Clean Through the Word

2 Samuel 9:1–11:27; John 15:1-27; Psalm 119:49-64; Proverbs 16:1-3

The Thing That David had Done Displeased the Lord
And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.– 2 Samuel 11:1-5

And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. – 2 Samuel 11:26-27

It was time for the kings to go forth to battle. David sent him men and his servants but didn’t go himself. Had he been in battle, he would not have been on his rooftop as Bathsheba was bathing. But David was, and he was tempted. Right there, he had the opportunity to resist, but instead, he gave in to the temptation and asked about her. His messenger told David she was Uriah’s wife. Right there again, he had the opportunity to resist the temptation, but again he gave in to it and sent for her and laid with her. Bathsheba became pregnant. Sin exposed, but then David tried to cover it up and in the end had Uriah killed, took her as his wife, and she gave David a son. Maybe it seemed to David the plans had worked out, but God knew, and the passage says the thing that David did displeased Him. How often are we just like David?

Clean Through the Word
I [Jesus] am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.- John 15:1-8

The Word of God cleans us up. It brings conviction, which leads to confession, which leads to repentance, which leads to life.

The Word Which Hast Caused Me to Hope
Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law. I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself. Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law. This I had, because I kept thy precepts. – Psalm 119:49-56

I Have Said I Would Keep They Words
Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words. I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes. – Psalm 119:57-64

Commit Thy Works Unto the Lord
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. – Proverbs 16:3

Had David committed his works to the Lord and done the works the Lord had for him in that hour, he would have been able to cast the temptations of the enemy aside when it was a thought instead of trying to clean up on his own after he fell into the enemy’s trap. We have so much to learn from David.

Help me to heed Your warnings, Father. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen