David’s Rest

2 Sam. 11

David is now the king of an unified Israel. The LORD gave him rest from his enemies – Philistines, Ammonites, Syrians, Moabites and others, and he rested. As years passed by, and “in the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle… David remained at Jerusalem” (2 Sam. 11:1). One day, as David rested, he saw Bathsheba taking a bath. He sent for her and slept with her. As she conceived, David made plans that killed Uriah, her husband, David’s own loyal soldier.

While David was running from Saul, and while he fought with his enemies, David drew near to God. But when he rested, it appeared that David was drifting away from the LORD. While he was on the run and struggling with his life,  David did not have much, but he had the LORD who protected him, who talked with him and who fought with him. But when he became the king, David now had too many things to depend upon, and he drifted away from the LORD who raised him up.

Christians have so many things to learn from this aspect of the life of David. When we have too many things to depend upon, we gather problems for ourselves. But when we have nothing else but the LORD, we are happy and more satisfied with life.

Let us, therefore, set our priorities right and see on what we depend ourselves upon.