May 9, 2021. II Samuel 11:1-17

Posted byJohn Sanzone

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ROOFTOP EXPERIENCE.  II Samuel 11:1-17. 05/09/2021.  #21.

2 Samuel 11:1-17 [New King James Version]

1 It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. 2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. 3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. 5 And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.” 6 Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered. 8 And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king’s house, and a gift of food from the king followed him. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. 10 So when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?” 11 And Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.” 12 Then David said to Uriah, “Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house. 14 In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.” 16 So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men. 17 Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also.

  1. Off Schedule
    1. This narrative begins by telling us that it was spring time when kings go off to battle
      1. David was expected to be with his troops (they expected his leadership and bonding with his men)
      1. David had ordered a campaign against Rabbah and the Ammonites
    1. David decided to remain in Jerusalem while Joab led the army against Rabbah
      1. David was comfortable and overconfident
      1. David no long had to struggle against enemies
    1. David was unaware that there are greater battles than engaging men on the battlefield
      1. The battle against temptation is covert, arising at unexpected times and in unexpected places
      1. When our guards are down, we are vulnerable
  2. Surging hormones overcome hidden holiness
    1. David takes a morning walk on the roof
      1. He sees a lovely woman bathing in her backyard (probably could only be seen from the palace)
      1. Bathsheba thought that she was hidden from all views
    1. David is immediately smitten by her
      1. David could control his list
      1. David could have called for one of his wives
    1. David obviously had not been focusing on the Lord
    1. David inquires about who this woman is
      1. His inquiry tells his servants what is on his mind
      1. The inquiry is the start of his pursuit of her
    1. David is informed that she is Bathsheba, wife of Uriah
      1. I Chronicles 11 Uriah was one of David’s mighty men, who had been with him from the start
      1. Bathsheba was the daughter of Eliam, captain of David’s guards, and the granddaughter of Ahithophel, David’s chief advisor
    1. David should have backed away from his lust as fast as Joseph ran from Potiphar’s wife
    1. David calls for Bathsheba and violates her
      1. He fulfills his lust and then sends her home
      1. David believes that the matter is over
      1. David probably rationalized that as king, he could do with his subjects what he desired
  3. Compounded sin
    1. Bathsheba sends word to David that she is pregnant
      1. David devises a cover-up, not considering God
      1. A wider circle of his servants are aware of it
    1. David sends for Uriah off the battlefield
      1. After inquiring of the army’s welfare, David sends Uriah home with gifts of food
      1. Once Uriah lies with his wife, David would be ok
    1. Uriah refused to go home, even when David gets him drunk
      1. Uriah refuses to enjoy his home and wife when his commander and fellow soldiers remain in the field
      1. Uriah’s integrity far outdoes that of David’s
    1. Uriah carries a message to Joab to place Uriah near the wall of the city so he might die (others die with him)
    1. Joab could easily figure out what has transpired
    1. Num. 32:23 your sins will find you out (Gal. 6:7-8)