The Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1 (KJV) – And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

Many times, when trouble befalls a person he says, “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time”. However, I suggest to you that the person was probably where he wanted to be. Take the Biblical account of how David met Bathsheba. It is clear that David is not where he was supposed to be but where he wanted to be. The Bible tell us that David tarried in Jerusalem. The verb to tarry means to stay longer than intended. David was where he chose to be but not where he was supposed to be. Our daily life puts us in similar situations. For example, being late for work. If you are supposed to be at work at 8:00 a.m. and you are not then you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you are scheduled to be in school but you decide to go to a friend’s house then you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Often, blame is placed everywhere except where it truly belongs. Moreover, we often expect God to block consequences despite our tarrying.

There are a few lessons that can be gleamed from David’s tarrying.

Lesson 1 – Go where God says go and leave when God says leave. David was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was not supposed to be in Jerusalem when evening approached; he chose to stay later. As a result of David’s tarrying, he saw the beautiful Bathsheba bathing (2 Sam 11:2). David, the king, was so interested in knowing who she was that he inquired about her (2 Sam 11:3).

Lesson 2 – God will always give you a way out of a situation. David’s inquiring netted the following response; Isn’t that Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah, the Hittite (2 Sam 11:3)? This was David’s way out. He was told who she was and who she belonged to but David, the king, summoned her anyway (2Sam 11:4).

Lesson 3 – God doesn’t always rain on our parade. God had already given David a way out of this situation, but David didn’t take it. He had decided that he wanted Bathsheba. He did not care who her father was or that she was married. As a result, he went further down the rabbit hole. David summoned Bathsheba, she was brought to him, and he had sex with her. During this encounter a child was conceived and now David had to come up with a solution (2 Sam. 11: 4-6). Of course, he could have come clean and admitted that the lust of the eye and a lack of morals caused him to impregnant Bathsheba. He could have taken responsibility and said that he would compensate Uriah for his wrong doing but instead David tried to cover it up. The king was indeed human and suspectable to sin. He called Uriah from the field and directed him to wash his feet (or to go inside). Knowing that after being away from his wife for so long upon sight of her, Uriah would not be able to resist her and the problem would be solved. However, Uriah, was an honorable man and he refused to go into his wife and instead slept outside with the servants. When that didn’t work, David, got him drunk but still Uriah slept outside with the servants (2 Sam 11:8-13).

Lesson 4 – God shows us mercy, in spite of our sin. David ordered Uriah to be killed and after the deed was done, he took Uriah’s wife for himself (2 Sam. 11:14-27). David suffered dearly for being in the wrong place at the wrong time but God still spared his life (2 Sam. 12:13).

Prayer: Dear Lord, You told us that there is a way that seems right unto a man but that way leads to destruction; but we don’t listen. Forgive us for going our own way and ignoring Your warnings. Thank you, Lord for Your grace and mercy, during those times we do our own thing. Lord, we do appreciate Your guidance and are truly sorry for going astray. Many times, our actions grieve You and we expect You to not just forgive us but spare us of all consequences. It is during those times of chastening that your grace and mercy abound. Thank you for closing and sealing doors that we should not go through, thank you giving us multiple chances to get things right when despite the closed door we kick it in. We are so unworthy of Your love yet You give it freely. Despite our wandering You continue to lead, guide, and teach us. Thank you, so much for your patience. And, thank you for Your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and then rose so we might live with abundance. In the matchless name of Jesus, Amen.

(by Patricia Towns)