E-pistle for October 27, 2016
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E-pistle
FreeWay Foundation October 27, 2016
"little" sins escalate into "big" sins!
(II Samuel 11:1-27)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. David sent Joab into battle against Ammon, while he remained
in the city; David observed Bathsheba bathing, summoned her
to the palace, committed adultery with her, and she became
pregnant, vv. 1-5.
2. David ordered Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, to return from the
battle, hoping that he would engage in sexual relations with his
wife; Uriah came to Jerusalem but refused to go home to
Bathsheba saying that a faithful soldier does not engage in such
pleasures while his regiment is on the battlefield, vv. 6-13.
3. David ordered Joab to put Uriah into the hottest battle, then
withdraw from him so he would be killed; Joab obeyed, Uriah
died, and the news was dispatched to David, vv. 14-25.
4. When Bathsheba's mourning for her husband was over, David
married her; this sin of David displeased God, vv. 26-27.
II. Meditation: on the escalating sins of David in this chapter
1. David's first sin was failure to lead his troops into battle, which
was what kings were expected to do in those days, v. 1.
2. David's next sin was sexual lust: coveting his neighbor's wife,
v. 2.
3. David's lust and covetousness produced the sin of adultery,
v. 4.
4. When his several manipulations failed to conceal his immorality,
David resorted to the bloody sin of murder, v. 15.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual lessons seen in the lives of these persons
1. David was relaxing when he should have been fighting the enemy
. . . "Idleness is the devil's workshop!" . . . later, David exhibited
a heart of intrigue rather than a heart of integrity.
2. If Bathsheba was not a seductive temptress, at least she was
foolishly careless in bathing where she could be observed;
probably, she was more an innocent victim than a deliberate
instigator.
3. Uriah exemplified a faithful soldier, more concerned about doing
his duty than about satisfying his own physical needs.
4. Joab, who just followed David's orders, was guilty of "war crimes"
. . . whether a person does the deed, or forces someone else to
do the deed, or manipulates the circumstances so that the deed
happens, he still is to be condemned as a murder!
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Guard my thoughts and desires, especially during times of leisure,
realizing that "little" sins can escalate into "big" sins . . . "Nip it in
the bud!"
2. Be careful of my conduct, so that I do not lead anyone into
temptation.
3. Fight the good fight, faithfully doing my duty as a soldier of the
Lord.
4. Always choose to do the right thing, even when someone in authority
over me orders otherwise, Acts 5:29.
enter one way, exit the other way
(Ezekiel 46:24)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. God gave directions for opening the east gate to allow the Prince
to enter and exit the Temple; specific instructions were given for
the sacrifices to be offered, vv. 1-8.
2. The people were ordered to enter the Temple area either by the
north gate or by the south gate, and to exit by the opposite gate;
certain religious rituals were specified, vv. 9-15.
3. Royal inheritance laws were spelled out: bequests to the king's
sons were permanent, but bequests to servants had to be returned
to the royal treasury in the Year of Jubilee; ruling families were
forbidden from confiscating property belonging to the common
people, vv. 16-18.
4. The angel showed Ezekiel the champers where the priests lived
and their kitchens in the Temple area, vv. 19-24.
II. Meditation and Revelation: on "enter one way and exit the other way" (vv. 9-10)
It is assumed that God's people WILL worship Him; verse 9 speaks
of "WHEN" the people come before the Lord, not "IF" they come
before Him.
1. People come to know and worship God from opposite directions
(north gate and south gate); some person come to God through
miraculous experiences, which excite the emotions; other
persons come to God through the study of His word, which
enlightens the mind.
2. People coming to know and worship God through one gate are
strictly commanded to exit through the other gate; persons are
forbidden from entering and departing through the same gate
. . . they must go through both; experience-oriented Christians
need disciplined grounding in the Bible, and intellectually-
oriented Christians need to experience the miraculous workings
of the Holy Spirit.
3. People who exit the same way they enter remain unchanged by
persons other than their "own kind"; the "come in one way and
leave the other way" instructions require meeting, respecting,
and inter-acting with Christians who approach (know and worship)
the Lord differently, Mark 9:38-41; Luke 9:49-50; Philippians 1:15-18.
4. Whichever way believers come to worship God, the Prince (Jesus Christ)
shall be there in their midst, v. 10 (Matthew 18:20); the Lord promised
to fellowship (come in and go out) with His people, whether they
are labeled "Charismatic" or "Fundamentalist."
III. Applications: as a Christian, I need to understand that . . .
The Father is seeking worshippers who worship Him BOTH in spirit
(with the emotions) and in truth (with the intellect), John 4:23-24.
The SECRET of getting ahead is GETTING STARTED!
--Mark Twain
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