In the episode with Bathsheba, David allowed himself to fall deeper and deeper into sin.
1. David abandoned his purpose by staying home from war.
2. He focused on his own desires.
3. When temptation came, he looked into it instead of turning away from it.
4. He sinned deliberately.
5. He tried to cover up his sin by deceiving others.
6. He committed murder to continue the cover-up. Eventually David's sin was exposed and punished.
7. The consequences of David's sin were far-reaching, affecting many others (11:17; 12:11, 14, 15)
David could have chosen to stop and turn from evil at any stage along the way. But once sin gets started, it is difficult to stop. The deeper the mess, the less we want to admit having caused it. It's much easier to stop sliding down a hill when you are near the top than when you are halfway down. The best solution is to stop sin before it starts.
As David looked from the roof of the palace, he saw a beautiful woman bathing, and he was filled with lust. David should have left the roof and fled the temptation. Instead, he entertained the temptation by inquiring about Bathsheba. The results were devastating.
To flee temptation,
1. Ask God in earnest prayer to help you stay away from people, places, and situations that may tempt you.
2. Memorize and meditate on portions of Scripture that combat your specific weaknesses. At the root of most temptation is a real need or desire that God can fill, but we must trust in his timing.
3. Find another believer with whom you can openly share your struggles, and call this person for help when temptation strikes.
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All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV
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