David and Bathsheba

THE prophet Nathan went to King David and told him, “There was a very rich man who had many sheep and cattle. One night a friend of his arrived and to feed him he forcibly got the poor man’s ewe lamb, the only one he had and loved, and slaughtered it.”

King David burned with anger, saying “That man must die!”

The prophet answered, “You are the man! God gave you so much wealth and women, including the wives of King Saul. If those were not enough, you could have asked for more. Why did you take the only wife of Uriah, and had him killed?”

David was speechless. That was the start of the great turbulence in the life of King David. He suffered so much for years. But he was humble enough to accept his fault before God.

One day he was fleeing from his son Absalom and a man hurled curses and insults at him. One of his guards wanted to cut off the head of the man.

He stopped him saying, “What if God told him to curse and insult me.”

He suffered so much anguish when his first child with Bathsheba died.

But God ultimately accepted his profound repentance and restored his power and fortune.

Later, Bathsheba gave birth to another son named Solomon, who was appointed to sit on his throne after him.

The life story of King David tells so much of the history of the Jews. We can learn from it the character and attitude of God towards his offending children.

Repentance and obedience to the word of God are the vital keys to a long and useful life here and for all eternity. To just occupy space here is quite deadly.