B. David's sin and its consequences
1. David and Bathsheba - 1 Kings 15:5
a. Adultery committed; Uriah killed - 2 Samuel 11:1-27
b. Nathan's reproof and David's repentance - 2 Samuel 12:1-15; Psalm 51:1-19; 32:1-10; 38:1-22; 103:1-22
{pages 526 - 530}
And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child. (2 Samuel 11:4-5)
I had several notes on this passage. David lusted? Messengers. Does that mean that it was well 'talked' about around the court? The servants of Bathsheba? How long until Bathsheba told David? 1 month? 2? 3?
Gill:
And David sent messengers,.... To invite her to his palace:
and took her; not by force, but through persuasion:
and she came in unto him; into the apartment where he was:
and he lay with her; she consenting to it, being prevailed upon, and drawn into it through the greatness and goodness of the man, which might make the sin appear the lesser to her. This is recorded to show what the best of men are, when left to themselves; how strong and prevalent corrupt nature is in regenerate persons, when grace is not in exercise; what need the saints stand in of fresh supplies of grace, to keep them from falling; what caution is necessary to everyone that stands, lest he fall; and that it becomes us to abstain from all appearance of sin, and whatever leads unto it, and to watch and pray that we enter not into temptation; and such a record as this is an argument for the integrity of the Scriptures, that they conceal not the faults of the greatest favourites mentioned in them, as well as it serves to prevent despair in truly penitent backsliders:
for she was purified from her uncleanness; this clause is added in a parenthesis, partly to show the reason of her washing herself, which was not for health and pleasure, and to cool herself in a hot day, but to purify herself from her menstruous pollution, according to the law in Lev_15:19; the term of her separation being expired; and partly to give a reason why she the more easily consented, and he was the more eager to enjoy her; and in this he sinned, not that he did not lie with an unclean person; but, then, as some observe, he did that which was much worse, he committed adultery; also this may be added to observe, that she was the more apt for conception, as Ben Gersom notes, and to account for the quickness of it, with which the philosopher (i) agrees:
and she returned unto her house; whether that evening, or next morning, or how long she stayed, is not said.
And the woman conceived,.... Whereby the sin would be discovered, and shame, and disgrace, or worse, would follow upon it:
and sent and told David, and said, I am with child; this message she sent to David, that he might think of some ways and means to prevent the scandal that would fall both upon him and her, and the danger she was exposed unto; fearing the outcries of the people against her, in acting so unfaithful a part to her husband, so brave a man, who was now fighting for his king and country; and the rage and jealousy of her husband when he should come to the knowledge of it, and the death which by the law she was guilty of, even to be stoned with stones, see Joh_8:5.
So who had the greater guilt? Should or could Bathsheba have said no?
A few articles to share:
Bathsheba, The Real Story - this one is very thought provoking if the author's chronological interpretation of how the lives of all those involved may have interacted.
I have not read all of this article, yet - Bathsheba: The Woman Whose Beauty Resulted In Adultery and Murder.
Note: I am not sharing the articles above based upon an author's perception or conjecture of 'what' may have happened (i.e. David burping Bathsheba). I tend to 'cut out' dross like that when reading an article, more focused on information that *may* be helpful and/or enlightening. For me, specifically, it was the information on how the lives of David, Bathsheba, her dad, her granddad, her husband overlapped. David and Bathsheba were not strangers to one another, even if they had never physically met prior to his calling her.
I did find it highly encouraging that though David (and Bathsheba) both sinned, God forgave them. David was a man after God's own heart, yet he transgressed mightily. Father did not cause him to die. Which leads me to another interesting thought.
David sinned greatly, was rebuked by the prophet Nathan, repented and was forgiven. One of the articles (can not remember which one at this juncture) postured that David may have been lax in dealing with Amnon because of his own sin. David never rebuked or dealt with the issue, nor did Amnon give any appearance of being remorseful or repentant.
I will be meditating upon that thought of how broad and wide God's forgiveness to David (and Bathsheba) was, though they suffered the loss of their 1st child, were run out of the kingdom and had many hardships ahead of them, God still allowed them to be in the lineage of our Lord and Savior.
I am by no means advocating cheap grace, to sin while 'resting' upon God's forgiveness. I do take delight in knowing that when I do sin, He loves me enough to chastise and/or rebuke me. Allows me to seek HIS forgiveness and be reconciled to Him.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:1-2)
It would appear that Bathsheba was aware of being pregnant almost immediately. How long did David wait for her to mourn?
