2 Samuel 11 verses1 tells us that David had affectively abandoned his kingly duties. In this restless state David falls into sin as he beholds an attractive woman - Bathsheba - washing herself. King David commands her presence in his royal chambers. Sin came as a traveller to David as the prophet Nathan explains in chapter 12. Bathsheba was a woman married to David's faithful warrior. This adulterous liaison between David and Bathsheba resulted in her being with child. Uriah was given leave...
2 Samuel 11 verses1 tells us that David had affectively abandoned his kingly duties. In this restless state David falls into sin as he beholds an attractive woman - Bathsheba - washing herself. King David commands her presence in his royal chambers. Sin came as a traveller to David as the prophet Nathan explains in chapter 12. Bathsheba was a woman married to David's faithful warrior. This adulterous liaison between David and Bathsheba resulted in her being with child. Uriah was given leave from the war against the Ammonites. David was trying to hide what he had done. The king tried to have his faithful servant visit Bathsheba, Uriah's wife, so that Uriah might believe that the child to be born would be his. Uriah refused to do this while the army of Israel was camped in difficult circumstances in the open fields. David tries having Uriah to take a large draft of alcohol in the hope that Uriah would then go to his wife. When this failed David sank to a new low by writing a letter to Joab arranging for Uriah to be slain in the battle. Uriah carried his own death warrant to his army captain Joab. David's despicable action also meant that once again the king was abandoning his moral compass and effectively transferring an immense amount of power to Joab. When Uriah's assassination was reported to David, the king said somewhat disingenuously that this happens in warfare and Joab needs to intensify his efforts to capture the city. The chapter finishes by saying that Bathsheba mourns her husband's death before David took her as his wife. The chapter shows a spiralling decline in the life of king David. His actions are compounded by adultery, deceit and murder. Despite the gravity of what David has done we will see that principally it is against Yahweh that king David has sinned. The telling words that close the chapter: "But the thing David had done displeased Yahweh" - suggests to us that serious matters will follow.
Jeremiah 14 verses 1-6 provide a word picture of the great drought that the LORD had brought to Judah. We notice that when Judah came to its cisterns they were empty. The physical state of the Land mirrored their spiritual condition: Jeremiah 2 verses 13. The animals' throats were parched. All suffer when God's people sin. In verse 7 Jeremiah acknowledges the waywardness of his nation. Verses 8-9 declare that the only hope of their Sovereign's children is to repent and cast themselves on His mercy. Verse 10 expresses Judah's reluctance to rely on God. And so in verses 11-12 the prophet is commanded by his Maker to not pray for Judah. Verses 13-18 speak of the lying prophets mouthing the words Judah wants to hear. For that reason the leaders and the people deserve the judgments of Yahweh. In verses 19-22 Jeremiah asks God if He has utterly rejected the nation. The prophet personally pleads to his Omnipotent Creator to humble Judah and bring them to repentance that the LORD may once again have pity on His children. If this happens and Judah forsakes the baals then Jeremiah is confident that Judah can be restored.
Matthew 26 begins with ongoing plots from the High Priest to destroy our Lord Jesus Christ. Next, comes the anointing of Jesus' feet by Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, with the precious ointment- which became the catalyst for greedy Judas to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Following this is the record of the Lord's Supper being kept in what thereafter would be a memorial of his sacrifice by sharing bread and wine. Luke says that Jesus had prepared to eat this memorial supper with his Apostles with an intense and fervent desire: Luke 22 verses 15-16. Preparations had been made in secret so that nothing, or nobody, could thwart this vital time to steel and fortify his disciples for the trials that would soon confront them. Our Lord then prophesied of his betrayal by Peter, which in turn was a citation of the words of Zechariah 13 foretelling this.
After these events came Jesus' intense personal struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane; where three times he prayed and was strengthened having subjected his own will to that of his Father's. It was here that our Lord's greatest trial and his greatest triumph occurred. In his great agony Jesus sweat as it were great drops of blood. Having completely subjected his own will to that of His Father the victory on the stake was ensured. The Apostle Paul comments on this in Hebrews 5:7-8. The temptation of our Lord Jesus was sharp and intense and real. Despite being tried to the limit Jesus was perfectly obedient. He has become the captain of our salvation and is able to succour us in our trials. Our Lord's betrayal came next. Here, one of the twelve named Judas Iscariot, led the heavily armed band of thugs sent from the temple to arrest the meekest man to have ever walked upon the earth. How tragic that Judas betrayed his Master with a kiss. There was a short ensuing resistance led courageously by Peter, who was rebuked by Jesus. The Master miraculously heals Malchus and passively surrenders himself to be led away to the High Priest's palace awaiting the sentence of death by a process that was illegal in every detail. Note the adjuration of the High Priest in verse 63 was contrary to divine law. Jesus answered citing Daniel 7 verses 13-14 in verse 64, which indicated that the High Priest was knowingly defying God and would incur coming judgment as a result. Peter's pathetic threefold denial and intense remorse close the record.
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