Satan tempts us to take small steps in sin, leading us astray by degrees. The more we give in, the easier it will become for us to sin. And the more we sin, the more we will be tempted to keep hidden sins that will overwhelm our lives.
Second Samuel 5 shows the beginning of David’s descent into sin. By this chapter, Saul and all his sons had died, leaving David as the undisputed king of Israel. Even though David realized this was the Lord’s doing, he did not completely follow after the Lord. He took many concubines, creating unnecessary alliances that were not honoring to God (2 Samuel 5:13).
All of us, in some sense, are imposters. Every one of us sins, and we often preach what we do not practice. Knowing this tendency, we need to be on guard. Have an accountability partner, a godly person to whom you can tell your temptations and sins. Name your specific sin. Do not let it have power over you, but bring it to the light with trustworthy Christians.
If we are not honest about our flesh signature—the sins we particularly struggle with—then it will overcome us. We need to lean into God’s grace and not let sins have a foothold in our lives.
David was not wise in this area. He had hidden sins, hidden passions, that would have long-lasting consequences. He did not begin by committing adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11). Instead, he began by taking for himself numerous wives and concubines. These women likely worshiped other gods, something David’s son Solomon would also fall prey to in his own life.
The good news is, despite David’s hidden sins, he still sought the Lord. His mistakes did not define him, because he submitted to God and tried to trust in God.
David sought to honor God by listening to God. Instead of trusting in his own army, he sought guidance from God. Each time David sought the Lord, God answered him, and David listened and had victory over his enemies. Depending on God made all the difference. Even though David struggled with sin, he also trusted in God. As a result, his faith had the final say in his life, rather than his sin.
[divider style=”solid” color=”#cccccc” opacity=”1″ icon_color=”#666666″ icon_size=”15″ placement=”equal”]
This teaching is based on Ken Boa’s Handbook to Scripture.
Related Reading:
These are the last recorded statements of Jesus Christ before His death on the cross. Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34) When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and
Mortality and the purpose of life are prominent themes in Thomas Cole’s paintings. Through his paintings, he vividly brings out the human dilemma of mortality, a dilemma we ourselves must wrestle with. Given the inevitability of death, what are we to do with our days? We can try to stave
In the article below, Dr. Boa synthesizes material from several teaching sessions from his series Biblical Principles for Marriage and from portions of his spiritual formation text Conformed to His Image (primarily from chapter 18, “Holistic Spirituality”). Dr. Boa focuses on agape love as one of the five forms of loves (based on the different Greek words). After reviewing all forms, he gives reasons for why agape is the greatest.
Receive the Latest from Reflections & Ken Boa
Site by MacMillan Design