December 16, 2023

BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN: BATHSHEBA

December 16, 2023

 Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

It is amazing how we can form opinions based only on the written word, especially when there is ittle information available except one’s own imagination. In reading the story of David and Bathsheba, the story line centers around King David and his sin against God, as he usurps the authority of his throne in order to send for a girl only because he lusted for her. As we study this woman whose union to David produced the wisest man ever to be born, let’s have an open heart for Bathsheba’s lack of power against the circumstances dictated by a sinful king.

Focal Passage: 2 Samuel 11:1-25; 1 Kings 1:1-30, 2:13-25.

The Background:

  • Read 2 Sam. 11:1-3. What are the two strikes against David in verse 1? Where should he have been? In verse 2, what two additional problems do we notice? (What time of the day is it? What was David doing?) In verse 3, the pronoun “he” is slightly ambiguous, but it seems to be a servant who recognizes or knows Bathsheba. Is it slightly surprising that David does not hide his intention?
  • Read vv. 3-5. What are two facts told about Bathsheba? Read 2 Sam. 12:23a, 34 and 39. Who were Bathsheba’s father and husband? At the time David took her to the palace, she had no children. What age might she have been, based on their customs? Read 2 Sam. 11:15, 26. What happened? Did Bathsheba mourn for her husband like a woman who loved him?

Her Resilience:

  • Read 2 Sam. 12:14a-15. Who can relate the situation Nathan the prophet had with David? How did God feel about David’s sin in vv. 5-6? What were David’s actions while the baby was sick? Why did he put it aside once the child had died?
  • In a period of two years, what were the catastrophes that had befallen Bathsheba? Do you think she would have realized that it had been God who allowed the conception? Did she have control in any of the situations or only her own reaction to it?
  • Do you find it remarkable that she was eventually able to love the man who had caused such sorrow for her?

Her Restoration:

  • Read 2 Sam. 12:24-25. Surely some time had passed since Bathsheba’s baby had died;
  • Does anyone remember how many sons David now had? What normally would it take for Solomon to become king over Israel? Why was this situation different?

Her Determination:

  • Read 1 Kings 1:11-13. Apparently, in an unrevealed conversation, David told Bathsheba that Solomon would be king. What does she do when Adonijah tries to steal the throne?
  • Why did Adonijah feel he should be king? Who besides Bathsheba knew that the Lord had chosen Solomon? What did Bathsheba do? How quickly did David respond?
  • Why would this matter so much to Bathsheba? David had not responded when Adonijah wanted to steal the throne (1 Kings 1:6), but in verse 11 it seems he didn’t know. Read vv. 24 and 28. How soon did he act once he was told what was happening?

Her Discernment:

  • Read 1 Kings 2:13-25. Why did it matter than Adonijah came to Bathsheba to ask for David’s concubine? Can you think of other children throughout the OT who took their father’s concubine and were punished? What did it signify?
  • Why did Solomon immediately realize what Adonijah had in mind? Do you think Bathsheba was naïve about his intentions, or was she going to Solomon in order to squash Adonijah’s determination to get the throne from his younger brother?

Applications for today:                                                                                                                               1) Never forget that today’s tragedies can lead to tomorrow’s victories;                                                     2) The harm others cause you should not define your future—that’s God’s job;                                      3) Stay forever focused on God’s plans and promises for you.

Close:

It is convicting to realize that perhaps we have read the story of David and Bathsheba many times but assumed Bathsheba—bathing on her roof (or wherever)—knew she was in sight of the palace, and possibly intended to attract David. We also may have assumed she was in her twenties. As we think about the scenario, however, we can reshape our thoughts to what we know of the customs at that time. For instance, girls were eligible for marriage when they began their menstrual cycle—so perhaps Bathsheba was only a teen-ager; in fact, she and Uriah had apparently not yet had their own child. In addition, her father, being the son of one of David’s counselors (2 Sam. 15:12) and one of David’s “mighty men,” could have been a friend of Uriah, who was also one of the “mighty men” and she, like Mary, could have loved her husband greatly! All that to say, on reflection, Bathsheba, probably assuming the king was away and bathing in the evening before bed, could have been totally innocent when the King sent for her, and her options felt few and far between. His lust hopefully turned into a comforting love, but she lost her husband and her baby in the meantime. We will hope she became a happy wife and mother, and eventually had several little ones to mother. She spent her last days as the Queen Mother—a prestigious title in any kingdom—and became one of the five women listed in Matt. 1 in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

By Sandy Day

December 17, 2023

/by