When Kings Don’t Listen

Roadblocks. They are in our path not just for the people who may be working behind them, but they are also there for our own safety. Whatever company or city organization has put up the signs or the barriers have done so for the good of everyone involved. Many people have been killed driving around the railroad cross bars. Every year people are seriously injured or killed when they fail to heed warning signs in a number of locations. 

David was the man after God’s own heart. He had fought many battles for the Lord and been victorious. Most of the time he seemed to seek God’s will in the decisions he was making. But not on this particular day. On this day he ran through so many road blocks it is difficult to believe. 

Roadblock #1: David was not where he should have been (2 Samuel 11:1). The writer of 2 Samuel makes sure we understand that this was the time of year that kings are out to battle. The soldiers and their generals were out to battle, but David was safe in his home. We tend to be vulnerable to bad decisions during certain weakened states. Even modern day psychology will tell you that being hungry, angry, lonely, tired, bored, or stressed. I’m sure David was experiencing at least a few of those — my guess is lonely, bored, and stressed because of the battles he was having to fight even at a distance. Had he been with his soldiers he could have avoided this whole fiasco. 

Roadblock #2: God gave David leg and neck muscles and he didn’t seem to use either well (11:2). Sure, he walked up on the roof top or the balcony of the house and saw a beautiful woman bathing. Judging from what happens next, David didn’t exercise self-control in using his legs to leave the high point quickly enough, nor did he use his neck muscles in looking away. He saw beauty and he let his good heart turn to passion. “Send for her.” 

Roadblock #3: God seemingly spoke through the servants of David. When David asked about the woman, one of the men informed him of who she was—the wife of one of his very own “mighty men,” Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 23:39). Ironically he was where he was supposed to be: out in the battle field in service for the king that was gawking at Uriah’s beautiful wife as she bathed (11:3). The road block was well marked. David was married. Bathsheba was married. Her husband was one of the top military men of David’s regime. And whether they said this or not it should have been clear that the crown didn’t need this kind of scandal. 

One by one, David blew through the roadblock and she was brought to him and a series of events will leave a path of destruction for the spiritually spiraling king. When all was said and done Bathsheba would become pregnant, Uriah would be dead, David would be chastised by Samuel, the baby would die, and the kingdom would be shaken. And the sad part is, it all could have been avoided. The roadblocks were in place. God always provides them. He did for David and He does for you. We can be hard on David sometimes but we have all been there. Maybe it wasn’t on the same public scale as David’s, but sin is sin and we have all been guilty of it. Consider these words:

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). 

Let Paul’s words remind you that you do not face temptation alone. God provides the roadblocks you need if you will just pay attention.

Ben