Last night at a class I’ve been attending at church, we were reminded to surround ourselves with the right people for our journey.  Those who help develop, encourage and grow us.  Which went right along with some other things I’ve been studying and thinking about.  The opposite of those who develop, encourage and grow us are those who don’t.  Those who discourage our convictions, enable our destructive appetites and weaken our character and dignity and possibly our dependence on God. Let’s call them Bathsheba Fetchers.  The word “fetcher” is not in the King’s English I’m sure, but it paints the right picture.

2 Samuel 11

vs. 3  “And David sent and inquired about the woman.  And one said, “is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” (Bathsheba Fetcher #1)

vs. 4  “So David sent messengers and took her…” (Multiple Bathsheba Fetchers)

Bathsheba Fetcher #1 – He answered David’s question honestly.  But Scripture doesn’t tell us if he spoke truth with a capital T.  At the end of this ordeal Bathsheba Fetcher #1 could say – “I told David that was Uriah’s wife,” and he could feel pretty good about himself.  Safe.  He answered what he was asked.  Conscience absolved.  But, he didn’t speak the full truth to David that we know of.  Which could have sounded something like this:  “King David, that is the wife of Uriah, one of your most loyal and valuable leaders. Don't go there. Come in from the roof and pull the curtain.  Flee.  This is not ok.  Brothers before others, David.  Quit talking crazy.  We need to get you out of this castle for a minute and go get some coffee and talk about this temptation you are experiencing.  Let's get it out of your gut so it can quit driving your thoughts. Remember who you are and Who’s you are. I beg you David…don’t do this.” But, we don’t read about this happening.

Bathsheba Fetcher #1 was a first line of defense that missed the tackle.  We are not sure why.  Was he afraid for his job?  Was his identity so wrapped up in his position in David’s court that he dared not question the king?  Did he have ambition to climb the king’s ladder? Did he just misunderstand his responsibility?  Did he think at all cost he was to serve David, God’s chosen, instead of at all cost he was to serve God?  We don’t know his motivation, but we do know the consequence.

Are you on defense for the Lord’s chosen around you?  Are you safely honest, but not boldly truthful?

The next line of defense are those Bathsheba Fetchers who don’t just let you slide by when you are walking out the door headed toward destruction...  They are the ones who open the door for you and run to help bring destruction to you.  They are not your friends.  When the enemy sees the first cracks in the defense opened by the ear tickling whispers/and half hearted self-saving honesty of friends who are not your friend, this second line of Bathsheba Fetchers help break the the field wide open.
We’ll fetch Bathsheba for you David. 

We’ll stroke your pride and ego, instead of encouraging you in humility.

We’ll remind you of who you are, instead of reminding you of who God is.
We’ll help take what you want, instead of protect you from losing God’s kingdom entrusted to you.

If your friend asks you to fetch Bathsheba:

- someone else’s spouse

- glory that isn’t theirs

- feed their destructive appetite

Don’t do it.

Be like Nathan who was honest and spoke truth to help draw David to repentance and restoration.  Nathan didn’t go to David on his own.  God, out of His lovingkindness called Nathan to David.  God didn’t hate David for his fall, God did everything possible to lift him up out of it.  “And The Lord sent Nathan to David…” (Read 2 Samuel 12) When the world weakens our defenses, The Lord is our defense.  And, when the world weakens defenses, God is looking for Nathans.

If you are asking your friends to fetch Bathsheba to:

- condone your destructive appetites

- feed your ego

- hide your sin

- justify your actions

Stop it.

If The Lord has sent you a Nathan. Listen to him.  Confess. Repent.  Be washed and through with that mess.

Or, don’t.

Long before David fetched Bathsheba, Saul sent people out to fetch David to kill him. Saul had fetchers of his own.  Saul was blinded by ego and greed and paranoia.  He surrounded himself by people that fed these things, except for his son.  Jonathan spoke honestly and truthfully with Saul. (Read 1 Samuel 19) But, Saul didn’t listen and he lost everything. (His disobedience began here: (Read 1 Samuel 13) and ended here (Read 1 Samuel 31)

David sinned. But, he listened. And through Christ, his kingdom is enthroned still.

Are you Saul? Are you David?  Are you Nathan? Are you fetching Bathsheba?

Man may ask you to fetch Bathsheba, but only God can call a Jonathan or a Nathan.  Pray.  We can ask The Lord to show us where we are in the narrative.  Not all of us are called to stand before kings and speak the honest truth, but we are all called to pray for those who enter their court.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:33

-------

Last week while at a conference in North Carolina, I had the opportunity to capture a few moments at a kingdom on earth...

It was beautiful, and only a foretaste.