2 Samuel 11:2 English Standard Version (ESV) It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.

A cooperating witness for law enforcement has been caught doing something wrong. He has information which could lead to the capture of other offenders. In exchange for his testimony he receives a get out of jail free card, a pardon for his offenses. Does that sound familiar? Haven’t we all become cooperating witnesses?

Allow me as a cooperating witness to place myself into 2 Samuel 11:2 and give my witness to related offenses.

2 Samuel 11:2 Witness Statement Version (WSV) I couldn’t sleep. I was troubled over current events and I just couldn’t get back to sleep. I got up and went to my facebook page only to discover a beautiful younger woman had sent me a friend request.

I relate to David’s experience in modern terms and recognize the source of the problem and what led to temptation. It does not matter what David was thinking, what his troubled mind might have been thinking, it was only an example to me. I see how David went wrong from this point and I see how sin grabbed the opportunity and I see the results.

Now it is up to me to relate to that sequence of events and choose how to respond to the temptation before me. Accepting the invitation would be the same as David’s inquiring about Bathsheba.  I could find out about this younger beautiful woman by accepting the request. I could also deny the invitation and seek help for my troubled mind.

This is only one small example of how we can relate to the actions of others in the bible and use their mistakes to avoid temptation. I receive many spam e-mails every day with “urgent” requests and mail marked “reply” indicating that I had already been in contact with this person.

They go to my spam filter rather than my in box because I have already rejected those temptations.

Isaiah 40:1 ESV Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

This is my hope. Can my words bring comfort to you? In verse 2 are some suggestions that are good but then in verse 3 there is that great memorable verse which says: “A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” John the Baptist quotes this line declaring he is that voice and that the Lord is coming.

The Lord came and spoke. The Lord came and died for our sins. The Lord proved His power over death and gives us life. The Lord left us with these instructions; “Love one another.” Is there anything more comforting than to be loved?

I have suffered the consequences of my sins. If my confession should help one person avoid suffering those same consequences, then it was worth it. The Word of the Lord has directed me around many a temptation. If by sharing His Word it will help just one person avoid any particular sin, then the years I have spent sharing His Word was worth it.

Isaiah 40:2 ESV Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

Tenderness, peace, a pardon and reward are all included in His Word. We can own those words. We can live those words. We can be all that He is because He abides in us. We are His dwelling place. His presence changed our lives, and changed us. This is our witness of the living God, to be His lamp into the darkness.

Our part in this system is to be a cooperating witness.