Bathsheba, the Wife of Uriah

II Samuel 11:1-4, 27
1And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
27And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

I have heard many preachers mention that “David was a man after God’s own heart” and “David was a man of war”. What confirms that David was a man of war is the verse from I Chronicles 22:8: “ But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.” In other words, David’s son King Solomon was to build the temple in Jerusalem because David was a man of war. II Samuel 11:1 says that David at this one point in his life did not go to war and instead sent Joab, his servants and all of Israel. Joab and the men destroyed Ammon and besieged Rabbah. While the nation of Israel was celebrating the great victory, King David committed a great sin by staying home and not going to war. David’s one gift was to wage a war and bring victory to Israel. This time he failed to wage a war against the Satan and yielded to temptation and committed a sin.

In the evening, David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of his house. While taking a walk he noticed a beautiful woman washing herself. He was immediately filled with lust for her. He enquired who she was and got to know that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah, the Hittite. David sent messengers to her and committed the adulterous act. Bathsheba sent a word to King David saying she was with a child. When Uriah returned from war, David met up with Uriah and requested him to go to his home to be with his wife. Uriah did not go back to his home and rested in his bed with the servants of King David.
David came up with an evil plan and sent a note to Joab to set Uriah at the forefront in the tough battle where the valiant men were, so that Uriah would be killed. Joab followed King David’s plan and Uriah, the Hittite died. After a time of mourning by Bathsheba for Uriah, David sent for Bathsheba and took her to his wife. This act displeased the Lord God.

God sent Prophet Nathan to warn King David and to bring him to the knowledge of repentance. Nathan ministers to David’s heart by narrating a story and David immediately realized how great a sin he had committed. II Samuel 12:13 says, “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.”

King David and Bathsheba had a child but God struck the child with sickness. Although David pleaded God for this child, the child died on the seventh day. Later God blessed King David and Bathsheba with a son who was the wisest King of Israel, King Solomon. God forgave King David for he repented of his sin and sought God’s forgiveness. My post from October 13, 2009, “Broken Spirit and a Contrite Heart” speaks on Psalm 51 that King David wrote immediately after committing this sin in his life. God accepted King David’s prayer and saw his broken spirit and a contrite heart and blessed him later. Thus Bathsheba too was blessed afterwards.

In Matthew 1 where the genealogy of Christ is mentioned we see a reference to Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah who later was the wife of King David. Matthew 1:6 says, “And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;” God did not choose Michal, King Saul’s daughter who was the wife of King David or Abigail or any other of King David’s wives but He chose Bathsheba with whom King David had committed adultery. God blessed Bathsheba because of King David’s wholehearted repentance. God chose a vessel of dishonor to make it honorable in His sight for His glory. God’s heart is after the people who break open their hearts and seek His forgiveness with humble hearts.

If any of you are suffering because of a hidden sin in your life, step out to the Lord God with a humble heart and seek His forgiveness and receive His mighty blessings. It is time now to be cleansed of all the spots and specks on your heart. He blotted out all our transgressions and set us free. You will be a mighty blessing to many souls that yearn for the true love of God. This true love was exhibited for you and me on the Holy Cross of Calvary by Jesus of Nazareth through whom our hearts will be made as white as snow.

Tomorrow: Little Servant Girl with a Mighty Blessing