Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

A clear progression:

1) Neglecting his duty as king by remaining in Jerusalem, rather than leading his army in the field

2) Spending his time in Jerusalem in idleness, rather than productive activity

3) Looking lustfully at Bathsheba

4) Inquiring about Bathsheba

5) Sending for Bathsheba, even after learning that she was married to Uriah

6) Committing adultery with Bathsheba, including impregnating her, which would make their sexual activity clearly evident

7) Trying to use Uriah to cover up his sin 

8) Having Uriah murdered by proxy

9) Failing to see his own sin in Nathan's parable of the lamb

10) Exhibiting contempt for God by this whole pattern of behavior (2 Samuel 12:14), showing that, despite his many sins against other people, his primary offense in all these events was against God, including not recognizing and being grateful for the many gifts and blessings that God had already given him, and also would have been willing to further increase (2 Samuel 12:7-8).

David had many opportunities to arrest this downward cycle but failed to do so -- hardly behavior that would be expected of a man "after God's own heart".

The only positive aspect that I see in the whole episode is David's sincere repentance (Psalm 51) and acceptance of God's extensive temporal judgments against him (including the death of his child with Bathsheba; Amnon's rape of Tamar and his subsequent death; multiple subsequent rebellions or betrayals against him, such as those of Absalom, Ahithophel, and Sheba; the contempt of Shimei; a three-year famine; coming close to death fighting against the Philistines; and a plague from God that killed 70,000 Israelites because of David's prideful census of the number of soldiers that he had at his disposal, thus glorying in that, rather than relying on God's help and protection), without allowing them to estrange him from God permanently, or causing God to remove him from the human ancestry of the Messiah.

March 04 2021 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

Every event in scripture is recorded to teach us one of two things: 1) a faithful & obedient example of a God-pleasing life, or 2) a warning to avoid the evil and wicked consequences of sin (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

When we know and see the warning signs, we are able to resist the temptations and avoid the horrific consequences of sin like that of David. Here are the two warning signs that I see from these events in David's life.

1) David stopped fulfilling God's plan and purpose for his life
2) David coveted and took instead of trusting God to give

The bible says that our thoughts will govern our words and actions. When we think about Godly things, the choices in our lives will reflect goodness and righteousness. When we think about worldly things (the desires of our flesh) we will seek to gratify these desires with pleasure.

David took a break from fulfilling God's plan and purpose for his life. God had called David to defeat all of Israel's enemies, so their evil and wicked lives would not corrupt the people of God, and so the people could live in peace, worshipping God in purity and holiness. When David's mind was not focused on fulfilling his mission from God, his mind was open to explore his own choices, and the sinful desires of his heart captivated his thinking.

The same is true for every Christian today. We all have a mission from God, good works that God wants us to complete that advance his kingdom upon the earth. Some Christians don't even know what God's call is upon their life, they think they can be saved and then carry on living just like they did before the met Jesus. Other Christians understand their mission but can't keep their minds focused on God's plan; they are so focused on what this world has to offer that they chase after these pleasures instead of doing God's will.

Covet is the Tenth Commandment. Here is what it says:
"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor" (Exodus 20:17).

This commandment may be last but it is the most powerful to lead us into a spiral of other sin and evil. This was the first temptation that hit David, because his mind looked around at what was available to him, instead of being focused on God's will. Once coveting had captivated David's mind, his words and actions took him down this path of sin.

David broke the Ninth Commandment
"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor"
David created an elaborate scheme to make everyone believe that Bathsheba's pregnancy was caused by Uriah's visit to his home.

David broke the Eighth Commandment
"You shall not steal"
David had determined in his heart to have Bathsheba as his wife. He took another man's wife by getting rid of the other man.

David broke the Seventh Commandment
"You shall not commit adultery"
David had a very strong sexual desire in his physical make-up, that was a great temptation to sin, and led to David's adultery with Bathsheba. But when David was leading the army this desire was being controlled by his devotion to the will of God. Every desire of our flesh is insatiable, but the pleasure is fleeting, so we want more and more, until we get addicted to it. David had many wives because sexual pleasure without Godly love is fleeting, which causes us to want more and more. It shows up today in rampant casual sex without any relationship commitments, and in pornography addictions.

David broke the Sixth Commandment
"You shall not murder"
David conspired with Joab to have Uriah murdered, so no one would know what he had done, and no one could stop him from taking Bathsheba as his wife.

David broke the First Commandment
"You shall have no other gods before me"
David stopped trusting God to meet his needs. He took control himself. He worshipped women for the sexual pleasure it gave him, which also broke the Second Commandment.

March 04 2021 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

Both Tim and Grant mentioned this first: David abandoned his purpose by staying home from war (2 Samuel 11:1). 

Looking lustfully at Bathsheba was a focus on his own desires (2 Samuel 11:3).

In 2 Sam. 11:4 he, as Tim said, inquired about Bathsheba; i.e. when temptation came, he looked into it instead of turning away from it. And then, too, in this same verse, he sent for her,  even after learning that she was married.--Tim. Thus, David sinned deliberately.

Next, according to Grant, "David broke the Ninth Commandment
"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor"
David created an elaborate scheme to make everyone believe that Bathsheba's pregnancy was caused by Uriah's visit to his home." That is, David tried to cover up his sin by deceiving others (2 Sam 11:6-15).

Both Tim and Grant mentioned breaking the 6th Commandment: David committed murder to continue the cover-up (2 Sa 11:15, 17).

March 07 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report