2 Samuel 11

2 Samuel 11

Maclaren points out, “This saint of nearly fifty years of age, bound to God by ties which he rapturously felt and acknowledged, whose words have been the very breath of devotion for every devout heart, forgets his longings after righteousness, flings away the joys of communion, darkens his soul, ends his prosperity, brings down upon his head for all his remaining years a cataract of calamities, and makes his name and his religion a target for the barbed sarcasms of each succeeding generation of scoffers.” Gene Getz makes a great point - David took advantage of God’s grace once too often and suffered terrible consequences. When David was about to kill innocent shepherds because of Nabal’s personal rejection, God stopped him through Abigail (1Sa 25:24-30,31+). Again, when David was about to enter a battle with the Philistine army against Israel, God delivered him from the predicament he had created for himself (cf 1Sa 29:6,7+). Again, God stopped him from a serious action which would have thwarted God’s will for his life. But there comes a time in man’s life when he must bear the responsibility for his own actions. When David decided to commit adultery with Bathsheba, God did not stand in his way. He had taken advantage of God’s grace one time too often.” (Borrow David: God's Man in Faith and Failure) THOUGHT - Have you (I) taken advantage of God's amazing grace, once too often, continuing to commit some presumptive, willful sin against Him, even after He has disciplined you (me) time and again? Beloved, I am looking in the mirror as I ask that frightening question! QUESTION - Who was Uriah the Hittite? ANSWER - Uriah was a Hittite who had become part of King David’s mighty men; he is most known for being the husband of Bathsheba. There is much we can learn from Uriah and the account involving him. We assume that all who were counted among David’s mighty men were men David deemed to be trustworthy. In the account of David, Bathsheba, and Uriah, we see just how honorable Uriah was. The story is found in 2 Samuel 11. During the spring, the usual time for battles, the military forces of Israel went to war under the leadership of General Joab, while King David remained in Jerusalem. As David was walking around one day, he saw Bathsheba bathing on the roof of her house and was intrigued by her beauty. He sent someone to ask about her and discovered she was Uriah’s wife. Unfortunately, that knowledge did not dissuade David from acting on his lust; the king summoned Bathsheba to the palace and slept with her. As a result, she became pregnant. After Bathsheba told David that she was pregnant, he tried to cover up his adultery. His first plan was to call Uriah home from battle. After asking how the battle was going, David told Uriah to go to his house and even sent along a gift for him. The idea was that, while he was home, Uriah would sleep with his wife, and thus he and others would think that the coming child belonged to Uriah. But Uriah was a man of principle. He did not go back to his house but remained at the palace entrance among the king’s servants. When David learned of this the next morning, he asked Uriah why he hadn’t gone home. “Uriah said to David, ‘The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!’” (2 Samuel 11:11). Though Uriah had been granted a temporary reprieve from battle by the king, he was a true soldier and chose to remain focused on his mission. Uriah could not fathom indulging his own pleasures while his band of brothers were fighting a battle that still needed to be won. David asked Uriah to stay one more day and invited Uriah to eat and drink with him. David plied him with alcohol, and Uriah got drunk, but that night he still refused to return to his house and his wife’s embrace. Even drunk, Uriah retained his honor as a soldier. Seeing that his plot to make Uriah believe the baby was his was not going to work, David turned to another, even more sinister plan. The king sent Uriah back to the battle bearing an official letter that instructed Joab, the commander of the army, to place Uriah where the fighting was fiercest and then to withdraw from him, leaving Uriah to die at the hands of the enemy. Joab followed orders, and Uriah the Hittite was killed, along with some others of David’s army. A messenger brought news of Uriah’s death to David, who sent this message back to Joab: “Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another” (2 Samuel 11:25). Murdering Uriah did not resolve David’s problems, of course. After the time for mourning ended, David took Bathsheba to be his wife. “But the thing David had done displeased the LORD” (2 Samuel 11:27). God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David regarding his sin. Nathan told a story of a rich man with many sheep and cattle and a poor man who had only one ewe lamb that was like a daughter to him. The rich man refused to use a sheep of his own to prepare a meal for a traveler and instead took the poor man’s ewe. “David burned with anger against the man” and even said the man should die and must pay four times the amount the lamb was worth (2 Samuel 12:5–6). “Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’” (2 Samuel 12:7). The prophet proceeded to describe all that God had given David and God’s willingness to give more. He asked why David had despised God’s word by doing evil, having Uriah killed and taking Uriah’s wife. Nathan also told David that the sword would never depart from his