And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. (2 Samuel 11:27)
I enjoyed Gill's commentary, sharing:
And when the mourning was past,.... The seven days were at an end, or sooner; for he stayed not ninety days from the death of her husband, which the Jews in later times enjoined (n), that it might be known whether with child by her former husband, and so to whom it belonged; and because David did not wait this time, Abarbinel charges it upon him as an additional sin:
David sent, and fetched her to his house; took her home to his palace to live with him:
and she became his wife; he married her according to the usual form of marriage in those days:
and bare him a son; begotten in adultery:
but the thing that David had done displeased the Lord; or "was evil in the eyes of the Lord" (o); for though it was not done in the eyes of men, being scarcely or very little known, yet was in the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro throughout the earth, and sees all things that are done: the adultery he had been guilty of with another man's wife was abominable to the Lord, and for which, according to the law, both he and she ought to have been put to death, Lev_20:10; the murder of her husband, which he was accessory to, as well as the death of many others, and the marriage of her under such circumstances, were all displeasing to God, and of such an heinous nature, that his pure eyes could not look upon with approbation: the Jews (p) endeavour to excuse David from sin; from the sin of murder, by making Uriah guilty of rebellion and treason, as before observed; and from the sin of adultery, by affirming that it was the constant custom for men, when they went out to war, to give their wives a bill of divorce; so that from the time of giving the bill they were not their wives, and such as lay with them were not guilty of adultery; but for this there is no foundation: it is certain David was charged with it by the Lord; he himself owned it, and bewailed it, both that and his blood guiltiness, and the following chapter abundantly proves it.
Part of David's heart after the rebuke and loss:
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:17)
Lord, help me to have a broken and contrite heart and spirit before Thee. O Lord, ever let the totality of my being be subjected and pleasing to You.
I did find it highly encouraging that though David (and Bathsheba) both sinned, God forgave them. David was a man after God's own heart, yet he transgressed mightily. Father did not cause him to die. Which leads me to another interesting thought.
David sinned greatly, was rebuked by the prophet Nathan, repented and was forgiven. One of the articles (can not remember which one at this juncture) postured that David may have been lax in dealing with Amnon because of his own sin. David never rebuked or dealt with the issue, nor did Amnon give any appearance of being remorseful or repentant.
I will be meditating upon that thought of how broad and wide God's forgiveness to David (and Bathsheba) was, though they suffered the loss of their 1st child, were run out of the kingdom and had many hardships ahead of them, God still allowed them to be in the lineage of our Lord and Savior.
I am by no means advocating cheap grace, to sin while 'resting' upon God's forgiveness. I do take delight in knowing that when I do sin, He loves me enough to chastise and/or rebuke me. Allows me to seek HIS forgiveness and be reconciled to Him.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:1-2)
It would appear that Bathsheba was aware of being pregnant almost immediately. How long did David wait for her to mourn?
And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. (2 Samuel 11:27)
I enjoyed Gill's commentary, sharing:
And when the mourning was past,.... The seven days were at an end, or sooner; for he stayed not ninety days from the death of her husband, which the Jews in later times enjoined (n), that it might be known whether with child by her former husband, and so to whom it belonged; and because David did not wait this time, Abarbinel charges it upon him as an additional sin:
David sent, and fetched her to his house; took her home to his palace to live with him:
and she became his wife; he married her according to the usual form of marriage in those days:
and bare him a son; begotten in adultery:
but the thing that David had done displeased the Lord; or "was evil in the eyes of the Lord" (o); for though it was not done in the eyes of men, being scarcely or very little known, yet was in the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro throughout the earth, and sees all things that are done: the adultery he had been guilty of with another man's wife was abominable to the Lord, and for which, according to the law, both he and she ought to have been put to death, Lev_20:10; the murder of her husband, which he was accessory to, as well as the death of many others, and the marriage of her under such circumstances, were all displeasing to God, and of such an heinous nature, that his pure eyes could not look upon with approbation: the Jews (p) endeavour to excuse David from sin; from the sin of murder, by making Uriah guilty of rebellion and treason, as before observed; and from the sin of adultery, by affirming that it was the constant custom for men, when they went out to war, to give their wives a bill of divorce; so that from the time of giving the bill they were not their wives, and such as lay with them were not guilty of adultery; but for this there is no foundation: it is certain David was charged with it by the Lord; he himself owned it, and bewailed it, both that and his blood guiltiness, and the following chapter abundantly proves it.
Part of David's heart after the rebuke and loss:
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:17)
Lord, help me to have a broken and contrite heart and spirit before Thee. O Lord, ever let the totality of my being be subjected and pleasing to You.
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