Relaxing at wartime
2 Samuel 11:1 The following spring, the time of year when kings go to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to destroy the Ammonites. In the process they laid siege to the city of Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
Introduction: Calvary greetings to all, Our labour and service unto the Redeemer will not be in vain in Jesus name
There is time for everything under the Sun.
📢 Ecclesiastes 3:1,8b TO EVERYTHING there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:… a time for war and a time for peace.
This week, we want to look at “Relaxing at wartime” as Soldiers of Christ.
🛑 Learning from the travails of David, sin that knocks at the door of all Believers, Christians or kings and priests unto God gained entrance at the time David was to be at war but chose to relax at Jerusalem.
📢 2 Samuel 11:1-5(NLT) The following spring, the time of year when kings go to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to destroy the Ammonites. In the process they laid siege to the city of Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem. Late one afternoon David got out of bed after taking a nap and went for a stroll on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent for her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. (She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period.) Then she returned home. Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent a message to inform David.
🛑 As soldiers of Christ, our battles are not physical but spiritual.
📢 Ephesians 6:12(AMP) For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
⚠️ That is why our weapons are not physical but spiritual.
📢 2 Corinthians 10:4-5(NLT) We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ.
🛑 As soldiers of Christ, we contend with Satan, the World and the Flesh. Satan walks about looking for Christians unguarded hour and attack in subtle ways through lust of the Flesh and worldly desires.
❗When king David was relaxing at wartime, Lust took over.
David got out of bed after taking a nap and went for a stroll on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.
📢 James 1:15 Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death.
❗ He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent for her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. (She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period.) Then she returned home. Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent a message to inform David.
📢 1 John 2:16(AMP) For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]–these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].
❓Now how will king David explain to people of God that he impregnated another man’s wife?
❗He started evil plans to cover up his sin just like most of us would do to cover tracks of sin.
📢 2 Samuel 11:6-8(NLT) So David sent word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing. Then he told Uriah, “Go on home and relax.” David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace.
❗First plan to give Uriah the child that did not belong to him failed.
📢 2 Samuel 11:9-10(NLT) But Uriah wouldn’t go home. He stayed that night at the palace entrance with some of the king’s other servants. When David heard what Uriah had done, he summoned him and asked, “What’s the matter with you? Why didn’t you go home last night after being away for so long?”
❗Because we cannot hide anything from God, Great Grace was upon Uriah to reject the offer to meet his wife. Putting myself in Uriah’s shoes, I will quickly jump at offer to be with my beautiful wife I left for such a longtime. God helped Uriah to resist David’s evil plan and he gave a perfect answer to David.
📢 2 Samuel 11:1 Uriah replied, “The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, and Joab and his officers are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I will never be guilty of acting like that.”
🛑 Whenever there is genuine heart to love and serve God, there will always be great Grace to overcome fleshly desires that displeases God.
❗David used alcohol to make Uriah fall into his evil agenda but God helped the man even in the state of drunkenness.
📢 2 Samuel 11:13 Then David invited him to dinner and got him drunk. But even then he couldn’t get Uriah to go home to his wife. Again he slept at the palace entrance.
❗As soldiers of Christ, we should not be tied up with affairs of this world if we want to satisfy the Master.
📢 2 Timothy 2:4(NLT) And as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army.
❗Once a child of God falls into sin, the adversary gives deadly suggestions such as murder or suicide to cover up.
David chose to scheme for Uriah’s death to cover up his sin.
📢 2 Samuel 11:14-17 So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver. The letter instructed Joab, “Station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so that he will be killed.” So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy’s strongest men were fighting. And Uriah was killed along with several other Israelite soldiers.
❓What was the origin of adultery and murder committed by David?
📢 2 Sam.11:1…when kings go to war, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
❓Do you relax in fellowship, bible study and in serving God when things are going according to your plan?
❓Have you being indulging your Flesh in worldly pleasures when you are supposed to put it under the control of the Spirit by the word of God?
📢 1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
❓Do you think that God is not aware of secret sins that are hidden from man?
📢 Job 34:21(AMP) For [God’s] eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.
📢 Proverbs 5:21(GNS) The Lord sees everything you do. Wherever you go, he is watching.
📢 Jeremiah 16:17(GNS) I see everything they do. Nothing is hidden from me; their sins do not escape my sight.
Finally brethren, Christians are NOT to relax even in Zion, the holy city of refuge, where the Lord protects His people from evil world.
📢 Amos 6:1(AMP) WOE TO those who are at ease in Zion and to those on the mountain of Samaria who are careless and feel secure, the notable men of the chief [because chosen by God] of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes!
🛑 Relaxation from spiritual warfare gives chance for the adversary to operate and control the life of every Christian.
📢 1 Peter 5:8(NLT) Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.
✋ Maranatha.
