David was labeled as a man after God’s heart. As a passionate worshiper, a brave warrior, and a decisive king, David was used of God to change the landscape of Israel. While many of his victories caused Israel great triumph, his downfalls also caused his family great pain. Along with his moments of faithful obedience sits a series of events that sent David down a slippery slope where he never truly considered the consequences.
Maybe you remember the story. When King David should have been in battle, he was relaxed in the comforts of his palace when he saw a beautiful woman bathing from his rooftop, sent someone to bring her to him, had sex with her, and then sent her home. Weeks later, she informed the king she was pregnant with his child. Her husband, Urriah, was fighting on the battlefield, and David attempted to cover up the incident by allowing him some time with his wife. Out of loyalty to his fellow soldiers, he denied himself that privilege, and David, unwilling to accept responsibility, had him killed on the battlefield.
The prophet Nathan, risking his life, confronted and rebuked King David. Read the consequences that Nathan tells David that await him in 2 Samuel 12:7-15:
7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.'”13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”
15 Then Nathan went to his house.
Adultery brings consequences. David’s family was never the same after his one night fling. And yours won’t either. Consider the consequences before you become intimate with someone other than your spouse. “Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned? Can a man walk on burning coals without scorching his feet? So it is with the one who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished” (Prov. 6:27-29).
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
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