Day 102 · Part 7: The Kingdom
Bathsheba
In the Story
In context
At “the time when kings go out,” David sends Joab to besiege Rabbah, the Ammonites’ royal city, but stays in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 11:1; 12:26). This is one of the hardest days in David’s story: he takes Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and when she is expecting his child, he has Uriah put where the fighting is hardest, and Uriah dies (11:2–17). Uriah had refused to go home to his wife while the ark and the army were in tents (11:11).
The prophet Nathan tells David of a rich man who took a poor man’s one little lamb, then tells him that he is that man (12:1–7). David says, “I have sinned against Yahweh,” and Nathan answers that the Lord has put away his sin, but the child will die (12:13–14). Psalm 51 is headed “when Nathan the prophet came to him” (Psalm 51:0). The Lord strikes the child, who dies on the seventh day (2 Samuel 12:15–18).
Matthew’s list of Jesus’ ancestors remembers Bathsheba as “her who had been Uriah’s wife” (Matthew 1:6). The reading ends at Rabbah: 2 Samuel says David put its people to work with saws, picks and axes, and 1 Chronicles says he had them cut with saws, picks and axes (2 Samuel 12:31; 1 Chronicles 20:3).
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.
Psalms 51:17 · David’s psalm from the time Nathan came to him trusts that God “will not despise a broken and contrite heart.”
For families
While the baby was sick, David fasted and lay all night on the ground. After the child died, David said, “I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:16–23). He comforted Bathsheba, and their next son, Solomon, was also named Jedidiah, which means “loved by Yahweh,” the WEB notes (12:24–25).
Solomon was given a second name that means “loved by Yahweh.” Do you know who chose your name, and why?
In the Bible
World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).
2 Samuel 11
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2 Samuel 12
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1 Chronicles 20:1–3
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Psalms 51:title–4
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Psalms 51:10–11
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A hymn for today
Softly and Tenderly · words by Will L. Thompson
- Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,Calling for you and for me;See, on the portals He's waiting and watching,Watching for you and for me.RefrainCome home, come home,Ye who are weary, come home;Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,Calling, O sinner, come home!
- Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,Pleading for you and for me?Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,Mercies for you and for me?RefrainCome home, come home,Ye who are weary, come home;Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,Calling, O sinner, come home!
- Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,Passing from you and from me;Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,Coming for you and for me.RefrainCome home, come home,Ye who are weary, come home;Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,Calling, O sinner, come home!
- O for the wonderful love He has promised,Promised for you and for me!Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,Pardon for you and for me.RefrainCome home, come home,Ye who are weary, come home;Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,Calling, O sinner, come home!