2 Samuel 11:1-27
11:1 It is springtime and David decides to send Joab and the armies out against their enemies. But David remains behind. Normally, David travels with the armies, serving as valiantly as the rest of the men. Until this chapter, David has been the perfect role model for a life of faith; in this chapter however, we see that David battled temptations and torments like we all do.
11:2 David's lapse in righteousness began fairly early in his life. He has a tendency to accumulate wives, even though scripture warns against it in Deuteronomy 17:17. And yet, none among us are perfect, John 8:7; Jesus therefore asks us to acknowledge our own foibles and character flaws before pointing out another's, Matthew 7:3. Furthermore, our flaws and weaknesses are places for God to do great work and strengthening, Hebrews 12:11. David's private life is written here in scripture for us to learn from not to judge.
We can reasonably assume that David is feeling some level of internal struggle. He does not travel with his army, he's not sleeping through the night, and he's pacing back and forth on the roof of his house. While he's up there, he sees a beautiful woman bathing.
11:3 Captivated, David inquires about the woman and she is identified as Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah.
11:4-5 Unable (or unwilling) to resist his temptation, David sends for the woman. Even though she is married, David sleeps with her and she conceives his child.
11:6 Knowing that Bathsheba is pregnant with his child, David tries to cover up his transgression rather than face it (or himself, or God). He sends for Uriah; he has a (corrupt and deceptive) plan to cover up his mistake.
11:7 David pretends that he called Uriah to him to ask how the armies were doing. After all, Uriah has been randomly pulled from battle and summoned by the king; he's likely wondering why.
11:8 David then tells Uriah to go and enjoy a night at home with his wife before returning to battle. David likely hopes that Uriah will go home and sleep with his wife (covering up her pregnancy by David).
11:9-11 But it does not seem fair to Uriah to go home to his wife when his fellow soldiers cannot. He's an honorable and dedicated soldier. Instead of going home, Uriah decides to sleep on the floor outside of the kings house.
11:12-13 David does not yet release Uriah. Instead, he plans again: this time to get Uriah drunk enough that he might go home after all in drunken lust for his wife. But Uriah does not. David's planning will not work because God will not allow it; David will eventually have to face his decisions. He cannot hide from them and remain a righteous servant of God.
When we unite with God, if there is a problem, He's going to make us confront it and heal it.
11:14-16 Instead of confronting his problem at the beginning, David makes it worse. Much worse. Because his first attempts failed, David devises to have Uriah placed on the front lines of battle (nearly ensuring that he will be killed while fighting). He sends Uriah to battle with the note that will command Joab to essentially have Uriah killed. By hiding from his own shame, David is punishing an innocent and honorable man.
11:17 Uriah indeed dies in battle.
11:18-21 Joab sends word to David that Uriah has been killed. Joab fears that David might be angry; the military strategy was unwise and unsafe and resulted in death. But it is what David ordered.
11:22-24 A messenger informs David of the death.
11:25 David's response is a glib one, not at all respectful of Uriah's life. David is lost.
11:26-27 Bathsheba mourns her husband and after that period of grief, David brings her to his house. She becomes another of David's wives and gives birth to a son. "But" this verse tells us, "the thing that David had done displeased the Lord." David perhaps thinks that he successfully covered up his problem. But if he was tormented before, he's really going to crumble now. His actions have repercussions, both internal and external.
When does does eventual confront his actions, he pours himself out to God in Psalm 51. The psalm is a special psalm in that David is able to verbalize the keening of a contrite and shame-ridden heart.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
David prays for mercy. He understands the blessing that it is to have a God who is empathetic and forgiving. David asks for a clean canvas. He acknowledges that he has made his own life dirty. He knows that the only entity who can restore peace in his soul is God. For God is a patient listener and gentle teacher. He is able to lead us out of the quagmire. He is willing to shed light on darkness: He knows how to intricately guide our hearts and minds out of gutters of shame and corruption. He is able to make us see life as an instructive and magnanimous journey.
David absolutely claims his sin. No more deception. No more hiding. We can only begin journeys of healing when we acknowledge our broken parts. In this eleventh chapter of II Samuel, David refuses to acknowledge his sin... and it will impact his life with destruction. Chaos. Grief.3 For I know my transgressions,and my sin is always before me.4 Against you, you only, have I sinnedand done what is evil in your sight;so you are right in your verdictand justified when you judge.5 Surely I was sinful at birth,sinful from the time my mother conceived me.6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
David wants to feel joy again; his soul is troubled, hurting. His scheming, adultery and betrayal has insidiously infiltrated his soul. God wants us to realize that evil and corruption corrode our hearts, disable us from having joy.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
David seeks restoration; he wants to get rid of his tainted heart and replace it with a righteous one. He seeks a restoration of faith: for faith has helped David throughout his life. Against enemy and isolation, hopelessness and fear, faith propelled David through. Temptation tore David aware from his faith and realizing that, David now seeks salvation. More than that, he prays for a spirit that will be willing to learn and grow. He no longer wishes to be sustained by his wants. He wishes to be sustained by God.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
David asks God to rescue him. He is drowning in his own guilt. David is sincere in his quest for God's help; he's willing to put in the work and effort required to become better. We are so fortunate that God views our contrite hearts with mercy and compassion. God does not turn away a child with a broken heart... even if they are responsible for it.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Finally David returns to the program: God's mission is to build up His righteous family on the earth. David wants to refocus his efforts on strengthening the relationship of God and humanity, the mutual effort of creating peace and respect. David recognizes that the balance is off: God's generosity is so much greater than our gratitude for it.
David was troubled at the beginning of this chapter. And as far as women were concerned, he had given into temptation for the majority of his life. He let it fester. He never dealt with it. But God does not disown David. He will discipline him, though. A child of God has welcomed God into their lives to do great and constructive work. Construction will be done. This corrupt part of David is ripped apart to become a demolition site. A place needing rebuilding.
Talk to Him. Tell Him what is keeping you up at night. Ask Him to advocate for you in the places and situations you feel inadequate. Ask Him to heal you in the places you feel broken. Ask Him for opportunities to stretch and strengthen the figurative muscles you need to make the complex movements life demands. We do not have to be ashamed of what we want... but sometimes we do shameful things to gain the things we want. Allow God to decide what comes into your life and when. God heals us and teaches us that there is great beauty and abundance in simplicity and moderation.