house, that his wives would be taken from him publicly, and that the son he had conceived with Bathsheba would die. All of this happened. In a quick summation of David’s life, 1 Kings 15:5 says, “David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life—except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.” David’s evil scheme against the honorable Uriah was a blot on an otherwise stellar record. Uriah was a casualty of someone else’s sin. He serves as an example of loyalty and honor and a reminder that our sin has consequences beyond ourselves. We’re glad to note that David repented. Psalm 51 is his confession to God and a beautiful prayer for all of us when we sin. God also chose to give David and Bathsheba another son—Solomon, who would become the next king and an ancestor of Jesus, the Messiah. God forgave David, just as He is willing to forgive us (1 John 1:9).GotQuestions.org Beware the Sinkhole Read 2 Samuel 11:2-3 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" In December 1985 an enormous sinkhole swallowed a house and carport and forced the evacuation of four homes in a retirement community in Florida. The hole was about the size of a pickup truck when it was discovered. Within three hours it had grown to 30 by 40 feet and had swallowed half of a small house. Two hours later it had expanded to more than 70 feet, and the house with its carport was gone. Authorities were grateful that it finally stopped growing without doing even more damage. David discovered that sin is like an ever-expanding sinkhole. As he was walking on the flat roof of his palace, he saw a beautiful woman bathing. Instead of turning away, he stared longingly at her. At this point the sinkhole was small but expanding. When he inquired about who she was, the hole grew larger. And finally, when he sent for her (v. 4), he soon found himself and those around him swallowed up. What started out as only a look ended in tragedy for all involved. The best solution for avoiding the danger of a sinkhole is to stay far away from it. The same is true for sin. A lingering look, a carnal curiosity and the sinkhole of sin can rapidly expand. And once it starts to grow, the damage can be extensive. Your marriage, your morals and even your relationship with the Lord can be swallowed by its gaping mouth. Before you even have time to realize what's happening, everything you value might be gone. Don't lose what's important to you down a sinkhole. Flee sin before it can swallow you and those you love. The farther away you stay from sin, the safer you are. (Back to the Bible) The sinkhole of sin is never satisfied. Dangerous Relationship Read "In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem." 2 Samuel 11:1 Reflect What can happen when we're in the wrong place and the wrong time? What can happen when we have too much idle time on our hands? Perhaps that's where the problem began. David wasn't where he was supposed to be. The scripture says that it was spring, "the time when kings went off to war." So why did David stay home? He was king, and he was a warrior. His belonged on the battlefield, but he stayed back. Often when we're not where we're supposed to be, trouble happens. The Bible tells us that David was a man after God's own heart (see Acts 13:22). David had lots of God confidence. Yet even so, David found himself at the wrong place at the wrong time. He strolled outside onto his balcony, and across the way he saw his neighbor Bathsheba taking a bath on her balcony. Right then, David could have made an extremely smart move by turning away and going back inside. But he lingered. He watched. He fantasized. Finally, the fantasy became reality. This is the progression of sin. The apostle James outlines this progression in James 1:13-16: "Remember, when someone wants to do wrong it is never God who is tempting him, for God never wants to do wrong and never tempts anyone else to do it. Temptation is the pull of man's own evil thoughts and wishes. These evil thoughts lead to evil actions and afterwards to the death penalty from God. So, don't be misled, dear brothers" (TLB). David's sin could have been avoided if he had leaned on his confidence in God to direct his footsteps back inside or to the battlefield where he belonged. But he ignored his God confidence and allowed himself to sin. Pray Lord, help me to not be misled by temptation. Give me the strength to resist sinful desires and soul-robbing choices. Amen. (Back to the Bible) Yield not to temptation, For yielding is sin Each vict'ry will help you Some other to win Fight manfully onward, Dark passions subdue, Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through. See also devotional - Steps to Sin 2 Samuel 11-12 Filling Up Empty Read: Psalm 62:1-12 Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. —Psalm 62:10 “This house ain’t worth robbing,” said a thief who seemed to feel he was wasting his time. According to a news report, the burglar broke into a home and held the owner at knifepoint while looking for money. He ransacked the place but turned up only $3 in change, $5 in a wallet, and a few pieces of cheap jewelry. The thief apparently concluded that the homeowner was worse off than he was, so he gave back to him the $8 he was going to steal. “I think he was disgusted,” said the 32-year-old victim. “He couldn’t believe that was all the money I had.” We might smile at the bad fortune of this thief. But we can often have a similar kind of experience. It happens whenever we try to take something that God has not given us. Following the path of envy, jealousy, adultery, theft (Psalm 62:10), or just plain stubborn willfulness, always results in more trouble than profit. David, the psalmist, learned this the hard way. When he stole Uriah’s wife, he ended up with far more trouble and far less happiness than he had bargained for (2 Samuel 11-12). Father, help us to believe that it never pays to take what You have not given. Help us not to waste our lives chasing things that leave You out and leave us empty. The little choices we must make Will chart the course of life we take; We either choose the path of light Or wander off in darkest night. —D. De Haan Sin is never worth the trouble. 