WHO LED KING DAVID UP THE STAIRS?

Mike Jeshurun And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil [Mat 6:13] For the saint of God, the housetop (like all other places) can either be a place of danger or a place of blessing. One saint of God was led up the stairs and saw a vision of God (Acts 10:9-16), while another, even the man after Gods own heart, was led up a similar set of stairs and fell into sin! [2Sam 11:2-4] The same God who led the one saint led the other. As we read, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (Psalm 37:23), and again:

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. (Prov 16:9) And again, Man's goings (steps) are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? [Prov 20:24] Before we proceed further, we would seek to affirm and establish beyond all doubt that GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF SIN, NEITHER DOES HE MAKE ANY MAN TO SIN OR ENTICE HIM TO DO SO! But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of HIS OWN LUST, and enticed. [James 1:14] But though God does not tempt any man or make him to sin, yet nevertheless He DOES lead men into temptation . . . or it would be pointless to pray lead us not into temptation! WHO was it who led Christ into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil? Then was Jesus led up of THE SPIRIT into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. [Matt 4:1] We recommend a sermon and an article: one by the late C.H. Spurgeon and another by A.W. Pink both titled Lead us not into temptation for further light on this neglected aspect of Gods Sovereignty. Here is an excerpt from A.W. Pink Note the truths that are clearly implied by these words Lead us not into temptation FIRST, Gods universal providence is owned. All creatures are at the sovereign disposal of their Maker; He has the same absolute control over evil as over good. In this petition an acknowledgment is made that the ordering of all temptations is in the hands of our all-wise, omnipotent God.

SECOND, Gods offended justice and the evil we deserve are avowed. Our wickedness is such that God would be perfectly just if He should now allow us to be completely swallowed up by sin and destroyed by Satan. THIRD, His mercy is recognized. Though we have so grievously provoked Him, yet for Christs sake He has remitted our debts. Therefore, we plead that He will henceforth preserve us. FOURTH, our weakness is acknowledged. Because we realize that we are unable to stand against temptations in our own strength, we pray, "And lead us not into temptation."