Tag: Bathsheba

Who is Your God?

*2 Samuel 11-12

Psalm 55

*Romans 16

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            Have you ever focused so much on yourself that, whether accidentally or on purpose, you excluded God?  I have, and I say that to my shame.  Even now, as I’m trying to seek God with my whole heart, I find that I’m disturbingly easily distracted.  It’s embarrassing and concerning to me.  I have to maintain a constant vigil and firmly correct myself when I’m looking off to the side because I know from my own personal and painful experiences that “bad things” happen when I don’t let God rule my life (See 2/5 devotion).  In our reading in Romans 16 today, there’s a short little blurb in v18 that says “For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own stomach…“(LSB).  Ouch.

            The verse above is strikingly reminiscent of Phil 3:19 which states “whose end is destruction, whose God is their stomach…who set their thoughts on earthly things.” (LSB).  The (many) creature comforts that we have been given are nice, but if they are distracting us from proper service to and worship of our God then they have become a juicy, tasty looking worm on the end of a very sharp, barbed, and deadly hook to us.  We see from the above verse that the end of (exclusive) self gratification is destruction, and Paul clearly tells us it’s a bad idea.  Just think of what you could do with 30 pieces of silver though…but was it worth it? It wasn’t, it never is.  We were bought at a (very high) price, and to act solely in our own self interests is to dishonor the one who paid it for us.  Don’t set your thoughts on earthly things.

            In our 2 Samuel reading today, it’s not his stomach that has become his God but another anatomical bit, and David sets his thoughts on earthly things.  He sees from the roof of his house a woman bathing: she’s beautiful and he makes inquiries about her, finding out that she’s Eliam’s daughter and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.  Despite this, David sends for her, sleeps with her, and she becomes pregnant (2 Sam 11: 1-5).  This is not only a violation of God’s law, but one of the basest social human betrayals that you could possibly imagine once you understand who Uriah was.

            To understand better, King David had a mixed army of about 288,000 men, these were organized into 12 divisions of around 24,000 men each.  This consisted of a paid standing army (regular troops whose job it was to fight), a militia designated by tribe (armed citizens who fought under veteran commanders) who took turns by month serving unless there was a special need and all of the people where called, and then his “Mighty Men” or “The 30“; a small but elite group of about 37 men (later expanded to 80) that were very much the equivalent of the Special Forces of the time, the ancient Jewish equivalent of Navy Seals, or probably more accurately, “Mossad”.  (external sources include: chabad.org, biblicalwarfare.com, and it aligns logically with what we know from scripture).  Uriah was one of the Mighty Men.

            The Mighty Men of David were generally thought to have been the fierce and loyal followers who stayed with him when he was fleeing King Saul (or at times exceptional fighters who joined later and gained their position from extraordinary feats of bravery). At the very least, they fought side by side with him. Uriah’s closeness to David is illustrated by how closely he lived to the palace, you could see his house clearly from the roof of David’s house.  There is a special bond formed when men fight beside each other, when their lives are in danger, and when they are forced to rely on each other for survival.  David considered all of this, and then chose to betray his close friend in order to feed his earthly appetite.           

            Then, as sin often does, it got worse.  David tried to conceal his crime (2 Sam 11: 6-13) by trying to get Uriah to go sleep with his wife (and failing because of Uriah’s fierce loyalty and code of honor), and then resorts to having Uriah killed (2 Sam 11: 14-27).  Understanding how fiercely loyal his friend Uriah was and how David repaid that loyalty is truly cringe-worthy.  I can’t think of a deeper betrayal that one human could do to another, it’s definitely the low point of David’s life.

            This is all starkly shocking considering the favor that God has shown David, but it should highlight the painful fact that we are all subject to the lusts of our own flesh and must constantly discipline ourselves to remain true.  David was a man after God’s own heart, but he was still a man, and all men have fallen short.  In this case he broke a number of commandments, killed one of his closest friends, and betrayed the trust of a nation and his God.

