Ateek argued that every Christian will find him or herself at similar crossroads, where he or she must decide between the love of God and rebellion. Moreover, he believes that within David’s story is a clue to one key factor that could have saved the king and can still save Christians today.
In the first verse of the chapter, the text states that it was a time during which kings went out to battle. However, while David had sent all of Israel to battle, the king had chosen to remain in Jerusalem.
“You want to know what the key ingredients were, that were active in David’s life, that led to his failure?” Ateek asked. “Ease and isolation.”
Ateek wondered if those ingredients might also be present in the lives of his audience.
“I wonder if that’s your story with sin right now,” Ateek said. “Instead of fighting, you’re relaxing. When you wake up each morning, you don’t realize you’re stepping onto a battlefield.”
Worse yet, Ateek argued, was David’s choice to live his life in isolation.
In following chapter, God puts Nathan into David’s life, and Nathan helps David to realize the scope of his sin and rebellion.
Ateek went on to ask if the students in attendance had a Nathan in their lives, someone who would hold them accountable and discourage them from sinful paths. If not, he encouraged them to seek out and build those relationships with other Christians.
“Jesus didn’t just die to save you from your sins, He died to save you into a family with his people,” Ateek said, “and His power is displayed through His people.”
