2Sa 11:2-5 | KingComments | STEP | Here begins a part of David’s history in which he is not a picture of the Lord Jesus, but of a believer who sins. It is also a believer with a great responsibility. He offends God, commits adultery and commits murder. The position and responsibility of a believer also determines the seriousness of his sin. It makes a difference to God whether an ordinary member of His people or a leader of His people sins ( ). The consequences are inevitable, although there is forgiveness for the sins he has committed. We also learn that we do not suddenly start living in sin. Falling into sin can happen suddenly, but David starts to live in sin. He chooses this way of life and makes sin part of his life. This chapter follows historically on the previous one, it is the following year, “in the spring”, literally “at the return of the year”. According to the customs of that time, the spring, when the late rain has stopped, is the time for military action to be taken again. For David it means that the time has come to defeat Moab definitively. But instead of going out at the head of the army, he stays at home and sends Joab and the whole people. It seems that he spent the whole day in bed, because we read that “when evening came David arose from his bed”. David stays at home, when he should have gone to battle. He neglects his duty and takes rest while he should have worked. Here the saying is true: ‘Idle hands are the devil’s playground.’ If we are not busy with what we should or may do, we are on a road on which the temptation can overtake us as a traveler ( ). Someone who has nothing to do, is an easy prey for the devil. He can get on well with that. Doing nothing is creating room for sin. David “saw”. He does not seek temptation, but sees it. The temptation appears suddenly. Then it comes down to what one does. However, David’s mental defense mechanism has been eliminated by his laziness. If the inner condition is prepared by laziness, desire can easily enter. The law which James mentions in his letter then comes into effect ( ). Desire does not have to lead to sin, but the power to say ‘no’ to sin is lacking when one lives in laxness. Then the lusts find a partner in the flesh. If David had been strong, he would have made a covenant with his eyes ( ). With us it will be exactly the same if we open ourselves up to pornographic material. Sometimes you suddenly see a picture, by accident. This can happen because you see a picture on a billboard along the road. It can also happen through a picture you see on the ‘digital highway’, without searching for it. What do you do then? Were you just driving, a bit aimlessly, or surfing, a bit aimlessly? Then you have opened the door wide for sin. David’s sin with Bathsheba is preceded by taking more wives, after he has come from Hebron ( ). His many wives have demolished the threshold for his desire for another wife. Taking more wives is a violation of the king’s law ( ). When David commits the sin of adultery, he is over fifty years old. The danger of adultery remains, even at old age and is perhaps then the greatest. David spent the whole day in idleness. Laziness, laxness and passivity are enormous dangers for every believer. When we give in to laziness, the enemy comes, the traveler who wants to stay overnight with us ( ). This traveler is sin, lust. David sins because he does not immediately, after he has seen Bathsheba washing herself, place himself before the LORD to have his thoughts purified. Instead, he holds on to that picture and inquires who the woman is. He is informed in detail about her, and he is also told that she is married. However, lust has him in her grip so much that he cannot be stopped in his intention to take possession of that woman by laying with her (cf. ). David abuses his position. He also abuses Bathsheba. Because she is another person’s wife, he also cheats on her husband. He lets her come and lies with her. The history is described without sensation. It’s simply the events. The mention that she has “purified herself from her uncleanness” seems to indicate that she has just had her period and that she has washed herself to that end ( ; ). At the same time it makes clear why she is pregnant immediately, because a few days after menstruation the chance of pregnancy is naturally greatest. It is usually the most fertile period. When Bathsheba discovers that she is pregnant, she lets him know. She says nothing else, but leaves everything to him ( ). The question is whether we are equipped to meet sin. It is not about the sins of others, but those of me. David’s sin is the sin that is widely committed today and that takes away the life force of God’s people. The accidents in traffic and in the air are insignificant compared to the accidents in families and lives caused by this sin. Satan specializes in making sin popular and entertaining. We are no longer afraid of sin. Of the history of David and Bathsheba a movie is made. Why do people want to see that movie? Do we throw away a DVD if it contains erotic scenes?