2 Samuel 13-15:

From Garden to City reading:  2 Samuel 13-15

I don't know who Bill Perkins is, but I saw a quote by him in the Leonard Sweet book I'm reading right now.

If you think you can't fall into sexual sin, then you're godlier than David, stronger than Samson, and wiser than Solomon.  

It's pretty profound, and fairly stunning.  And if you think God ultimately forgave David so it's no big deal, then these chapters will remind you that there are serious consequences to sexual sin.  Honestly, all sin has consequences, and we often overlook the potential ramifications of our sin.  But we're talking about David here, and these are the consequences of adultery and murder.

Essentially David loses the respect of his sons.
His son Amnon rapes his daughter Tamar.
His son Absalom murders his son Amnon.
His son Absalom runs away and hides.

And David does nothing.
He doesn't reprimand Amnon.
He doesn't protect Tamar.
He doesn't correct Absalom.

And when Absalom returns from hiding, he initiates a plan to make himself king.
Some of the people support David; others support Absalom.
Some of David's soldiers support David; others support Absalom.

To save his own life, David runs away.
He mourns as he climbs the Mount of Olives, weeping, his head covered and his feet bare.

He mourns the loss of his sons.

He mourns the loss of his kingdom.  

Our consequences may not be as dramatic as what we see in this passage, but we aren't kings.  

And right now I feel pretty exempt from the sins of David, Samson, and Solomon.
And I guess most of us feel pretty exempt from the BIG sins that we hear about on television like murder, bank robbery, embezzlement. 

But this passage should serve as a caution.
None of us are exempt from temptation.

We must guard our hearts.

We must seek the Lord.  

Remember, David, Samson, and Solomon had stopped putting God first in their lives and seeking him.

David's story could have been so different.