mighty men. On top of this, Bathsheba is the daughter of Eliam who is ANOTHER of David's mighty men (see 2 Samuel 23).
I see this whole situation as the tragic result of a misplaced gift. God had called David to fight for the nation and defend her from adversaries on every side. Now with his feelings hurt and his previous good works thwarted by rejection, David shelves his responsibilities in the Lord's work. The episode is challenging us to learn from David's mistake here and get busy with our God-given calling.
Have you been rejected? It happens. Have your best efforts to serve others gone unnoticed or unappreciated? Welcome to the club. But make this decision for yourself right now: Do not let the results of your gift DICTATE the USE of your gift. Get back up on the horse and ride! God has a long-term purpose for you but you have to conquer some short-term failures along the way. The best thing you can do RIGHT NOW is to get busy in your God-given calling.
Amen.
2 Samuel 11:1 (ESV) In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
The first thing we see David doing wrong is not going out to fight when he should have. He is king. This is what they do. The reason spring is mentioned is because of the dry ground it affords military marches and conquests. On top of this, we must remember that David's chief gift is military strategy. This is God-given gift. He wasn't called to sit on it and relax. I find that the less I give myself to what I know God has called me to do, the more time I have to ponder the enemies alternatives and be tempted by fleshly indulgences.
Why does David stay home? I believe it has to do with this enemy - the Ammonites. Remember the last chapter when David showed kindness and was humiliated in return by the Ammonite king. Perhaps he is gun shy. Perhaps he is rethinking what his kingdom is about. The point is, David gave in to his FEELINGS and not his calling. Instead of persevering through the trouble others had caused he let HOW PEOPLE TREATED HIM determine his course of action.
2 Samuel 11:2–5 (ESV) It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. 3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”
The episode is quick in the text. There's more sinning to be done. David is in a mess and he knows it. He then uses his power and authority to cover up his sin. He sends for Uriah, feigns interest in the war he's not currently fighting and plies him to sleep with his wife on two occasions. In both instances, Uriah's actions prove him nobler than David. Uriah is obeying the law's call for abstinence among the soldiers during wartime!
David decides more drastic measures are in order:
2 Samuel 11:14–15 (ESV) In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.”
This one is painful to read. The great king who knew strategy on how to put away people who got in his way (See Goliath) is now using those gifts to destroy the lives of his own community. You should know that Uriah is mentioned as one of David's mighty men. On top of this, Bathsheba is the daughter of Eliam who is ANOTHER of David's mighty men (see 2 Samuel 23).
I see this whole situation as the tragic result of a misplaced gift. God had called David to fight for the nation and defend her from adversaries on every side. Now with his feelings hurt and his previous good works thwarted by rejection, David shelves his responsibilities in the Lord's work. The episode is challenging us to learn from David's mistake here and get busy with our God-given calling.
Have you been rejected? It happens. Have your best efforts to serve others gone unnoticed or unappreciated? Welcome to the club. But make this decision for yourself right now: Do not let the results of your gift DICTATE the USE of your gift. Get back up on the horse and ride! God has a long-term purpose for you but you have to conquer some short-term failures along the way. The best thing you can do RIGHT NOW is to get busy in your God-given calling.
Amen.
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