神的仆人也会犯罪
1过了一年,到列王出战的时候,大卫又差派约押率领臣仆和以色列众人出战。他们就打败亚扪人,围攻拉巴。大卫仍住在耶路撒冷。
2一日,太阳平西,大卫从床上起来,在王宫的平顶上游行,看见一个妇人沐浴,容貌甚美。
3大卫就差人打听那妇人是谁。有人说:“她是以连的女儿,赫人乌利亚的妻拔示巴。”
4大卫差人去,将妇人接来。那时她的月经才得洁净。她来了,大卫与她同房,她就回家去了。
5于是她怀了孕,打发人去告诉大卫说:“我怀了孕。”
6大卫差人到约押那里说:“你打发赫人乌利亚到我这里来。”约押就打发乌利亚去见大卫。
7乌利亚来了,大卫问约押好,也问兵好,又问争战的事怎样。
8大卫对乌利亚说:“你回家去,洗洗脚吧!”乌利亚出了王宫,随后王送他一份食物。
9乌利亚却和他主人的仆人一同睡在宫门外,没有回家去。
信息分享
这类事件的发生,应该归咎哪一方呢?岂不是双方都有责任?拔示巴能否加倍谨慎?大卫看见女士出浴,能否即时转身离去?有多少人知道这件事?请看第3、4、5、15和27节所提及的人。
在第5节,当大卫听到拔示巴怀孕的消息时,你认为他会想到甚么呢?他必然立刻意识到问题的严重。有鉴他过往一直对神忠诚,他如今为了掩饰罪行而作的行动,似乎令人觉得难以理解。
新约的标准是否有别于旧约呢?不,基督对淫乱所下的定义甚至来得更加严谨(太五28);保罗也对淫乱之罪直斥其非。神的心意是要人过圣洁的生活,而不是污秽的生活。
大卫第一眼看见拔示巴,或第一次召她入宫的时候,当然没有想到会犯下如此严重的罪。他只想到当时的快乐。今天许多悲剧的发生,岂不是一样吗?
我们怎能胜过这类引诱呢?首先,要紧靠主和主的话语,紧记将每天都交给祂。当遇到试探时,求祂保守你,不要让你的心纵情世间的享乐。每当电视出现情欲的画面,就要立即关掉;小心选择读物。
将空余时间用于事奉主,以及与信徒相交,常常亲近主。当不慎跌倒的时候,要紧记约翰壹书一章9节的应许:「我们若认自己的罪…………神是信实的,必赦免我们的罪。」我们信靠的神,对我们实在太好了。
DAVID, GOD'S SINNING SERVANT
2 Samuel 11:1-9
1 It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.
3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.
5 And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”
6 Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7 When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered.
8 And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king’s house, and a gift of food from the king followed him.
9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.
Message
Who is to blame in most stories like this? Both parties? Should Bathsheba have been more modest? Should David have turned away at once? How many people knew about it? Look at the people mentioned in verses 3, 4,5,15 and 27.
What you think would be David's thoughts when he received the message in verse 5? He would realize the implications immediately. The steps he took to conceal the “perfect crime” seem incredible now, knowing his past devotion to the Lord.
Is there a difference between New Testament standards and those of the Old Testament? No, Christ spoke even more strongly against adultery (Matthew 5:28). Paul's words are very straight regarding sexual sin. God's plan calls for a holy life, not a life of impurity.
David certainly did not plan to go as far as he did when he first saw Bathsheba, nor when he called her to the palace. He only thought of the present pleasure. There are many stories like this today, aren't there?
How can we stand against this kind of temptation? First stay true to the Lord and stay in His Word. Make sure that each day is given to Him. Ask for His protection in times of temptation. Don't feed your soul with what the world offers. Turn off the T.V. rather than let it run on with every kind of sensuality. Watch what you read.
Keep yourself busy in the Lord's service and in fellowship with the Lord's people. Stay close to Christ. But if there is failure, remember, “If we confess ... He is faithful to forgive.” (1 John 1:9) Isn't He a wonderful God?

