So far in this Pentecost (Ordinary Time) series of blog posts, we’ve looked at many women and men in the Bible who aligned with God, in their own fallible ways, to be God’s stewards in their time and place. Despite dysfunctional family dynamics, years of waiting, and tragedy these people were blessed by God in their lives. They struggled with their personal problems, just like we do, and discovered in the end that God is greater than any problem. Last week I posted an image of a list of Biblical characters and their 'flaws' because no one is perfect. They were not perfect. They were loved by God. They were important parts and instruments in God’s kingdom.
This month, we look at another deeply flawed, yet deeply
loved man and woman. David—the shepherd boy who became king of Israel was
certainly not perfect. Even in his sinfulness, God worked in David’s life. In
one very famous incident, he is found to be an abuser of a woman, and yet God
accepts his repentence. Most people know the outline of the story of David and
Bathsheba. It is found in 2 Samuel chapters 11-12. The summary of the event is
found in 2 Samuel 11:2-5.
One evening David got up from his bed and walked around
on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was
very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her.
The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the
Hittite.” 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. The woman conceived and sent word to
David, saying, “I am pregnant.”
David has insomnia and sees a woman bathing in her own yard.
He discovers that she is an Israelite woman (daughter of Eliam) married to a
Hittite warrior—one of his own soldiers. Despite this, he orders her to come to
him and sleeps with her. Bathsheba would not have been allowed to say ‘no.’
This was the king, after all, and she was a woman married to a foreigner. When
she lets him know that she is pregnant, David makes some rash decisions. In an
attempt to conceal his actions, He sends for Uriah.
After asking about the campaign tells him “Go down to
your house and wash your feet”… But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace
with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house. David was told, “Uriah did not go
home.” So he asked Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a military campaign? Why
didn’t you go home?” Uriah’s response shows that he is a man of honor. “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!” (2 Samuel 11:8-11)
David tries again, and when Uriah still doesn’t go home to
his wife, the king sends him back to the battle front with a letter essentially
ordering his execution. “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is
fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.” So while
Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the
strongest defenders were. 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 11:16-17) He then moves Bathsheba into his harem. (Imagine the gossip!)
Chapter 12 of 2 Samuel tells of the prophet Nathan chastising David (as in this image) through the story of a rich man, a poor man, and a lamb. (2 Samuel 12:1-12) David repents and Nathan tells him, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.” (2 Samuel 12:13-14)
Just as Nathan foretold, the infant sickens and dies,
despite David’s desperate fasting and prayers. (2 Samuel 12:15-23) Then
David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her.
She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. (2 Samuel 12:24-25)
God brought good from David’s bad actions. Despite their
relationship starting with rape, Bathsheba becomes a favored wife. Much later,
as David is dying, we see her conspire with Nathan to ensure that Solomon is
king after David. In 1 Kings 1, we learn the son of another wife, Adonijah, has
named himself king even though David is still alive. Starting in verse 11 we
hear Nathan’s advice to Bathsheba so that Solomon is proclaimed king.
Nathan asked Bathsheba…“Have you not heard that Adonijah,
the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it?
Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your
son Solomon. Go in to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not
swear to me your servant: “Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and
he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king? While you are
still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you
have said.”…[Bathsheba does as advised with Nathan supporting her]…Then King
David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood
before him. The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has
delivered me out of every trouble,…Solomon your son shall be
king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.” [David then says]
“Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada…Take
your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and
take him down to Gihon…Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon! Then
you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in
my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.” (1 Kings 1:11-35)
In this story of David and Bathsheba, we see God acting
through the foibles and mistakes of David and other human actors. Like us,
Bathsheba and David acted based on their own ideas of what is best. Even though
David lusted for Bathsheba and God punished him for his actions through the
death of the infant, God also provided a blessing through the second son of the
couple. Solomon was to become the wise leader of Israel after David died. Bathsheba
acted to protect her honor when she told David she was pregnant after his rape,
and despite his initial response of trying to trick Uriah, he does not ignore
her rights. He acknowledges his promises at the end of his life, as well, and
acts to ensure Solomon’s kingship.
How has God acted in your life despite your failures and
mistakes? I can think of times when what I thought I wanted ended up being not
so good. Then, God showed me a new path or a new ministry direction that was
better than what I planned.
