Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, “Thus says the Lord of Hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be ruler over My people Israel.” (II Samuel 7:8)
This week we join David in his beautiful palace as he contemplates his gorgeous surroundings, while considering that the God who has blessed him beyond his wildest dreams still lives in a tent. How could he be content when the One who gave him so much, has so little? David’s conclusion that he should build God a house seemed logical even to the Nathan, the man of God. It’s a good thing that Nathan kept his heart and mind open to hear the word of the Lord!
Have you noticed how often God speaks to people in the night? I know that it’s a good time for Him to get my attention. Like Nathan, when I am awake, my mind tends to look at things through the eyes of logic. But when my heart and my mind are still, often God is able to bypass my reason and give me His understanding.
What amazes me about God’s response to David’s desire is that, instead of allowing David to build Him a house, God establishes David’s house! Wow!!! You can never out give God!!!!!! The beautiful thing about David is that he understands that all these things have happened to him because of God’s choice, not because of his greatness. Overwhelmed by God’s goodness, all David can think to do is sit in God’s presence and express his thoughts and gratitude.
On Tuesday we meet David’s cabinet that consists of his army commander, his historian, his priests, the captain of his bodyguard, and his chief associates. We see David’s integrity as he completes setting his house in order by fulfilling his vow to his friend Jonathan and seeking anyone from his lineage to show kindness to.
What a difference a day makes! On Thursday we learn what good eyesight David has. He’s just finished his afternoon siesta and steps out on his balcony to get a breath of fresh air and what to his wandering eye doth appear!?!?! David inquires who this bathing beauty is and it’s all down hill from there! Understanding who Bathsheba is will be a great help in the days to come. David is told that she is “the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” We have heard both of these names before. Remember when we saw the list of David’s thirty mighty men. You may want to look at it again in II Samuel 23:24-39. Pay particular attention to verses 34 and 39. Quickly we discover that Uriah and Eliam were in close relationship with each other, they were both numbered with the thirty. These men fought side by side. They ate together. Spent days on end in the military camp together. They weren’t just somewhat familiar with each other – they were close comrades! Because of their status, they would have lived in close proximity to David – OBVIOUSLY! They would also want their daughters to marry men who held the same social status that they did. And so we see that Eliam had given his daughter Bathsheba to Uriah the Hittite - all the more reason we can be assured that Eliam and Uriah were close friends. But there is another important piece to this puzzle that we must discover and hold on to for future reference. Who is Eliam’s father? A quick glance reveals that it was a man named Ahithophel. That makes Ahithophel Bathsheba’s grandfather. Whatever you do, don’t forget that piece of information!!!
Later, God says that this is the only time David’s heart turned from following Him.
But for David ‘s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem to raise up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem; because David did what was right in the sight of the Lord and had not turned aside from any thing that He commanded him all the days of his life except in the case of Uriah the Hittite. (I Kings 15:5)
And what a blunder it was!!! When God sends Nathan to confront David of his sin, God paints a picture that deeply touches his heart. The imagery used gives us a picture into a shepherd’s life. The description of the man with his little ewe lamb is precious.
But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb which he bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and his children It would eat of his bread and drink of his cup and lie in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him. II Samuel 12:3.
This was not just another sheep in a flock – this little lamb was part of the family. God knew David would identify with what it was like to have an ewe lamb as a pet. When I hear the description, I can’t help but think about Iverna Tompkins. Iverna’s dogs don’t know they are not people! Iverna doesn’t know that they are not people!!! She loves her pets with a mother’s love!!! David must have felt the same way about certain sheep in his flock. The metaphoric narrative struck David right in the heart!
Although David was quick to repent, there were consequences for his actions, some short term and some long term. The short-term consequence was that his son would die. The long-term consequence was also that his son would die! So often we hear preaches try to convince people that once God forgives us, there won’t be any consequences for the things we have done. Nothing could be farther from the truth. David did the only thing he could do in that situation – cry out for God’s mercy! David also willingly accepted God’s decision without any resentment when it didn’t go as he had hoped.
God’s acceptance of Solomon at his birth gives us a glimpse into the totality of David’s repentance. We will speak more of this later on in our journey. Another one of those events that we need to mark for future reference!!!
No doubt there were many things that took place between the death of Uriah and the rape of Tamar, but few of those details are relevant to understanding God’s eternal purpose. The story of Absalom is actually a continuation of what we discovered on Thursday. Absalom is the long-term consequence of David’s sin. We quickly learn that Absalom is a take-control, manipulative kind of guy. When his sister is assaulted, Absalom steps in and takes her to his house. He doesn’t bother to see if David will deal with it – he takes quickly matters into his own hands. He is patient and calculated in his plan for revenge. But who is Absalom? Of course we know he is one of David’s sons, but is there anything else we can learn about him from his background? Who was his mother and why did David marry her? Unlike the account of Abigail, the clues to this mystery are a little less obvious. You may want to take a few moments to see if you can connect some of the dots as you continue on this incredible journey
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