“When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.” (2 Samuel 11:26-27)
We skipped over a few things between the start of 2 Samuel 11 and the end of it. Using his power as the king, David sends someone to get Bathsheba. Some scholars suggest that he raped her. Either way, he got her pregnant.
To cover up that crime, he brought her husband Uriah home from the war so he’d sleep with her and think the baby was his. When that failed, David had Uriah killed and took the dead man’s wife for his own. And he got away with all of it because he was the king.
At least he thought he did. The last sentence echoes with deep foreboding. God had seen it all, and He didn’t like it. David was in trouble.
Think: Have you ever done something you thought was seriously wrong but you seemed to get away with it? Do you think anyone ever “gets away” with sin?
Pray: Ask God to remind you that no sins are secret from Him. Ask Him to help you to rely on Him both to avoid sin and — when you fail — to confess it and receive His forgiveness.
Do: In a sentence or two, describe the punishment you think David’s sin deserved.