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1st July
2 Samuel 11:1-27. David and Bathsheba
- The story starts with a note of criticism of David. Verse one tells us
it is spring when kings go off to war. However, David remained in his
palace and instead sent Joab to lead his men. Perhaps David thought he was
entitled to a rest, since he had just defeated the Syrians in a great
battle.
- It was while walking on the roof of his palace that he saw Bathsheba
and decided that he wanted her. This was not the first time that
David’s liking for the ladies had caused him trouble. In Deuteronomy
17:16-17 God lays down rules for the king to obey, one of which is: He must
not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray; but in 2 Samuel 5:13
we read, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem.
- David probably only wanted a one-night-stand, but when he heard that
Bathsheba was with child he must have been in a real panic. The law for
adulterers is clearly set out in Leviticus 20:10: If a man commits adultery
with another man's wife—with the wife of his neighbour—both
the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. Whether this would
have applied to the king we will never know.
- David compounded his wrongdoing by first summoning Uriah,
Bathsheba’s husband, on a pretext of discussing the progress of the
battle against the Ammonites. He hoped Uriah would sleep with her and
assume the child was his. When that failed, David delayed Uriah’s
return to the war to get him drunk, again in the hope that he would sleep
with his wife. Finally he ordered Uriah to the most dangerous part of the
battle where he was killed. Now David was indirectly guilty of murder as
well as adultery.
- To consider
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- Was David justified in not going to battle himself but sending Joab to
lead his army?
- What do you suppose Christ would have said about David’s actions
in connection with Bathsheba? Would he have condemned them or him?
- What do you think of David’s motives? Is this an example of
absolute power corrupting absolutely?
- Prayer
- Dear Lord, help us to recognise the temptations of the devil and give
us the strength to resist them.
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