The Integrity of a Loyal Husband, Part 2

King David is a celebrated hero of Israel but the Bible shows us that David was flawed. In fact, one of his greatest blunders led to an innocent man's death arranged by the king himself today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll continues her message. She started on Tuesday's program is teaching from first Samuel 25, where the story of David's affair with another man's wife triggered a sequence of lies by reliving this familiar story will discover what it means to cultivate what Chuck calls the integrity of a loyal husband must begin with prayer clock are tongs or shake our finger. David father stopped us hopeless to look within and realize the same major event was residing in David when he acted in hypocrisy and murder resides in us. We need you every moment of every day. Father to control my thoughts to guide our eyes to stop us before we attempt to cover wrongdoing. We need the courage to tell the truth the integrity to acknowledge our own responsibility with wrongdoing. We could even be like Joab and cooperate with the plan we know is wrong. So father today. Soul-searching will go on in this room and among all who hear your word may proceed without resistance. As we realize we just like those men and the women around us and all people. We are father struggled deeply, inwardly, secretly, I pray that you will speak especially to those who are plotting a plan that is wrong, then you would stop whatever it may be father.

Whatever the message may be heard and heated speak through your words today as these statements from this passage reach out to us and beg for a hearing may nothing arrive. Our thoughts as we work our way through the story and then realize its application personally help us our father as we continue on this journey. Life is long and it is arduous and there are pitfalls. There are times when we lose our patients and lose our way remind us of the value of restraint. Maybe lean hard on you and the power in your spirit within us.

We will learn to say no, even when no one else is around. In May, that no honor you. We give you these moments ahead. Confident that you will use them personally. Through Christ our Lord, we pray. Everyone said to search the Scriptures with Chuck Swindoll. Be sure to download his searching the Scriptures. Studies by going to Insight world.org/studies Chuck titled his message the integrity of a loyal husband, Uriah, Bathsheba, nestled into that little home to begin their honeymoon together and hope for a wonderful series of springtime days together as they would enjoy pleasures marriage the beginning of life is a couple and one day there's a knock at the door and Uriah reads his orders come from the King is ordered into battle, of all things, Joab's been appointed the field commander. He will lead the battle.

Rob Uriah learns of that, whoever it may be. Certainly cooperate with the plan because Joab is appointed by his getting so Uriah would answer to joy is the battle begin. All of a sudden removed in just a single verse back to Jerusalem to the bedchamber of David who was taking a nap while his soldiers fight were never told why. Why didn't he go into battle. D. Hang back at the palace. For whatever reason, it was late in the afternoon after he had enjoyed a midday rest and he stretches himself sitting on the side of his bed stands up. It must've been hot in the room so he turns and decides to walk out with her might be a cooler breeze on the on the roof of the palace when he does he hears the splashing water. Davis never taken the time to observe who is neighbors are suddenly he's interested in one of the he sees the body of a beautiful naked woman bleeding blinded by lust, forgetting that he has other women already as wives and the balance he wants another one forgetting who is forgetting the respect the nation has for him is the city of David is the Star of David on the flag this David's Royal Palace right now it's David who wants a woman bring her to me. She comes the two of them live together. Adultery is committed. She quickly is on her way.

I think David thought little of it by now.

His guilt is blinded him to even a concern about what is happened until he gets word from her the changes everything. I'm pregnant you negative one thing I've got to get Uriah in bed with his wife. Whatever it takes. Uriah is on the battlefront. Remember, a messenger hands him a message, you are to return to meet with the king and the royal palace without hesitation, Uriah takes the message does exactly as it says I can only picture it comes off his mouth as he reaches the steps of the palace. He walks up palace guard must've stood ramrod attention snapped a salute he returns. It walks in and is escorted back to the private chamber of David, the king as he enters everyone else in the room leaves the door closes in here is that unbelievable moment. He face-to-face with the king of Israel. His heart must've been in his throat when honor and he waits to hear what the king will say the words.

Listen to the hypocrite when Uriah arrived. Verse seven David Askin, Joab has the battle progressing. He didn't care about either one. He wanted Uriah home with his wife Uriah was to thought this is going to lead to something far more important than the fine, the battle is going well.

My king grade bursae Uriah wrist rest. Go home sure Shirley this morning. David's mind in this life is a matter of fact for the first time in his entire life he doesn't obey an order. We read specifically Uriah didn't go home first time that night he slept with the palace entrance guards at the king's palace reportedly go between the time he left, and the time he went to sleep in the entrance if he didn't go home, is another question for you.

I deliberately looked past it. Verse eight David told Uriah going home and relax. David even sent a gift to Uriah after he left was the gift no one even addresses it in any of the commentaries I checked and I checked over a dozen none of my resources address either. What was the gift or where Uriah went. I'm intrigued by those kind of mysteries. I don't know. So if you're waiting for the answer, but I can't tell you it's it's never answered here anywhere else were just left. I would would Bathsheba thought would when the gift arrived at the home and Uriah wasn't there. I strange it was the David would send the gift no doubt to his home.

Maybe it's that there right there at the entrance and maybe she thought maybe arise coming back. She she doesn't know I'm convincing that she was not a part of this plotted all but whatever he spends the night in the palace entrance of all things. This top elite soldier rose up a garment and makes it his pillow and sleeps on the floor right there in the palace. The next morning, verse 10, when David heard that Uriah had not gone home, he summoned it while I would imagine. And he asked matter to go home last night after after being away for so long I love arise reply left this into the integrity he is speaking to the king of Israel. I could not do that. The are the armies the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, Joab and your and your men are camping in the open fields.

