Read 2
Samuel 10-12 & Luke
19:29-48
To discover:
As you read note what leads David into sin.
To ponder:
The constancy of threat against Israel
is seen by the fact that when the benevolent king of the Ammonites dies, he is
replaced by a hostile son. David’s subjection of them and their allies pictures
how Christ reigns until all his enemies are put under his feet, and all things subjected
to his Father, so that his kingdom will be enjoyed in peace and security
forever (1 Cor 15v25-28).
The longer
account of this war concludes the section recounting David’s greatness,
stressing once more that the LORD was the reason for his victories (10v12-14).
But it also gives the context to what follows. 11v1 tells us that David
wouldn’t have been tempted by Bathsheba if he had been doing his job as God’s
king by leading his troops from the beginning (see 10v7). And it is often when
we are less busy that we are more open to temptation.
What follows warns
of how sin leads to sin. Seeing the beautiful Bathsheba bathing, David should
have rejected all thoughts of taking things further, content with the many
wives and concubines he already had. Instead he inquires after her, and finding
she is married, covets and then commits adultery with her. The note on
purification shows she was not at that time pregnant, but just had her period (Lev
15v28-30). However, she conceives, and on hearing of it, David then deceives
her husband Uriah by showing him hospitality in order to get him to sleep with
his wife so it would seem the child is his. Uriah’s explanation of why he
wouldn’t return home (11v11) shames David, who is quite prepared to sleep with
Uriah’s wife in his house rather than be with his troops. David’s sin
culminates in murdering Uriah, also causing the death of some of his own troops
because of the dangerous tactics involved. His response (11v25) shows how
flippant this has led him to be compared to his earlier life. So often in
marriage, desire leads to depravity and so to deceit, which can in turn lead to
destruction in many forms. We should be very sure such things “displease the
LORD” as they did with David.
It is a sign of grace
that after the child is born, God sends the prophet Nathan to David, rather
than simply punishing him. And his warnings to us in scripture are gracious too.
David’s outrage at the story of the rich man who takes the poor man’s ewe shows
he has no excuse in having done so much worse with someone’s wife. God rebukes
David. He had given him so much and would even give more, so asks why David
therefore despised his word. When we consider our many spiritual and material
blessings, this should be equally inconceivable for us.
David’s
supremacy over all other kings is now seen in how he responds. Others, like
Saul, ignored God’s prophets. However David shows his heart was for the LORD by
repenting. And so Nathan says God’s has “taken away” his sin so he won’t die –
as he should for adultery and murder. However, David’s own wives would still lie
with another in broad daylight, and his coming son would die. One might ask why
if David’s sin had been taken away. The answer must either be as discipline, or
as an alternative penalty so that justice is done, just as Christ had to die so
God’s justice was satisfied for our sin.
Knowing God is
gracious, David’s faith is seen in his praying and fasting for his son to live,
but also in his submissive acceptance of God’s will on his death. However, God’s
grace is actually seen in the birth of another son, Solomon, whom God himself
renames Jedidiah (loved by the LORD). It is also seen in his giving David
victory and fame when finally doing battle, despite all he had done. We may
have to suffer the consequences of our sin. But after repentance the LORD still
graciously blesses.
Praying it home:
Thank God for his continual grace
to you in so many ways despite your sin. Pray for specific ways you need to
guard against temptation, or deal with sin.
Thinking further:
To see a map of the Canaanite
nations fought against and ultimately suppressed by David, click
here.
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