5th April 2025

5th April 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v14)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


One lazy afternoon long ago a man found himself enjoying some fresh air on his rooftop. It was a beautiful day with a gentle breeze blowing which made the man feel very thankful indeed. What came next wasn’t the man’s plan but as he gazed out from his lofty position he noticed that he could see a woman bathing. He immediately looked away but within seconds his eyes rested upon the woman once more. The man lifted his eyes again but without thinking or any further opposition he allowed his gaze to rest on the beautiful woman and there his eyes stayed.


Eventually the unknown beauty finished bathing and left his sight but that wasn’t the end of the situation. The man enquired about the woman and was told that she was married. In normal circumstances that should have been the end of the tale but the man was powerful and he soon had the woman brought to his quarters. From there one thing led to another and sometime later the woman found herself pregnant. The powerful man continued to plot and scheme and manipulated the situation to have the woman’s husband killed. Did they all live happily ever after? By no means. The man took the woman as his wife and she gave birth to a son but the whole rotten event displeased God greatly.


If what you have just read rings a bell it is because I have given you a brief overview of David’s lusting after Bathsheba which led to the betrayal and death of Uriah. You can read the full story in 2 Samuel 11 where David’s actions bring him under the judgement of God. I suspect we can’t imagine ever following David’s example in this regard and probably most of us believe that we would never find ourselves in a similar rooftop situation.


I hope so.


But brothers and sisters, never underestimate the potential of your sinful heart. Imagine the business trip where one thing leads to another and you fall into a colleague’s bed - no one will ever know. Consider the holiday to Ibiza with your pals - everyone was too drunk to notice that you spent the night in another woman’s bed. Think upon the office Christmas party - was that quick fumble with your boss really so bad?


We may never find ourselves on the rooftop gazing at Bathsheba’s beauty but may we give no room to arrogance which boldly states “It will never happen to me!” One look from David was enough to set him on a destructive spiral which ended in bloodshed.


Our Catechism asks what is forbidden by the seventh commandment before giving this answer “The sins forbidden in the seventh commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required, are, adultery, fornication, rape, incest, sodomy, and all unnatural lusts; all unclean imaginations, thoughts, purposes, and affections; all corrupt or filthy communications, or listening thereunto; wanton looks; impudent or light behavior; immodest apparel; prohibiting of lawful, and dispensing with unlawful marriages; allowing, tolerating, keeping of stews, and resorting to them; entangling vows of single life; undue delay of marriage; having more wives or husbands than one at the same time; unjust divorce or desertion; idleness, gluttony, drunkenness, unchaste company; lascivious songs, books, pictures, dancing, stage plays; all other provocations to, or acts of uncleanness, either in ourselves or others.”


God have mercy on us and keep us from the rooftop! May we respond to the Gospel with faithfulness just as Christ is faithful.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q50 What is required in the second commandment? The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his Word.
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