What to Do Once You’ve Seen Bathsheba

from Pat Morley

Volume 238
July 9, 2007

Every man has at least seen his Bathsheba.

The attraction is not really the woman, but the “idea” of the perfect version of that woman.

Once you have seen Bathsheba, what are your options?

If you are single, by all means get to know the woman. If she loves Christ and the “real” version of her brings you joy, you are blessed.

What should you do if you are married?

a) Act out your lust.
b) Carry on a fantasy (a secret thought life).
c) Don’t worry about it because you’re strong.
d) Appreciate her God-given beauty.
e) Admire her beauty and let it propel your mind to meditate on the greatness and goodness of the holy Creator.
f) Exercise 1 Corinthians 10:13.
g) Flee from the temptation.
h) Let her remind you of how much you love your own wife and why.
i) After prayerfully picking the right moment, tell your wife that you’ve seen Bathsheba. (This will depend not only on your spiritual maturity, but hers). If you can speak this frankly with your wife, you will render Satan and your flesh powerless because the secrecy of the whole thing is the hook. You cannot be reeled in if you spit out the hook. At least, this is how it happened with me.

I thought as I got older, there would be fewer Bathshebas. That has not been the case. As men of God, let’s make sure we take care of business in this area. David’s life was never quite the same after he fell into the arms of Bathsheba.

For the glory of Christ and no other reason,

Pat Morley, Ph.D.