Jump Start # 1415
2 Samuel 11:5 “And the woman conceived; and she sent and told David and said, ‘I am pregnant.’”
This week we have been looking at the moral failure of David. The sin of David and Bathsheba is not hidden by God. An entire chapter, 27 verses, details this sin and the cover-up and lies that David used. God shows the warts, scars and sins of His people, even the giants among us. None of us are without sin. All of us have done things that we are ashamed of. We all have disappointed God and broken His heart by our sinful choices. God reveals these things to tell the complete story. David is not our Savior. David is not perfect. Yet, after this mighty fall, God did not toss David out. His name is found among those who gained approval in Hebrews 11. He is forgiven. He returns strong. David’s lesson is more than historical, it tells us that even the best among us can fall. Preachers, shepherds, moms, it can and it has happened. David’s lesson also shows us that God is loving and forgiving. David’s story doesn’t end with him in a gutter. More than a dozen times in the New Testament, Jesus is called “the son of David.” The great kings, such as Josiah and Hezekiah are said to have walked in the ways of their father, David. There is a path that leads to sin. We see it here. There is a journey back to God. We find that here.
David saw Bathsheba, his neighbor, bathing. He gathered information about her and was told that she was married to Uriah, one of his mighty men. David sent for her and committed adultery. Bathsheba returns home. There is nothing in the text to make us think that David had an on-going affair with Bathsheba. The opportunity would be there, since she lived next to the palace. Once the line has been crossed, it is so much easier to cross it again. David seemed to get away with this sin. No one seemed to know. Weeks pass. Then word is sent to David. Our verse. Three words. “I am pregnant.” Those three words bring happiness and joy to a young married couple. It brings horrific terror to someone who is not married. In the times David lived, adulterers were stoned to death if they were caught. Remember John 8, the woman brought to the temple and tossed before Jesus? The cry there was to stone her. Three words, “I am pregnant.” Uriah has not been home. Bathsheba knows. David knows. Now panic takes over.
David had his servants go fetch Bathsheba. They knew that she came to the palace. People talk. Rumors will spread. The troops are away and mama just found out that she’s expecting. It doesn’t take much to figure out that someone other than Uriah has been with Bathsheba. She’s in trouble. In our times, a Bathsheba might think about an abortion. That hides the consequences but it doesn’t remove the sin. By the time our chapter ends, Uriah will be dead. He will be allowed to die on purpose in a battle which opens the door for David to marry Bathsheba and make things seem right. There doesn’t seem to be any thought about killing Bathsheba. David hasn’t dropped that far, at least not yet.
I am pregnant. David must do something. He calls for Uriah to come home. This is most unusual. You don’t bring one of your best soldiers home while battles are going on. Uriah comes. David wants him to go home and be with Bathsheba. That way, everyone will think it’s his child. Uriah is so committed to the king and his fellow soldiers that he won’t go home. Uriah is more committed than David is.
Plan A fails. David moves on to Plan B. He invites Uriah to the king’s palace. Food, feasting and drinking. This also is very unusual. Soldiers didn’t eat with the king and certainly not in his palace. David’s thinking is that if he could get enough booze in Uriah, then he will go home and be with Bathsheba and all will turn out fine. What does this tell us about alcohol? David knew. Put enough booze in a person and they will say and do about anything. Inhabitations go out the window the more liquor a person has in them. What does this tell us about parties where the alcohol is flowing? Booze flows on college campuses in unbelievable amounts. Binge drinking is a huge problem at most universities. What is not reported is how much fornication is taking place because of all the drinking. The two go together. David knew that. Uriah got drunk. However, a drunk Uriah has more principles than a sober David. Uriah will not go home.
Plan B didn’t work. David now goes to Plan C. He’s desperate now. He writes a note to Joab, the general. Put Uriah in the heat of the battle and withdraw the troops. This was to be Uriah’s death sentence. Three things to note about Plan C. First, Uriah carried this note. David so trusted him that he knew Uriah wouldn’t look at it. Uriah is loyal, and David is not. Second, David’s troops never withdraw. They are strong and have been victorious since he became king. This order was out of order. Third, Uriah wasn’t the only one who died because of this order. The text says, “some of the people among David’s servants fell; and Uriah the Hittite also died” (v. 17). Others died. David allowed the death of others. Wives lost husbands. Children lost their dads. All because David was trying to hide his sin. The pain and tears were great that day.
Word reaches David that his plan worked. Uriah was dead. David must have known that this bothered Joab, his general. So, David sends another message. “Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another…” Don’t be bothered by this? Joab was now involved in this murder. His hands are dirty with David’s sins. How could it not bother him? Joab lost a great soldier that day. He didn’t just die in battle, he was allowed to die. He died because the troops pulled back and left him alone. But that one statement, “for the sword devours one as well as another,” means, “these things happen.” Don’t worry, that’s just life. How cold, callous and indifferent David is. You wonder if Joab was scared if David would do the same to him some day. Who could trust David now? He killed one of his mighty men.
The chapter ends, with David marrying Bathsheba, a baby is on the way and all seems fine. The last few words of this chapter are, “the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord.” God knew. God was disappointed. We are not told if Bathsheba ever knew the truth about her husband’s death.
All of this started with a look. It snowballed into major sins. At least four of the 10 Commandments were shattered by David’s choices and actions. Once we leave God, it is amazing how far one can drop and what all that they will do. Lying to our mates, stealing from our family, embezzling from work or church…the secrets…the cover-ups…the deceptions—there is no end to the bottom that we can drop to once sin has taken over.
Our lesson today tells us that there are consequences to sin. They may not be visible the moment we commit the sin. They have a way of catching up with us. They have a way of finding us. The call into the boss’ office. The police pulling up to the house. The elders wanting to talk to you. A note left on the kitchen table by your mate who has read your secret texts and emails and has now left you. The wages of sin is death. The broke prodigal looking at pig food…the young man sitting in the city jail…the divorce papers…the letter withdrawing fellowship…the pink slip from work…the foreclosure of the house…the wages of sin is death!
It’s hard to imagine the young shepherd boy, so full of faith, running toward the giant with five stones in his hand. So bold. So full of faith. So courageous. And now, this same person, signs his name to the paper that orders the withdraw of his troops and the certain death of one of his mighty men, Uriah. This is not a rags to riches story. It’s the opposite. He was on top. He was the man of God. He was the writer of Psalms. So good was he with Saul who wanted to kill him. Now, he is putting out contracts on his own loyal people.
You may think, “I’d never kill someone,” yet you might kill your love for your mate. You might kill friendships for a sale. You might kill your reputation for a deal. There are many ways we can kill. Sin is usually found in all of them.
As this chapter ends, Satan smiles. The king had been brought down spiritually. God had tears streaming down His cheeks.
May we think. May we learn.
Roger