David and Bathsheba: A King's Great Sin

King David, renowned as "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14), was a shepherd, a warrior, a psalmist, and a divinely appointed monarch over Israel. His life was marked by incredible faith, courage, and devotion to the Lord. Yet, even this mighty king, blessed by God and used for His purposes, fell prey to a grievous sin that would forever stain his legacy and bring immense sorrow upon his house. The account of David and Bathsheba, found in 2 Samuel 11 and 2 Samuel 12, stands as a stark reminder of the pervasive nature of temptation, the deceptive power of unconfessed sin, and the unwavering justice and mercy of God.

The Sin Unfolds: A Descent into Darkness

The narrative begins at a time when kings typically led their armies to battle. David, however, chose to remain in Jerusalem:

And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:1

This initial act of idleness set the stage for temptation. One evening, David arose from his bed and walked upon the roof of his house. From this vantage point, he saw a woman washing herself, and "the woman was very beautiful to look upon" (2 Samuel 11:2). This sight ignited a lustful desire within the king's heart.

Instead of turning away, David indulged his gaze and then actively pursued the object of his desire. He sent to enquire about the woman and discovered her identity:

And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

2 Samuel 11:3

The knowledge that she was married, and to one of his loyal soldiers, Uriah the Hittite, should have been a deterrent. Uriah was part of David's elite thirty mighty men (2 Samuel 23:39), a testament to his faithfulness and courage. Yet, David disregarded this vital information. He sent messengers and took Bathsheba, and "he lay with her" (2 Samuel 11:4).

The immediate consequence of this illicit union was Bathsheba's conception. She sent word to David, stating, "I am with child" (2 Samuel 11:5). Faced with the exposure of his sin, David embarked on a desperate and escalating series of cover-up attempts:

  • Bringing Uriah Home: David commanded Joab to send Uriah back from the front lines. The king hoped Uriah would go home to his wife, thereby legitimizing the pregnancy. However, Uriah, demonstrating remarkable integrity and loyalty to his comrades and the ark of God, refused to enjoy the comforts of home while his fellow soldiers were in battle. He declared, "The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing."
  • Intoxication Attempt: David then tried to get Uriah drunk, hoping that in his inebriated state, he would return home to sleep with his wife. This attempt also failed, as "Uriah slept at the king's house with all the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house" (2 Samuel 11:13).
  • Murder: With his attempts at deception thwarted by Uriah's unwavering character, David resorted to the ultimate sin: murder. He sent Uriah back to Joab with a letter, instructing him to place Uriah "in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die" (2 Samuel 11:15). Uriah, unknowingly carrying his own death warrant, was killed as David commanded.

    • Following Uriah's death, Bathsheba mourned her husband, 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). David believed his secret was safe, but God saw everything.

    God's Confrontation and Judgment

    God does not allow sin to go unaddressed, especially in the lives of His chosen servants. After a period of time, the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to confront David. Nathan approached the king with a parable:

    And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

    2 Samuel 12:1-4

    David's righteous indignation flared, and he declared that the rich man deserved to die and should restore the lamb fourfold (2 Samuel 12:5-6). It was at this moment that Nathan delivered the crushing blow:

    And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.

    2 Samuel 12:7

    Nathan then laid out God's indictment, detailing David's ingratitude for the blessings bestowed upon him and the severity of his sin. God declared specific judgments that would fall upon David and his house:

    • The Sword Would Never Depart: "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife" (2 Samuel 12:10).
    • Evil from His Own House: "Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun" (2 Samuel 12:11).
    • The Child's Death: "Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die" (2 Samuel 12:14).

    David's Repentance and Enduring Consequences

    Upon hearing Nathan's words, David's heart was broken. He immediately confessed, "I have sinned against the LORD" (2 Samuel 12:13). Nathan then declared God's forgiveness regarding the penalty of death, stating, "The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die" (2 Samuel 12:13). This immediate forgiveness speaks to God's readiness to pardon the repentant heart, but it did not negate the consequences of David's actions.

    True to Nathan's prophecy, the child born to David and Bathsheba fell ill and died. David mourned deeply, fasting and praying, but when the child passed, he accepted God's will with humility, saying, "But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." This demonstrated a profound trust in God's sovereignty, even in the midst of sorrow.

    In a display of God's amazing grace, Bathsheba later bore David another son, Solomon, whom "the LORD loved" (2 Samuel 12:24). Solomon would eventually succeed David on the throne and build the first temple, a testament to God's ability to bring good even out of human failure and to maintain His covenant promises.

    However, the prophecies of judgment on David's house were fulfilled tragically in the years that followed:

    • The sword never departed, evidenced by Amnon's rape of Tamar and Absalom's subsequent murder of Amnon (2 Samuel 13).
    • Evil was raised up from his own house through Absalom's rebellion, which forced David to flee Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15).
    • Absalom openly lay with David's concubines on the rooftop, fulfilling the prophecy that David's wives would be taken "in the sight of this sun" (2 Samuel 16:22).
    These events highlight that while God forgives sin, the temporal consequences can be far-reaching and painful, affecting not only the individual but also their family and even the nation.

    Lessons for Believers

    The story of David and Bathsheba offers timeless and profound lessons for all believers:

  • No One is Immune to Temptation: Even a "man after God's own heart" can fall. This underscores the necessity of constant vigilance, humility, and reliance on God's strength to resist sin (1 Corinthians 10:12).
  • Sin's Progressive Nature: David's sin did not begin with murder but with idleness, a lingering look, and then lust. This progression from desire to action, to cover-up, and finally to greater evil, mirrors the warning in James 1:14-15: "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
  • The Destructive Power of Sin: David's sin brought adultery, murder, deceit, family dysfunction, and national turmoil. Sin is never private; it has far-reaching consequences for the individual, their family, and the community.
  • God Sees All: David thought his sin was hidden, but "the thing that David had done displeased the LORD" (2 Samuel 11:27). There is no darkness or shadow where evildoers can hide from God's omniscient gaze (Hebrews 4:13).
  • God's Justice and Mercy: God is just in His judgment of sin, ensuring that consequences are met. Yet, He is also merciful and quick to forgive those who genuinely repent. David's immediate confession led to immediate spiritual pardon, though temporal consequences remained.
  • True Repentance: David's lament in Psalm 51, a psalm of repentance likely written after Nathan's confrontation, reveals the depth of his sorrow and his desire for a clean heart and renewed spirit. Genuine repentance involves acknowledging sin, confessing it to God, accepting responsibility, and turning away from evil.
  • God's Redemptive Plan Prevails: Despite David's monumental failure, God's promise to establish David's kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:16) remained intact. The birth of Solomon and the continuation of the messianic line through him demonstrate God's faithfulness to His covenant, even when His people falter.

    • The account of David and Bathsheba serves as a sober warning against the allure of sin and a powerful testimony to the unfailing justice and boundless mercy of God.