(Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a series of articles by Dr. Theodore Kalivoda on the shortcomings of Bible characters. The article is written for exclusive use on the Grace Community Chapel website.)
Propelled from shepherd boy to King of Israel, David oriented his life around walking in God's ways . . . until he caught a glimpse of Bathsheba. He then succumbed to sexual impulses by committing adultery with her and murdering her husband on top of it.
David's fall represents the human weakness of giving in to a fleshly desire and then trying to cover it up with yet another sin. How often do we do that, maybe not in the sense of adultery and murder, but with other matters? We want to protect ourselves from getting found out, and we decide on actions that only enlarge the problem. When confronted by the prophet Nathan, David was humiliated. But he repented, and God forgave him.
We all succumb to wrongdoing. Sin has its hold on human nature. However, we must come to our senses to cut short any evil that's about to manipulate us. Otherwise we allow the offense to multiply and expand its evil perhaps even on others, just as it did on Bathsheba's husband.
Above all, how important it is to remember God's faithfulness to forgive. Just as he did in OT times, so he continues to do with us under the new covenant. Our God is merciful, always encouraging us to start anew and to experience joy.
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