Prov. 16:10-12; Psa. 51:13-18, David vs. Jesus

We don’t normally think in terms of “David vs. Jesus.”  Rather we think of Jesus as the Son of David and emphasize the ways they are alike.  But when you come to 2 Sam. 11 and David’s sin involving Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite (if you are not familiar with the story you might want to read it now) then it’s a case of how Jesus is so much better than David.

Prov. 16:10 and 12 speak of what kings are supposed to be like and shed some light on the story.  First, David transgressed with his mouth (Pr. 16:10).  As the one with whom God made the covenant the Davidic kings were “mediators” for God, standing between God the true King of Israel and the people.  He was supposed to speak for God.  But when David lied to cover up the sin and when he told Joab to do in order to get rid of Uriah David clearly transgressed.  How could David ever again be trusted by the people to speak the word of God. 

Thus, in his prayer of confession (Ps. 51), David addresses this.  He longs for God to purify his heart so that he might again be able to teach transgressors Your ways.  It is not an issue of repairing David’s reputation; he is still the King and must still speak God’s word to the people whether they respect him or not (and by the way, as you read on in 2 Samuel, there were those who no longer respected David; e.g. Ahithophel, Shimei).  But it is David’s own heart.  Does he even trust himself to speak truth for God?  He prays that he might be delivered from guilt; the sense of shame would keep him from speak confidently for God.  In the end David is not simply concerned with his own forgiveness; he is concerned with God blessing the nation (v18).

Second (cf. Pr. 16:12), what David did was an abomination and would weaken his throne.  Again, if you read on in 2 Samuel, this happened.  You see in David a king who has a hard time making decisions and acting (e.g. in bringing back Absalom and in his inability to then deal with Absalom).  His reign became much weaker.

It is interesting that what we are reflecting on are Proverbs of Solomon who is the son of David and Bathsheba and who had his own struggles with sin and a weakened throne (that’s 1 Kings 11 if you want to read about it).  There are always two possibilities: we either learn from the sins of the fathers and repent or we ignore or gloss over their sins and repeat them. 

Ah, this is the glory of the Son of David.  He had no sin of His own.  He was the qualified, unblemished, Lamb of God who could and did take away the sin of the world.  He died for David’s sin.  Thus He, David’s Son, was David’s Lord!