The Cost and Pain of Evil

 Galatians 4    Psalm 53     2 Samuel 11-12

In the tribe of Israel there were very distinct differences between those born to free women and those born to slaves. Birth order also played a major role in where you placed in the family. We see Paul showing the difficulty created when we try and take control of life and then have to live with the consequences. He points out to the Galatians that they had received salvation by grace through faith and now were turning away from what they had been taught by him.

Note that he tells them that he became like them and was challenging them to now become like him. It was not that they had wronged him but were rejecting what God offered them. He points out that his is nothing new as seen in the relationship between Abraham and his wife and the slave that he had children to. Both women had children to him, and the slave’s son was the older, but the law demanded that the free born child would inherit the rights of the firstborn. When we try to take control of our lives rather than following God’s way, we invite turmoil into your lives as well.

The song today, written by one versed in Hebrew literature, tells us that often the people of Israel felt abandoned and alone but with the hope that one day God would restore Israel to its place of honor.

The well-known story of David and Bathsheba told today is one that should be read closely looking for details you miss because you think you know the story so well. When David should have been in the fields with his army, it was the responsibility of the king to lead, he stays back and sends them off on their own but under his orders. There is a shift in David’s life here from doing what is right to using the power now in his hands to bring him pleasure.

While David is in Jerusalem, rather than out with the army, he looks out over the city from which he rules and knows that he has the power to control. He also sees a beautiful woman bathing outside. His next failure is not turning his eyes from this naked woman but begins to pursue her, inquiring who she is and then sending for her when her husband is where he, David should be. Taking advantage of Uriah’s absence David next sins by using his power to bring Bathsheba to him, seduces her as she appears to be willing, has sex with her. Note that she purifies herself before she goes back home. The problem is that sin often results in consequences that cannot be washed away by ritual water.

When she sends word to David, he fails again by trying to cover up their sin but the one he has offended shows his priorities to be right and puts the well being of the troops before his own pleasure. After a second attempt by getting Uriah drunk and yet he maintains his integrity, David sets out to destroy him so that he can cover his sin. After the murder of Uriah by enemy fire David claims Bathsheba has his wife and simply believes that he has made things appear to be right.

God sees David for who he really is and sends the prophet Nathan to confront David. It is interesting that Nathan uses a parable, a story with a purpose to teach, to get David’s attention and raise his anger and then have that very anger pointed back at him by the voice of God.

Don’t miss that David recognizes their sin, repents and asks forgiveness. God takes the very thing from David that he was trying to protect when that son dies. But Bathsheba will bear another son, Solomon, that will touch the world with his wisdom even in the midst of his challenging life.

One of the great challenges of life with free will is the ability to ignore doing what is right and trade our integrity for temporary pleasure. So many times, that temporary pleasure leads to a lifetime of pain as we see here today. God gives us instructions for life not for his benefit but ours.