[From July 5, 2013]
"I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel & Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more."
(2 Samuel 12:8)
Just about everyone knows the sordid story of David & Bathsheba. Adultery has always been a factor in human society. Our sexual desires/appetites are very strong. Oftentimes, passion seems to trump commitment - the the "heat of the moment" it's hard to think clearly. Modern day cinema & novels speak of "soul mates" and "true love," often surpassing whatever current relationships one might be in.
But David knew what he was doing. As King, he was the one in power & the instigator of this particular encounter. Failure to control his impulses led to further deception, and ultimately murder. So God sent David's pastor to confront him via parable (2 Sam. 12:1-4). David immediately saw the injustice in the parable, but needed Nathan to connect the dots to his life.
What struck me as I reread this difficult passage today is that God would have given David more, had he but asked (v.8)! We all have challenges with impulse control. But instead of trying to "man up" and handle it ourselves, just go to God with a need. Whether it's sexual frustration, financial challenges, relationship issues, etc... Tell God our heart's desires and allow Him to shape, correct, and provide whatever it is that we need most.
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