Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
2 Samuel 11:6-13 (ESV)
6 So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab was doing and how the people were doing and how the war was going. 8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out of the king’s house, and there followed him a present from the king. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. 10 When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?” 11 Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.” 12 Then David said to Uriah, “Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
David is making plans, but they are a reaction to a problem. Instead of protecting God’s people like a shepherd protects his sheep, David abuses his power and then tries to cover up and hide. Of course we need to react to situations that arise, but our initial reaction should always be a turn to Jesus. If the God of the universe loves us so much that He was willing to die for us then that loving, powerful God can and wants to handle the messes that we make. Have you ever made a really bad decision, but tried to find a way out on your own? You were ashamed so you didn’t ask for help. Instead you covered it up? Maybe it was a financial mistake? Maybe it was something you knew your spouse or your boss would be upset about, so you tried to hide it. Instead of hiding, react by turning to Jesus. He loves you and wants to save you.