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Most of us know the story of 2 Samuel 11. David’s sin and repentance are well-documented. The story is familiar to us because it’s real. The Bible doesn’t sugarcoat the sex, scandal, and murder that David engages in. However, we also must realize that even though the Bible describes it, that doesn’t necessarily mean it prescribes it.
There is no doubt that David’s actions were disgusting. What would David have done if Uriah would have come back and slept with his wife? Would David have kept that secret forever knowing that he was actually the child’s father? Furthermore, would Bathsheba have been able to keep this secret from both her child and her husband?
It seems like David got away with murder (no pun intended). Some have used David’s story to justify adultery, pointing to the fact that God allowed for David to marry Bathsheba and take her as his wife even after all of the compounding sins. We tend to examine these transgressions of David and wonder if the punishment fits the crime. Did God overlook the severity of what David did?
Being a pastor, people sometimes throw out names of people and question me as to whether or not I believe they are saved. My answer is always the same. I can’t judge whether a person is saved or not. That’s Jesus’ business. All I can do is form a human conclusion based on the fruit (or lack thereof). A sincere follower of Jesus will demonstrate consistency in what they say and what they do. In other words, true believers show fruit.
In the case of David, his repentance was proven sincere by his lifestyle. After this one incident with Uriah and Bathsheba, we don’t read of him stealing wives and murdering their husbands anywhere else in Scripture. David had a big lapse in judgment (like all of us) but he repented and showed evidence of change.
Although David’s family would be at odds for the rest of his life, God did allow him to be restored. He allowed David to marry Bathsheba and continue to serve as king, however, he also paid a heavy price. If we try to use David’s story to justify the sin in our own lives, we will only become Pharisees. Twisting the text to try and validate the dysfunction of our own sin will only lead to a dark, calloused heart. The shining moment of this chapter is the fact that David owned up to his sin and changed his ways.