“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” – James 1: 14-15
When I read these two verses from the Book of James, I immediately think of that evening when King David went up to the roof of his palace for some fresh air. That he is back home in Jerusalem is interesting in and of itself, as his men are engaged in battle against the Ammonites. Should not the leader of the Israelite army be on the battlefield leading his men? I find this rather curious.
But what happens next is curious even more so, and will set off a reckless chain of events that will ultimately lead to the murder of his most loyal warrior (Uriah), his own family being overcome with shame, and the tragic death of three of his own sons.
But there she was, bathing in the evening sun. She was naked and very attractive. David noticed her out of the corner of his eye and from that moment on he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
Temptation came. “Look the other away, David. Look away. You’re a married man and God has chosen you to lead this nation. Look away. Don’t give into your lustful desires. Just look away!”
That the woman was Uriah’s wife mattered not. David saw her and immediately said to himself, “I must have her.” Instead of running the other way, he was dragged away by his own evil desires. He called for her, and she came to him. Then, David’s desire conceived and gave birth to sin; and this sin grew into even more sin, leading to heartache and death.
The enemy appears from out of nowhere, and he always shows up in our weakest moments. The devil didn’t appear to Jesus in the wilderness on Day 2 of his fast, but on Day 40. This is how Satan operates. David was lonely and bored. And he answered to nobody because he was the king. Besides, her husband was away in Rabbah engaged in battle. Nobody will know. It’ll just be our little secret.
David was fighting the enemy too, just on a different battlefield. But Uriah and his fellow soldiers would be far more victorious against their enemy than David would be with his.
“God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone,” James says in verse 13. God is self-sufficient, lacking nothing. And God absolutely hates sin, so it would go completely against His sin-hating nature to tempt anyone to do something He hates.
Concerning temptation, Paul reminds us this: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Cor. 10:13
When temptation shows up in your life, remember what happened to David. It led to sin and that sin gave birth to death and destruction.
God provides a way out of temptation. But are we looking for His exit?
Former Blackout Artist 