II Samuel 11

“As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing" (v11).  Uriah’s words reveal his deep integrity, in contrast to David’s immorality and deception.  While David (who had many wives) knowingly slept with another man’s wife, breaking a commandment, Uriah rejected even the lesser evil of indulging in the comfort of visiting his own home when his soldiers were still in battle (v11).  David’s terrible sin led him straight to the next: murdering Uriah (v15).

 “But Uriah … did not go down to his house” (v9).  We don’t stumble into terrible sins.  By small and significant steps, we walk down the path of either righteousness or self-destruction.