            When Nathan shows up to speak to David in 2 Sam 12: 1-14, he tells David a parable of a rich man who took advantage of a poor man and took his one beloved ewe, and David reacts in outrage and says that the man should be killed, after which Nathan explains that it is David himself who was that rich man, and offers a bit of punitive prophecy in v10-12 and v14 (war, betrayal of David, his wives taken publicly, and the baby will die).  He is also told at this time that God will forgive him (v13), but all of these dark prophecies against him will still take place as a result of his sin.  This shows us yet again that our God is indeed a God of justice, but also of mercy.

            David’s actions at this point should be a template to us when we sin: he weeps, he prostrates himself before God, and fasts intensely.  He begs and pleads with God.  We can presume that he tore his robes and put ashes on his head (although it doesn’t specifically say that) as was customarily done in those days to express regret.  He does his absolute very best to humble himself and to, if possible, avert the catastrophe that Yahweh has promised in return for his sin.  In this instance, God did not revoke his judgment and the baby dies, but later when Solomon was born it says (in 2 Sam 12:24) that “God loved him”.

            As a side note, in 2 Sam 12:26-30 there is a “war event” that requires a mustering of all of the forces (probably around 288,000 men, as noted above).  This is usually noted by the phrase “all the people”, or sometimes “all of Israel”, as in v29.  There’s a bit of disturbing information towards the end of this chapter in v31 that describes the practices of the conquering armies to their enemies that just highlights how brutal war was (and is).  I recommend you don’t read it if you don’t have a strong stomach, but if you do read this please note that these were the practices of men and not the commandments of God, and make that clear distinction in your mind.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Each of us is very different, but we are also much the same.  Reflect for a moment on David’s greatest sin, what was the worst sin that you have ever committed?
  2. When you repented of that sin, how specifically did you ask God to forgive you?
  3. Is that sin still poignantly fresh in your mind?  Whatever your answer is, why?
  4. What steps did you take in order to never commit that same sin again, and were you successful?
  5. How can we be successful against temptation to sin?  What are your specific weaknesses and what measures can you personally take that will help you to overcome them?

PRAYER

Father God, please forgive me of all of my sin, whether intentional or unthinking.  Please show me the way into Your kingdom, and cleanse me of all my wrongdoing and many shortcomings.  Help me to listen and to obey Your word, and to honor the price that was paid for my salvation.  Thank you Lord God for sending us Your son to teach us, and to be an example of obedience.  Discipline us God, not in Your wrath lest we be destroyed, but according to Your mercies.  Thank you Father, in Jesus name, Amen.

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Five Women

Matthew 1 and Luke 2:1-38

Devotion by Telva Elwell (SC)

Matthew begins the New Testament with the genealogy of Jesus Christ the Messiah to confirm that he was the prophesied direct heir to King David’s throne. Because we so often sleepwalk through this genealogy, we almost miss five names. Five names that belong to women— Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.  It was not customary to include women in genealogies, so we are left to wonder why Matthew included them.

TAMAR

 Hers was a sad, terrible story of grief and sin.  Genesis 38 recounts her story.  She first married Judah’s oldest son, who was so wicked the Lord took his life. At that time, if a woman’s husband died, her deceased husband’s brother would marry her to provide for her and keep her in the family. So, Judah arranged for Tamar to marry his second son, who, unfortunately, followed in his brother’s footsteps and was put to death by the Lord.  Judah promised Tamar that she could marry his third son when he grew up, but Judah had lied.  Tamar was in great need, so she developed a plan and deceived Judah by disguising herself as a prostitute.  Her plan worked, and Tamar became pregnant with twins. When Judah was told that his daughter-in-law was pregnant through prostitution, he ordered her to be burned. But, as the story unfolded, Judah realized that Tamar was the prostitute he had bought. Not a pretty story, but Judah confessed and took responsibility for his sins, and said, “she is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” (Gen 38:26)  

 The story of Tamar and Judah demonstrates that God can use the most scandalous circumstances for His purposes. Tamar became the first women mentioned in the genealogy of the Messiah, where Tamar and Judah’s son, Perez, became the father of Hezron. (Matt 1:3) The lineage of Jesus continued, despite a bump in the road.

