2Sa 11:1-3 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. (2) And it came [...]]]>

2Sa 11:1-3 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. (2) And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

It is a sad day when a military leader forgets the value of life. It is a sad day when a leader chooses to ignore the consequences of his decisions. It is a sad day when a leader places his wants and desires ahead of the lives of those he leads. David’s desire was to have Bathsheba. The problem for David was that she was not his to have, but that did not stop him. There was a price to be paid for his desire, but sadly, he was willing to make others pay for his desire. Uriah’s life was the cost of David’s desire. The other men that went to battle with Uriah were part of the cost of David’s desire. Those men may have had wives and children and now they were part of the cost of David’s desire because they were now without a husband and father. Sin never affects just one person – to the sinner, because of their pride, they do not consider the consequences of their sin. Pride is placing your wants ahead of others’ needs. There are always consequences for sin.

Pro 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Let’s break this verse into its two parts: Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD – Matthew Henry wrote:

The pride of sinners sets God against them. He that, being high in estate is proud in heart, whose spirit is elevated with his condition, so that he becomes insolent in his conduct towards God and man, let him know that though he admires himself, and others caress him, yet he is an abomination to the Lord. The great God despises him; the holy God detest him.

An abomination is something that is detestable or hateful before the All Holy Lord God – a proud heart is something that God hates because a man or woman with a proud heart places themselves ahead of God. Pride quickly becomes idolatry, because anything that is placed ahead of God is idolatry.

The second phrase: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Matthew Henry wrote: The power of sinners cannot secure them against God, though they strengthen themselves with body hands. Though they may strengthen one another with their confederacies and combinations, joining forces against God, they shall not escape his righteous judgment.

Pro 11:21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

A prideful heart declares that “I am number one, what I want and desire takes precedence over anyone.” A little boy and a little girl were riding a mechanical horse in a shopping mall. The little boy, who was riding in front, turned to the little girl and said, “If one of us would get off, there would be more room for me.” Pride never goes unpunished, but the punishment may not come immediately and it may not come in the way we expect. As Abraham said in Genesis 18:25 Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?