Day 20: War Would Have Been Easier

Read: 2 Samuel 11:1-27

I couldn’t let these 21 days go by without including one of the most beloved people in all of scripture—King David. There is so much I adore about him and picking just one story was difficult. With all the great things he did, you might find it odd I’m highlighting what might be his greatest failure. It is definitely at the top of the list. One of the things I love most about scripture is that God doesn’t shy away from showing us the good, bad, and ugly in the lives of his saints. That actually gives me hope of being used mightily by him.

After reading the story of David and Bathsheba, you might be wondering why God referred to David as a man after his own heart. Hang on to that thought—we’ll circle back to it at the end.

  • David’s first mistake is that he wasn’t where he was supposed to be. It was the time when kings went off to war BUT David remained in Jerusalem.
  • Not able to sleep, he walked on the rooftop and saw a woman bathing. Seeing her briefly wasn’t his problem. He lingered and watched. He should have gone back into his house.
  • He sent someone to find out about her. He shouldn’t have.
  • Upon learning she was the wife of Uriah, he still sent for her and slept with her.
  • Bathsheba sent a message she was pregnant. David attempted a cover up. It didn’t work.
  • He had Uriah killed, attempting to make it look as if it were a legitimate battle death. It wasn’t.

There are so many places David could have exited this evil merry-go-round. I find myself reading it, telling him STOP, STOP, STOP! But that’s not how sin works. David was in too deep. The thrill of his sin turned into the nightmare that wouldn’t end. He just kept going, each action making it worse. Everyone, including David, knew Bathsheba was someone else’s wife. But he was the king, so who was going to push back? We’re about to find out.

“But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.” God saw every bit of it. He was not happy.

Don’t take this to mean David hadn’t sinned against others and harmed them. He definitely did. Bathsheba, the messengers, his servants, Joab, Uriah and the other soldiers were all affected by his sin. But it was primarily a wretched offense against the Lord.

Nathan, the prophet, was courageous enough to confront the king. That conversation and the consequences are in 1 Samuel 12 (spoiler alert: they are doozies). In response, David wrote Psalm 51. I encourage you to read both of those chapters.

After all that, how is it possible for God to say David was a man after his heart? God wasn’t looking for perfection in David. He knows that isn’t possible in a sinful human. He was looking for a man who would do his will and he found that in David (see Acts 13:22-23). Here’s where it gets good for us. God isn’t looking for perfection in us either. It’s impossible! But he is looking for those who will be repentant and do his will. Now that IS possible!

Prayer: God, like David, I have sinned against you and I know it displeases you. Reveal my sin, lead me to repentance and help me to be someone after your heart.