It All Began With A Look

It has been said regarding looking upon another in lust, “…it doesn’t hurt to look, just as long as you do not touch.” King David, however, would argue otherwise. For David, it all began with a look. David’s look, led to adultery, deception and ultimately murder. When David first gazed upon Bathsheba, he was presented with a choice, continue to look, or turn and walk away. David did not walk away, rather, he allowed lust to take root in his heart. That lust fueled his decision to call for Bathsheba who was married to Uriah the Hittite. David had multiple opportunities to stop the progression of his initial decision yet chose not to. After committing adultery, Bathsheba was found with child. (2^nd Samuel 11:2-5) Once again, David had the opportunity to come clean, yet attempted to hide his transgression by deceiving Bathsheba’s husband Uriah into believing that he was the father. Uriah being a just man, would not take advantage of the opportunity to be with his wife while his fellow soldiers were still in battle. (2^nd Samuel 11:6-11) David again had the opportunity to stop this from going any further but chose otherwise. Once more, he attempted to deceive Uriah by impairing his mind with alcohol. But even in an inebriated state, Uriah would not go into his wife. (2^nd Samuel 11:12-13) With yet another occasion to cease from allowing his initial look to amass even more destruction, David resorts to murder. Perhaps David rationalized this in his mind, nevertheless, David’s intent was that Uriah be killed, therefore he sent him to the hottest spot in the battle. The result was just as David intended; Uriah died. (2^nd Samuel 11:14-17) It all began with a look. That look led to murder. However, the ruin was far from over. Perhaps one of the biggest understatements ever uttered is found in 2^nd Samuel 11:27, “…the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.” David had seared his conscience with a hot iron and appears to be oblivious to the darkness of the path he had taken. Calm and composed, he takes the widow of the man he betrayed and murdered. It all began with a look. By looking and not turning away David was now blind. Not literally, but spiritually. The LORD sent Nathan the Prophet to open the eyes of David. (2^nd Samuel 12:1) David quickly saw the injustice in the parable of the man who had his only ewe lamb taken, however, seeing, he could not see that he was the man, who was deserving of death. Seeing, he could not see that it was he, who showed no pity. (2^nd Samuel 12:2-6) Finally, Nathan, discloses the truth, and boldly proclaims, “David, you are the man!” Nathan reminded David of the many was that GOD had shown him mercy and blessed him, yet David responded by having a man killed with an Ammonite sword and took his wife, with whom, he had already fathered a child. (2^nd Samuel 12:7-9) It all began with a look. While David acknowledged his sin, and the LORD forgave him, David would be forced to live with the consequences of his sin for the remainder of his days. (2^nd Samuel 12:10-12) Those consequences at times would seem unbearable as he had heartache after heartache regarding his children. The innocent child born from David and Bathsheba’s sin, would die. (2^nd Samuel 12:18) It all began, with a look. The next time we dismiss the danger of just looking or just listening, let us remind ourselves of David. It all began, with a look.