David is said to be a man after God’s own heart, this said he was a human and imperfect like the rest of us. One of the outstanding examples of this is his encounter with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11 and 12. David lusts after the wife of one of his officers, and plots to arrange what is essentially his murder. This brave servant goes to his death, and David seizes the opportunity of Bathsheba’s widowhood, to take her for his own.
While a man after God’s heart, chapter 11:27 clearly says “But the thing David had done displeased the Lord (NIV).” The result is that the child the couple has dies and David is reprimanded by the prophet, Nathan.
This story was a pet peeve of an elder’s wife at a church I preached at. To her David “got to have his cake and eat it too.” She saw the issue that David sinned, yet was allowed to claim Uriah’s wife. Where is the justice in that? Of course she didn’t recognise that the sin led to the death of a child, and for the prophet of God to scold the king. But more importantly, the story in the end shows God is merciful. Our sins are redeemable, and even as people of God or “after God’s own heart,” we can and do make mistakes, but that is not the end of our relationship.
I am thankful that God forgives sins. Aren’t you?
Padre
Padre's Ramblings 