David and Bathsheba - Part 3

A story of sin, judgement, repentance and restoration

Part 3: God’s judgement

In this series we are looking at the story of David and Bathsheba. The story marks the lowest point of David’s spiritual life but it also provides one of the best examples of God’s mercy and kindness and has many parallels with the New Testament. Importantly the story gives us many practical warnings and lessons to apply to our lives today.

In the last two weeks we have looked at how David fell in to sin. Firstly he took his eyes off God and decided to take it easy for a while whilst others fulfilled his calling. Then he was tempted and, instead of running from this temptation or resisting it with the word of God, he gave in. Finally instead of repenting he tried to hide his sin resulting in him ultimately committing an even greater sin.

This week we are looking at how God addresses David’s sin bringing both judgement and repentance

The story is recorded in 2 Samuel 12: 1-19 as follows:

Nathan’s Parable and David’s Confession

1 Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. 3 But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. 4 And a traveller came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! 6 And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”  7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! 9 Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. 10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbour, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’”  13 So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”  And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” 15 Then Nathan departed to his house.

The Death of David’s Son

And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill. 16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!”  19 When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?”  And they said, “He is dead.” 

God sent Nathan to confront David about his sin and to warn him of the consequences. These consequences were severe. Because he had murdered an innocent man, God caused David’s own family to rebel against him. Because David took another man’s wife in secret, God took his wives and gave them to others in public. Because David brought shame on God’s name, God caused David and Bathsheba’s child to die.

It is surprising that no-one had challenged David before Nathan. David was a righteous King surrounded by officials and priests yet there is no record of him being held accountable for his actions or challenged by any of these men. It is only Nathan’s willingness to obey God and speak out that brings David to the point of repentance. This is a lesson to all of us.

Firstly, we must all be willing to speak the Truth in love to our friends, neighbours and spiritual family in the church, even if it risks offending them. To speak out against sin is a sign of our love for one another. To ignore each other’s sin and leave it to someone else to address is a sign that we do not love one another. God disciplines those he loves and we should do the same, as long as it is motivated by love.

Secondly, we must all make ourselves accountable to someone we trust to speak God’s word in to our lives.  This requires practical action and real honesty and openness. If we sin in secret and also hide from others the things that tempt us then how can we expect anyone to help us? Whilst it may be uncomfortable to confess to another person an area of temptation or sin, we need to remember that the consequences of unrepented sin are serious and no sin can be hidden from God.

Remain blessed and highly favoured.
Paul Thomson (Mr.)