2 Samuel 12:1-15, David the Sinner (2)

Here are a few additional reflections on David’s sin and the consequences.

·         11:27: “the thing David had done displeased the Lord.”  This is the bottom line! I may not have committed the specific sins as David did.  Yet, I have done as David if my words, attitudes or actions are displeasing to the LORD! Repent!!

·       Pr. 16:10,12 tell us 2 things about that situation.

o   David transgressed with his mouth (v10) in his instructions to Joab. How could David ever be trusted to speak the word of God. Thus Ps. 51 addresses this issue of restoring David’s ability to teach and sing praise – Ps. 51:13,14-15.

o   David’s sin was an abomination. It made his throne weak (v12).  

o   What I find interesting is that these are Proverbs of Solomon who had his own struggles with sin and a weakened throne (1 Ki. 11). Jesus, on the other hand, is qualified to reign forever on David’s throne; He had no such weakness.

·       12:5-6: You get most angry at others over things you are guilty of doing yourself.  Nathan’s rebuke is strong: literally, “you the man” (v7)!

·       12:22-23: This passage is often used to indicate the belief that infants who have not reached an age where they are accountable for their sins are welcomed by grace into God’s presence upon death.  There is another thing to note here, and that is David’s confidence in God’s grace.  David, the sinner, the grievous sinner, still trusts in the LORD!

·       12:24-25: In these verses we are told that David comforted Bathsheba.  1 Chron. 3:1-9 list David’s wives and the sons by each.  Typically, a wife had one son.  Michael, the daughter of Saul, had none by David.  Verses 6-8 list sons without listing the mothers.  But (v5) Bathsheba had four sons in addition to the one that died.  So David comforted Bathsheba.  But God comforted them both even more.  We are told the LORD loved him (Solomon).  It may simply mean that this baby lived after the death of the first.  They are so moved that Solomon (which means “peace” as in Shaloam) is given another name, Jedediah, Beloved of the LORD.

·       David’s ineffective leadership after the incident with Bathsheba was obvious in his inability to deal properly with Amnon (the son who raped his half-sister) and then with Absalom.  After killing Amnon Absalom fled the country, but then was allowed back by David (14:21), gladly received by David (14:33), allowed to establish his importance (15:1), so much that over time he stole the hearts of the men of Israel (15:7).  David accepted Absalom’s intention to serve the Lord (15:8) and allowed to go to Hebron (15:9) where he proclaimed himself king (15:10-12).  This was not the same David we saw running from Saul or establishing his kingdom.  Sin left him powerless to rule his family as well as his kingdom.