Scripture
In the spring, at the time when kings go to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole army.. But David remained at home in Jerusalem.

Observation
It is fighting season, and for some reason, David remains at home while sending Joab out to lead the army.

One evening, while out on the palace roof, David sees a woman bathing. He has her brought to him and sleeps with her. She becomes pregnant, and her husband Uriah is away at the front, so David schemes to avoid the obvious charge of adultery.

David has Bathsheba's husband Uriah brought back to Jerusalem for some R&R. Uriah is a principled man and rather than going home to his family, he camps at the palace gate. When Uriah refuses to sleep with his wife, David sends him back with a message to Joab that effectively arranges for Uriah to be murdered in battle.

Application
At this point David is far from being a man after God's own heart. He seems to have loast all sense of honour, morality and vision.

David's sin is not the end of his story as the next chapter describes his deep repentance.

We all sin, and temptation stalks all of us at various times. We need to know also that sin is not the end of our story.

Jesus has taken away our sin and, as we confess our sins to God, he is faithful and just and cleanses us from all our sin.

Prayer
Thank you Father that my sin is not the end of my story. Thank you for your forgiveness and the chance to start all over again. Amen.