Heights are dangerous places. To change the metaphor, the higher up the ladder we go, the more bones we break if we fall. This is certainly proved in our story.

It was normal for kings to go with their armies when their country was at war. Israel was at war with the Ammonites, but for some reason David did not bother to go.

Sitting outside his palace he saw Bathsheba taking a bath on the roof of her house. to say the least, this does seem a bit provocative. But David was attracted and sent for her. When she came to David he learnt that she was the wife of Uriah who was away fighting David's battle against the Ammonites. At this point , knowing this, David should have sent her home. Instead, he slept with her and consequently Bathsheba became pregnant.

David now had a problem. He had to make it appear that the child to be born was really Uriah's. So he sent for Uriah from the battle, entertained him and then sent him home to his wife for the night. But Uriah, as a loyal soldier, did not feel he could do this while all his mates were fighting the Ammonites, so he slept on the palace premises.

When David realised the situation , he felt he must get rid of Uriah somehow. So he sent Uriah back to the battlefield with a sealed message for the commander telling him to put Uriah in the most dangerous part of the battle and leave him unprotected. As a result Uriah was killed, and the commander reported this to David.

David informs Bathsheba. She went into a period of mourning, and then married David. This seemed to be the answer.

God was not deceived. He sent the prophet Nathan to David. Nathan told David a story about a rich man who had many flocks and herds but, nevertheless stole a poor man's one ewe lamb in order to entertain the traveller. David was angry and walked right into the trap.

"You are the man", Nathan said, "God would have given you much more than you have, but you have chosen to take Uriah's wife. Therefore trouble and strife will never leave your family". David confessed to his sin, and Psalm 51 is the full expression of David's sorrow.

The child was born, but died shortly afterwards. David prayed earnestly that the child would live, but pulled himself together after his son had died. He said," I shall go to him,but he will not return to me". These are important words regarding the death of any little child. Parents who are Christians can take great comfort from this.

Now the rot had set in. David's family realised the truth and lowered their own standards. Amon raped his half sister Tamar. Absolam, another of David's sons in anger and revenge, murdered Amon, and then ran away.

After two or three years Absolam returned to Jerusalem and made himself very popular by pretending and saying that he would be a much fairer and kinder king than his father David. David refused to see Absolam at the palace. This was an unwise move and only made Absolam more popular.

After a little while Absolam raised a rebellion against his father. He set up a camp at Hebron and many Israelites joined him, and were ready to march on Jerusalem, capture David and make Absolam King.

David realised this and with his followers escaped quickly. Both sides gathered their forces and a battle took place. Absolam's forces were overcome and Absolam got away on a mule. Absolam had long beautiful hair which caught in the branches of a tree as he rode through a forest. The mule went on and left Absolam hanging there. David's commander Joab heard about this, and thought the best thing to do was to go and kill Absolam.

Now that Absolam was dead, many of his followers sadly returned to Jerusalem. None of these events would have happened if David had gone to battle some years back and therefore not seen Bathsheba. In Galatians 6 v.7.says "Be not deceived;God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows that shall he also reap".

If we have strayed from God's will for us, realise that we can turn back,and the sooner the better.

There's a way back to God, from the dark paths of sin;

There's a door that is open; and you may go in.

At Calvary's cross is where you begin,

When you come as a sinner to Jesus.

 

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