2 Samuel 11:4 David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house. BGT 2 Samuel 11:4 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Δαυιδ ἀγγέλους καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτήν καὶ εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτόν καὶ ἐκοιμήθη μετ᾽ αὐτῆς καὶ αὐτὴ ἁγιαζομένη ἀπὸ ἀκαθαρσίας αὐτῆς καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς LXE 2 Samuel 11:4 And David sent messengers, and took her, and went in to her, and he lay with her: and she was purified from her uncleanness, and returned to her house. KJV 2 Samuel 11:4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. NET 2 Samuel 11:4 David sent some messengers to get her. She came to him and he had sexual relations with her. (Now at that time she was in the process of purifying herself from her menstrual uncleanness.) Then she returned to her home. CSB 2 Samuel 11:4 David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just been purifying herself from her uncleanness. Afterward, she returned home. ESV 2 Samuel 11:4 So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. NIV 2 Samuel 11:4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. NLT 2 Samuel 11:4 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. NRS 2 Samuel 11:4 So David sent messengers to get her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she was purifying herself after her period.) Then she returned to her house. NJB 2 Samuel 11:4 David then sent messengers to fetch her. She came to him, and he lay with her, just after she had purified herself from her period. She then went home again. NAB 2 Samuel 11:4 Then David sent messengers and took her. When she came to him, he had relations with her, at a time when she was just purified after her monthly period. She then returned to her house. YLT 2 Samuel 11:4 And David sendeth messengers, and taketh her, and she cometh unto him, and he lieth with her -- and she is purifying herself from her uncleanness -- and she turneth back unto her house; GWN 2 Samuel 11:4 So David sent messengers and took her. She came to him, and he went to bed with her. (She had just cleansed herself after her monthly period.) Then she went home. BBE 2 Samuel 11:4 And David sent and took her; and she came to him, and he took her to his bed: (for she had been made clean;) then she went back to her house. sent messengers: Ge 39:7 Job 31:9-11 Ps 50:18 he lay: Ps 51:1 *title Jas 1:14,15 she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned. Pr 30:20 purified: Lev 12:2-5 15:19-28,29-33 18:19 Related Passages: Proverbs 9:17 “Stolen water is sweet; And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” Proverbs 30:20 This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, “I have done no wrong.” James 1:14; 15 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Psalms 51:1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5+ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, WHAT THE KING DESIRES THE KING TAKES! David sent messengers and took her and when she came to him, he lay (sakab; Lxx - koimao refers to sexual intercourse in Ge 19:32, Lev 20:11-13, 18, 20) with her - Keep the context in mind - at this time David already has seven wives (2Sa 3:2-5 and Michal). Follow the verbs that describe David's actions - arose...walked around...saw...sent...inquired...sent...took...lay with. This progression from sight to snatching sounds very similar to the words of James who explained "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren." (James 1:13-16+) David's close fellowship and communion with Yahweh did in effect "die" that day when he was clearly deceived by Sin (Heb 3:13+) and his fallen flesh! Alan Carr rightly notes that David's actions and practical atheism demonstrate that " Such is the power of sin! David forgot God and if you give into you giants, you will too! When that giant rises up in your heart, he will block your view of the Father! When that happens, you will find yourself doing things that you never thought possible. That is why it is so vitally important that the giants we fight be defeated when they first appear in their attacks against the mind. If we can stop him there, he cannot control our life like he desire to! Stress 2 Cor. 10:3-5+ again! It is worth noting that the Hebrew word for lay (sakab; Lxx - koimao = sexual intercourse in Ge 19:32, Lev 20:11-13, 18, 20) as discussed below can mean to lie down to rest but clearly can indicate sexual relations. Here is the point - Scripture is silent about Bathsheba's reaction and there is no evidence she resists David and no evidence that he took her by force. Furthermore, the verb for lay used here is different than the word anah ("violated" in 2Sa 13:32+) used of Amnon's rape of Tamar.