by Stuart Briscoe Torchbearers’ Fellowship England
CATASTROPHE OF A LEADER
I T IS IMPORTANT FOR US to be mind ful of all of the aspects' of a lead er’s life. Certainly mere externali ties are far from enough. Basically, God uses men and women whose hearts are right. If we really want His best, we must follow His prin ciples. Keep in mind, however, when God works in our hearts, He never eradicates the possibility of sin. This is closely illustrated in the life of David. In the familiar story of David and Bethsheba, we see the catastrophe of a leader. Here we can see the untold possibilities of sin within the heart of a man who has come to know the Lord. A Christian can live dominat ed by sin and exist in absolute de feat. In this terrible incident (II Samuel 11), David was utterly lazy. Instead of going out to battle him self, he sent another in his stead. This is one of the grave sins of the church today through spiritual lazi ness. We should be very much in the battle. There are many men who seem to be quite content in sending women out to the mission field. They don’t have the slightest intention of going themselves. So, at the time when kings should have been at the front lines, David was shirking his responsibility. The Scripture tells us, “It came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed,” (v. 2). Look at what time he got up. As far as I know, there is only one kind of per son who stays in bed all day, apart, of course, from those who are sick and ill. These are those who stay up all night. They are involved in things that they don’t want exposed to the light of day. It is a sad thing to think that it is possible to be a Christian
and be engaged in things of this world. The Bible teaches that it is possible for things to be going on in the hidden recesses of our own minds that we wouldn’t want anyone else to know about. This is what was happening to David. This is why he had to catch up on his sleep during the day. Paul’s letter to the Ephe sians reminds us in no uncertain terms that we are to walk in the light. We are being saved from the darkness that ruins and mars so many people’s lives. When David got up in the evening, he went to walk on the roof of his palace. That was perfectly legiti mate. From the roof, he saw a woman washing herself. That was probably unavoidable. So often we refer to David’s sin while ignoring Beth- sheba’s sin. Keep in mind that she was exposing herself wantonly. I think I know why. Her husband was away at war. She realized that the king wasn’t. She was aware of her attractiveness and that the king had an eye for pretty girls. She willing ly and intentionally let herself be seen before him. David couldn’t help seeing, but when he lusted for her beauty, he was heading downward. Be careful that you’re not being tempted and succumbing to sin. God has told us that He will never allow anyone to be tempted more than he is able to stand. He always makes a way of escape if we are relying on Him. David’s way of getting out of this pit of destruction was his two feet, a neck that turned, and steps down off the roof to the quietness of his own room. Since he was in a spir itual state of apathy and laziness, walking in darkness, he became en snared with utter wantonness. Poor
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