How could David be a man after God’s own heart, and, commit murder and adultery? What lessons are there from his struggles, for us to learn as we prepare to dive into the story?...  Read More

2 Samuel 11:22-25 So the messenger went to Jerusalem and gave a complete report to David. “The enemy came out against us in the open fields,” he said. “And as we chased them back to the city gate, the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king’s men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite.” “Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged,” David said. “The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow Fight harder next time, and conquer the city” Psalm 32:11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure The messenger shows wisdom and doesn’t wait for David to get angry as he reports the failed attack, during which many of the king’s men died. He mentions Uriah's name from the very beginning. This part of the story highlights two points. First, awareness of David’s plot is beginning to leak past his inner circle. The pool of those with insight into what he has done is steadily growing. We all know how people talk. Several individuals are likely starting to compare details gathered from whispers and observations. Messengers have been sent to communicate with Bathsheba, bring her to the palace, and exchange notes. Many must have seen the beautiful woman coming and going from David’s quarters not long before her husband's strange visit, during which he sleeps on the palace steps instead of going home. Weird. Now, a messenger returns with tales from the battle, knowing it’s wise to mention the name Uriah when describing a poorly planned battle. Does his tone hint at a wink as courtiers listen? These are the kinds of things people love to talk about...  Read More

2 Samuel 11:14-21 So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver. The letter instructed Joab, “Station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so that he will be killed.” So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy’s strongest men were fighting. And when the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight, Uriah the Hittite was killed along with several other Israelite soldiers. Then Joab sent a battle report to David. He told his messenger, “Report all the news of the battle to the king. But he might get angry and ask, ‘Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn’t they know there would be shooting from the walls? Wasn’t Abimelech son of Gideon killed at Thebez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall?’ Then tell him, ‘Uriah the Hittite was killed, too.’” Psalm 32:8-10 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’S unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. In the course of our story, David has moved far from being the heroic good guy. His cover-up is in full effect as Uriah dies in battle alongside his fellow soldiers. Maybe the king will get away with it...  Read More

2 Samuel 11:11-15 Uriah replied, “The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, and Joab and my master’s men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing.” “Well, stay here today,” David told him, “and tomorrow you may return to the army.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. Then David invited him to dinner and got him drunk. But even then he couldn’t get Uriah to go home to his wife. Again he slept at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard. So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver. The letter instructed Joab, “Station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so that he will be killed.” Psalm 32:6-7 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Every once in a while, the painful consequences of our failures are easily avoided, cleverly sidestepped, or simply don’t happen. However, as we feel the floodwaters of our poor decisions rise around us, we often turn to more deceptive schemes in an effort to escape. First, we try to create opportunities for our guilt to sink into the shadows. Eventually, we move from passive strategies to actively manipulating our surroundings, hoping to change the circumstances...  Read More

2 Samuel 11:6-11 Then David sent word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent him to David. When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing. Then he told Uriah, “Go on home and relax.” David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace. But Uriah didn’t go home. He slept that night at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard. When David heard that Uriah had not gone home, he summoned him and asked, “What’s the matter? Why didn’t you go home last night after being away for so long?” Uriah replied, “The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, and Joab and my master’s men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing.” Psalm 32:3-5 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”— and you forgave the guilt of my sin. A simple lack of motivation or indulgence in excuses allows David to nap while his men are at war. He has shown the heart of a warrior in the past. So he’s entitled to sit this one out, right? With this one mistake, momentum builds, and lustful eyes lead to a coercive affair with Bathsheba. Ah-oh, she’s pregnant. Missing his appointment with the army was a mistake. The affair with Bathsheba was a sin. Now David is so deep into it that he can’t easily back out. The snare has fully tightened around his ankle. It won’t be long before the truth comes out. David must act quickly to control the story and protect his reputation. So he sends for Uriah...  Read More

2 Samuel 11:1-5 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.” Psalm 32:1-2 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. Over the next two weeks, we will study 2 Samuel 11 and 12, focusing on the story of King David, Bathsheba, Uriah, and Nathan. While reading the verses in chronological order, we will examine two themes one at a time. This week, I invite you to reflect on David the murderer. Next week, we will explore David the adulterer. I hope this approach helps clarify why we focus on certain parts of the text now and save others for next week...  Read More