King David, phenomenally successful in battle decides to take a break.
In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab…But David remained at Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 11.1, ESV)
In a remarkable economy of words, we have the sordid tale:
One late afternoon, David got up from taking his nap and was strolling on the roof of the palace. From his vantage point on the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was stunningly beautiful. David sent to ask about her, and was told, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite?” David sent his agents to get her. After she arrived, he went to bed with her. (This occurred during the time of “purification” following her period.) Then she returned home. Before long she realized she was pregnant. Later she sent word to David: “I’m pregnant.” (2 Samuel 11.2 – 5, MSG)
- David got up from his nap (nothing to do!).
- He saw a woman bathing…stunningly beautiful.
- He took her even though she was married.
- She got pregnant.
What happened to “the man after God’s own heart”? How did he develop such hubris? It was secret, but it wasn’t. He involved his staff, and it’s unfortunate that no one (that we know of) tried to talk him out of this: not his staff, not Bathsheba herself (contrast Abigail).
David tries to cover his tracks by bringing her husband home: verses 6 – 13. When that fails, he has Uriah killed in battle: verses 14 – 17. Then he marries Bathsheba. You can read the whole story in 2 Samuel 11. Well, it’s not quite the whole story. In most translations, the chapter ends with:
But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. – You think!?
We have confrontation, confession, and consequences in chapter 12, and there are lessons too important to rush through. Stay tuned.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it…Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. (Proverbs 4.23…25 – 27, NIV)