RAHAB The HARLOT.

 Everyone knew her profession. She was that Canaanite prostitute living in Jericho. Throughout the Bible she was known as Rahab the harlot.  Even in the faith chapter she is called Rahab the prostitute. (Heb 11:31)

But Rahab was also known for something else, something much more important.  She was the one who kept the Israelite spies safe in her home in Jericho when they were sent by Joshua to spy out the land. (Josh 2) She willingly lied to the King of Jericho about the whereabouts of the spies, jeopardizing her own safety, because “the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” (Josh 2: 11) How often do we judge people by things that don’t matter—their appearance, their house, their wealth, or their “job”, when what we need to focus on is their faith, and that God can redeem anyone.  Even a prostitute. That is what the coming of the Messiah was all about—redemption.

 “Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab.” (Matt1:5)

RUTH

There are so many words that you could use to describe Ruth.  Faithful, selfless, caring, giving, devoted, loving, reliable, unwavering, a Moabite.

Ruth’s husband had died, and there were no more sons of Naomi for her to marry.  Even Naomi’s husband had died.  There was no way for Naomi to provide for Ruth.  So, Naomi gave Ruth permission to return to her native home where her family could provide for her.  She refused.  Why? Because Ruth loved Naomi with a steadfast love. “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live.  Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die.” (Ruth 1:16,17). She promised to love and care for Naomi until the end. She did not have to do that.  She was free to return home. She chose to stay.

 In God’s perfect timing and plan, Ruth, the Moabite, was blessed with a husband by the name of Boaz.  They had a son named Obed, who had a son named Jesse, who had a son named David. (Matt 1:5)

BATHSHEBA

If you take a quick glance through the genealogy, you will not notice the name of Bathsheba. That is because Bathsheba is referred to as Uriah’s wife. “David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife.” (Matt 1:6) Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah. You probably remember that story.  As the story goes, Bathsheba was the faithful wife of Uriah.  King David spotted her one day out on a roof top and desired her.   Since David was the King, what the king said or wanted must be obeyed.  She obeyed him, and in the end, King David arranged for Uriah’s murder to cover his sin.  Eventually David married Bathsheba, but it is heartbreaking that King David’s life is marred by adultery and murder. Yet it demonstrated how desperately Israel and David needed the promised Messiah, and how desperately we need him too, “because he will save his people from their sins.” (v21)

“David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife.” (Matt 1:6)

MARY

She was willing. She was humble. She believed in God.  She submitted to God’s will and plan.  She was young, and she was a virgin. Miraculously, she was a mother—the mother of Jesus who was called the Messiah.

Mary’s story of the virgin birth of Jesus was improbable if it weren’t for the working of the Holy Spirit. But it is true.  Soon the whole world would know.

 In the quiet of the night shepherds were in the fields taking care of their sheep, when suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them awakening them out of their drowsiness.  They were terrified.  But the angel said, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11) Then “suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rest.” (Luke 2: 13-14) The shepherds traveled to Bethlehem, and there they saw the baby Jesus, surrounded by Joseph and Mary, his mother.  After seeing Him, they testified to what they had seen, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. (Luke 2:16-18) Very soon the whole world would know.

“And Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.” (Matt. 1:16)

It is true.

Reflection Questions

Question One:  Why do you think that Matthew included the names of these women in the genealogy of Jesus, when it was not customary to do so? Which story was your favorite? Why?

Question Two:  How do you think Matthew intended these stories of these five women to impact your understanding of the coming Messiah?  Which of the five stories had the most impact on you? Why?

Question Three: Do you think that the instances of adultery, prostitution, and murder were just happenstances or planned? Did those sins ruin the story line of the Messiah or make it more meaningful? How does that impact what you believe about the fulfillment of the purposes of God?

Question Four: What about your life?  Do you have skeletons tucked away in your closet that keep you from working out the plans and purposes of God in your life?  Can you now break free from that after hearing the stories of Tamar and Judah, Rahab the Harlot, or Bathsheba and David? 

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Wrong Place, Wrong Time

2 Samuel 11-12
1 Chronicles 20

And in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel, and they laid waste the children of Ammon and besieged Rabbah, but David stayed at Jerusalem. – 2 Samuel 11:1 (REV)

                  In today’s reading, we see two realities. Both happened, but at different times and represent different things. In 2nd Samuel, we see David, king of Israel. Where do we see David? At home. Sitting on his keister and not doing what a king would normally be doing: overseeing his generals as they go out to battle.

                  David is not where he is supposed to be. He should be meeting with his generals. He should be motivating his armies. He should be praying and fasting and seeking out God’s direction for the safety and prosperity of Israel, but he’s back in Jerusalem. Twiddling his thumbs? Playing his harp? We don’t know what he was doing at all hours of the day when he held up in his palace.  We do, however, know what he was doing on one specific evening.

                  David is out walking on the roof, where he shouldn’t be, and he sees Bathsheba bathing. David does not turn away from seeing the nakedness of this woman whom he is not married to. He stares. He dwells. He obsesses. She’s beautiful. He needs to meet her. To be with her.

                  David ends up having her come into his home, and he has sex with her and gets her pregnant. We may have seen this story happen in the lives of some people we know, but this is high profile. This is a problem. A bunch of people are going to know what has happened, and this is going to be hard to explain to Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, who is out at war, where he is supposed to be: fighting for the armies of the people of Yahweh. While the king is out preying upon the wife of his soldier.

                  David finds himself in a sticky situation, so he sends for Uriah and does his best to get Uriah to go have sex with his wife and cover his… keister. Uriah, however, cannot fathom such a thing while his comrades are off fighting a war. He refuses to even go visit his wife. This poses a major problem. People are going to know that Bathsheba is expecting, and they are going to know that Uriah hasn’t been with her in months, maybe longer. David tries multiple times, but no dice. Uriah is a man of honor and conviction, and that is not going to fly in this situation. David needs an out. David essentially puts out a hit job on Uriah. David cannot control his urges, so a good man dies.

The story unfolds. Uriah is dead. David marries his baby mama, and then the baby dies. Nathan the prophet comes to confront David and gets David worked up with a parable. David wants vengeance for the perpetrator in the story, but then the tables are turned when David is revealed to be the bad guy in the tale. David grieves, David repents, but the baby does not survive. It’s rough.

In 1 Chronicles 20, we see that it is the time when kings go out to war. And David goes out to war. And his armies thrive. He gets an awesome new crown. God blesses the armies of a king who acts in good faith. David is more than capable of doing the right thing, but even a man after God’s own heart can allow himself to fall off the rails.

Here’s the rub: Sometimes we get complacent. Sometimes we get lazy. Sometimes we do things, go places, consume content that we know we shouldn’t, but we’ve allowed ourselves to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and we fall victim to the allure of the temptations of sin around us.

We’ve all allowed ourselves to be in bad situations that we could have avoided. Sometimes we may come out on top, but given enough opportunities to sin in the situations we create, we are bound to fall. We play with fire… and you know the cliché, but it’s true, we get burned.

-JJ Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. Can you recall some times you allowed yourself to be in a place you shouldn’t have been? What was the outcome? How could you have avoided putting yourself in that situation? What did you learn from it?
  2. What do you think of Nathan’s tactics of getting David to see the gravity of the wickedness that he had perpetrated?
  3. What does the story of David and Bathsheba teach us about grace, repentance, and forgiveness?
  4. If David can be forgiven for this travesty, who can you forgive that may have done much less harm in the way that they have wronged you?
  5. How does the contrast of 2 Samuel 11-12 and 1 Chronicles 20 sit with you? Does it give you any insight or change the way you perceive David’s sin?

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