The Love Affair That Ended With A Murder

Old Testament Thoughts Pt. 9

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A big theme in the Old Testament is seeing who God used to do great things. He used the seemingly weakest and some that appear to do the “worst” of sins.

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David could fit into both of those categories.

He was described as man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), but he wasn’t someone that Israel might have chosen based on looks.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” — 1 Samuel 16:7

But we know that despite his smaller appearance, this is the same guy that took down Goliath with a rock, slingshot, and unwavering faith in God.

“…Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.’” — 1 Samuel 17:36–37

…

“So, David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.”— 1 Samuel 17:50

The point of all this is… David loved the Lord. He wanted to glorify the Lord, and He always sought the Lord when hard times came up for him. He was a faithful servant. However, just like the rest of us, he wasn’t perfect. David sinned BIG time.

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David was already king with more than one wife, concubines, and a whole kingdom.

In our eyes, David had everything, but this didn’t stop him from being tempted for more.

“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, 3 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.’” — 2 Samuel 11:2–3

Despite being told that Bathsheba was most definitely married, he still sent for her. They had sex, and Bathsheba ended up pregnant.

Instead of owning up to his awful sin, David called for her husband. He wanted Uriah to go home and make love to his wife. That way the baby would appear to be Uriah’s. But due to Jewish rules when being a part of their military, Uriah didn’t go home to his wife. He stayed with his master’s servants.

David tried again this time getting Uriah drunk, and Uriah still didn’t go to Bathsheba.

“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!’” — 2 Samuel 11:11

This is the only quote from Uriah during this whole passage. Some speculate that Uriah purposely referred to Bathsheba as his wife to make a statement. Many think that he knew all along about David’s sin.

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David’s only solution to all of this was to purposely make sure that Uriah was killed in battle.

“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 11:14–17

As soon as the mourning period was up, David made Bathsheba his wife.

“After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.” — 2 Samuel 11:27

Nathan, the prophet, ends up calling out David in his sin, and tells David how upset the Lord is with him.

“…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…” — 2 Samuel 12:7(b)-8

Throughout the Old Testament, punishment for sin was really easily seen. Since Jesus died for us, we may experience natural consequences, but our sin is washed away by the blood of Jesus.

Bathsheba and David’s baby boy had to die to show the weight of their sin.

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. 14 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

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Despite David’s efforts to plead for his baby’s life, the baby died shortly after birth.

“He answered, ‘While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.’” — 2 Samuel 12:22–23

But God wasn’t through with Bathsheba and David. They sinned and were punished greatly for it. Despite their great sin, God still ended up blessing them shortly after.

“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. The Lord loved him; 25 and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.” — 2 Samuel 12:24–25

David and Solomon were both in Jesus’s blood line (Matthew 1:6–7).

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If God used sinners as the ancestors of Jesus, what makes you think that He can’t use for great things too?

David made Bathsheba commit adultery. God hates adultery so much. It is literally one of the two things that God gives biblical grounds for divorce for. Then, David immediately committed another awful sin, murder.

God sees all sin as sin. You might not cheat on your spouse or purposely have someone killed, but you will sin. You will fall short. And so will the rest of us.

Even the best of people are not good, only Jesus is. And only He can save you.

You can repent from anything and be welcomed at His table.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9

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