But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house. -2 Samuel 11:9 (NIV)
Sometimes, when circumstances are out of the ordinary, we have to change our routines. If we’re listening, we may hear the Holy Spirit telling us something isn’t right, and we may not want to proceed in the usual manner…like taking a detour around hazardous terrain, even though it would be the shortest route.
Well, we all know that God doesn’t always give us the shortest route, but the best route, and we can trust He will work things out for His children.
David, Bathsheba, and Uriah
The famous example of this is King David, who didn’t go out with his army to battle. His men won–they destroyed their enemies–but David decided to stay back in Jerusalem.
David was walking up on his palace roof one evening and saw a beautiful woman bathing, and had someone find out for him that she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of his own soldiers. So, he had messengers bring her to the palace, and he slept with her.
Bathsheba, who was on her cycle at the time, sent word to King David later that she was pregnant! So, David has Uriah pulled from the battlefield under the pretenses of wanting a battle report. David then tells Uriah to go home to his wife, hoping that a battle-weary soldier would want to sleep with his wife.
Uriah doesn’t, but instead sleeps at the door of the palace with the rest of the king’s servants. He explains that since the rest of the soldiers, as well as the ark, are out in the open country, how could he go to his house and do such a thing?
More than likely, Uriah would love to be with his wife, but something is amiss…and he won’t partake in it.
David is getting desperate. He invites Uriah to dinner and got him drunk. But even when drunk, Uriah slept at the palace steps on his mat. David eventually gets called out, and must face the Lord for his sins.
##Um, where’s the encouraging part of this story?
The concepts of the story are what we can apply. When we know of active, unrepentant sin, and someone will compound it by trying to cover it up with us as an accomplice or scapegoat, we are not to add to it, but walk upright no matter what heat comes our way. No matter who brings that heat.
For children of God, we have to be careful when deceivers try to use scripture to convince us we need to take a path that will further their schemes, but not honor God. As in all things, ask the Holy Spirit if the path you’re taking–and about to take–will honor the Lord. If not, ask and the Spirit, like GPS, will guide you through an alternate route that will.
And no matter how bumpy the ride, God is with you all the way.
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