Don't Stop Fighting

This morning I was reading through 1 Samuel 10, 11 and 12 and God was teaching me this lesson: don't stop fighting the battle.
David had just won a battle against the Syrians; a great victorious battle. David had been fighting justly and God was favorable to Him. David had previously even treated his greatest enemy Saul with love and kindness and favor. David had integrity and was after God's heart. But something happened in chapter 11; something happened in David's heart and he decided not to go out to battle. Was David weary? Did he think that his role in battle was not important? Did he think his army did not need him anymore? Was he doubting his calling?
Whatever turmoil that was in David's heart, he began to think through on his roof. Right there David was met with lust; one of his greatest problems in his life. David had so many wives! He had a lust for women. Satan for sure knew of David's woman weakness and David's flesh was for sure not in opposition for it to be alive in this moment of weariness. Maybe David thought that he needed a woman, a relationship with a beautiful woman, to make his heart less weary. Maybe this woman Bathsheba, would provide happiness. So, he took matters into his own hands and took Bathsheba into his room. David could have diverted his eyes while he was on the roof; he could have not taken Bathsheba into his room. At any one point, David could have said no to the flesh and yes to the Spirit.
I want interject at this point in the story: maybe you find yourself in sin and fill that because you have slipped a little, you must go through will the whole sin. Don't believe that; turn from sin now and don't let matters get worse.
David let matters get worse. He used his cunning deceit and plotting to kill Bathsheba's husband Uriah. Oh, how God's heart was grieved.
A year passed, and in chapter 12 we read of the visitation David received from Nathan the prophet. That day God wanted to deal with David's sin and bring repentance in His heart. After Nathan made the analogy of the rich man and poor man's sheep, David said this in verse 13: "I have sinned against the LORD".
Great mourning and fasting and hardship was in the next week of David's life. His son, in which was conceived through Bathsheba, died. God dealt with this sin and brought about a greater tenderness in David's heart.
Though this was a tragedy, God's grace was abundant. In verse 24, Solomon was born through Bathsheba to David. There was no man wiser in the world than Solomon! Plus, we have two books in the bible written by his hand.
This story is crazy, full of so many details and spiritual applications. I just know that God was telling me this; Don't stop fighting the battle. Keep focused.
I want to encourage you today that though you may be weary, or if you think that because you have sinned a little that you need to go on continuing in that sin, you don't! Don't be deceived!
Paul exhorted Timothy, "But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses" (1 Tim. 6:11 & 12).
Galatians 6:7-9 says, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will for the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
I know you may be weary, I know you may be having a hard time and Satan is accusing you, but know, God is on your side. I know this because I go through such weariness in life and I just want to give up, sleep it off, do something for myself and sit down in the midst of the battle. Don't give up fighting the good fight. I need to not give up! Put on the whole armour of God and the joy of your salvation! You will reap of blessings, do not loose heart. Be encouraged, you whose hands may be hanging low and who may have weak knees. Strengthen yourself in this battle from the Word, through prayer, through fellowship and let's keep fighting! And maybe for you, this may be a sweet warning from the Lord. Wherever God is meeting you in this, may encouragement and joy come to your soul.
"O LORD of hosts, who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You." Psalm 89:8.
Handmaiden of the Lord,
Melissa Rae