May 13: 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20

May 13, 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20

2 Samuel 11 Here we have another famous Old Testament story, that of David and Bathsheba. There is a lot going on here… Springtime. That is typically when Kings went out to battle, and David historically did that - except this year. He sent Joab his commander out to battle the Ammonites, but David decided to stay home that year. Instead of being a warrior and leading like the kings did by going to war, he stayed home. Then one afternoon, David was taking a nap. When he got up, he went for a walk on his veranda/roof, and what caught his eye? A very beautiful naked woman taking a bath. So what does David do? He inquires to his staff as to who she is. They figured out that it was Bathsheba, Uriah the Hittite’s wife (one of David’s mighty men, select warriors who fought for David when he was first king). Even though David should have had loyalty towards his mighty men, that fought and died for him, David didn't. That didn't seem to matter to David, so he sent for her and had sex with her. Stories often romanic it that she loved him and so it is mutual, but the Scripture states in verse 4 that he 'took her' informing us, that it wasn't mutual. We learn too that she was taking a bath because she was unclean from just having her period. Then she went home. And she was now pregnant! (Obviously this was not her husbands kid, as he was at war and she just had her period) So what does David, the man after God’s own heart do? He begins to scheme on how to get out of his little dilemma. He sends for Uriah, her husband, to come home. Uriah obeys his King and comes home. David pretends to care and asks how he is doing, and how the war was going. Then David tells him, go home and get cleaned up. David was hoping that Uriah would go have sex with his own wife while home. Uriah ended up sleeping at the house of David, on the outside on the ground. David learned about it and asked Uriah why he did not go home to his wife, and Uriah explained that he could not - the soldiers are out there on the ground, the ark is in a tent - how could he go home and have dinner and sex with his wife? He was a good man, faithful to the cause, unlike David at the moment. Uriah refused to go home. So, David decided he needed to step up his game and get a little bit more serious. So, he invites Uriah to come for dinner and gets him drunk, hoping that he would lose some of his judgement with the alcohol and then go home and have sex with his wife. But he didn’t. He slept on the couch. Like I said, Uriah was a faithful man and as we learned, soldiers were not to have sex during battle, or they would be unclean. Uriah was still on duty and he acted like it. David didn't adhere to that.
In the morning, David wrote a letter to Joab (commander) and Uriah delivered it. Uriah delivered his own death letter. What was the plan? Get Uriah on the front lines where the battle is the fiercest, and draw back, leaving him to be killed. Well, it worked unfortunately. Joab felt horrible about it and David basically explains that he may have died anyway, so don't feel bad about it. Bathsheba mourned the loss of her husband. When she was done mourning, David brought her to be his wife. Here is the bottom line, ‘But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.’
That is not where a ‘man after God’s own heart’ should ever be. Us either. We should be living for God’s glory and not our own pleasures. If you wonder how a 'man after God's own heart' could do such things and justify them. You have to remember that culturally a king could do whatever he wanted. A king could take any woman and add her to his herem. A king could also do away with soldiers however he deemed them fit. So here, we see that David bought the surrounding civilizations and kingdoms rules for a king. Therefore justifying that a king has a right to all these things. Since other kings had the power and authority to do these thing, David started to heed the idea that his word was law. But whether a king or a peasant, all have to adhere and obey the laws of the Lord, no matter the power or authority that is given a man. And soon we will see how the Lord deals with those who sin, and think that they are in a position in life, to do whatever they want...

2 Samuel 12 Yahweh sends Nathan, the prophet, to David and gave an analogy about 2 men and the rich man taking advantage of the poor man. David was angry when he heard about it and said the rich man should die - only to be told from Nathan that David was the rich man - You are that man! Then David gets a word from the Lord. We cannot hide our sins or schemes from the Lord - He sees all things. God is a prophet. Here we see God prophesy about what is going to be happening to David because of these sins (there are a bunch in this one episode). God anointed David King, delivered him, gave him the Kingdom, and would have done much more. But now, the sword will never depart from his house (there will be continual battle and strife). He will have his wives taken before him and even one of his sons will have sex with many of his wives in public. David sinned in private, but this will be done against David publicly. David recognized his sins, and was repentant. The realization that David wasn't immune to the 'rights of a king' swept over David and caused him to write Psalm 51. David would not lose his kingdom, but the child that was inside of Bathsheba would die as a result of this sin. Notice that Bathsheba, who was already married to David, was called by the Lord, "Uriah's wife" in verse 15.
As was foretold, the baby got sick by the hand of God. David fasted and sought the Lord for the life of the baby, and the baby still died. When he found out the baby had died, he got up and cleaned up and had some food. He fasted and prayed while the baby was alive seeking God’s mercy, but when the baby was dead, he began to move on and accepted the Lord's judgment on him. His servants were surprised to say the least. But David knew it was coming and accepted the Lord's plan. Then notice in verse 24, that now she is called 'David's wife' as the Lord had carried out His judgement on David.
David comforted Bathsheba and when she was doing better, they slept together and she bore a son, Solomon. He will be the most famous of David’s sons.
Then at the very end of the chapter we learn that David went to war against the Ammonites again (this time he went) and they conquered them heavy. They took the crown of the King (about 75 pounds) and David wore it. Then they returned home. 

1 Chronicles 20 The Chronicler omits the story of David and Bathsheba. He is focused on the battle. Some say that the Chronicler only wanted to show David in a good light, and others say that every one knew about the adultery so why write about it. I think the Chronicler’s goal was to show God’s favor on Judah and adultery doesn't exactly show Israel’s faithfulness. Either way, they went to war and won. Pretty much like the ending of 2 Samuel 12. 

To sum it all up:

• David was human, but weak at times. That is not where a ‘man after God’s own heart’ should ever be. Us either. we should be living for God’s glory and not our own pleasures.
• Do you think that you have some rights that are contrary to the word of the Lord? Even if your culture, your parents, your friends, or yourself state that you have the right to sin for whatever reason, you would be falling just like David. Don't think that just because others do things and it might look like they get away with it, justifying that you have the right to do whatever you want.