The Way Of The Warrior
In our last devotionals, we have seen how the Lord trained David to be king. It was grueling training, filled with experiences that God used, to make David a man of integrity. Without question, the Lord will put similar challenges into your life, since you are a: ‘…royal priesthood…’ (I Pt 2:9). You are being spiritually trained to represent the Living Lord. If the President of the United States tapped you on the shoulder, asking you to represent the people of our nation, working for their benefit, at the sacrifice of your time and energy, most would willingly agree. The same is true for the Creator of the Universe. He is asking you to sacrifice your time and resources for the people of the Kingdom of God. What will you say?
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” (Isa. 6:8). Will you do the same, as Isaiah the prophet?
When David finally became the King of Israel, his training did not end. One is in spiritual training your entire life. That is your tour of duty. Your deployment lasts until you rotate to your heavenly home. It is a fulfilling and rewarding deployment, with all sorts of gratifying accomplishments, and interesting experiences, and yes – trials.
Something happened to David, that occurs to many people of faith. He got complacent. He had an esteemed position, he had accomplished colossal things for the nation of Israel. He conquered enemies, he had enormous wealth and prestige, he was riding high on success. Then, one little nagging thing, captured his mind, and he acted shamefully. He minimized his responsibilities, since he had great power, and he ricocheted from being a man of godly character, to becoming a man of manipulation and deception. He changed that quickly.
When you represent the Lord, he will not allow his followers to walk off a moral cliff, without a ‘heads-up!’ The Lord will intervene, since you represent His administration. Subtle, little degrading things lead to big pratfalls, he will step in and call you on the carpet. He’s your CO, and if you start wandering down a foolish path, he will demand your attention. When you get to look him straight in the eyes, he’s wise, he’s faithful, and he can be a no-nonsense kind of leader. He will warn you. But you also have executive decision-making authority he has granted you, and though he warns – you might go plunging off that cliff. After all, you are captain of your own soul – right? Nope.
David, got to his position of authority, and then became complacent.
In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. (2 Sam. 11:1).
Well, this great. No danger here. Everything is going well, military matters are soundly managed, opponents are being overcome. David has been a great leader, and his subordinates are fulfilling in admirably. What’s wrong?
Remember, every word in Scripture is important. The writer points out the fact that: kings go out to battle. So what? The writer adds more info: But David remained at Jerusalem. The writer is alerting the reader that something was amiss, something was out of sync. David was relaxing, not fully dialed in. It was not a 10 on the 1 to 10 scale, but there was a hiccup here. David should be at war. This was about a 3, on the oh-oh scale.
Complacency was sneaking into David’s life. He began to round corners. He’s had a hard life, with difficult circumstances, and he’s kicking back a little. No big deal.
It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. (2 Sam. 11:2). All the alarms and bells are clanging in every readers mind. David’s oblivious to the danger. Eye candy! Naked, eye-candy.
He’s fought fierce enemies, he’s subdued nations, he’s consolidated Israel into a mega-power. But, now he was in serious trouble – and he does not know it. Readers are yelling at him to turn away, don’t look anymore – run! (As if we could change history!). David is blind to his vulnerability, or worse. He willingly engages in sexual fantasy.
Job, the oldest book of the Bible, tells how he dealt with this age-old problem of sensual titillation: “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? (Job 31:1). The word ‘gaze’ does not mean to glance, but to inspect. It is not casual. David was looking carefully, invading this woman’s privacy and failing to rein himself in. He was supposed to be leading his fighting forces in battle, but he’s laying around in the after-noon, watching NASCAR or PGA golf, and twists himself into a sexual pretzel.
Jesus warned us about men’s proclivity to visual sexual imaginings. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matt. 5:28). Jesus makes a point about the danger of sexual impropriety. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. (Matt. 5:29). Raging hormones fueled by visual stimulation is so compelling it makes men lose their minds. We all get it. Jesus warns about the destructive nature of illicit sex, by making this exaggeration, of ripping out your eyeball, so you do not crash and burn. David has many wives, and concubines – and yet he wants more! Sex is about more than sex.
Pornography is a raging, tidal wave in the Christian community.
Okay, okay. If David just stops here – he’ll be safe. Right? He’ll just have to deal with the shame of inspecting, then imagining then invading this woman’s privacy. It does not matter if the woman was being provocative or not. He might need to apologize to the woman, then — he and Lord will need a serious face-to-face. Nip this issue in the bud, readjust with healthy sexual outreach to one’s own wife, enjoy her, and her love. Dodge a bullet here, and readjust, and get some help for the sexual fantasy stuff.
David’s got plenty of spiritual support, Samuel the prophet, and Nathan the prophet (2 Sam 7). Wise godly men were present and willing to help, even with the shameful issues that one faces. One does not need be a victim to one’s addictions. What will David do?
The Warrior’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father. I’ve got a problem. My thoughts can often be out-of-control, with sexual ideations. I don’t want them, but I still embrace them, then I’m devastated by their effect on my life and well-being. These thoughts insult my wife. She is unaware that in my mind, I’m fantasizing about sexual interaction with other women, or even men. Please, give me a desire to overcome this moral decay in my life. It is hidden, it is private, I’ve ignored its power over me, rather than the richness of your fellowship. Give me hope. Give me affirmation, that this hidden issue need not control my heart and my life. I want to change this behavior in my life. I want you to manage it.
Lord, help me to esteem and value my wife. Don’t let me degrade her personhood, by harboring illicit thoughts about others. A woman, admires the man that admires her. Minister to me in my heart of hearts, so I trust my wife with my deepest needs, that are healthy and wholesome, and let us enjoy one another. Let her needs rise in my mind, and let my needs be readjusted to value her above my fantasies. Let my wife, be the foremost in my mind – even if I am single! Let me protect my sexuality, for the one whom you have prepared for me. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (Eph. 5:28). Help me love my wife, as Christ loves the Church: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, (Eph. 5:25).
Help me Lord with this problem in my life. Help me be proactive, not letting myself believe that I can manage this on my own. I know you are available every moment to give me help. I plead for the awareness in my mind, of your presence. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
