The Storm Of Temptation Series

Psalm 51

“The Storm of Temptation”

This morning we are going to talk about the storm of temptation.

Specifically, how we can storm-proof our lives when we have fallen into temptation.

How do we move on from the upheaval that falling into temptation causes?

How do we move on from the guilt and the shame?

How do we pick up and keep going?

Storm-proofing our lives when we have fallen into temptation.

To help us do this we are going to look at the temptation storm which resulted in the life of King David. We are reading 2 Samuel 11:1-3

1 In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.

2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”

David is the King. It is springtime – the time when kings go off to war.

David is not at war.

But he is in a battle.

David has woken up from a nice afternoon nap and is now walking on the palace rooftop in the very late afternoon perving down at all the women who are having their baths on their rooftop.

That is where a lot of people bathed … on their roof.

It isn’t like Bathsheba went up on the roof and while she is having a bath she is saying “Yoo-hoo … David … look at me I’m having a bath.”

Bathsheba is just going about her daily routine – like many other women in Jerusalem.

Within his own palace David has at least seven wives.

There are also, at the very least, ten concubines.

David has more than enough women in his life.

YET … David still has a battle with this temptation.

So David sends a man on an errand … to find out who this woman is.

The man who brings the report tries to get David to come to his sense.

My King – here is the report of my visit. Her name is Bathsheba … she is a WIFE.

Do you get the hint my King? She already belongs to someone else.

Maybe if you have specific needs, you should go and visit one or your SEVEN wives ... or TEN concubines.

The fact that she is a WIFE should have been sufficient information.

But wait … there is more.

Bathsheba is the

… daughter of Eliam.

… and she is the wife of Uriah the Hittite

These names are significant.

In 2 Samuel 23 we are given a description of David’s mightiest warriors … there are thirty of them.

The “Thirty” were men who have been devoted and loyal to David from before the time David become king. They were experts in combat and fought alongside David in many battles. They were trustworthy and would do anything for David. Eventually they became the personal bodyguard of King David.

Look who is in the list of “The Thirty” (2 Samuel 23:34, 39)

We have

34 Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite … is that the same Eliam who is the father of Bathsheba? There is a good chance it is the same man.

There is no doubt about the other name in the list of the Thirty Mighty Men.

39 and Uriah the Hittite

My King

Bathsheba is … possibly … the daughter of one of your good mates who is a mighty man ELIAM.

Bathsheba is … definitely … the WIFE of your good mate and mighty man … URIAH.

Without saying it the servant is saying, “My King … come to your sense … this is a really bad idea.”

But David doesn’t come to his senses.

Bathsheba is seen, described, named, summoned, and brought to David’s bed.

Surprise. Surprise. A child is conceived.

Then there is a cover-up which ultimately leads to the death of Uriah.

Then God sends Nathan the prophet to confront David.

Then the child dies.

If you are not familiar with the fuller story read 2 Samuel 11-12.

David falls … really David jumps … into temptation. Now David is in the middle of the storm which falling into temptation causes.

With that back-ground in mind let’s read Psalm 51

The subscription reads For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

The Psalm is telling us that the historical background to this Psalm is 2 Samuel 11-12.