2 Samuel 11-12

Really simple post today. Just an encouragement to read 2 Samuel 11 and 12. I’ve read it before but was just hit again by how powerful the chapters are. I don’t think I really need to say much else: God’s grace is amazing, Nathan’s courage to confront the King is inspirational and David’s eventual obedience and repentance is challenging.


2 Samuel 11


David and Bathsheba

1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. 5 Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.”

6 Then David sent word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent him to David. 7 When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing. 8 Then he told Uriah, “Go on home and relax.” David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace. 9 But Uriah didn’t go home. He slept that night at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard.

10 When David heard that Uriah had not gone home, he summoned him and asked, “What’s the matter? Why didn’t you go home last night after being away for so long?”

11 Uriah replied, “The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, and Joab and my master’s men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing.”

12 “Well, stay here today,” David told him, “and tomorrow you may return to the army.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 Then David invited him to dinner and got him drunk. But even then he couldn’t get Uriah to go home to his wife. Again he slept at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard.

David Arranges for Uriah’s Death

14 So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver. 15 The letter instructed Joab, “Station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so that he will be killed.” 16 So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy’s strongest men were fighting. 17 And when the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight, Uriah the Hittite was killed along with several other Israelite soldiers.

18 Then Joab sent a battle report to David. 19 He told his messenger, “Report all the news of the battle to the king. 20 But he might get angry and ask, ‘Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn’t they know there would be shooting from the walls? 21 Wasn’t Abimelech son of Gideon killed at Thebez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall?’ Then tell him, ‘Uriah the Hittite was killed, too.’”

22 So the messenger went to Jerusalem and gave a complete report to David. 23 “The enemy came out against us in the open fields,” he said. “And as we chased them back to the city gate, 24 the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king’s men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite.”

25 “Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged,” David said. “The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow! Fight harder next time, and conquer the city!”

26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 27 When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the LORD was displeased with what David had done.

2 Samuel 12

Nathan Rebukes David

1 So the LORD sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. 2 The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. 3 The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. 4 One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.”

5 David was furious. “As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! 6 He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.”

7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The LORD, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. 9 Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. 10 From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.

11 “This is what the LORD says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. 12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”

David Confesses His Guilt

13 Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”

Nathan replied, “Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. 14 Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the LORD[e] by doing this, your child will die.”

15 After Nathan returned to his home, the LORD sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah’s wife. 16 David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. 17 The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused.

18 Then on the seventh day the child died. David’s advisers were afraid to tell him. “He wouldn’t listen to reason while the child was ill,” they said. “What drastic thing will he do when we tell him the child is dead?”

19 When David saw them whispering, he realized what had happened. “Is the child dead?” he asked.

“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”

20 Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions,[f] and changed his clothes. He went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the LORD. After that, he returned to the palace and was served food and ate.

21 His advisers were amazed. “We don’t understand you,” they told him. “While the child was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the child is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again.”

22 David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the LORD will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23 But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.”

24 Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved the child 25 and sent word through Nathan the prophet that they should name him Jedidiah (which means “beloved of the LORD”), as the LORD had commanded.

+1's

I haven’t blogged for a bit because of working at Respite and the wedding. If you didn’t know, my sister Heather got married on Saturday – it’s pretty weird to think she’s a wife now and that we’re all growing up! The wedding was a really emotional, wonderful day; hopefully the photographs will show this. Something which was highlighted to me throughout the day though was how blessed I am with the family I have – my mum and dad and my brother and sisters. I know that 90% of the time I take them for granted and focus on the bits of them which could ‘maybe be improved’. I loved the wedding though because, amongst the chaos, it gave you time to reflect and be thankful. As well as my immediate family I’ve realised that our family have been really blessed with “+1’s”. Just like to apologise at this point Will, Jenna and Benji if you do stumble across this; I didn’t know the political term (maybe in-laws but as only Ben is now married I didn't know for sure...) so I settled for +1’s!
I have 3 amazing siblings: Claire, Duncan and Heather but on top of that, each of them has found an amazing partner: William, Jenna and Benjamin. It was only when we were all together on Saturday that I started to appreciate how blessed I am to know them and how good it is to have them as part of our family. They are all very different (which figures as Claire, Duncan and Heather are pretty ‘unique’) but they are all very good! While I was thinking about this blog I realised that I didn’t have a word against any of them. They have good reputations. They are really good people. A while ago Heather did a blog where she introduced her brother’s and sister’s to the blogosphere but I’d like to proudly introduce my brother and sisters’ +1’s and share some of my thoughts.

