2 Samuel 11:1-27
I never enjoy reading the story of David and Bathsheba. But we need to see, read and learn from it. This story has much for us--plenty of examples of what not to do by looking at David's behavior, but also many examples of honorable and upright behavior through Uriah. Every time I read 2 Samuel 11, the fact that David chose to sin and that his actions were absolutely avoidable really stands out to me.
So what does the story of David and Bathsheba show us about temptation? How can we use 2 Samuel 11 to help us overcome temptation when it presents itself? Tami W.
P.S. All this week and next on Back to the Bible Dr. Kroll is dealing with the subject of temptation. This week our series is Learning to Manage Temptation and next week it's If You Fall, Don't Stay Down. If you get a chance, please join us.
The thing is: we CAN sin, or, we CAN resist temptation. God has chosen to allow us our wills, as He wants us to be completely His by our decision out of love for the Saviour. The Bible tells us: (1) there is ALWAYS a way of escape (2) God will NEVER allow more to tempt us than we can bear (and He does know each one of us) (3) if we resist the devil, he WILL flee. Jesus was tempted in all ways but DID NOT sin. Now, we are NOT Jesus, but we MUST ever TRY to follow His example! He will take it from there! Dear ones, if we remember these things, we will prevail because He did. He has us, with one hand in the Father's hand, and His other in ours.
As Dr. Kroll has said, temptation itself is not a sin. When we heed temptation that is when it becomes a sin. Each day we have to put on the whole armour of God and this will help us when temptation comes. Temptation comes from things we crave, so we have to avoid such things - keep away from them. Look the other way. Call upon the Lord for help and if for some reason we err, we must remember 1 John 1:9 and go down on our knees and seek forgiveness from the Lord.
When we keep in God's Word and temptation presents itself it will be easier for us to keep on the straight and narrow path.
Temptation is common to all according to Scripture. God's faithful protection is available always to all who chose to walk away(or run away) from temptation through the way that God always provides. The way out which God has provided requires immediate and full obedience. It truly is the way of obedience but many times the way of obedience affects my bloated self perception it makes me appear vulnerable and less than in control. During those times I have the option of maintaining my distorted self reliant and self sufficient image or allowing God to be in full control. The times that I have failed are the results of my stubborn reluctance to obey even if it means that my limitations are evident to God and others. When I have failed other times it has been because I refuse to learn the lessons from past failures and believe that even though I engage in the same thinking and acting patterns the consequences will not be the same. Bottom line my stubborness and foolish pride kill me. Yes He is willing and able to keep me from sin, but am I willing to be kept?
Flee is the right thing to do, when it comes to temptation.i really like the contribution of Susie and Joan R that's it,we must try and emulate our Lord Jesus and let the word of God be rich in us,then when temptation comes we will be victorious as a true god we are on earth.In the chapter that we read,we saw that God was displeased with David,though he's been loved by God.So we should run away from temptation,in order not to see the other side of God.
I guess it's all part of putting on the whole armor. I think it's important to not let impure thoughts make a "nest" in your head - as the old saying goes. The thoughts make fly over, but they don't have to stay and make a nest. We can tell Satan to leave us alone by the authority of Jesus Christ.