In the Spring When Kings Go out to Battle
August 07, 2023
"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." 2 Samuel 11:1 ESV
We live is a raw world where nations go to war to grab power and place and people commit adulterous sins which lead to even more devastating sins where lives are destroyed and ended. Some of those people have the hand of God upon them and they wrestle with their humanity on the battlefield and off.
I am not for war. I am for peace. However, the story is raw and real and about real and really raw people. David was the king and the leader. He was supposed to be somewhere else fighting another battle when he was in a position to fight the battle of his life - and lost. What if he had been where he was supposed to be?
He was not in his place and so he had to fight his battle within.
Whether it was right to go to war every spring just because it was spring is a matter for another discussion. The point is that he had a role and was not playing it and so, in the wrong place at the wrong time, his eyes fell upon Bathsheba and he wanted her.
He wanted her badly.
His lust was greater than his sense of duty, responsibility , and integrity. It was greater than his loyalty to a loyal friend. It was greater than his will power.
It was greater, in the moment, than his own strength and he did not cry out to God for strength.
That is because lust is a strange meeting place of need (or distorted perceived need based upon real need) and arrogant power than pivots the universe around our own egos.
He wanted it and he could have it ... so he took it.
He took her from her husband and he also stole her dignity and choice. He was the king. He had the power. It was actually a rape.
There will always be a battle unless we surrender to the enemy of our souls.
Sometimes the bad choices begin when we choose to stay home and not be where we are supposed to be.
The choices have devastating consequences. Two people died. Bathsheba was wounded in her heart. David was scarred for life. ....
But afterwards ...
Steadfast love and faithfulness met and righteousness and peace kissed each other.