David's story is not of some "holier than thou" man. David's story is about a man who still struggles with anger, lust, and the sins of men, but through it all he loves and follows his God...the One True God.
I have been challenged through this time to be a woman after God's heart and to seek His heart daily. I fail, but with God's help I get back up and continue on this journey!
So, back to David's story.
It was spring. David sent all his men and servents to battle. The text says ALL Israel. Instead of going along, David lingered and stayed behind in Jerusalem. The text does not say why, but he did. And I am sure it is a decision he later came to regret. David, the King, was not where he should have been. Instead, he was in Jerusalem, and went up to the rooftop. There he saw her. Bathing. He lingered. He looked. She was beautiful.
Now, some might ask...why was she able to be seen by David? Was it her fault for not being more careful? I would argue that it seems, according to the text, that all the men of Israel were off to battle, except David. The text does not say she is naked, or unclothed in anyway. It says she was bathing. And a couple verses later it mentions she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness. David obviously looked enough to notice she was very beautiful and desired her.
Unfortunately, David did not stop there. He inquired about her. He found out she was the wife of Uriah. That still did not stop David. Knowing Uriah was off to battle (where he clearly should have been), he took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her.
Does this mean she also committed sin? This is clearly where it seems a little fuzzy. You need to remember, David was the King. The most powerful man at the time. She may have come to him simply because of who he was. We don't know. Did she even have an option in the situation? It sounds like David was in charge of the situation according to the text. What are your thoughts? Was Bathsheba raped? Or was she also at fault? In my opinion, according to the text, it sounds like David took advantage of a situation and Bathsheba (because of who David was) was powerless. She could not call for help. Who could help her apart from God?
Either way, Bathsheba later sent word to David that she was pregnant. In that moment, his act of sin became bigger than he first imagined, and then he tried to cover it up.
David had Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, put on the front lines of battle, then set him up to be killed. Of course, it worked. And some of King David's servents also lost their lives as a result. When word got back to Bathsheba she mourned. This alone tells me she deeply loved her husband. Possible proof she did not have any control when it came to David's actions towards her. David then took Bathsheba as his wife.
The last words of 2 Samual 11 are these: "But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord."
So, what can we learn from this low point in the life of David? Sin is powerful. Even those close to God are not immune to sin's power. We need to be sure we do not get lazy and allow ourselves to be tempted. We need to make sure we are always right where God would have us. But most importantly, even in the midst of our darkest days, God can turn ashes into beauty. If you know the rest of the story of Bathsheba and David you know that God did not give up on David's life (or Bathsheba's). But that is for another day.
Strive today to be in your place, where God would have you to be. Keep your eyes on Him. Follow Him. Stay close to His Word! Seek the heart of God daily! Make wise choices. It only took one choice in David's life to alter the lives of many. He chose to stay behind. He chose to go to the rooftop. He chose to look and linger. He chose to act.
Choose to follow God alone.
What are your thoughts on the story of David and Bathsheba?
