AMLWCH METHODIST CHURCH
Anglesey, North Wales

David and Bathsheba

 

We read in the Bible how the Jews looked back on the reign of King David as a golden era and craved a period in their lives to match it.   They considered David as the perfect king chosen by God.   Yet in chapters 11 and 12 of 2 Samuel we read of extreme sin on the part of David.   There seemed to be a chronological arrangement for battles there:-   Verse 1 of chapter 11 reads “At the turn of the year, when kings go out to battle.”   It seems strange that the new year was celebrated by war!

At this point King David looked out and saw a beautiful woman bathing and desired her.   Bathsheba was married to Uriah the Hittite and, therefore unavailable.   However, David brought her to his quarters and slept with her.   The result was that she conceived a child.   David had Uriah brought back from the battle so that he would go home and sleep with his wife.   Uriah did not go home and spoiled the plan for the child to be considered his own offspring.   So David had him placed in the fiercest part of the battle where he was certain to be killed, which he was.  Then David took Bathsheba for his wife.

The child died after 7 days.   God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David with the double sin he had committed.   The prophet told David a story about a wealthy man with many flocks taking the one ewe lamb belonging to a poor man to kill it and hold a celebration.   David was appalled at this this and said the wealthy man should die for such an action.   It was then that Nathan the prophet told David, “You are the man!”   I always think of the King James translation that fits the tale most strongly: “Thou art the man!”   I told the story to a union colleague many years ago and she had the hairs on her neck stand up as I quoted Nathan in that King James version.

David was mortified to be confronted with what he had done.   It tells us that no matter how high one’s status is there can be no acceptance of such a dreadful sin.   God had chosen David to be king, but David failed him on this occasion.   No king can be perfect because of his status.   His conduct is as important as that of any other human being.   In fact, he is usually viewed as one who shows an example of how to live.

None of us can be excused for bending the laws of God for selfish reasons.   The rules are there to enhance life for all.   Much is expected of Christians who are charged with setting an example of the best way of life.   This is reflected all through the four gospels that tell of the work of Jesus.   If you would seek the life to lead, just read about Jesus.   Your answer is there.