(11:1) David Takes a Sinful Path - In the episode with Bath-sheba, David allowed himself to fall deeper and deeper into sin in several ways: (1) He abandoned his purpose by staying home from war (111). (2) He focused on his own desires (11:2). (3) When temptation came, he leaned into it instead of turning away from it (1:3). (4) He sinned deliberately (11:4). (5) He tried to cover up his sin by deceiving others (11:6-15). (6) He committed murder to continue the cover-up (11:15, 17), though eventually his sin was exposed (12:9) and punished (12:10-14). (7) The consequences of his sin were far-reaching, affecting many people, especially his immediate family (11:7; 12:11, 14-18). David could have chosen to stop and turn from this spiral of sin at any stage along the way. But once the cycle of sin and cover-up gets moving, it is difficult to stop (James 1:14-15).

The deeper the mess, the less we want to admit having caused it. It's much easier to stop sliding down a hill when you are near the top than when you are halfway down. By then you are moving at such a fast pace that you're at the bottom before you know it. The best solution is to avoid sin before it starts.

(11:1) Seasons of War - Winter is the rainy season in Israel, the time when crops are planted. Spring was a good time to go to war because the roads were dry, making travel easier for the movement of troops, supply wagons, and chariots. In Israel, wheat and barley were ready to be harvested in the spring. These crops were an important food source for traveling armies.

(11:1) The Ammonites Are Defeated - This successful siege (see 12:26-27) put an end to the Ammonites' power. From this time on, the Ammonites were subject to Israel.

(11:3-4) David Fails to Turn From Temptation - As David looked from the roof of the palace, he saw a beautiful woman bathing, and he was filled with lust. David should have left the roof and fled the temptation or perhaps sensitively sent word through a trusted messenger to make the woman aware that she was visible. Instead, he entertained the temptation by keeping his eyes on her and then inquiring about her. The results were devastating. Take these actions in order to flee temptation: (1) Ask God in earnest prayer to help you stay away from people, places, and situations that may tempt you. (2) Memorize and meditate on portions of Scripture that combat your specific weaknesses. (At the root of most temptation is a real need or desire that God knows you have and can be filled in a proper way, but you must trust in his timing.) (3) Find another believer with whom you can openly share your struggles, and call this person for help when temptation strikes.

(11:4) David Misuses His Authority - The progression of this story makes it plain that David was clearly wrong. David used his position of power and authority as king to exploit Bath-sheba, and ultimately to manipulate Joab and take advantage of Uriah. David treated her as an object to fulfill his lust. In the Hebrew text, Bath-sheba's name isn't mentioned until 1:5; David himself does not address her nor refer to her by name.) Until this point in his reign, David had been submissive to both the law and God, but here he disobeyed both. With this act, David began to behave like the kings of all the other nations (see 1 Samuel 8:11-20) by taking from his people whatever he wanted without thinking through the consequences. Leaders in our churches and institutions often find themselves caught in the same grasp of power that David did, which frequently leads to sin. Godly leaders should behave in a manner that protects and respects those in their care and under their leadership. When we witness or experience exploitation or manipulation by our leaders, we need to be willing to step forward and stop what is happening, regardless of the consequences, much like the prophet Nathan does in 2 Samuel 12:1-12.

(11:4) Bath-sheba Was Not with Child before Her Encounter with David -  The phrase "she was purified from her uncleanness" means that Bath-sheba had just completed the ritual bathing that Israelite women had to carry out following menstruation. Thus, she could not have already been pregnant by her own husband when David slept with her. Leviticus 15:19-30 gives more information on these rites that Bath-sheba had to perform.

(11:5) David Sin Complicates Life - David put both Bath-sheba and Joab in difficult situations. Bath-sheba knew it was wrong to commit adultery, but to refuse a king's request could mean punishment or death. Joab did not know why Uriah had to die, but it was obvious the king wanted him killed. We sometimes face situations with only two apparent choices, and both seem wrong. Bath-sheba had to decide between committing adultery and disobeying the king. Job's obvious choices were to disobey the king or deliberately put one of his soldiers in harm's way. When such a dilemma arises, we must not lose sight of what God wants. The answer may be to pray and seek out more choices. By doing this, we are likely to find a choice that honors God.

(11:17) Uriah Dies at the Hand of David's Scheme - Uriah and several other soldiers died as a result of David's scheme. Sin often hurts innocent bystanders. When you are tempted to do something that is wrong, remember the people who could be hurt by your sin, and resist the temptation.