Getting Away with Murder

I don't know if he just thought he could get away with it. Maybe because he was king or because he was just naive. Then again, maybe he wasn't thinking at all, he was simply reacting to his basic human instincts...take what you want, then make excuses as to why.

I don't think there's ever a good reason why!

King David, the greatest King who ever lived (according to scripture and tradition) made some the greatest mistakes ever committed. (also according to scripture and tradition.) A man after God's own heart, forsook that love for the comfort of a beautiful woman. (and Bathsheba for a chance to be with the king while her husband, Uriah, was away at war. Now I understand the complexities of this story for Bathsheba, how when the king calls, you just comply. But there is nothing in the story that speaks of her refusal. So we'll leave that for another day.) In other words, David messed up!

There's no other excuse. Maybe he was lonely because all of his other wives were against him. It doesn't matter what the reason or the excuse. David did what he did. And he got caught!

Maybe I'm naive, but I believe that rarely do we do what we do because we won't get caught. Getting caught either is far from our minds or not an important factor. Now most of us on the other hand don't do certain things because we might get caught, like speeding excessively, or sticking our hands in the cookie jar. We don't steal or lie because we know that we'll more than likely pay for it. It's the negative the forces the positive. It's Mom's words echoing in our ears, "don't you do that!"

It's why the 10 Commandments are written in that way, "Thou Shalt Not..."

Because we won't get away with it...or for that matter, with anything!

David was caught red-handed and red-faced. So are we. Whether anyone else sees or knows, God does.

We're guilty!

What we can learn is how to cut our losses, end our suffering, come clean. The road of honest living is so much smoother than the road of deception. It's time we come into the open with the one who sees everything anyway. We won't get away with murder or anything else, but we can receive God's forgiveness even in the midst of God's discipline (which David received in a generous portion).

Our mistakes are ours alone. And the road back to the arms of God...

...as easy as turning around, toward God. It's called repentance.

And in the name of Jesus Christ...you are forgiven!

Peace ><>
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