Read: 2 Samuel 12:1-31; John 16:1-33; Psalm 119:65-80; Proverbs 16:4-5
Yesterday we read about David’s greatest black mark in his story. He should have been out to war since it was the season that kings went to war. Instead he was at home getting a tan on his roof. He was the king and could have any virgin in the kingdom but he chose Bathsheba who didn’t have a choice but to go when summoned by the king. Bathsheba loved her husband who was out fighting Israel’s battles. The whole story is sad for Bathsheba and Uriah. David just wanted a night of pleasure then spent months of anguish and cover up. He justified having Uriah killed by saying that the sword devours one as well as another. God saw deeper than that and cut to the core. David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered his own man to cover it up. Now he would have the life of the boy on his conscience also.
David’s punishment was that calamity would come to his household and he would see his wives being taken by some other man and all Israel would see it too. What he did in secret would be shown in public. That is always the punishment for a leader. They can think they are going to get away with their sin but they are responsible to lead others so their sins will get exposed as a lesson to those he leads.
God did redeem things for Bathsheba. She had another son named Solomon and her retribution would be that her son would be the next king even though he was not in line to be. Solomon means “peaceableness” because Solomon’s kingdom would be a kingdom of peace and represent the millennial kingdom. God told Nathan that Solomon’s name was Jedidiah which means “beloved”.
When David had repented of his sin, God gave him the royal capital of the Ammonites and their king. David took his crown. David had won a spiritual battle over his flesh. He never took another man’s wife again.
In John, Jesus is pushing his little birds out of the nest. They don’t think they are ready and he probably is a little tenative, but he knows that the Father said it is time…so they are ready. He realizes that he has to leave so the Holy Spirit can come. It is his time. He speaks to them figuratively but now he speaks to us plainly about God.
The last thing we read is to take heart because no matter our circumstances, Jesus has overcome the world!
Lord, thank you for what you did for us on this earth. Thank you for winning the victory for us that we might walk in peace and victory.
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