May 13th
Today’s reading is from 2nd Samuel 11–12 and 1st Chronicles 20. This passage of David’s springtime campaign against the Ammonites at Rabbah is well known because it covers his greatest sin—his affair with Bathsheba.
What stood out is that Chronicles leaves this incident out. The purpose in writing Chronicles was to inspire a post-exilic Israel using the positive history of God’s obedient people rather than focusing on the well-known failures of their journey. However, the omission of David's affair in Chronicles makes the account in Samuel stand out all the more.
The verse that stood out most was 2 Samuel 11:1,
“In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.”
Here lies the root of David’s downfall—idleness. While his men were at war, David stayed behind. I’ve learned firsthand that idleness creates opportunities for temptation and sin. That’s why it’s so important that we stay engaged in the spiritual battle of our own lives. I was recently reminded while reading Deitrich Bonnhoeffer’s book “Life Together,” that each day should begin with our recognition that God is the only One worthy of our praise. Daily we should meditate on His Word, lift songs of praise, remain united with His people, and cry out to Him in desperate dependence for the strength and victory we need for the day. Otherwise, like David, we may find ourselves spiritually lounging on "the couch" (v. 2 ESV) while the enemy seizes the opportunity to attack.
Another takeaway from this story is the importance of confession. David initially tried to cover up his sin, but ultimately 2nd Samuel 11:27 reminds us that God does see all,
“…the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.”
Sin entangles and holds us back from maturing when we attempt to cover it up. But God sees both our hearts and our actions, just as He did with Adam and Eve in the garden, and He will bring our sin to light. It is important to remember, His purpose is not to shame—it is to redeem and transform those He loves.
As our lives are “chronicled,” there will certainly be many positives to inspire the next generation. But it’s also true that we stumble in many ways and must be honest about our failures so that we can grow up into the full mature stature that is found in Jesus. Sin is part of our reality, and so it does us no good to hide it. Bringing it into the light is the only path to forgiveness, restoration, freedom, and lasting peace.
Takeaway: Make sure to engage with God and the faith He has given you each day, and when you stumble, confess honestly before Him. Whereas idleness invites temptation, confession resets the pathway to spiritual maturity.