I’m reading 2 Samuel in the Bible about David and his sin with Bathsheba. I dread reading this portion because it’s all downhill for David from this point on – so it seems. The illegitimate child dies. Then, his son rapes his daughter (half-sister to the rapist). Then, the girl’s full-brother kills him in revenge. And then, that son mounts an insurrection against David. His family falls apart in the worst way imageable….

If the Bible is simply a book on morals, then this is devastating. David committed one sin (maybe two), and he pays for it so dearly. If David had to do it all over again, I’m sure he wouldn’t even go near that woman. It’s a very harsh lesson. And it makes me depressed because who hasn’t sinned? If we have to pay for our sins the way David did, then we can easily imagine a lifetime of misery, strife, and dysfunction. It is too heavy a price to pay…

Enter Jesus. Jesus didn’t come to show a better example. He came as a substitute! Oh, He is a better example than David to be sure. David was simply a bridge to Jesus in that even a man after God’s own heart like David failed miserably. If someone so godly like David failed, then what chance do we have? And that is exactly the conclusion we should draw – We are no better than David. We can’t do better. We won’t do better. And that is why David needed Jesus. And that is why we need Jesus.

David’s role is to lead us to Jesus. Even with his failings, his role is to lead us to Jesus. Not “well, David failed, but I will succeed.” Rather, “If a man like David who is better than me failed, I have no chance. I need Jesus.”

Fly to Jesus and stay with Him. He will keep you from sin and ruining your life. Don’t ask how close you can get to sin and not sin. Ask how close you can get to Jesus and away from sin.

PH