How can I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife. I swear I would never do such a thing.

That's a soldiers lose their right. That's how you get mustered out of the core.

David doesn't do that. I think his mouth wasn't dropped open. He's never seen such integrity could not do that I will not do that. It's as if David shrugs and says all right stick around another day will have dinner together tonight and then you can go back tomorrow, so Uriah stayed we read stayed that day in Jerusalem and the next day David invited him to dinner and got him drunk. Hello.

Can David go if he can't convincing Wally silver maybe he will yield when he's inebriated, and even then we read Uriah doesn't go home again another night in the palace entrance I you know your Uriah is a better man trunk than David is so cannot do that I will not do that. Those are then so look at what happens. Watch we read in verse 14. The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah Uriah give this to Joab's death warrant.

He knew that Uriah would never ever open that letter. That letter was saving Uriah's pouch is exactly where it went.

Amazing man. I have a rather suspect Uriah is thinking even now, this is this this is the strategy David needed time to think it through. Is the message for my field commander and and for me were going to work and is in some way together and what a privilege it will be to carry this out as I take this message from my king to my commander. He arrives and I want to pause for a moment and set the record straight before you get overly impressed with Joab go back to chapter 3 the end of the chapter you need to see this Joab is a distant relative of David by the way, he is more than that Joab has just killed Abner a strong warrior and it incenses David the end of the chapter you pick up the story at verse 38 look at this. You can't miss it. Then King David said to his officials. Don't you realize that a great commander has fallen, referring to Abner has fallen today in his room and even though I am the anointed chain. These two sons of Zechariah, Joab and I wish I are too strong for me to control. Look at that statement. Look at that statement.

Joab was one of those conniving officers who unconvinced remain suspicious of David. Nevertheless, a good warrior certainly brutal fight, but you'll notice something here back into Chapter 11.

When Uriah returns to the battle look at this, he gave the letter to to deliver and the letter instructed Joab I'm in verse 15 station Uriah on the front lines for the battle is fierce is then pulled back. In other words, take away all the defendants. He's a sitting duck so that he will be killed a marked only one line in this chapter in my Bible. That's the line. It is a premeditated murder have been killed. Stop Joab reads the instructions in the letter. Joy knows that Uriah is one of 37 is telling me to have him killed Joab's already the suspicious type. I will carry that theory much further. But I'll leave it with you. I am convinced my heart.

He understood the command you will do it. He phones it puts it in his pouch and sees it is checkmate black male. When he needs Scott David just for he wanted whatever's going on. This is wrong. You kill one of your top 37 you don't kill any of your own man deliberately. This is instruction to take it out so Joab does exactly that. He assigned him to the point most threatened with the enemy strongest men were fighting and when the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight Uriah the Hittite was killed. Notice notice along with several other Israeli soldiers so as not only killed Uriah's kill other soldiers. I'm sure Joab covered that so that it wouldn't look like what it was would look like just a skirmish and they got the wrong end of the deal and the lost Uriah mouth. David must be wondering by now On the battlefield. So Joab solves the question verse 18.

He sent a battle report to David. He told his messenger look closely report all the news of the battle to the king. He was my get angry and asked what troops go so close to the city, meaning the city of Rob didn't didn't they know that there would be shooting from from the walls was in the Benelux son of Gideon killed that there is by a woman who threw the millstone down on all why would you get so close to the wall, then tell him Uriah the Hittite was killed to love ensure that the watch back in Jerusalem. The messenger went to Jerusalem and gave the complete report to David. The enemy came out against is the open field and said he said and as we trace them back to the city gate. The archers on the wall shot arrows at us.

Some of the kings men were killed including Uriah the Hittite what he wanted to well for sure the pregnancy would become known he would have to face Uriah because Bathsheba would quite likely yield the name he thought this would remove part of the accusation or the possibility of such well says David was a hypocrite. Well then, tell Joab not to be discouraged. The sword devours one today and this one today and that one tomorrow okay flat on her drill screen with a prophetic example of a leader Chuck Swindoll often says that the Bible never flatters its hero and that's certainly true of David. We are witnessing the king of Israel at his lowest moment caught in the trap of his own making. The title of text messages the integrity of a loyal husband to learn more about this ministry.

Visit us online at insight world.or. And if you're looking for an inspirational book to help you start the new year and one that ties in naturally with this new study then we highly recommend Chuck Swindoll's book called Joseph a man of integrity and forgiveness. In his book Chuck helps us walk alongside this biblical hero to see how God used his adversity to display his glory. It's a story of overcoming the betrayal by his brothers false accusations from his employer and injustice from the authorities. God had his hand on Joseph all along the way ask for the book Joseph, a man of integrity and forgiveness.

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If you're listening in the United States. Call 1-800-772-8888 or go to insight.org/monthly together. Let's introduce God says all power. This, again, if you're listening in the United States. Call 1-800-772-8888 or go to insight.org/monthly companion. Join us when Chuck Swindoll describes what he calls the integrity of a loyal husband Thursday on insight for living. The preceding message the integrity of a loyal husband was copyrighted in 2021 and 2022 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2022 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited