Well At Least She Wasn't Impure

495 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 11:4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. (2 Sam 11:4) We will never know the complicity of Bathsheba in this whole sordid affair. Her husband was off to war and we must remember that she too was subject to sexual temptation. A warm spring night, a bath within full view of the palace, and the timing is such that she is free from the physical restrictions imposed by the Law against sexual activity. Le 18:19 says, “ 'Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity.” Why did the Holy Spirit feel it was necessary to include this little bit of information for us? Why is it necessary for us to know that Bathsheba had the physical green light for sexual activity? Could David and Bathsheba look back on this incident and say, “well at least we didn't commit adultery during her days of impurity!” In Paul Kretzmann's commentary on this verse, he says, “ The great sin of adultery she (and I might add they) committed without serious thought, but the act of purification she religiously observed, just as many people living in open transgressions of God's holy Law believe they may salve their consciences by small acts of charity.” Beware my friend, this is a trap that we all may fall into far too easily. We excuse our grievous sins by patting ourselves on the back for doing a good job in other areas. Let us not forget James 2:10, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” Father, we are so quick to recognize our areas of obedience and so slow to recognize our areas of disobedience. Holy Spirit search my heart and see if there be any wicked way in me.