Daily Treasure

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray today for families of the many dedicated Free Will Baptist servants who have departed our ranks through death in 2008. They are sorely missed.

“…ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23b).

Never think you can hide the truth from God. You might as well be honest with Him instead of acting like He’ll never know what you did. Though not much is known about Bathsheba’s relationship with God, David loved the Lord. David strayed from God in spite of that love. How foolish it was for him to think he could hide his sin from God. God never condones any sin, but He loves us enough to help us find our way back to Him.

By God’s grace, David’s life went through a much needed transformation. If Bathsheba had been the one “after God’s own heart,” next week’s devotions would have just continued with her story. When you foolishly choose to indulge in any form of sin with another person, it is not all about you. Your actions will affect the other person as well. Bathsheba was David’s wife. She had to be aware of what was going on in his life at this time. David might have kept secrets in the past, but when God deals with a person, it’s hard to hide the fact.

Praise God for His convicting power that woos us back to a right relationship with God. When we stop trying to hide from Him and run back to His arms that, too, will have an effect on others.

Sue Winchester

Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Thank God today for the freedom we have to worship Him freely. Pray for believers living in areas where just being Christian results in persecution.

“And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased God” (2 Samuel 11:27).

How very noble of David to take in the widow, Bathsheba! However, also very hypocritical! Now David could relax. He thought now everything was going to be fine because the truth was covered up. Bathsheba was David’s wife and she gave birth to David’s son. The latter should have been a joyous occasion but we will later learn the joy is short-lived.

In the meantime, David is going to have to face the error of ways. What he had done had “displeased God.” Just because more had been written about David doesn’t mean Bathsheba wasn’t going to have to come to terms with her sin.

Tomorrow we will see one base David forgot to cover. As one commentary put it, “you can’t hide your heart from God.”

Sue Winchester

Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the Bible Seminary in Chitre, Panama, as students participate in orientation today and tomorrow. New semester classes begin February 16.

“And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah was dead, she mourned for her husband” (2 Samuel 11:26).

When the messenger brought back the news of Uriah’s death, David almost acted relieved. Bathsheba’s reaction was different. She “mourned.” Why not? Uriah didn’t deserve what happened to him. It was a blessing this fine man didn’t know what had gone on behind his back. We don’t know what type of relationship there was between Uriah and Bathsheba or how many years they were married. In any case, Bathsheba spent some time grieving. However, she was going to give birth to her baby soon, the baby who didn’t belong to Uriah.

Sue Winchester

Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Can you think of a Sunday School teacher who made a difference in your life? Thank God for this person, then either call or send a card today to this person.

“And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die” (2 Samuel 11:15).

When we try to hide the truth, innocent people will always get hurt. King David had Uriah sent to the heat of the battle where he would die with a group of valiant men. The messenger didn’t understand David’s tactics but carried out his orders. Uriah died and all the men around him. How tragic when a person feels they must hide their sin at any cost. Our devotion tomorrow indicates Bathsheba wasn’t aware of David’s involvement in this horrible deed. This is going to take a toll on her.

Sue Winchester

Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the church in Alpedrete, Spain, as they host a special evangelistic event “Café y Algo Mas” this month.

“And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet, And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king” (2 Samuel 11:8).

David and Bathsheba had sinned and now David was trying to plot a plan to cover up what they did. Uriah was out in the battlefield where David should have been. David sent for him and spent a little time with him. He then suggested Uriah go spend time with his wife before heading back to his troops. What a devious plan! David thought if Uriah would have relations with Bathsheba then people would think the baby she was carrying did not belong to David.

What he didn’t count on was Uriah’s loyalty as a soldier. He was going to forego pleasure with his wife out of respect for his fellow soldiers. David’s plot had been foiled. Now what was he going to do? He panicked and wrongfully acted upon that. He was going to add to his growing list of sins. If two wrongs do not make a right, then how can anyone think adding on more wrongs will make it any more right?

Sue Winchester

Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: During these difficult economic times, ask God to direct you to missionaries who need encouragement as well as financial support to reach the lost at any cost.

PRAY TOGETHER: Praise God for our WNAC office and the staff. These ladies need to know they are appreciated. A note of encouragement would be appropriate.