The little sin, an invitation to a greater sin.
Growing up, I always considered David to be the evil guy. You know that one who took his servant’s wife and killed him. Well it was when I looked at my life deeply some while ago I learnt that I too as a Bathsheba played a part too. She was wilfully involved in the whole ordeal. She might have not purposely initiated it but she fulfilled its possibility of occurrence. She could have chosen to reject David’s seduction because she was a married woman. I mean her husband did when David asked him to sleep with her (as a cover up). If Uriah as David’s servant could refuse the king’s command, why couldn’t she. So as much as David might have lured her in some way ending with killing Urah, she too had a hand in her husband’s death. It all began with the decision she made when David called for her, She had every right and capability to say no. Joseph did to Potiphar's wife, didn’t he?
But before we speak about choices we make consciously (topic for another day), today let’s consider those we make ignorantly shall we? Where was Bathsheba again when David saw her? Yes David shouldn’t have been roaming around (on the roof even) when other man were out there fighting, but where was Bathsheba? What was she doing that ended up making David send an invite? Bathsheba was bathing in her house (1 kings11:2). Is it possible that Bathsheba ignorantly positioned herself in exposure of being seen by others as she was bathing? Bathsheba carelessly and undesignedly exposed herself before David’s eyes. We hear a great deal about the sin of David, but seldom does anyone mention the sin of Bathsheba. And it is true that David’s sin was deliberate and Bathsheba’s sin ( not the only one though) was ignorance. Note, it’s still sin! Little sin we would like to call it when comparing to David’s but still sin.
The fact remains that Bathsheba’s “little sin” was the cause of David’s great sin. Her little sin of ignorance, her little thoughtlessness and careless exposure of herself was the spark that kindled a great devouring flame. “Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth” (James 3:5). “On the one side, only a little carelessness – only a little thoughtless, unintentional display of herself before the eyes of David. On the other side, adultery and a guilty conscious, murder and loss of a husband, illegitimate pregnancy and death of the child and many of other unfortunate events that followed” (Pradeltorno, The sin of Bathsheba, page 18). None of this great evil would have taken place if Bathsheba had only been careful not to display her body in public view. Observe: she neither designed nor foresaw any of this evil, yet she was the occasion of it all. She did not display herself purposely or wantonly. She only did it ignorantly and thoughtlessly, Yet the result of her “little sin” of ignorance were just the same as if it had been purposeful immorality.
The point here is in our acts of ignorance, there is much that we do that works out our own destruction and at times even those around us. Specifically to us woman, our dress and behaviour have done a great job to ensure our and the brother’s fall.
We ought to be careful to the kind of messages we send with our words, walks, dress and overall behaviour. Lest a David might see us from the roof top and enquire of us.
My brothers you are not exempted from this sin. Many of you have used your male privileges to ignorantly cause many other sisters to sin. Beware of the "simple" phone calls you have, the attention, the compliments you give, the frivolous conversations you entertain....they have led many astray.
1 PETER 1: 14-15
"As children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversations"
But before we speak about choices we make consciously (topic for another day), today let’s consider those we make ignorantly shall we? Where was Bathsheba again when David saw her? Yes David shouldn’t have been roaming around (on the roof even) when other man were out there fighting, but where was Bathsheba? What was she doing that ended up making David send an invite? Bathsheba was bathing in her house (1 kings11:2). Is it possible that Bathsheba ignorantly positioned herself in exposure of being seen by others as she was bathing? Bathsheba carelessly and undesignedly exposed herself before David’s eyes. We hear a great deal about the sin of David, but seldom does anyone mention the sin of Bathsheba. And it is true that David’s sin was deliberate and Bathsheba’s sin ( not the only one though) was ignorance. Note, it’s still sin! Little sin we would like to call it when comparing to David’s but still sin.
The fact remains that Bathsheba’s “little sin” was the cause of David’s great sin. Her little sin of ignorance, her little thoughtlessness and careless exposure of herself was the spark that kindled a great devouring flame. “Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth” (James 3:5). “On the one side, only a little carelessness – only a little thoughtless, unintentional display of herself before the eyes of David. On the other side, adultery and a guilty conscious, murder and loss of a husband, illegitimate pregnancy and death of the child and many of other unfortunate events that followed” (Pradeltorno, The sin of Bathsheba, page 18). None of this great evil would have taken place if Bathsheba had only been careful not to display her body in public view. Observe: she neither designed nor foresaw any of this evil, yet she was the occasion of it all. She did not display herself purposely or wantonly. She only did it ignorantly and thoughtlessly, Yet the result of her “little sin” of ignorance were just the same as if it had been purposeful immorality.
The point here is in our acts of ignorance, there is much that we do that works out our own destruction and at times even those around us. Specifically to us woman, our dress and behaviour have done a great job to ensure our and the brother’s fall.
- Clothing - what we may choose to dress especially as woman has been over the years proven to be the cause of most sexually immoral acts. Take into great consideration what you will put on, because though God may look at the heart, men look at the body. Remember man are visual beings. Form fitting and short clothing, is the magnifying glass of what is inside.They see it, they are likely to want it and sadly many have had it just by looking.I mean we are beautiful after all, not to mention sexually attractive. Guess that is why the bible instructs and advises us to dress modestly. This is not only to avoid tempting brothers, but to also represent Christ in a godly manner (1 Tim 2:9). “By modesty in dress and circumspect deportment. They may bear witness to the truth in its simplicity” Daughters of God, page 150, par 2
- Flirting and body language - many of us (me included) have become victims of this kind of ignorance, resulting in premature, poorly thought through relationships. How a lady speaks to the opposite sex says a lot about her character, though this may at times be done unawares. Sisters have landed in relationships that were caused by how they carried themselves (forward and flirtatious) therefore making men desire of them, lustfully so. "Many have fallen into the sad error which is so prevalent in this degenerate age, especially females. They are too fond of the other sex. They love their society, their attentions are to them flattering, and they encourage or permit a familiarity which does not always accord with the exhortation of the apostle, to abstain from all appearance of evil" Daughters of God, page 150, par 3.
We ought to be careful to the kind of messages we send with our words, walks, dress and overall behaviour. Lest a David might see us from the roof top and enquire of us.
My brothers you are not exempted from this sin. Many of you have used your male privileges to ignorantly cause many other sisters to sin. Beware of the "simple" phone calls you have, the attention, the compliments you give, the frivolous conversations you entertain....they have led many astray.
1 PETER 1: 14-15
"As children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversations"
Comments