Have you ever wondered how a person like David could become such a significant figure in Biblical history? He was in the lineage of the Messiah and had many accomplishments throughout his life that justifies his significance. However, his love affair with Bathsheba, and how it came into being, is shrouded in scandal.
For those who aren’t familiar with the story, here’s a summary. A shepherd boy became Israel’s third king. His name is mentioned second to only Jesus in the Old Testament. David is best known for overpowering a giant with a slingshot. David was the great-grandson of Ruth and Boaz. The Book of Ruth is all about love and redemption. A direct descendent of Ruth and Boaz places David in family blessed with redemption.
God’s compassion for Israel was demonstrated through David. As a talented musician, David was made an armor-bearer for king Saul. Playing his lyre to soothe spirits that would torment Saul. David was a shepherd over his father’s sheep that played music for the king part-time. David’s defeat of the giant known as Goliath began his life as a warrior. The more success he achieved in war, the more responsibility Saul gave David as a warrior. After the death of Saul, David was anointed king. His role in establishing God’s earthly headquarters in Jerusalem made him a significant Biblical figure.
David sent his armies out to wage war. While on the roof of his palace, he noticed Bathsheba as she took a bath. He ordered someone to find out more about the beautiful woman. He learned that Bathsheba was married to one of his best soldiers, Uriah. David knew that pursuing Bathsheba any further was a bad idea, but he sent for her regardless. She came to him and he slept with her, resulting in her becoming pregnant. Learning that Bathsheba was pregnant, David devised a plot to have Bathsheba’s husband Uriah brought back home from war. David recommended to Uriah that he go spend time with his wife. Uriah said to David,
“The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”
David’s attempt to conceal his adultery with Bathsheba was failing based on Uriah’s devotion as a soldier. Uriah’s decision to deny himself the pleasure of being with his unfaithful wife will cost him his life.
The next morning David sent a letter to Joab, Uriah’s commander, with instructions for him to place Uriah where fighting was the most intense. When Joab followed David’s instructions, Uriah was killed, but so too were a few other of David’s soldiers. To cover up his adultery, David’s loyal solders were basically collateral damage. The death of Uriah cleared way for David to marry Bathsheba and she gave birth to their son. A son born from his father’s cruelty and the infidelity of his mother, died, while David and Bathsheba were forgiven and allowed to live. Becoming significant Biblical figures in the Kingdom of God.
For God is a forgiving Father. We must repent of our specific sins and seek HIS forgiveness, HE will allow us to forgive ourselves, and live to do great works. If a man like David can be referred to as “a man after God’s own heart” with his past, what more can we become after God’s forgiveness.
2 Samuel 11:2
New International Version
2 “One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roofof the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,”
2 Samuel 11:4-5
New International Version
4 “ “Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.)Then she went back home. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.” ”
2 Samuel 11:11
New International Version
11 “Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents,[a] and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!” ”
2 Samuel 11:14-17
New International Version
14 “In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”
16 So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. 17 When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died.”
2 Samuel 12:1-10
New International Version
Nathan Rebukes David
12 “The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor.2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.
4 “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”
5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”
7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9 Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ ”
2 Samuel 12:13
New International Version
13 “Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.”
Psalm 32:5
New International Version
5 “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”