I don’t like it, but today I need to tell the story of a terrible tragedy that could have been avoided.

King David walked up onto his roof one evening, presumably to refresh himself with the cool evening breezes that blew through Jerusalem. As he looked down, he saw a very beautiful woman bathing herself in a private courtyard below. He stood, and he watched. Then, unable to get her out of his mind, he sent for her, and took what was not his to take.

Later, Bathsheba sent back and informed the king that she was expecting his child. Thinking to hide his sins, David called for Uriah to be sent home with news of the war that he was participating in that Israel had waged against the Ammonites. Uriah returned from the battlefront unaware of what was happening at home. After delivering his message to the king, he was told to go home and spend the night with his wife.

Considering his comrades’ suffering in the field though, Uriah refused and spent the night camped with David’s servants. That which Uriah could take, he would not out of honor and fidelity to his comrades in the king’s cause.

Well, the next night, David tried again to get Uriah to go home, this time by getting him intoxicated. But, notwithstanding the alcohol, Uriah crossed himself once more, and slept with the servants; he didn’t go home.

Finally, I suppose in desperation, David sent Uriah back to the war carrying instructions for Joab, his chief captain, that said, “…Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retired ye from him, that he may be smitten…” (2 Samuel 11:15)

Joab subsequently orchestrated a foolish battle against the Ammonites, and not only was Uriah killed, but others as well. When Joab then sent word that the deed was done, David passed it off casually. He then sent for and took Bathsheba as his wife.

No one hides from God! David’s deeds were declared openly to him by Nathan the prophet. David lost everything! His peace became a burden of guilt and self-loathing. He lost his throne, he lost his wives, his children; they were all taken from him and given to another. David fell from his exaltation, and remains in hell to this day, his sins still before his eyes.

Now, I’ve seen people do it, but I can’t point a jeering finger at David for his mistakes. I’ve made too many of my own. But I can learn from David. You see, our mortal bodies and minds are constantly demanding, craving that which they should not have. Therefore, it becomes critical that we learn to cross ourselves. Now, this is not something we do with our hands. Rather, it is something we do in our hearts. It means to deny ourselves of every ungodly thing; it means at critical moments to tell ourselves, “No!”