Claire and Will

The first thing I knew of Will was that he was ‘Fit Boy’. It seemed Claire and Will had been at school together years ago where Claire had given him this nickname without his knowledge and suddenly she’d met ‘Fit Boy’ again! If you didn’t know this Will, you do now and I’m sure you’ll take it as a compliment. Immediately though, this new relationship was having an incredibly positive impact on Claire. Claire’s probably had the roughest time of all us children and her resilience has always inspired me but it was so clear when Will entered her life the difference he made. Claire seems joyful always now. She is positive and optimistic. She laughs more. She plays the piano again. Will has grown her relationship with God. She seeks God more and it is clear through the way she lives her life. The two of them bring each other closer to Jesus. For me this is always a good sign of a healthy relationship. Will puts up with Claire’s quirkiness, but does more in that he emphasises it and celebrates it! Claire is so much more confident in who she is because Will has allowed and guided her to be it – another clear sign of a good relationship. They can buy hamsters together because that is who they are.

Will is very conscientious and kind. He is like Claire in that he seeks the least of these; the poor, the lost, the downtrodden and he actively helps them. He goes to lonely people’s homes. He is proactive in helping those who need to be helped. Together he and Claire shine Jesus’ example of how to be Good Samaritans. He is never too busy for other people but will always take the time.

What I love about Will as well though is his sense of humour, his likeability and how he doesn’t take life too seriously. He diffuses situations and has a calming influence. He is a great example for me.

Duncan and Jenna

I remember being in Italy about 6 years ago now constantly teasing Duncan about his new girlfriend saying ‘oooooo Jenna!’ I was 13 at the time so I think I was allowed...although Claire was 20 and she joined in too. Because they live further away than Will and Ben, I don’t get to see as much of Jenna as I do the other two but again the impact she’s had on Duncan is obvious. Jenna brings Duncan to life. I’ve never seen him happier than when he’s with her. She brings out the best in him. He is so much more confident when she is around and his love for her is clear. Duncan is really proud of Jenna, as he should be and it’s great to see him love to protect her and provide for her. I think of the verse in Songs of Solomon 2:3 - ‘Like the finest apple tree in the orchard is Duncan among other young men. Jenna sits in his delightful shade....’ (slightly adapted from the NLT)

Jenna is very beautiful. More than that, she’s stunning. I don’t know how Duncan got her! Only kidding, although I’m sure I’ve joked this to him before. They are a very attractive couple. More than that though is Jenna’s character. She is strong and persevering. The last few years haven’t been the easiest for Jen and yet now she is about to start a course in special effects and make up, having already got a degree in Psychology. Jenna is intelligent and adventurous. She fights for what she wants. She has a gentle and sweet spirit but also has a very good sense of humour. I remember one time when I managed to pour all the gravy from my plate onto the carpet obliviously while Jenna and Benji just looked and laughed at me. Jenna also does well to put up with the weirdness of our family, although fortunately for her Duncan’s probably the most normal of all of us.  Most recently I spoke to her about her time at Warwick which got me buzzing for university - bring it on. I’m really looking forward to getting to see Duncan and Jen more this year up in Warwick!

Ben and Heather....

...and then there’s Ben.....

In all seriousness Ben was an answer to prayer for Heather. Not many people know but before Heather and Ben got together Heather made a list and prayed for all the things she wanted in a boyfriend. However, the twist was that she liked another guy called Benji who lived up North, so sneaky Heather added to the list ‘...oh yeah, and he’s got to be called Ben!’ I think God had the last laugh there.

If there is one word which sums up Ben it is his ‘Integrity’.

He is funny, he is gifted, he is caring, he is strong and he is many things but it is his integrity which I most admire. This world doesn’t care much for integrity, unless that integrity is lost. We care a lot more for gifting and ability than character and yet Ben is such an advocate for character over gifting! He has changed Heather so much over their time together. I don’t remember much from  before but I do remember that most of mine and Heather’s conversations involved arguments, snide comments and making the other cry. Heather is now one of my confidantes and I trust her opinion and wisdom avidly. She has grown into such a woman of God and it would stupid to think that Ben hasn’t had a big part in that. I love being around Ben on his own and with Heather. I know God is going to use them to change this world and I'm excited to see that and be a part of it.

So there you have it! 3 people who are very different, very brave (to take on my siblings) and who are such great examples to me. Even writing this I realise how much I’ve learnt about doing relationships well from their influence. I’m not worried about mucking it up when I do meet my future wife because I have 3 strong couples I can look up to for guidance. Thank you Jesus that they are a part of my life.