Idleness

 It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.
2 Samuel 11:2 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/2sa.11.2.ESV

This verse is only part of a series of steps David took towards adultery and murder. People don't simply wake up one morning and decide to commit adultery and murder. It's a slippery slope.

The quote that the devil makes work for idle hands isn't lifted directly from the Bible, but it is Biblical. It is illustrated by David in this chapter. He should have been leading his army in battle, but decided to rest on his laurels at home.

What was the king of Israel doing lounging around on his couch in the late afternoon? He was clearly being lazy. He made time to be up to no good.

Accidently seeing a woman bathing wasn't necessarily wrong in and of itself, although we could ask what David was doing instead of fighting Israel's battles. The problem was that David's glance became a lingering gaze. He then inquired after her, and sinfully took her.

'God our Father, forbid that we should ever be found idle. May we be busy about Your work, and so not leave time to sin against You, in Christ's name, amen'

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