Day 22: Addendum, David and Bathsheba

So you may have been wondering why I failed to mention this.  Well it just didn't fit with the flow of my previous post, but it is definitely still worth mentioning.

As much as David sought God, he still sinned.  That is very clear.  It's clear that David did not seek God before he had Bathsheba brought to him.  If he did, God would have been silent or clearly said no.  I can understand where David is coming from, though.

David wanted this one thing, which he knew was wrong, of course he knew, but he probably thought, like I've often though, no one will know.  I'll just do this one thing and no one will know and it'll be okay.  These are the lies we tell ourselves when we sin.  We know what is right, but we choose not to do it, making little and big justifications along the way.  Except, David couldn't hide this sin once Bathsheba became pregnant.  So David being king, used his power again.  (Again, he has not sought God, but only the power of David.)  He calls for Bathsheba's husband so that he will go home have sex with his wife and that way he, David, will be off the hook.

But, Uriah is more honorable than David and he refuses to go home to his wife when men are at war and he should be too.  He refuses to go home, when the ark of Israel is in a tent, along with the men of Israel.  David is thinking, stop being so noble and go and sleep with your wife.  He tries to coax Uriah and prod him to go home, but he won't.  So David makes it so that Uriah will be killed and he is.  He again abuses his power.

Often this is the path of sin.  I've known it too well.  David knew it well.  One seemingly small thing becomes bigger and the lie grows and grows and before you know it, it's out of hand.  The only way out is to seek God.  David finally saw that, thanks to Nathan.  Things may get better for a time, but there is always the thought of that thing that you did, that you knew was wrong, hanging over you.  You can let it fester or you can release it, confess it.  Sometimes you can confess to God and then things are all over, but sometimes, when you have wronged another, you have to step out and seek their forgiveness too.  It's incredibly humbling and shameful, but the freedom that you experience afterward... that my friends, is worth it.

David finally sought God and forgiveness and God did just that.  He even gave him another son, a son who would become king, a son who would build the dwelling place of God in Israel.  God is faithful and willing to forgive if we seek him with our whole hearts.