Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Bathsheba - Fashion Faux Pas


2 Samuel 11: 2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful.


The question we could ask is this: Did Bathsheba know David was up on the roof? From the housing in Israel, it doesn't look like it'd take great eyesight to see to the next roof over. David was pacing on his roof, unsettled - probably because he was out of the will of God. But Bathsheba knew the lusts of men. Even if men aren't thinking along those lines - a well laid bath tub and nothing but a bar of soap tends to change those thoughts.

What might have been going through Bathsheba's mind - was she lonely because her husband was gone to war? Was she being tempted and those lusts were overcoming her? Was she simply dirty and trying to get in a bath before bedtime? Either way - some bad choices were made on her part.

Even if she was just trying to get clean (the most innocent of all the options) you know the likelihood of being seen on your rooftop - where anyone can see you. Bathsheba should have used her better judgment and either waited to bathe until it was too dark for anyone to see or gone inside and just rinsed off.

See, we as women have a responsibility. We need to be aware of what we are doing to other people by our actions. When you get up and get dressed in the morning, do you look at the outfit you're wearing and say - hey, this outfit might cause Mike the mailman to stumble - I better not wear it - or do you purposely wear something that might cause Boss-man Smith to take notice of you when you ask for that raise. What if you knew you were meeting Jesus that day - how would you dress then???

3 comments:

Kay Martin said...

Again you have hit a current issue that the Bible covers. I have always thought about Bathsheba and what price any part of her exposing herself cost her. We women do have responsibility and our obedience will bring blessings; and our disregard of what we wear or do has many possible bad ends.

Modesty is a wonderful character of a Godly woman. Thank you for reminding all of us to be careful as we reflect our Savior in our lives.

mariel said...

well stated! I am about to post on Bathesheba (going through the women of Christ's heritage)...but I LOVE how you break down the whole section of Scripture!

God's girl said...

Great insights girl! Thanks for posting.
Much love,
Angela