| One evening David got up from his bed and walked and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman who was bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. 2 Sam. 2-3 |
King David had many concubines. He also had three wives. His third wife was Bathsheba. While walking on his palace roof one evening he saw Uriah’s wife Bathsheba in the pool of an adjacent house. He lusted after her, sent for her and seduced her. When she sent word to David that she was pregnant, he called her warrior husband back from a battle so he could be with Bathsheba and think her pregnancy was a result of their having sex. Uriah did not spend his nights with his wife. Instead, he stayed at David’s palace with the other obedient servants. When all else failed, David had Uriah sent to the front line of the battle and he was killed. After her time of mourning, David married Bathsheba. They had a son. After being ill for seven days, their son died.
Bathsheba was an adulteress. Her relationship with David began while she was married to Uriah. The union did not please God. The death of her first-born child was the price she paid for her sin. Even though she committed adultery, Bathsheba must have believed in God because God blessed her. Eventually she and David had five other children, a daughter and four sons. One of their sons was Solomon who became the greatest king of Israel, and he restored the Holy Temple to Jerusalem fulfilling God’s promise to David. (1King 8:4). In spite of her sin, God made Bathsheba Solomon’s mother and Jesus’s ancestor. God chooses whomever He wants to fulfill His kingdom plan. (1 John 1:9)
Biblical Principles
- Bathsheba’s life was determined by David’s choices and actions. (2 Samuel 11:4;17;27)
- Her first-born child died because he was conceived in adultery, and God did not bless her union with David. (2 Samuel 12:18)
- Bathsheba bore King Solomon who fulfilled the promise of the Davidic covenant. (2 Samuel 12:24)
- Bathsheba was one of only four women mentioned in Jesus’s lineage. (Matt. 1:6)
For Women Today
Historically and to this present-day, woman have been victims of men’s lust. There can be painful consequences: self-doubt, depression, loneliness, and spiritual poverty. We must guard against men who want us only for lustful purposes. Those who have no interest in us personally, but only our bodies, threaten our well-being and peace of mind. When we are taken advantage of, we like Bathsheba are blameless, but we should not allow a man who violates us to go blameless. He must be held accountable through confrontation and acknowledgement of his wrongdoing. It is important that we not blame ourselves for his sin. Despite her affair with David, the death of her husband and son, God blessed Bathsheba to have a full life and more children. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exodus 34:6-7)