A Protected Palace. The Stepped Stone Structure probably supported King David's palace and gave him a view of the entire city.

THE CITY OF DAVID When Our Strengths Become Our Weaknesses

2 SAMUEL 5

IN KING DAVID'S DAY, Jerusalem the City of David was a renovation and expansion of Jebus, a site that the Hebrews had never occupied in the territory of Benjamin. Steep slopes surrounded the City of David and gave it a strategic advantage during any military threat so much so that the inhabitants of Jebus confidently taunted David, saying, "You'll never get in here!" (2 Sam. 5:6). But he did, and he made the site his new capital. The extreme slopes became King David’s military strength. At the summit of the City of David, archaeologists have unearthed the massive Stepped Stone Structure dating from King David's day a structure that likely supported David's palace. The high vantage afforded the monarch his own unique view. David could have seen the rooftops of all Jerusalem below him. From this privileged position, he saw a woman bathing on her roof. His lingering lust grew into an adulterous impulse from which neither he nor his household would ever recover.

Many temptations begin with privileges we have that we can easily take advantage of. We all have private opportunities to gratify our selfish nature, taking advantage of our privileges. A few questions remain essential and helpful in avoiding these temptations:

How can I use my position or privileges for God's glory rather than to gratify my sinful nature?
What will help me guard against using the grace of God as license for immorality (Jude 1:4)?
Who do I have in my life who will keep me accountable and ask me the hard questions?

We must guard against abusing the things that God gives us for our advantage like the elevated viewpoint King David had so that our strengths do not become our weaknesses.