1 Chronicles 20:1, 14:3-7, 3:5-9; 2 Samuel 11:1-12:25, 5:14-16; Psalm 51

This section is mostly the story of David and Bathsheba. David sleeps with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba. David places Uriah in a position to be killed during battle; Uriah’s death results in the death of several other people. The prophet Nathan comes to David with a parable and David realizes he has messed up. Nathan says to David, “You have given the enemies of the Lord great opportunity to despise and blaspheme him.” God forgives David but says that the child David and Bathsheba conceived will die. David fasts and prays during the baby’s sickness, but the child dies. Bathsheba has another son by David: Solomon.

Reading Psalm 51, which is David reacting to his sin with Bathsheba, in context of the actual story is very interesting. The only punishment David seems to receive is the death of his child. The only punishment that seems to affect David directly is “a broken spirit”; is this a fair punishment? Do I have the right to judge what a fair judgment is? One important line in Psalm 51 is “give me back my joy again”. This emphasizes that a life lived in opposition to God is joyless.

The death of the baby messes with me. David spent the time while the baby was sick fasting and praying that “the Lord will be gracious” and “let the child live.” When the child dies, David goes back to his life. Knowing the fate of the rest of David’s children, maybe dying in infancy was a blessing. However, the whole story rubs me the wrong way.

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