2 Samuel 11 and 12 recounts the story of David and Bathsheba. This story is one that I have heard taught on many times from various different people. I am concerned that my overfamiliarity with the story can lead to a desensitized view so I have asked questions about the two chapters that helped me think about the text independent from what I have heard before. It can become very easy to look scripture without asking questions that make me think about what God would have me learn if I rely wholly upon what other men have taught me.
Why was David not in battle with his commanders and men but instead he was found on the roof of his own house? Was he bored and looking around around for something to occupy his time since he was not out in battle? Did the quietness of the city make David feel more bold in his actions? Was it normal for people to bathe on the roof of their house in Jerusalem? Was it a habit of Bathsheba to bathe on her roof? Did David previously notice Bathsheba on the roof bathing and keep looking out for her? Did Bathsheba’s actions reflect the household leadership of her husband Uriah? Was Uriah aware of the practice of Bathsheba bathing on the roof? Was Bathsheba a promiscuous woman who was looking for attention by bathing for the city to see? Why did no one stand up against David as he was searching out Bathsheba? Why did David’s servants not ask why he was asking for a married woman to be brought to him? How many people did David use to enable his sinful behavior?
What do you do out of sight? The false sense of security what is felt when you are alone is the exactly the same feeling that David felt when he looked upon Bathsheba from his rooftop. David could not resist asking about the woman he saw nude on her roof top and his inquery about her may have been able to be rationalized but that knowledge of who she was led to him having her brought before him. After Bathsheba was brought before David they ended up having sex and she became pregnant. Since Uriah was out with the army in battle is was a problem that Bathsheba was pregnant without her husband. David attempts to have Uriah come home to sleep with his wife but Uriah proves to be too faithful to take a privlege that the men in battle cannot have.
David finally gave up trying to have Uriah sleep with his wife to hid the adulterous act and he writes a letter to Joab instructing him that Uriah should be placed on the front line where he will be killed. What did Joab think of this order from David? Did Joab question what was happening because the letter was delivered by the hand of the man that was to die? How far will you run away from the responsibility for your actions? After the death of Uriah what did people think when Bathsheba getting married David so quickly and then a baby being born? Did people gossip about the kings actions?
Uriah was dedicated to David and his men. He should have been held in honor by David for his faithfulness but sin tainted David’s thinking and he was able to rationalize sinful actions to obtain his own desires. Did David believed all of his actions were hidden and he had gotten away with his sin but when Nathan confronts him David learned how wrong he was?
There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a great many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb which he bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and his children. It would eat of his bread and drink of his cup and lie in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him. Now a traveler came to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd, to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him; rather he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.
2 Samuel 12:1-4 NASB
After Nathan confronted David telling him the story of deception and stealing what did he think when he realized that he was the man Nathan talked about? There is a sickening feeling when your sin is brought before you by someone else but there is also healing that takes place when you no longer need to worry about hiding it. Is this how David felt when confronted by Nathan about his sin? God told David that it was He alone that helped, blessed, and gave him everything he needed and if what He had already given David was not enough more would have been given. David took one moment of sinful pleasure through his own strength instead of waiting on God to provide what he needed.
David truly saw the sin that he committed and he knew that it was before God that he had sinnes but the beauty found in the grace of God is seen here in the Old Testament when in 2 Samuel 12:13 Nathan tells David that his sin was taken away from him and he would not die. God continued to prove Himself faithful even after the sin of David. It is truly by the grace of God that His faithfulness and goodness to humanity is not based upon our actions. It is through Jesus Christ that we can have assurance to live life and when we sin we have an advocate in Jesus Christ to stand before God on our behalf. Due to David’s actions God did not allow the child from the sinful union to live but God used David and Bathsheba for good despite of their sin because Solomon was born to them at the end of chapter 12. I will always marvel at how God can used our sin tainted life to work in great ways.
How are the actions of David and Bathsheba similar to our lives? Sin is a snare that entices us throughout our daily lives. Have you ever used sinful acts to coverup another sin trying in whatever way possible to cover up your actions so that the people in your life will not find out? The more you attempt to cover up your sin the greater pain it will cause when it come to light. David relentlessly pursued Uriah to evade the consequences of his actions ending in his having Uriah killed. He was charged with shepherding the people of Israel and he sent one to be killed because of his own sinfulness.
What lesson can be learned from 2 Samuel 11 and 12? Sin cannot be overcome by anything we can do? The only fruit our actions will bear is sin apart from God and it is He alone that can forgive and heal us from the taint of sin in our lives. Be careful in moments where you start to head down the road to sin’s door because your actions will always known by God and your sin will effect more people than you know. I am thankful that the grace God which was extended to David is the same grace that is extended to me through Jesus Christ. Reading these two chapters can bring hope for you if you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation but if you are unsure of your relationship with Jesus Christ I pray that the story of David and Bathsheba’s sin will make you seek out assurance for yourself through Jesus Christ.
