David and Bathsheba

When I told my pastor that God had led me to the story of David and Bathsheba as I sought answers about my abortion, he said that his seminary professor pointed out that this story is focused on David's actions, his attempt to control. Seeking answers for myself, I studied 2 Samuel 11 and 12 with a renewed attention to details.

In David's story, I found the need to take responsibility, the benefits of repentance, the spiritual advantages of restoration, and the residual effects of his sin.

This web page addresses the infidelity. To learn about David's road to repentance, read the David and Uriah page.

Infidelity

I Needed to Take Responsibility for My Pre-Marital Sex & Abortion

When Jesus kindly addressed my abortion, I was unwilling to take responsibility. I blamed everyone but myself.

Jesus waited patiently.

Then I realized that I could have stopped my abortion at any time. No one forced me. No one coerced me. And even if others secretly wanted the abortion, too, they would have supported me through my pregnancy and whatever I chose for my daughter after giving birth.

I was responsible for my premarital sex that resulted in a crisis pregnancy, and I was responsible for my daughter's death, but 14 years passed before I recognized my responsibility.

King David Needed to Take Responsibility for His Adultery & Murder of Uriah

King David was responsible for his adultery and for murdering Uriah, but he did not recognize his responsibility for about 9 months.

Here is a list of David's actions before Nathan confronted him:

2 Samuel 11

v. 1

At the time when kings go out to battle... David stayed in Jerusalem.

Why did David, the king and a mighty warrior, stay home while sending others to fight on his behalf?

v. 2

David got up and walked around on his own roof. David saw a woman.

The Bible does not say that Bathsheba was on her roof. It was evening and David got out of bed, so was it so late in the evening that Bathsheba did not expect anyone to see her?

In addition to "seeing," Strong's definitions also lists "spying, staring."


v. 3

David inquired about the woman. David heard this question: "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

Eliam and Uriah were among David’s Mighty Men (2 Samuel 23:34, 39; 1 Chronicles 11:31). David’s counselor, Ahithophel, was the father of Eliam and therefore Bathsheba's grandfather (2 Samuel 23:34; 15:12, 31).

Uriah is always referred to as "Uriah the Hittite," so he must be a warrior who joined David when David was running from Saul.

v. 4

David took her. David lay with her.

v. 6

David sent for Uriah.

v. 7-13

David attempted to deceive Uriah.

v. 14-15

David ordered Uriah's death.

v. 16-17

Joab helped cover David's sins by allowing other valiant men to die along with Uriah even though David said "pull back from him (Uriah)" in verse 15.

v. 27

David had Bathsheba brought to his house, and she became his wife.

Responsibility for Knowing The Law

The king was responsible for knowing the law according to Deuteronomy 17:18-20, and of course adultery is against the law (Exodus 20:14, Deuteronomy 5:18) as is murder (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17)—both of which had legal consequences of capital punishment (Leviticus 20:10; 24:17).

bATHSHEBA

Raped?

Some Jewish and Christian scholars assert that David raped Bathsheba, but the Hebrew word for "force" used in the story of Shechem raping Dinah (see Genesis 34:2) and in the story of Amnon raping Tamar (see 2 Samuel 13:12-14) is not used in the story of David and Bathsheba.

Willing Participant in Adultery?

I have often heard the "David and Bathsheba" story told with equal responsibility placed on both David and Bathsheba, but as a woman who understands the power differences between a king who commanded an army and a woman whose husband and father were in that army and whose grandfather was an adviser to the king, I do not see Bathsheba as equally responsible for the adultery. A woman would consider the consequences for her husband and father and grandfather if she were to refuse the king.

Eliam and Uriah were among David’s Mighty Men (2 Samuel 23:34, 39; 1 Chronicles 11:31). David’s counselor, Ahithophel, was the father of Eliam and therefore Bathsheba's grandfather (2 Samuel 23:34; 15:12, 31).


Nathan's Rebuke 2 Samuel 12:1-14

God confronted David with his sins, not Bathsheba. The allegory that Nathan used to get David to become aware of his sin was about stealing and killing. David did the stealing and the killing, not Bathsheba. While rebuking David, Nathan emphasized the stealing by referring to Bathsheba not by her name but by calling her "Uriah's wife."

2 SAMUEL 11

We can see that the emphasis is on David's actions, not Bathsheba's, by highlighting when and how she is referenced.

v. 3

One of David's servants references her by name: “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Was that not his servant's way of warning David?

v. 4

took her; she came to him; he lay with her

v. 5

the woman, she

v. 11

Uriah refers to her as "my wife."

v. 26

Uriah's wife

v. 27

had her brought to his house; she became his wife and bore him a son

2 SAMUEL 12

v. 9

God speaking through Nathan referred to her, telling David, "(you have) taken his wife to be your wife".

v. 10

Again, God speaking through Nathan said, "taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife."

v. 15

Uriah's widow

v. 24

David comforted his wife Bathsheba...

Name or Pronouns?

Between the first reference to Bathsheba by name in 1 Samuel 11:3 and the second reference to Bathsheba by name in 2 Samuel 12:24, David attempted to deceive Uriah, had Uriah killed, was confronted by Nathan, and fasted while his baby was sick.

Meanwhile, Bathsheba mourned the death of her husband, gave birth to her son, and mourned the death of her son.

Reaching abortion-minded women

Women understand the power differences between a man who is a leader and a woman who is not. Women also understand the concern when leaders, whether overtly or subtly, pose a threat to her family.

Women who believe God is misogynistic may begin to listen to God's Word if they hear that David was responsible for this soap opera.

Sermon Notes

Psalm 51

Using Ken Davis' score method, here are some sermon topic ideas.

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