2023_07_21 Insight Post- Kim Feld

I wrote about a pinnacle moment in David’s life on Monday. Today, I want us to focus on a fall of such magnitude that it’s hard to wrap our minds around it. 2 Samuel 11-12 gives us the account of David and Bathsheba. As Rusty wrote Wednesday, chapter 11 begins by telling us that it was the time of year for kings to go to war, and David chose to stay home. We don’t get any details about this decision, but we have plenty to show us how unusual it was for him to act this way. Let’s take a look at 2 Samuel 5:1-2 (NLT) when David became king over all of Israel, uniting the fractured kingdoms:

Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood. ² In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the Lord told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel’s leader.’”

David was leading the troops even when he wasn’t king! 2 Samuel chapters 8 and 10 also highlight David’s role as the leader of Israel’s army. He was fearless in battle and could motivate and inspire the men to follow his lead. But one wrong decision led to others, and ultimately the course of his life was altered.

In James Chapter 1, we are given the template for what occurred in David’s life. Take a look at verses 14 and 15 (NLT):

¹⁴Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. ¹⁵ These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

In this one event, David manages to break four of the ten commandments: he committed murder, he stole, he committed adultery, and he coveted what wasn’t his (Zodhiates & Baker, 1996). Saul rejected the word of the Lord (1 Samuel 15:23), but David despised it (2 Samuel 12:9). Both suffered consequences for their sin. For David, what desires enticed and drug him away, as James says? A case could be made for it being lust.

Back in Deuteronomy, guidelines were given for kings, including this in Deuteronomy 17:17:

 The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.

Yet we read in 2 Samuel 5:13 that after moving to Jerusalem, David married more women. But he felt what he already had was insufficient, so his lust led him to take what wasn’t his. It’s hard to fathom that a child would pay the price of this sin. Still, unfortunately, children suffer the consequences of their parents’ actions every day. David’s arrogance impacted many lives, including Uriah, other soldiers, and of course, Bathsheba.

So, what’s the takeaway for us? David’s story is a cautionary tale. Abuse of power occurs around us all the time and is connected to a sinful desire for more in some area of our lives. As James says, temptation comes from our own desires. What do you desire, and how do those desires impact your behavior today?

Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach

Reference: Zodhiates, S., & Baker, W. (Ed.). (1996). Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible. AMG International.