_edited_edited.jpg)
- P L U N D E R E R
- Oct 13, 2025
- 4 min read
Trigger Warning: Makes mention of assaults of a sexual nature.
David made a mistake, choosing to stay back in Jerusalem during a war campaign (2 Samuel 11). This error didn't seem like a big deal until he went up on the roof of his palace one evening and looked down. He saw a beautiful woman bathing and desired her. Alas, the lust he felt in that moment triggered a series of unfortunate events.
He slept with that woman, Bathsheba. It didn't matter to him that she was married or that her husband, Uriah, was a soldier in his army. When he discovered she was pregnant, he brought Uriah back from the warfront, hoping he'd sleep with his wife and the pregnancy could be pinned on him. However, Uriah didn't go home to his wife, frustrating David's devious efforts. So, the king had Uriah placed on the frontline of a battle and he died, opening the way for David to take Bathsheba as his wife.
The Lord confronted David with his sin through His prophet Nathan who told the king, "the sword will never depart from your house" (2 Samuel 12:10). Although David sincerely repented, and God forgave, the judgment stood and David's family endured several violent incidents. David's daughter, Tamar, was assaulted by her father's son, Amnon. He was encouraged to do so by their first cousin, Jonadab. Amnon was in turn killed by his brother, Absalom, another one of David's sons with whom Tamar shared a mother.
Although Absalom received his father's forgiveness, he later usurped the throne. He then slept with his father's concubines within earshot of the public on the bad advice of Ahithophel, Bathsheba's grandfather, a man who'd been a counselor to David and was previously known for his wisdom. The violence continued with Absalom going to war with his father and losing his life on the battlefield. Even after this, another son of David tried to muscle his way onto the throne when his father was much older. This son, Adonijah, was outsmarted by David who announced Solomon as his successor. That same Adonijah later took a step that was interpreted as a threat to Solomon's reign and that resulted in his execution.
Look at all the bloodshed that stemmed from a solitary lustful thought in the mind and heart of one person! Keep in mind that David was a man who pleased God. The Lord used him as the standard for every other king that sat on the throne of the kingdom of Judah. God loved David so much that He ensured Jesus was his descendant. Jesus was regularly called the Son of David in His time in acknowledgement of His connection to royalty (Matthew 9:27; Matthew 21:9).
Ezekiel 14:21 states that God uses four judgements - famine, beasts (death from animal attack), the sword (war/violence) and pestilence (disease). The judgment David and his family faced was the sword and it cut deep. This was in spite of how God felt about him. He placed a visible scar on him and his family to serve as a reminder of the cost of sin. That said, it is crucial to note that not every sin will produce a judgment the way David experienced. Especially because of the blood of Jesus spilled at the cross for us.
God can and does forgive as He did with David. Still there are times He must leave a scar on the person so that they won't easily forget the consequences and their sin won't become a skeleton they can hide in a closet. When God does this, however, it is to keep the individual from becoming a hypocrite whose private life does not align with their public persona. The reminder of their sin can also serve as a testimony of where God brought them from. For those who receive godly perspective, they are strengthened in their faith to continue serving God but with even more zeal. And those of us who get to learn from their story, will hopefully hesitate to do that which could bring such a judgment upon us.
In His divine authority, God knew that his servant needed the reminder and that generations of Christians would learn from this. Fortunately, David never once turned away from the Lord. He remained humble and feared the Lord. God didn't allow his mistakes to eliminate him from His grand plans for him including contributing to the Temple's construction. As He has made us aware of the scar, the Lord will help us. By the grace of God, we shall not commit the sins that would cause Him to mark us with a scar. And I pray that when we err, the blood of Jesus will speak a better word than that of Abel, IJN, Amen.
As you wait for fellowship at 12 Noon EST, consider giving your life to Christ with the Altar Call below and reading the following previous P&P messages:
If someone asked you why you chose the Lord to be your God, what would your answer be? Would it be because He was the God of your ancestors? Or would you be able to provide a personal reason for why He is your God?
Many of us are second, third, or fourth-generation Christians. We have learned to honor the God of our forefathers and mothers. Technically speaking, there's nothing wrong with this. However, remember the story of Gideon, where he challenged the angel sent to him? Gideon asked where the God his ancestors had told him about was, the One who'd brought them out of slavery. To him, he saw no evidence of this God because he and his people were once again living in oppression (Judges 6:13).
Gideon had heard about God but hadn't experienced the Lord, and that is why he spoke the way he did. God doesn't want that for any of His people. He wants us to know Him firsthand. This is why He creates avenues to experience Him directly. He wants all people to have intimate knowledge of who He is and what He can do. That way, each person who claims to belong to Him can give a unique and personal reason for why He is their God. Think about Job. God called him His servant in Job 1. Yet, Job later acknowledged that he hadn't truly known the Lord, saying in Job 42:5 - I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
Yes, God chose us. Yes, we are predestined. And yet, the God of the universe has set things up so that we get to select Him, too. This may not seem important, but in a time when many feel increasingly helpless due to the growing chaos, what if your ability to show and tell why you believe in the Lord and His Son could transform the world? What if your experience with God is what someone needs to have hope? What if seeing you behave like a true follower of Christ is enough to change the trajectory of an individual and possibly a nation?
We Christians often forget that our pastors, deacons, and ushers at church can only do so much. We ignore the fact that we, too, are called to serve. That we, too, have been implanted with gifts and talents that God wants released into the world through us. It can be a kind word. A silent prayer. Fasting for someone who has no idea of our sacrifice. The small things have a big impact when they are godly. How do your words show that you picked the Lord to be your God? How do your actions illustrate that you selected to serve Him because you know who He is and what He can do? Does your presence in a place bring the peace of Jesus and the grace of the Lord?
There's so much to consider, but remember this - God wants us to be His representatives on earth. His ambassadors who operate with His authority, bringing the salt that preserves a decaying world long enough for more souls to discover Him and choose Him. For this to happen, we have to pick Him first, and we have to develop a genuine relationship with Him. He has to be the God we know, not just the God of our ancestors, our pastor, or some other person we're connected to in some way.
If you, whether a Christian or not, want to be a part of this, choose Him by giving your life to His Son, Jesus. It is important to do this because Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 15:6). Next, tell Him you want to know Him more and be able to express why you chose Him as your God. Then watch Him introduce Himself to you anew and create opportunities to share your testimony. When this happens, let others know about your God and why you chose Him. Encourage them to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).
As you wait for fellowship at 12 Noon EST, consider giving your life to Christ with the Altar Call below, reviewing the testimony thread, and reading the following previous P&P messages: