David's Sins
2 Samuel 10; 11; 1 Chronicles 19
When we left David last, he had found the grandson of Jonathan, his one time best friend and kept the covenant he had made with him many years earlier.
Today will see that David was still only a human and as we humans do, we allow our own lust to take over our flesh and ignore the Word of God.
We can feed our flesh with worldly things or we can feed our soul with godly things whichever we feed the most will show up in our actions.
Before this takes place let's highlight chapter 10.
After King David had rescued and adopted Mephibosheth he was in a good spirit and upon hearing of the death of Nahash the king of the Ammonites, David tried to show kindness to his son Hanun.
David had already been told by God Himself, that he was a man of war and could not build a Temple for the Jews to worship.
David was trying to change his image to a man of peace but God already knew the enemies of Israel and that they are never seeking peace with Israel.
*****2Sa 10:2 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father.
And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
When David was persecuted by King Saul, the Ammonite king had sent aid to David and his men and had even invited David into his country for his own protection.
He did this not so much for David but more because of his hatred for King Saul.
But this son of Nahash, was misled by his advisers because of their hate for Israel.
*****2Sa 10:3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
2Sa 10:4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
There was no law that said every Jew had to grow a beard but if they grew a beard they would come under the Levitical Laws and to tamper with a man's beard was a great insult.
In this day, the priests of false religions that were around Israel, would do many things to their beards in honor of their idols and false gods.
God would not allow the Jews to get caught up in any part of false religion.
Lev 19:27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
Lev 21:5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.
Deu 14:1 Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
Why did God insist on these things?
Deu 14:2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
When you are saved and some one tells you, you are peculiar, just give God the praise!
God's people are never to look as the world looks. The fads of the world are never to be brought into the church!
As far as those garments, we must realize that the men of that day wore robes. Only the priest wore breeches, so to cut off those robes at the buttocks exposed those parts of a man that should always be concealed.
By those same laws of God, Jewish men were always to dress modestly.
The Jews did not just have the 10 Commandments, there were 613 laws written in those first 5 books of the Bible.
These men felt felt great shame and would not return to Jerusalem.
These men would have been ambassadors from Israel and this act showed a lack of respect for the government of Israel and for King David.
David responded in the way that God had said. David was a man of war!
This young king of Ammon was not prepared to go to war with Israel who had already faced many battles and had much experience in the ways of war.
So, He hired mercenaries from Syria, who also hated the nation of Israel.
*****2Sa 10:6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
That word "stank" meant that this incident was morally offensive to King David!
BUT, Hiring this paid army was not going to stop the revenge of King David and he was not going to send other ambassadors seeking peace.
The mighty men of David's army and King David's head general would be the next thing this young inexperienced ruler would see.
*****2Sa 10:7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
When Israel responded with it's best forces that hired army from Syria fled and when they fled, the armies of Ammon also fled.
*****2Sa 10:13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
2Sa 10:14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
Without firing a shot this day of warfare was over!
But there was also another king of Syria, Hadarezer, who thought to save the face of the Syrian forces that had fled from the army of Israel.
*****2Sa 10:16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
When King David knew of this he came himself to lead the armies of Israel against this new threat to Israel.
*****2Sa 10:17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
Shobach was also a ruthless commander but no match for King David.
With this defeat the Syrians decided it was just too costly to try to help Ammon and then again, their was peace.
*****2Sa 10:19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
We already know that there will never be true peace for Israel until the "Prince of Peace", the Lord Jesus Christ, returns to this world and the government rest on His shoulders!
The Bible still says:
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and "the government shall be upon his shoulder": and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, "The Prince of Peace".
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government "and peace there shall be no end", upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
But at this time, King David was growing weary of war and was losing interest in his own army and their welfare.
When King David should have been the leader of his nation, he became a lax politician and placed them in the hands of Joab, who was a mighty general but Joab was not an honorable man and King David knew this.
*****2Sa 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
We should first realize that sin always has a beginning!
Sin does not just spring into our lives full grown!
The Bible says:
Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Being drawn away represents the sin nature of mankind passed down from Adam.
We may first get lax in our prayer life. Or we may get lax in our Bible study. Or we may begin to skip church when we could have made it. Or like David along with all these things we have reached the top of the mountain and allow pride and success to control what we do.
King David's first problem was that for nearly half his years as King of Israel he had become rich and was admired by all of Israel and much of the world. David began to think he was a somebody who had great authority.
2Sa 7:9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.
King David's second problem was that he was in direct violation of the laws of Moses.
Deu 17:17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
Deu 17:20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
King David's third problem was that he was neglecting his purpose given to him by God.
1Ch 17:7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:
King David was to be a "type" of Christ, "The Shepherd/King".
BUT, King David had become "idle" in his duties as king and more certainly as a shepherd to Israel.
It would have been much better for King David if he had gone forth with his army, but David had tarried still at Jerusalem.
David later wrote this Psalm:
Psa 101:2 I will behave myself "wisely" in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
At this point in his life King David was not very "wise".
How many of us have been at this same point in our own lives?
Every believer is to walk according to the Word of God!
When we do not follow the Word of God we are not very wise and sin has it's beginning!
And when we do not right before the Lord God, He has these words for us:
Num 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and "be sure your sin will find you out".
We can never hide our sin from Our Righteous God!
King David had not been perfect and none of us can be, but from this point forward we will see how this time period in the life of King David affected all his remaining years, which would be nearly 20 years.
One evening just before dark while the armies of Israel were in a foreign land, defending Israel from her enemies, this king decided to go walking upon the roof of his palace.
We have already studied where the Jew would build flat roofs that could be used for many things.
The palace of King David was much higher than a normal home.
*****2Sa 11:2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
Now Bathsheba was not just openly exposing herself to whoever wanted to see her. Most all Jews homes were surrounded by fences high enough for privacy.
That tub would be outside so the sun could warm the water and these tubs were designed for ritual cleansing.
This was probably the same type of vessel that was used by Jesus in Cana when He change the water into wine.
It would have been much better for David to have taken this time to pray rather than ogle his domain!
Satan also took the Lord Jesus upon a high mountain to show off his sinful domain. The higher the view of this world the more we can see of this sinful world!
God gives us a great warning.
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
David had begun to love the things of the world and just as the Serpent had deceived Eve, David came in eyesight of the forbidden fruit.
Gen 3:6 And when "the woman saw" that the tree was good for food, and "that it was pleasant to the eyes", and "a tree to be desired" to make one wise, "she took" of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
We can see that what Eve saw, she desired and what she desired, she took of the fruit of sin.
Watch as King David, sees, desires, and then takes of the fruit of sin.
Now it is certain that we will see things in this world that will expose us to temptation, but it is what we do next that brings forth sin!
To see something or someone that is beautiful, is not a sin in itself!
The Hebrew word used for this phrase "very beautiful" did not just mean Bathsheba had a pretty face.
This lady, this wife of Uriah was beautiful in her entire body.
We can see that the first thing David did was to see her.
King David should have stopped at this point and this sin could not have fostered, but he did not.
King David desired and then he took.
*****2Sa 11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
2Sa 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.
As we go through these passages we will see that God places the full burden of this sin on David and not Bathsheba.
If we remember the next step that Eve took under the influence of Satan was she had desire and here we see that King David sent and enquired after this woman.
David desired this beautiful creation of God!
It is obvious that he wanted to find that she was unmarried.
We should also remember that King David was the "Judge", the final human authority over all of Israel.
King David was to be an example of the "Truth" to the nation of Israel!
But now in a real sense King David who up to this time was much like Joshua, now becomes much more like Samson!
Once King David found that this woman was married, again he should have stopped with any desire he might have but even with this information King David proceeded did not not give it a second thought.
Again finding out that she was the married wife of Uriah should have also been considered and this sin would have ceased.
Uriah was one of the band of David's mighty men and had probably been with David all the time since the days he had hidden from King Saul.
1Ch 11:10 These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.
1Ch 11:41 "Uriah" the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
But knowing all these things King David still sent for Bathsheba.
"And when lust has conceived it bringeth forth sin"
King David "took" this beautiful woman from her own home, more by force than choice.
In those days it was not a good thing to reject the king!
So, King David also "took" this beautiful woman to his bed.
King David was filled with overwhelming lust for this woman and would not be denied at any cost!
David a man after God's own heart had yielded to sin!
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
There had been many places for King David to escape this sin but he had chosen none of them!
We cannot imagine how Bathsheba felt but it was not beyond her power to at least say no!
The phrase "she was purified from her "uncleanness" tells us that Bathsheba was probably a practicing Jew familiar with the 613 laws of Moses.
She knew the laws of clean and unclean and would also have known the penalty for committing adultery.
Lev 15:19 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
I do not claim to know anything about women but from what I have learned is that one of the best times to conceive a child is 5-10 days after her blood cycle and Bathsheba was on her seventh day.
And Bathsheba conceived and King David began to scheme to hide his sin.
BUT, the sin of David could not be hidden!
When King David did not repent, the sin of David then progresses to another level!
David later wrote these words:
Psa 36:1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
Psa 36:2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
*****2Sa 11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
2Sa 11:6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
2Sa 11:7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
King David had abused his authority with Bathsheba and now David would abuse his authority over the military of Israel.
We can see that Bathsheba would never have told her husband about her affair with King David but when she conceived, then this thing would not go unnoticed by her husband.
The sin of adultery was a serious thing to practicing Jews.
God said; "thou shalt not commit adultery", the 7th commandment.
God takes seriously the marriage vows even when they are ignored by husbands and wives.
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
King David quickly devised a plan to cover up this sin!
David later wrote these words:
Psa 36:3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
Psa 36:4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
King David had been treated this way by King Saul but was now treating God the way Saul had treated him.
Joab was a ruthless general of Israel's army but Uriah was a dedicated soldier not only to David but to his nation, Israel.
By bringing Uriah home from the battlefield David hoped he would spend some time with his wife and then the child that would be born could be claimed as his own.
David disguised his actions by demanding that Uriah tell him about Joab which could show a lack of distrust of his general.
David then demanded to know about the moral of the army, though their moral would have been much better had the King been leading his army as he had always done.
David then demanded to know if Uriah thought Israel was winning this war not a question to ask a dedicated soldier.
David then sent Uriah home to be with his own wife.
*****2Sa 11:8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
2Sa 11:9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
David had committed a terrible sin against this devoted man but Uriah had much more honor than King David.
Uriah refused to be with his wife while his comrades were in a war with the enemies of Israel.
You see, God was not about to allow David an easy way out of this mess he had created because of his lust!
It was one thing to have multiple wives and concubines but to take another man's wife using the authority given by God's own hand could not go unpunished!
And, God is giving us this example of how one sin will always lead to another unless that first sin is repented of!
King David could have stopped at this time and confessed but he refused and continued with yet another scheme to hide his sin.
But, Uriah slept in the place of the palace guards and some of them told David the next morning.
*****2Sa 11:10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
2Sa 11:11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
King David told Uriah that he could have rested better at home plus he could have spent some time with his wife.
Uriah explains why this would have been wrong for him.
1) Just as the Ark of God has no secure and permanent house, neither would Israel nor Judah until Israel was safe from her enemies.
2) Joab, his general was in a tent, not secure within walls of Jerusalem but in an open field.
3) That army that had provided King David with so many victories were also in open fields and not secure within the walls of Jerusalem.
Uriah confesses that because these things are true, he could not in clear conscience go home and act like Israel was not at war!
We need a multitude of Uriah's as state Senators and Congressmen in our government, who simply will not rest until America is secure, our soldiers are home, and our military is used to keep peace rather than start wars!
Uriah refused to do as the king said.
David has another opportunity to be as honorable as this man, but he continues to scheme and his sin progresses even further.
*****2Sa 11:12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
2Sa 11:13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
King David knew what normally would happen when men get drunk.
Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Pro 23:33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
Uriah may have actually gotten drunk, we do not know, but Uriah still would not go to his own home or be with his wife.
And, David would still not repent of his sin and decided that there could be only one answer left.
Uriah must die and that death must be soon before Bathsheba was showing to be pregnant, then all Israel would know.
*****2Sa 11:15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
This is what we call premeditated murder and when Joab consented, even though David is king, he is just as guilty, especially being his commanding officer.
No General has to follow this type of order nor any other commanding officer!
We can be certain that Joab was not aware of why King David wanted Uriah murdered because
David was trying to hide the fact of his adultery.
King David had decided that if Uriah would not go home to his wife, then he could not allow Bathsheba to have his child without being married to him.
David remembered this Word of God:
Deu 23:2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
David was picking and choosing from the Word of God searching for a way to condone his sin but it was already too late for that.
How low had King David become?
1) Thou shalt not commit adultery.
2) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.
3) Thou shalt not steal.
4) Thou shalt not kill.
5) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
What else had God said?
God said He would show mercy to those that keep His commandments!
Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
What had King David forgotten?
Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
It is true that soldiers die in every war!
BUT when the Commander of the Armed Forces, (our President) and his Generals do not do everything they can to keep our military as safe as possible, they have committed murder in the highest degree.
This includes ambassadors or anyone else that represents our government.
We have just witnessed where this war with Ammon was first started because the King of Ammon abused the ambassadors of the government of Israel.
Joab did not have to obey the king in this instance!
He would have been justified by the Word of God!
But, Joab had already murdered Abner and Asahel and Joab obeyed this command of King David without question.
Joab knew he could use this act in his own defence someday to blackmail the king.
Even the general of David's army had little regard for the valiant men of Israel!
And, still today, in many cases, murder is an act that takes place after adultery has been committed.
How does Joab assist in this crime?
*****2Sa 11:16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
2Sa 11:17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
Joab had the city of Rabbah under siege. In other words this city was surrounded and had no access to the outside world. What ever food and water and other needs they had would have to be with them.
When their supplies ran out they would fight or they would die!
This was a normal tactic for walled cities!
Many times the city under siege would send out small groups of soldiers to entice the enemy to come closer where the archers or others could kill the enemy from safety.
Joab was in a position to observe all these things and as any good commander should, he knew where the strongest and the weakest positions were located.
And a valiant soldier name Uriah was murdered in this action.
Joab wasted no time informing the king but he had trained his messenger well.
*****2Sa 11:18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
2Sa 11:19 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
2Sa 11:20 And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
2Sa 11:21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou,
Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
2Sa 11:22 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
Joab knew that King David would normally not allow such actions as this that placed his army in harm's way unnecessarily.
King David would use a story from the Bible as his guideline in warfare.
Jdg 9:50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Jdg 9:51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
Jdg 9:52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Jdg 9:53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.
When a city was under siege it was better to wait them out than to senselessly waste your own army.
When King David said these things the messenger was to respond with "But thy servant Uriah is dead also".
And King David would know what Joab had done.
*****2Sa 11:23 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
2Sa 11:24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
2Sa 11:25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
King David had become so hard hearted in these actions he showed no remorse for what he had done.
I see this happening with our own government everyday!
There is no remorse for the actions of our government today.
Our government does not show a real concern for the American people!
David was celebrating the actions of the enemies of Israel, for killing the innocent soldiers of Israel, "just to see his agenda move forward"!
I believe this happened, when our own ambassador, was killed in Benghazi.
The agenda of our government moved forward at the expense of good men just trying to do their job but lacking the protection to do it safely!
King David tells Joab that soldiers die everyday and this day was no different than any other day!
They both were wrong.
They both were guilty!
It is not soldiers that start wars.
It is the true soldier that brings peace!
I am here to tell you that every true soldier that dies on the battlefield is a loss to his nation and deserves the remorse of his nation and it's commander in chief.
I do not see this in America today!
When we get tired of war then we must accept that there will be no peace!
Joab was instructed to continue with the siege of Rabbah.
King David still had other plans.
*****2Sa 11:26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
2Sa 11:27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
Bathsheba may have never known this plot to kill her husband.
It was customary for at least 7 days be given to mourning, even though sometimes even more days were needed by some.
Gen 50:10 And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
The period of mourning could vary.
The mourning for Jacob went on for 70 days.
The mourning for Moses went on for 30 days.
David did not have that much time in order to hide his act of adultery and only allowed Bathsheba the seven days!
I believe we can see that Bathsheba may have looked like she was sincere in her mourning but it seems to me she lacked real sorrow for her husband and King David had no sorrow for Uriah.
So, David fetched Bathsheba to the palace and made her his wife.
To King David this episode in his life had finally been put to rest, but this thing that King David had done did not please the Lord!
This was a great turning point in the life of King David.
It is a fact that the world may have even seen this wedding of Bathsheba to King David as a good
thing.
Uriah had truly been one of the mighty men of Israel, valiant in battle, and a true war hero.
But God was not please with any of these things!
Next week we will see that God's judgment of human conduct can be more severe than any judgment of men!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
2 Samuel 10; 11; 1 Chronicles 19
When we left David last, he had found the grandson of Jonathan, his one time best friend and kept the covenant he had made with him many years earlier.
Today will see that David was still only a human and as we humans do, we allow our own lust to take over our flesh and ignore the Word of God.
We can feed our flesh with worldly things or we can feed our soul with godly things whichever we feed the most will show up in our actions.
Before this takes place let's highlight chapter 10.
After King David had rescued and adopted Mephibosheth he was in a good spirit and upon hearing of the death of Nahash the king of the Ammonites, David tried to show kindness to his son Hanun.
David had already been told by God Himself, that he was a man of war and could not build a Temple for the Jews to worship.
David was trying to change his image to a man of peace but God already knew the enemies of Israel and that they are never seeking peace with Israel.
*****2Sa 10:2 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father.
And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
When David was persecuted by King Saul, the Ammonite king had sent aid to David and his men and had even invited David into his country for his own protection.
He did this not so much for David but more because of his hatred for King Saul.
But this son of Nahash, was misled by his advisers because of their hate for Israel.
*****2Sa 10:3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
2Sa 10:4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
There was no law that said every Jew had to grow a beard but if they grew a beard they would come under the Levitical Laws and to tamper with a man's beard was a great insult.
In this day, the priests of false religions that were around Israel, would do many things to their beards in honor of their idols and false gods.
God would not allow the Jews to get caught up in any part of false religion.
Lev 19:27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
Lev 21:5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.
Deu 14:1 Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
Why did God insist on these things?
Deu 14:2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
When you are saved and some one tells you, you are peculiar, just give God the praise!
God's people are never to look as the world looks. The fads of the world are never to be brought into the church!
As far as those garments, we must realize that the men of that day wore robes. Only the priest wore breeches, so to cut off those robes at the buttocks exposed those parts of a man that should always be concealed.
By those same laws of God, Jewish men were always to dress modestly.
The Jews did not just have the 10 Commandments, there were 613 laws written in those first 5 books of the Bible.
These men felt felt great shame and would not return to Jerusalem.
These men would have been ambassadors from Israel and this act showed a lack of respect for the government of Israel and for King David.
David responded in the way that God had said. David was a man of war!
This young king of Ammon was not prepared to go to war with Israel who had already faced many battles and had much experience in the ways of war.
So, He hired mercenaries from Syria, who also hated the nation of Israel.
*****2Sa 10:6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
That word "stank" meant that this incident was morally offensive to King David!
BUT, Hiring this paid army was not going to stop the revenge of King David and he was not going to send other ambassadors seeking peace.
The mighty men of David's army and King David's head general would be the next thing this young inexperienced ruler would see.
*****2Sa 10:7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
When Israel responded with it's best forces that hired army from Syria fled and when they fled, the armies of Ammon also fled.
*****2Sa 10:13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
2Sa 10:14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
Without firing a shot this day of warfare was over!
But there was also another king of Syria, Hadarezer, who thought to save the face of the Syrian forces that had fled from the army of Israel.
*****2Sa 10:16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
When King David knew of this he came himself to lead the armies of Israel against this new threat to Israel.
*****2Sa 10:17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
Shobach was also a ruthless commander but no match for King David.
With this defeat the Syrians decided it was just too costly to try to help Ammon and then again, their was peace.
*****2Sa 10:19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
We already know that there will never be true peace for Israel until the "Prince of Peace", the Lord Jesus Christ, returns to this world and the government rest on His shoulders!
The Bible still says:
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and "the government shall be upon his shoulder": and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, "The Prince of Peace".
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government "and peace there shall be no end", upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
But at this time, King David was growing weary of war and was losing interest in his own army and their welfare.
When King David should have been the leader of his nation, he became a lax politician and placed them in the hands of Joab, who was a mighty general but Joab was not an honorable man and King David knew this.
*****2Sa 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
We should first realize that sin always has a beginning!
Sin does not just spring into our lives full grown!
The Bible says:
Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Being drawn away represents the sin nature of mankind passed down from Adam.
We may first get lax in our prayer life. Or we may get lax in our Bible study. Or we may begin to skip church when we could have made it. Or like David along with all these things we have reached the top of the mountain and allow pride and success to control what we do.
King David's first problem was that for nearly half his years as King of Israel he had become rich and was admired by all of Israel and much of the world. David began to think he was a somebody who had great authority.
2Sa 7:9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.
King David's second problem was that he was in direct violation of the laws of Moses.
Deu 17:17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
Deu 17:20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
King David's third problem was that he was neglecting his purpose given to him by God.
1Ch 17:7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:
King David was to be a "type" of Christ, "The Shepherd/King".
BUT, King David had become "idle" in his duties as king and more certainly as a shepherd to Israel.
It would have been much better for King David if he had gone forth with his army, but David had tarried still at Jerusalem.
David later wrote this Psalm:
Psa 101:2 I will behave myself "wisely" in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
At this point in his life King David was not very "wise".
How many of us have been at this same point in our own lives?
Every believer is to walk according to the Word of God!
When we do not follow the Word of God we are not very wise and sin has it's beginning!
And when we do not right before the Lord God, He has these words for us:
Num 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and "be sure your sin will find you out".
We can never hide our sin from Our Righteous God!
King David had not been perfect and none of us can be, but from this point forward we will see how this time period in the life of King David affected all his remaining years, which would be nearly 20 years.
One evening just before dark while the armies of Israel were in a foreign land, defending Israel from her enemies, this king decided to go walking upon the roof of his palace.
We have already studied where the Jew would build flat roofs that could be used for many things.
The palace of King David was much higher than a normal home.
*****2Sa 11:2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
Now Bathsheba was not just openly exposing herself to whoever wanted to see her. Most all Jews homes were surrounded by fences high enough for privacy.
That tub would be outside so the sun could warm the water and these tubs were designed for ritual cleansing.
This was probably the same type of vessel that was used by Jesus in Cana when He change the water into wine.
It would have been much better for David to have taken this time to pray rather than ogle his domain!
Satan also took the Lord Jesus upon a high mountain to show off his sinful domain. The higher the view of this world the more we can see of this sinful world!
God gives us a great warning.
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
David had begun to love the things of the world and just as the Serpent had deceived Eve, David came in eyesight of the forbidden fruit.
Gen 3:6 And when "the woman saw" that the tree was good for food, and "that it was pleasant to the eyes", and "a tree to be desired" to make one wise, "she took" of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
We can see that what Eve saw, she desired and what she desired, she took of the fruit of sin.
Watch as King David, sees, desires, and then takes of the fruit of sin.
Now it is certain that we will see things in this world that will expose us to temptation, but it is what we do next that brings forth sin!
To see something or someone that is beautiful, is not a sin in itself!
The Hebrew word used for this phrase "very beautiful" did not just mean Bathsheba had a pretty face.
This lady, this wife of Uriah was beautiful in her entire body.
We can see that the first thing David did was to see her.
King David should have stopped at this point and this sin could not have fostered, but he did not.
King David desired and then he took.
*****2Sa 11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
2Sa 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.
As we go through these passages we will see that God places the full burden of this sin on David and not Bathsheba.
If we remember the next step that Eve took under the influence of Satan was she had desire and here we see that King David sent and enquired after this woman.
David desired this beautiful creation of God!
It is obvious that he wanted to find that she was unmarried.
We should also remember that King David was the "Judge", the final human authority over all of Israel.
King David was to be an example of the "Truth" to the nation of Israel!
But now in a real sense King David who up to this time was much like Joshua, now becomes much more like Samson!
Once King David found that this woman was married, again he should have stopped with any desire he might have but even with this information King David proceeded did not not give it a second thought.
Again finding out that she was the married wife of Uriah should have also been considered and this sin would have ceased.
Uriah was one of the band of David's mighty men and had probably been with David all the time since the days he had hidden from King Saul.
1Ch 11:10 These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.
1Ch 11:41 "Uriah" the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
But knowing all these things King David still sent for Bathsheba.
"And when lust has conceived it bringeth forth sin"
King David "took" this beautiful woman from her own home, more by force than choice.
In those days it was not a good thing to reject the king!
So, King David also "took" this beautiful woman to his bed.
King David was filled with overwhelming lust for this woman and would not be denied at any cost!
David a man after God's own heart had yielded to sin!
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
There had been many places for King David to escape this sin but he had chosen none of them!
We cannot imagine how Bathsheba felt but it was not beyond her power to at least say no!
The phrase "she was purified from her "uncleanness" tells us that Bathsheba was probably a practicing Jew familiar with the 613 laws of Moses.
She knew the laws of clean and unclean and would also have known the penalty for committing adultery.
Lev 15:19 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
I do not claim to know anything about women but from what I have learned is that one of the best times to conceive a child is 5-10 days after her blood cycle and Bathsheba was on her seventh day.
And Bathsheba conceived and King David began to scheme to hide his sin.
BUT, the sin of David could not be hidden!
When King David did not repent, the sin of David then progresses to another level!
David later wrote these words:
Psa 36:1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
Psa 36:2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
*****2Sa 11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
2Sa 11:6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
2Sa 11:7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
King David had abused his authority with Bathsheba and now David would abuse his authority over the military of Israel.
We can see that Bathsheba would never have told her husband about her affair with King David but when she conceived, then this thing would not go unnoticed by her husband.
The sin of adultery was a serious thing to practicing Jews.
God said; "thou shalt not commit adultery", the 7th commandment.
God takes seriously the marriage vows even when they are ignored by husbands and wives.
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
King David quickly devised a plan to cover up this sin!
David later wrote these words:
Psa 36:3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
Psa 36:4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
King David had been treated this way by King Saul but was now treating God the way Saul had treated him.
Joab was a ruthless general of Israel's army but Uriah was a dedicated soldier not only to David but to his nation, Israel.
By bringing Uriah home from the battlefield David hoped he would spend some time with his wife and then the child that would be born could be claimed as his own.
David disguised his actions by demanding that Uriah tell him about Joab which could show a lack of distrust of his general.
David then demanded to know about the moral of the army, though their moral would have been much better had the King been leading his army as he had always done.
David then demanded to know if Uriah thought Israel was winning this war not a question to ask a dedicated soldier.
David then sent Uriah home to be with his own wife.
*****2Sa 11:8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
2Sa 11:9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
David had committed a terrible sin against this devoted man but Uriah had much more honor than King David.
Uriah refused to be with his wife while his comrades were in a war with the enemies of Israel.
You see, God was not about to allow David an easy way out of this mess he had created because of his lust!
It was one thing to have multiple wives and concubines but to take another man's wife using the authority given by God's own hand could not go unpunished!
And, God is giving us this example of how one sin will always lead to another unless that first sin is repented of!
King David could have stopped at this time and confessed but he refused and continued with yet another scheme to hide his sin.
But, Uriah slept in the place of the palace guards and some of them told David the next morning.
*****2Sa 11:10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
2Sa 11:11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
King David told Uriah that he could have rested better at home plus he could have spent some time with his wife.
Uriah explains why this would have been wrong for him.
1) Just as the Ark of God has no secure and permanent house, neither would Israel nor Judah until Israel was safe from her enemies.
2) Joab, his general was in a tent, not secure within walls of Jerusalem but in an open field.
3) That army that had provided King David with so many victories were also in open fields and not secure within the walls of Jerusalem.
Uriah confesses that because these things are true, he could not in clear conscience go home and act like Israel was not at war!
We need a multitude of Uriah's as state Senators and Congressmen in our government, who simply will not rest until America is secure, our soldiers are home, and our military is used to keep peace rather than start wars!
Uriah refused to do as the king said.
David has another opportunity to be as honorable as this man, but he continues to scheme and his sin progresses even further.
*****2Sa 11:12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
2Sa 11:13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
King David knew what normally would happen when men get drunk.
Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Pro 23:33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
Uriah may have actually gotten drunk, we do not know, but Uriah still would not go to his own home or be with his wife.
And, David would still not repent of his sin and decided that there could be only one answer left.
Uriah must die and that death must be soon before Bathsheba was showing to be pregnant, then all Israel would know.
*****2Sa 11:15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
This is what we call premeditated murder and when Joab consented, even though David is king, he is just as guilty, especially being his commanding officer.
No General has to follow this type of order nor any other commanding officer!
We can be certain that Joab was not aware of why King David wanted Uriah murdered because
David was trying to hide the fact of his adultery.
King David had decided that if Uriah would not go home to his wife, then he could not allow Bathsheba to have his child without being married to him.
David remembered this Word of God:
Deu 23:2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
David was picking and choosing from the Word of God searching for a way to condone his sin but it was already too late for that.
How low had King David become?
1) Thou shalt not commit adultery.
2) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.
3) Thou shalt not steal.
4) Thou shalt not kill.
5) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
What else had God said?
God said He would show mercy to those that keep His commandments!
Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
What had King David forgotten?
Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
It is true that soldiers die in every war!
BUT when the Commander of the Armed Forces, (our President) and his Generals do not do everything they can to keep our military as safe as possible, they have committed murder in the highest degree.
This includes ambassadors or anyone else that represents our government.
We have just witnessed where this war with Ammon was first started because the King of Ammon abused the ambassadors of the government of Israel.
Joab did not have to obey the king in this instance!
He would have been justified by the Word of God!
But, Joab had already murdered Abner and Asahel and Joab obeyed this command of King David without question.
Joab knew he could use this act in his own defence someday to blackmail the king.
Even the general of David's army had little regard for the valiant men of Israel!
And, still today, in many cases, murder is an act that takes place after adultery has been committed.
How does Joab assist in this crime?
*****2Sa 11:16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
2Sa 11:17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
Joab had the city of Rabbah under siege. In other words this city was surrounded and had no access to the outside world. What ever food and water and other needs they had would have to be with them.
When their supplies ran out they would fight or they would die!
This was a normal tactic for walled cities!
Many times the city under siege would send out small groups of soldiers to entice the enemy to come closer where the archers or others could kill the enemy from safety.
Joab was in a position to observe all these things and as any good commander should, he knew where the strongest and the weakest positions were located.
And a valiant soldier name Uriah was murdered in this action.
Joab wasted no time informing the king but he had trained his messenger well.
*****2Sa 11:18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
2Sa 11:19 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
2Sa 11:20 And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
2Sa 11:21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou,
Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
2Sa 11:22 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
Joab knew that King David would normally not allow such actions as this that placed his army in harm's way unnecessarily.
King David would use a story from the Bible as his guideline in warfare.
Jdg 9:50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Jdg 9:51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
Jdg 9:52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Jdg 9:53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.
When a city was under siege it was better to wait them out than to senselessly waste your own army.
When King David said these things the messenger was to respond with "But thy servant Uriah is dead also".
And King David would know what Joab had done.
*****2Sa 11:23 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
2Sa 11:24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
2Sa 11:25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
King David had become so hard hearted in these actions he showed no remorse for what he had done.
I see this happening with our own government everyday!
There is no remorse for the actions of our government today.
Our government does not show a real concern for the American people!
David was celebrating the actions of the enemies of Israel, for killing the innocent soldiers of Israel, "just to see his agenda move forward"!
I believe this happened, when our own ambassador, was killed in Benghazi.
The agenda of our government moved forward at the expense of good men just trying to do their job but lacking the protection to do it safely!
King David tells Joab that soldiers die everyday and this day was no different than any other day!
They both were wrong.
They both were guilty!
It is not soldiers that start wars.
It is the true soldier that brings peace!
I am here to tell you that every true soldier that dies on the battlefield is a loss to his nation and deserves the remorse of his nation and it's commander in chief.
I do not see this in America today!
When we get tired of war then we must accept that there will be no peace!
Joab was instructed to continue with the siege of Rabbah.
King David still had other plans.
*****2Sa 11:26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
2Sa 11:27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
Bathsheba may have never known this plot to kill her husband.
It was customary for at least 7 days be given to mourning, even though sometimes even more days were needed by some.
Gen 50:10 And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
The period of mourning could vary.
The mourning for Jacob went on for 70 days.
The mourning for Moses went on for 30 days.
David did not have that much time in order to hide his act of adultery and only allowed Bathsheba the seven days!
I believe we can see that Bathsheba may have looked like she was sincere in her mourning but it seems to me she lacked real sorrow for her husband and King David had no sorrow for Uriah.
So, David fetched Bathsheba to the palace and made her his wife.
To King David this episode in his life had finally been put to rest, but this thing that King David had done did not please the Lord!
This was a great turning point in the life of King David.
It is a fact that the world may have even seen this wedding of Bathsheba to King David as a good
thing.
Uriah had truly been one of the mighty men of Israel, valiant in battle, and a true war hero.
But God was not please with any of these things!
Next week we will see that God's judgment of human conduct can be more severe than any judgment of men!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
