"Flee immorality.... The immoral man sins against his own body. "
1 Corinthians 6:18
A POWERFUL GIFT
Read It: 2 Samuel 11:1-5
One of the most devastating sins any person can commit is sexual immorality. Many a man and woman have bitten the spiritual dust because of failure to bring this area of their lives under God's control. Those who have fallen morally need to know there is forgiveness for their sin. They can rebound. But my prayer is that as we consider the life of David, you will commit yourself to moral purity so you won't have to. God's gift of sex is a powerful passion that brings joy and fulfillment when used correctly, but when used incorrectly, leads to devastation. We might liken sex to a fire. In the fireplace, it's warm and delightful; but if it ever gets out of that fireplace, it can burn the house down. So we'd better learn how to handle this powerful gift. God isn't embarrassed about sex. He created sexuality. It shouldn't surprise prise us that the Bible doesn't hesitate to talk about it. The Song of Solomon omon celebrates marital intimacy in explicit detail without shame. God's Word is also honest and unblinking when relating the story of David, who committed immorality and suffered the consequences. This week we are going to watch David's life crumble, and then we'll see how he rebounded through the grace of God.
I doubt if there's anyone who hasn't messed up on some level when it comes to sexual sin, whether through lust, pornography, or physical immorality. We've all felt the flame. We need to constantly be on guard. David's problem began when he let down his guard. "Then it happened" pened" (v. 1). What an opening line. It was springtime, the time for love and for war. A king usually went to battle at the head of his army. But David had solidified his kingdom. There were just a few skirmishes to take care of, so he decided to stay home. David is about fifty years old here. Maybe he looked in the mirror and noticed some gray. Maybe like a lot of middle-aged men, he began to wonder, der, "Do I still have it?" Whatever he thought, he wasn't on his guard-and and the enemy knew it. Think About It The fire of sex is meant for the fireplace of marriage. Once it leaves there, someone is going to get burned.
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