This story in Francine Rivers’ book is about Bathsheba. Maybe you were like me and hadn’t ever thought much about Bathsheba at all. When I think of King David, I think about Goliath and him just being a king who conquered many tribes. This made me think further about what the story of Bathsheba and David might have been like and what it would have been like at that time. Since this is just sometimes interpretation and storytelling, I can’t just take it as it issss, but I did enjoy reading it as I did the others.
To read the story of Bathsheba in the Bible, read starting in 2 Samuel 11.
I’m including some questions/discussions from the book like I have before that I felt were reflective and might be relevant to you today/this week!
God tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that he will provide a way out when we are tempted. Just as David was tempted, we are all tempted in one way or another to sin. No one is immune to sin.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
How have you been tempted this week so far? How have you responded and do you look for ways to escape?
Unfortunately, Uriah is described as the scapegoat in the story of David and Bathsheba. He was killed, murdered, for being in the way of what David wanted (or didn’t want to get out). To cover up his own issues and mistakes, David took the matter into his own hands. At times in his life, he seemed to seek God, but here I felt like God wasn’t counseled at all and I wonder how God could have worked in that situation instead of being handed all the sin to redeem later. Either way, God was in control and God had a plan from the beginning to bring this lineage into the descending line of Jesus.
Have you ever covered up for other people?
Have you seen where other people’s choices have an impact on your life? Does it effect you today?
There is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is the way to death.
Proverbs 14:12 ESV
In 2 Samuel 12, David is confronted by the Lord through the prophet Nathan. I’ve read the story of David before, but I hadn’t caught this previously or let it sink in enough to remember. Rivers’ book brought it to life for me. It was this small scene, but it’s something I can remember. David was so outraged at what he heard and then, hey, that’s about you buddy!
Nathan had to actually come out and say “You are that man!” because David was so blinded by his own desires – he couldn’t see his own sin.
My Bible notes say that David is truly concerned about justice, when not blinded by his own passion.
The consequences for David’s sin are not over at this point, they’ve really only begun.
We’re much like David at times. Being the ones committing sins, we don’t think much of them because they’ve become routine or habits and it takes some outside our sin to recognize and approach the issue.
How quickly do you recognize sin in your life?
Do you wait for someone to point out sin to you or do you ask God to reveal it to you?
When you face sin, you have three options: hide it, handle it, or confess it. Which is easiest? Which do you most often respond with?
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24 ESV
*side note this Psalm makes me want to listen to the More / Enough album by Fresh Life Worship… just saying.
What does restoration mean to you?
What role do we have in helping one another be restored in God? How have you helped in restoration?
Take encouragement in these verses as you confess and repent of sin this week…
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:9 ESV
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103:8-14
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
I hope you’ve enjoyed talking about Bathsheba and gained something from this post. Feel free to comment any thoughts you have.