But the point of this article is how it all began. After all, he had earlier been spoken of as "a man after God's own heart'' (I Samuel 13:14). How this mighty man began his descent is simply told in 2 Samuel 11:1-2:

"And it came to pass...at the time when kings go forth to battle that...David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.''

First of all, he was not at his post of duty. Secondly, Bathsheba was bathing herself in a place where she could be seen. It matters little, as to the effect, whether she had it as her intention to attract David's eye or was simply thoughtless. Thirdly, David saw what he should not have seen, but did not turn away.

Bathsheba's immodesty was the trigger in David's downfall. No woman can claim innocence in the arousing of a man's baser passions when she has displayed her physical, fleshly form before his eyes. Even when a woman neither contemplates nor permits a consummation of lust, she can induce sin. Did not David sin even as he looked? Truly, David sinned before he ever touched her. And regardless of her intentions and heart, whether evil or empty, her lack of discretion had a terrible effect.

We live in a generation where girls and women boldly appear in various stages of undress. The fact they do it knowing that there are eyes of lustful men watching, compounds their guilt. Perhaps Bathsheba could have argued that she did not know anyone was looking. But she who knows eyes are watching, whether it is at a pool, beach, or in a performance of some kind, is utterly without excuse if she exposes herself in virtual nudity. Bathing suits, shorts and the like appeal to a man's baser nature and have caused many to lust. Needless to say, virtuous and modest women wear clothing consistent with the claim of virtue and godliness.