JANUARY 9, 2025
“And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.” (II Samuel 11:2-4)
At this point in II Samuel, we read that it’s the time of year when kings and armies traditionally march to war, but King David remained in Jerusalem. He did this despite God’s direction to the contrary, and because of this, he fell into the great sin of being conquered and led captive by his lust. Staying home from the battle merely provided an opportunity for his long-standing lack of sexual restraint and indulgence of passion to display itself, as David likely knew it would. Maybe snooping on Bathsheba was an accident, but he broke a commandment by coveting his neighbor’s wife. Her marital status with Uriah the Hittite didn’t stop David from taking and lying with the woman shortly after. This week, we’ll continue our study of the fallout of this great sin by looking at how it led to Absalom’s rebellion.
Starting in chapter 13, there is a story of sexual assault and revenge among David’s children: Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom. Since David had many wives, Amnon had a mother (Ahinoam) different from Absalom and Tamar (Maacah). Amnon’s lust for his sister was so great that he violently forced himself upon her. Absalom loved his sister and was very angry with Amnon. Hating him for the evil he had done, Absalom’s anger with his brother comes full circle when, two years later, he murders Amnon and then flees to a country to the north, where he lived there for three years.
After these three years, David finally allows Absalom back to Jerusalem but refuses to speak to him for two more years. David’s general, Joab, talks David into seeing his son once again. So, he is finally reunited with his son five years after Absalom killed Amnon and fled. It has also now been seven years since Amnon initially attacked and assaulted his half-sister, Tamar. All of this so far is part of the fulfillment of the prophecy on David. This is all the fallout from his sins, just as the prophet Nathan told him.
David’s family is falling apart. One son assaults his half-sister. Another son kills that son. Now, if the story could get worse, it does. Absalom quietly plotted to turn people from his father to himself for four years. At the end of these four years, he takes action, rallies some key leaders in Israel behind him, and declares himself king. It’s a government overthrow by the king’s son, and David has been none the wiser. But Israel can’t have two kings, so David knows Absalom will kill him. So, David runs for his life (15:14).
The grief. The shame. The heartache. The emotions of this story are beyond our ability to grasp. Can you imagine the agony that David is facing as he goes on the run from a family member for the second time? This is only 5% of the drama that David incurred on himself and his family by his great sin. It’s a somewhat depressing section, but one we must read to see the effects of sin on our lives.
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