“How the mighty have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:25)

This was David’s eulogy for the slain Saul and Jonathan. But David could have just as well used it as the eulogy for the death of his own moral character. At a time when David should have been satisfied with his life, he wanted more. At a time when David should have been performing his duty as king, he kicked back. At a time when David should have visited one of his many wives or concubines, he took another man’s wife. Moral foundations almost always collapse through slow erosion. But once they collapse, not even mighty men can stand.