Year 1, Week 38, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 38, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Samuel 11; Psalm 70.

Today’s reading records a sinful event that marks a definitive turning point, not only in David’s life, but also for the entire nation of Israel. 2 Samuel 11 begins with a subtle but ominous note: “In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 11:1). The parallel passage from 1 Chronicles 20, which will be a part of the following day’s reading, begins with the same report. But 1 Chronicles 20 jumps over what 2 Samuel 11 reports and simply proceeds to reporting Joab’s military campaign. The opening implication from today’s reading is that David was not where he should have been—David was not doing what he should have been doing—the king should be out with his men leading in battle. But David stayed in Jerusalem, while Joab and Israel fought. The chapter of 2 Samuel marks a turning point for David as it records the occasion of David’s fall from greatness. While the following day’s reading will report David’s repentance (unlike Saul), the consequences of David’s sinful actions are recorded throughout the rest of 2 Samuel. Today’s reading also includes Psalm 70, which is a Psalm of David as he cries out to the LORD for help from his enemies.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is that while the LORD is silent during the actual unfolding of David’s sins, He is not sightless: “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). It is not till the end of 2 Samuel 11 that we have a glimpse into the LORD’s assessment of what He saw: “But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD” (2 Samuel 11:27b). Up to these last words, it appeared that David pulled off a great wickedness. Of course, it seems reasonable to assume that there were in fact others who had some level of awareness: “It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” (2 Samuel 11:2-3). While names are left out of this report, David inquired—not the LORD—but most likely some of his advisors, who let David know who he saw. Others were also involved in the collection of Bathsheba: “So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her” (2 Samuel 11:4). Similar to Eve in the Garden, David “saw” and “took” what was forbidden.

By this time in David’s life, he probably already had seven wives. But he allowed himself to pursue the daughter and wife of two of his mighty men: Eliam and Uriah. When Bathsheba notifies him: “I am pregnant” (2 Samuel 11:5b), David expanded his sin to another level. David strategizes a cover up to conceal his sin: “So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite”…But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house” (2 Samuel 11:6,9). Uriah’s explanation for why he would not go to his wife should have been a great rebuke to David: “The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing” (2 Samuel 11:11). David’s plans to conceal his sin was taken to another level when he sent Uriah back to Joab: “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die” (2 Samuel 11:15). Lust, adultery, scheming and cover up, all leading to murder, and no one said a word. And David emerged as a noble king giving comfort to the grieving wife of a valiant warrior killed in battle: “When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son” (2 Samuel 11:26-27a). David’s scheming was successful—-almost at least: “But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD” (1 Samuel 11:27b). There will be a reckoning: “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Proverbs 26:13). David showed an aptitude for scheming, but the LORD is sovereign and He saw the whole thing.

There is a certain irony that today’s reading includes Psalm 70. While it seems that the enemy that David prays for deliverance from is an external enemy, David’s life shows us that not all our enemies are outside of us. We have internal desires that enslave and destroy us—unless the LORD delivers: “Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!” (Psalm 70:1,5).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe