Journey Through The Scriptures

The story of David’s sinful encounter with Bathsheba is, doubtless, one of the most infamous moments in the entire Scriptures. Interestingly, it comes immediately on the heels of David’s triumphant venture into battle at the head of his army as Israel routed the Arameans. This time, however, David sent Joab to defeat the Ammonites again — another of Israel’s enemies. David remained at home instead of going to battle and in a moment of weakness yielded to temptation with Bathsheba.

Perhaps the most surprising part of this account is not David’s fall, for he was all too human. What is hard to reconcile is his determination to conceal his sin even to the point of ordering the certain death of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. David was, after all, the man after God’s own heart. But his refusal to admit his sin serves as a reminder not only of the frailty of conscience to which we humans are subject, but also the capacity for deceit and the desire to protect our own interests whatever the cost. David might have succeeded in his plan, but for two factors: his own guilty conscience, and the ominous note on which the chapter ends: “The thing David had done displeased the LORD” (v. 27).