Foundations Week 17, Day 5

Scripture Read: 2 Samuel 11 -12
Title: David's Sin With Bathsheba
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H.E.A.R. Entry
(H) Highlight verse:  "Nathan said to David, 'You are that man!  Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel and I delievered you out of the hand of Saul... Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is in His sight?  You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have him killed with the sword of the Ammonites'"  2 Samuel 12: 7 & 9

(E) Explain:  King David was hanging out on the rooftop relaxing while all the other men of Israel were out fighting battles.  As he was walking around he caught a glimpse of a beautiful woman named Bathsheba taking a bath.  As he was gazing his lust overtook him and he has Bathsheba come over to his place and they end up having an adulterous affair.  After his romp in the hay he finds that she has become pregnant with David’s child. She was a married woman. David tries to cover his sin by trying to manipulate the situation.

1. First he tries to create an opportunity for her husband, Uriaha, to come home from battle and lie with her.  He figured then at least the husband would think it was his. 
   
2. David makes the unwise choice of having her husband put in the front line of duty and have him killed. 
   
3. After the death of Uriah David takes Bathsheba to be his wife.   
   

Nathan the prophet knows of David’s sin and confronts him with the truth.   The end result is repentance and even the death of the child.  David's sin made a mess out of everything, and even though he was forgiven from this point on David's rule and reign is affected by his bad choices and sin. 

(A) Application:  Sin is a nasty thing.  When we become followers of Jesus this does not make us perfect or shielded from sin.  No, as believers we are all prone to sin.  Everyday we face the decision as to whether we will give in to the temptation of sin or not.  Unfortunately we all give in to temptation and end up sinning.  The good news is God is a loving and merciful God and He will forgive when we truly repent and seek his forgiveness.  We read in the Bible that a broken and contrite heart the LORD will not despise.  
The troubling thing about this passage is that David tried to cover his sin, he tried to get away with it, but God sent the prophet Nathan to confront him and call him out.  I am sure in the moment David may have felt that Nathan was being harsh with him and being unmerciful, but Nathan was being a true friend by calling David out for his sins.  I pray that you and I can have Nathan's in our lives to confront us in our sins and lovingly help us along the road to restoration.

(R) Respond: LORD, I thank you for the Nathan's in my life.  Without these people I would probably be living a life of unchecked sins.  Thank you for your forgiveness and thank you that in Jesus Christ we are forgiven.