ALERTNESS and PRAYER prevents TEMPTATION
April 2 Bible
Reading: 2 Samuel Chapters 10-12
ALERTNESS and PRAYER prevents TEMPTATION
In the first ten
chapters of Second Samuel, we see a king who could do no wrong. David was a man
truly after God’s own heart, victorious in his battles, making the correct
judgments and was even magnanimous to Saul’s family. He begins his reign in
prayer (2 Sam 2:1), and advances in faith. However, when we arrive at chapter
eleven, King David falls down from his lofty pedestal into sin that was so
egregious that this chapter ends with these words: “But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Sam
11:27).
How did things go so wrong in David’s
life? We can note
the four steps that led David down the slippery slope of sin:
- David neglected his duty. David was supposed to go to the
battlefield during the spring time, but he stayed back in Jerusalem (2 Sam
11:1). When we are out of place where we should be, we fall into temptation.
- David desired for idleness and
comfort as he got up
from his bed and wandered on the roof of his house (v. 2). Idleness usually
gives way to temptation.
- David’s eyes wandered to forbidden
places. He committed adultery in his heart first
before committing the act of adultery (Matt 5:28).
- David frantically tried to cover up
his sin by murdering
an innocent man who was much more honorable that him.
David sinned against God - having broken at least three of the Ten Commandments - and thought
that he had managed to build an effective cover-up plan. He only overlooked one
small detail: he could not hide his sins from
God. God sent his servant Nathan to confront and condemn David, which was
God’s way of restoring His servant. The penitent David confessed readily of his
sin: So David said to Nathan, "I
have sinned against the Lord" (2 Sam 12:13) and wrote about this in
one of his psalms: "For I
acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is always before me. Against You, You
only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight" (Psalms
51:3-4).
In the event we are tempted, like
David let us be honest with God and with ourselves. We should stop trying to hide our
sins behind cheap excuses and lies. We should be willing to deal with and
accept the consequences of our sin. We should totally surrender ourselves to
God. We should allow Jesus to come into our hearts, forgive our sin by
accepting His free gift of salvation and let Him start the process of
rebuilding our lives on His firm, eternal foundation.
Let us also remember that alertness
and prayer prevents temptations in our lives. "Watch and pray,
lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
weak" (Matt
26:41; Mark 14:38; Luke 22:40, 46). We
succumb to temptation when we neglect our intimacy with God and wander off to
forbidden places. Let no one say when
he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by
evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is
drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it
gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death
(James 1:13-15).
A final word of wisdom: "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor 10:12).
