Dear Church,
King David, known as the man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), experienced multiple moments of backsliding throughout his life. However, none was as devastating as his moral failure with Bathsheba, described in 2 Samuel 11. It’s a story not only of sin but also of ignored warnings, moments when God clearly gave David opportunities to stop.
The first warning came immediately after David inquired about the alluring woman he saw bathing. In 2 Samuel 11:3, we read: “And David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”
This was David’s “red-light” to STOP! He could have ended the temptation then and there, right on his balcony. But instead of shutting the door, he fed his desire. And how often do those who fall into sin regret the moment they choose to nurture the temptation rather than flee from it?
God’s warning wasn’t subtle. Bathsheba was not a stranger. Her father, Eliam, was one of David’s Mighty Men (2 Samuel 23:34). Her grandfather, Ahithophel, was one of David’s most trusted counselors (2 Samuel 23:34; 2 Samuel 15:12).
These were men David worked with closely, allies in his kingdom.
But the most glaring warning came when David learned she was “the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Uriah wasn’t just another name in David’s army — he was a loyal warrior, part of the elite Mighty Men who had risked their lives for David’s throne.
Despite these clear warning signs, David ignored them. Worse, under the fog of temptation, he pressed the gas pedal and ran through every red-light God put in his path. He not only sinned but used the very warnings of God as an excuse to sin further. Yet, even in David’s failure, God’s love and grace were relentless. Though David’s sin had devastating consequences, God pursued him, offering restoration after confession and repentance.
What about us?
What “red lights” has God placed in our spiritual journey? In our own lives, in the life of our church? Are there moments when God calls us to stop, turn around, and seek Him instead of feeding temptation? Sin has a way of convincing us to barrel through God’s red lights, but His Spirit is always faithful in providing us warnings to stop.
The Apostle Paul offers us the antidote in Galatians 5:16: “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Living by the Spirit requires daily surrender. It means bringing our sinful desires to the cross and allowing God’s holiness to captivate our hearts. When we choose to walk by the Spirit, we avoid sin and walk in the abundant life God has called us to.
Let us remain vigilant, Church, listening to God’s voice and heeding His warnings. His grace is sufficient, but His warnings are there to protect us from the pain of sin.
Be Encouraged,
Mathews
