Day 148 – David and Bathsheba

Readings

  • 2 Samuel 11
  • 2 Samuel 12:1-25
  • Psalm 51

Prayer

Pray… about your personal purity.

Day 148 – David and Bathsheba

David’s sin, confession & judgement & the birth of Solomon

 

  • Today’s passages are well known and sobering. They begin a period of time in the life of David where his human frailties are revealed and serve as a reminder to us all about how desperately in need of a Saviour we all are.
  • David made two poor choices in the first two verses 2 Samuel 11. Can you see what they are? How has David put himself in a position where sin was more likely? If you’re unsure, your study bible might help you out. Think about your own sin. Do you sometimes make (non-sinful) choices that lead you down a path which results in sin later on?
  • List the rest of the poor choices (and sin) that David makes in the rest of 2 Samuel 11. How does one sin lead to another and another? What was in David’s heart which made him make choices that were more and more rash?
  • How did David first attempt to “fix” the problem (the pregnancy) he had caused? How does Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, act honourably (to David’s frustration).
  • When Uriah refuses to sleep with his wife during the time of the battles, what does David resort to doing? See if you can read between the lines of the conversation he has, via the messenger, with his battle commander, Joab.
  • 2 Samuel 11 ends with a clear indication of God’s displeasure at David’s actions. How did God communicate that displeasure with David during chapter 12? Describe the story Nathan gave to David about the lamb, and what it meant.
  • Nathan confronted David about his sin. Does this give you some understanding about why we, as leaders, confront you with your sin or the choices you make? Do you think David particularly enjoyed his conversations with Nathan? Of course not! Do you think he appreciated them later though?
  • Did God forgive David? Nevertheless, what were the consequences of David’s sin?
  • Psalm 51 gives us a heartbreaking view of David’s remorse, and a picture of his complete understanding that it was primarily God (not Bathsheba, or even Uriah) that he sinned against. Read the psalm really, really carefully. Think about the words that David pours out to God as he understands the gravity of his sin, and consider what events he might have been thinking about as he penned the words.
  • Do you need to take some time now to use Psalm 51 to help you pray about sin in your life? Are any of the verses of the psalm ones that you could use as part of your prayer of repentance to God?
  • Out of all this mess comes some blessing. It’s the birth of Solomon, who we’ll hear more about over the coming weeks.

 

Today’s readings give us a very personal snapshot of David’s sin, and his repentance, of God’s holiness and of His mercy.

 

You may have known about this story before, but I hope that reading through the complete story of David up to now gives you a new picture of the story of his affair with Bathsheba. What’s interesting, I find, is that we can see the sin so clearly in this passage and the many opportunities David had to either not sin or make better choices.

 

Sometimes the people around us can see patterns of sin in our lives way before we see them ourselves (or before we’re willing to put that sin to death ourselves). How can you be like Nathan with your Christian friends… and more importantly, will you allow other Christians in your life to be like Nathan to you?


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