2 Samuel 11:1-2 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 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.
How fearful it is that a holy man may fall into great sin. David, the man after God’s own heart, did not fall suddenly into murder, but step by step. First he looked, then he desired, then he acted, and at last he shed innocent blood. Sin seldom comes alone; it draws many sins after it.
David should have been at war, but he stayed at home. Idleness opened the door to temptation. A wandering eye soon led to a wandering heart. If David had ruled his eyes, he would not have ruled Uriah’s death.
Bathsheba sinned, yet David’s guilt was far greater. He was the king, the shepherd of Israel, and the example of the people. When leaders fall, many suffer. One man’s secret sin became another man’s public grave.
Uriah, a faithful servant, was more righteous than his king. He would not enjoy comfort while the ark of God and the armies of Israel were in danger. How sad that a heathen soldier showed more conscience than the Lord’s anointed.
David tried to cover his sin, but God uncovered it. He hid his crime from men, but not from heaven. God let David’s sin sleep for a time, but He did not let it die. When God awakens conscience, no silence can quiet it.
Yet see the mercy of God. Though David’s sin was great, his repentance was real. God did not excuse his sin, but He forgave the sinner. The sword never departed from David’s house, yet his soul was spared. Grace does not remove all consequences, but it removes condemnation.
Let us learn to fear ourselves. If David fell, who may stand without watchfulness? Let us guard our eyes, our thoughts, and our idle hours. Let us flee the first steps of sin, and run quickly to repentance when we fall.