Amplified Bible (AMP)
1 IN THE spring, when kings go forth to battle, David sent Joab with his servants and all Israel, and they ravaged the Ammonites [country] and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.
2 One evening David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, when from there he saw (situation) a woman bathing; and she was very lovely to behold. (emotion)
3 David sent and inquired (ANT) about the woman. One said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
4 And David sent messengers and took her. And she came in to him, and he lay with her (behavior)--for she was purified from her uncleanness. Then she returned to her house.
*Note: The red font is my personal interjections.
ANTs...I wrote about them previously. Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) are relevant here.
Situation (David saw Bathsheba) ------>
Thought (David inquired about Bathsheba) ------>
Emotion (Not specifically written, but my guess would be lust) ----->
Behavior (David took her and lay with her)
As Christians our ANTs are more commonly referred to as "temptation." David's downward spiral could have been avoided had he immediately recognized the ANTs and stamped them out.
The situation David was faced with was most probably accidental. It is interesting though that even though David chose not to go out onto the battlefield, ("In the spring, when kings go forth to battle") he still was faced with a battlefield in his mind. He was destined to battle one way or another.
When faced with the temptation (ANT), what should he have done?
How do you handle an ANT that crawls around in your brain?
I believe spiritual battles are won or lost in the battlefields of our minds.
It really does matter where our thoughts go and on what we choose to meditate.
Our thoughts stir our emotions and these can either induce us to walk out righteousness or not. Our emotions do affect our behavior (consciously or unconsciously) whether we like it or not.
The original ANT David battled with led to more ANTs and to more ANTs until the death (murder) of Uriah resulted.
David suffered the consequences for his unrighteous behavior...the death of his unborn child and public shame. What was even harder was how David's sin was passed to his progeny.
The sin of lust was found in his David's son Amnon, which ended in the rape of his sister, Tamar.
The sin of murder and rebellion was found in David's son Absalom who had his brother Amnon killed in revenge for his brutal treatment of Tamar. Absalom also rebelliously undermined David's kingly authority attempting a coup d'état eventually ending in his own death.
It's a sobering thought that our sinful choices could be passed to our beloved children! Heavy!!!
BUT Jesus' name is higher than any other name in heaven or on earth.
HE IS HIGHER THAN ANY ANT!!!
As we rely on His Spirit and continually fight the ANTs in the battlefield of our minds, we will be victorious!!! In the great and awesome and powerful name of Jesus, AMEN!!!
ANTs...I wrote about them previously. Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) are relevant here.
Situation (David saw Bathsheba) ------>
Thought (David inquired about Bathsheba) ------>
Emotion (Not specifically written, but my guess would be lust) ----->
Behavior (David took her and lay with her)
As Christians our ANTs are more commonly referred to as "temptation." David's downward spiral could have been avoided had he immediately recognized the ANTs and stamped them out.
The situation David was faced with was most probably accidental. It is interesting though that even though David chose not to go out onto the battlefield, ("In the spring, when kings go forth to battle") he still was faced with a battlefield in his mind. He was destined to battle one way or another.
When faced with the temptation (ANT), what should he have done?
How do you handle an ANT that crawls around in your brain?
I believe spiritual battles are won or lost in the battlefields of our minds.
It really does matter where our thoughts go and on what we choose to meditate.
Our thoughts stir our emotions and these can either induce us to walk out righteousness or not. Our emotions do affect our behavior (consciously or unconsciously) whether we like it or not.
The original ANT David battled with led to more ANTs and to more ANTs until the death (murder) of Uriah resulted.
David suffered the consequences for his unrighteous behavior...the death of his unborn child and public shame. What was even harder was how David's sin was passed to his progeny.
The sin of lust was found in his David's son Amnon, which ended in the rape of his sister, Tamar.
The sin of murder and rebellion was found in David's son Absalom who had his brother Amnon killed in revenge for his brutal treatment of Tamar. Absalom also rebelliously undermined David's kingly authority attempting a coup d'état eventually ending in his own death.
It's a sobering thought that our sinful choices could be passed to our beloved children! Heavy!!!
BUT Jesus' name is higher than any other name in heaven or on earth.
HE IS HIGHER THAN ANY ANT!!!
As we rely on His Spirit and continually fight the ANTs in the battlefield of our minds, we will be victorious!!! In the great and awesome and powerful name of Jesus, AMEN!!!
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