The story of David and Bathsheba is one that is simultaneously easy and difficult to preach, in my opinion. It is easy because the stark difference between greed, lust, adultery, and murder (all of which David commits in 2 Samuel 11) and repentance (which Nathan leads David to do in 2 Samuel 12). We all get caught in cycles of sin and cover-up, and we all need to repent and seek God’s forgiveness.
It’s difficult when we look at the story from the perspective of the characters not named David. Bathsheba is bathing on a roof based on the law (she had just finished her period, Scripture tells us). Not only was she ‘minding her own business’ but she was following the law. She is taken by David and “he lay with her.” Scripture is silent on the details, but it does not give Bathsheba any voice in the matter until after she is sent home and later tells David, “I am pregnant.” Bathsheba has been portrayed in art as a temptress, seducing David from her rooftop. But Bathsheba, as far as I can tell from the scriptural account, is a victim of David’s disgusting abuse of power.
To add to the disgusting situation, David then manipulates her husband, Uriah, to cover it all up by bringing him home from war so that it’ll look like Uriah is the father. Uriah does no such thing, and so David sends him back to war – only this time, Uriah is ordered to the front lines of the harshest fighting. David murders Uriah by sending him to the place where death in combat was surest.
When Uriah is out of the picture, David takes Bathsheba as his wife. Again, no proof that Bathsheba has any voice in the matter. David represses Bathsheba’s and Uriah’s voices. He uses his authority as the king selfishly.
Voice is important. Proverbs 31:8-9 says this: “Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” In this story, David uses his voice for himself. Not for those who could not speak. In fact, he was the one who repressed Bathsheba’s and Uriah’s voice. He did not speak for the rights of the destitute or to defend the rights of the poor and needy.
We are called to use our voices in the Proverbs 31:8-9 way, not the David-in-this-story way. When we see voices repressed, we must use ours to speak for them.
Read this week’s sermon here: David and Bathsheba
Discussion/Reflection Questions:
- How would you describe the voice God has given you?
- What are some practical ways you could use your voice as described in Proverbs 31?
- David got caught in a vicious cycle of sin, and thought he could cover up his sin and get out of the cycle on his own. Have you ever experienced that?
- Have you ever experienced true freedom from such a cycle? It’s only possible through repentance and God’s forgiveness. What was that like?
Pastor Drew's Desk 