2S11-1: The Truth About Adultery, The Torah, And David’s Sin

Today we begin 2nd Samuel Chapter 11.

For the Complete Jewish Bible, click HERE.

For the King James Version, click HERE.

Alrighty, so we’ve now arrived at one of the most famous (or maybe I should say infamous) stories in all of Scripture:

David’s affair with Bathsheba.

Interestingly, although this story is often presented to youngsters in Sunday school, it is not a children’s story by any means.

This story and the moral lessons it contains are geared toward adults.

Now, the Song of Solomon is rarely looked at because folks find its sexually explicit material embarrassing, to say the least.

But the story of David and Bathsheba is far worse for one simple reason.

This story deals with sexual immorality…

Whereas the Song of Solomon deals with the exact opposite.

The Song of Solomon is about the healthy and proper sexual activity that is supposed to take place between a man and his wife (or wives).

Keep in mind, when I say sexual immorality, I’m talking about the true Torah-based definition of sexual immorality, NOT the prudish Christian church’s definition.

The Song of Solomon is a book about King Solomon’s 141st wife by the way (out of the 700 wives and 300 concubines he had).

So this notion that God only approves of marriage between one man and woman is simply not Scriptural.

On top of that, if Bathsheba had been a single woman, and not married to another man, what David did would not have been considered adultery per the Torah.

Adultery is based only on the marital status of the woman.

In other words, a married man who enters into sexual relations with a woman other than his wife, if that other woman is NOT married, would NOT be considered adultery per the Torah.

Now don’t get me wrong.

I ain’t promoting such behavior…

Nor am I saying it’s a good thing…

I’m just saying that per the true Scriptural definition, a married man bedding down with another woman if she is single, that ain’t adultery.

Of course, the prudish Christian West has difficulty accepting or understanding this.

Yet given their skyrocketing over 50% divorce rate and churches that sanctify homosexual marriage, clearly what they’ve been doing ain’t working out too well, which is always what happens when you stray from Scripture.

Alrighty, let’s get back to the topic at hand.

So what’s the big overarching theme or lesson to be taken from the story of David and Bathsheba?

It comes down to this:

No matter how righteous or how close your walk with the Lord is…

This story illustrates what happens when you turn away from God.

The youthful David of the past, even when facing persecution, never resorted to questionable means to defend himself.

Yet here we see him committing the most horrific of sins to cover up his crime.

I’ve experienced this in my own life countless times.

It is simply futile to rely on your strength to live a godly life.

So this story is a warning to every believer.

The fact that you once walked down the aisle at some evangelical gathering and accepted Christ doesn’t mean diddly squat.

Once you start getting prideful and start thinking you’ve got your life under control…

You’re one step away from a 3-hour internet porno binge…

And becoming a casualty like David.

So don’t think you can resist temptation through sheer willpower

You can’t.

If you think you can follow God based on your own goodness…

Or start thinking that God’s justice no longer applies to you…

You’re deluding yourself, my friend.

Remember, David was one of the greatest heroes in the Bible.

He had everything going for him.

The Lord showered him with His grace and mercy.

He witnessed miracle after miracle.

Yet, despite all that…

In a moment of weakness…

David’s sinful nature took over…

And in this chapter, he became a scoundrel who resembled Saul more than a man after God’s own heart.

Plus, here’s the real kicker.

Nowhere in this story is the Devil blamed for David’s sins.

It was all on him.

Chew on that for a sec…

And see ya all next time.