David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:2 - 12:24)

Just For Starters...

It always seems to be that way. Whenever we're not where we should be and we are where we shouldn't be, things happen, usually bad. We should be doing homework, but w don't. We shouldn't be watching this TV program, but we do. We should be kind and sensitive to our brother or sister, but we're not. We shouldn't be hanging around with these kinds of kids, but we do. Nothing very good usually occurs when we're like this. Temptation is inadvertently invited in, and sin usually follows (James 1:14,15). It was the same for David but his temptation-turned-sin cost a young woman her dignity and reputation; her husband and new-born son their lives. Innocent people, as well as ourselves, can pay dearly for our unwillingness to be where we should be and not be where we shouldn't be.

What's The Story?

It's springtime! The time when kings go to war. Israel's army did just that, but her king, David, did not. He stayed behind. One night David was on top of his roof when he noticed a very beautiful woman taking a bath. Giving into his desires, David decides to sleep with her and then sends her home. Bathsheba, the young woman, becomes pregnant however and puts herself and David, in a real peculiar position. David attempts to cover up his sin by calling her husband home from the fighting hoping he will lie with his wife. Uriah, her husband, will have none of that while his comrades are still on the battlefield fighting, so he decides to sleep outside his house. David then plots to do away with Uriah while he is fighting on the battlefield. He even gets Joab, his trusted commander, to help him accomplish this abhorrent act of murder. Uriah dies and Bathsheba goes to live with the king and becomes his wife.

Life goes on until Nathan the prophet of God confronts David with his sin one day with a parable concerning a rich man who owns many sheep, a poor man who has just one sheep, and a stranger (a traveler). The traveler comes to visit the rich man who wishes to honor the traveler with a great supper. Rather than taking one of his own sheep, the rich man takes the only sheep of the poor man. David, thinking its a true story becomes enraged against the violence of the rich man toward the poor man and wants to kill the rich man. Nathan reveals that he, David, is that rich man, but God has decided not to allow David to die but that the child Bathsheba is pregnant with will not live. David, filled with remorse, guilt and repentance, fasts and prays to God for the child to live but God has already decided and the child dies. David accepts the Lord's decision, comforts Bathsheba and, in time, enjoys the blessing of another son -- this one they call Solomon.

Just the Facts:

* David sends his army off to fight and do battle but decides to stay behind himself in Jerusalem.
* David sleeps with Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, and sins against the Lord.
* Bathsheba becomes pregnant and David attempts to cover up his sin.
* David eventually has Uriah killed in battle.
* Bathsheba goes to live with David and becomes his wife.
* Nathan confronts David with his sin causing David to repent.
* Bathsheba's new-born son dies and David accepts God's decision.
* In time, David and Bathsheba have another son, named Solomon.

So What?

* "If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall." (1 Cor. 10:12). Just when you think you're on top and doing well, the fall comes, and you find yourself in the valley of your own misery. We need to take Paul's warning to heart --- BE CAREFUL LETS YOU FALL. Perhaps if David had been more careful a woman's life and reputation would have been left intact, and her husband would still be alive.
* In spite of our messes, our rebellion, our sin, God can make good come out of it. He still rules and His purposes are still carried out. From an illicit affair, a murder, and the death of an innocent child, God created a dynasty that would one day; bring forth the Messiah himself!! Check out Romans 8:28,29. There is hope seen in our blunders because there is an all-powerful God.
* Read Psalms 32 and 51 to get a taste of the guilt, misery and remorse that David felt once his sin was exposed. Do we feel this way?