2 Samuel 1-12 | OT Ep 37

This episode covers the recap of 2 Samuel 1-12, exploring David's journey into kingship - from mourning Saul's death to his own kingship, the civil war with Saul's house, and the significant events that shaped his reign, including the transport of the Ark, his sin with Bathsheba, and God's covenant with him. The discussion emphasizes the importance of God's holiness, the consequences of sin, and the legacy of David's character and leadership.

Reading Plan - Old Testament in One Year
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tSmSv3JOd-gCJS6VSFMtu-iv14NZ45_M/view?usp=sharing

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro to 2 Samuel
• 3:59 David's Lament and Anointing as King
• 6:32 Civil War and the Rise of David
• 10:46 David Becomes King Over All Israel
• 22:03 God's Covenant with David
• 29:36 David's Victories and the Establishment of His Reign
• 37:11 Nathan's Confrontation and David's Repentance

Transcript

Hey everyone,

My name is Austin. And my name is Ashley. Welcome to the Clean Slate Podcast. Where we're finding Jesus in the Old Testament.

Hey friends, if you're listening to this in May of 2025, we are so sorry for the delay of getting things posted.

In the spirit of getting caught up, are going to cover 2 Samuel chapters 1 through 12 in the last chapters of 1 Samuel as soon as we can.

As for introduction to this book of the Bible, there really isn't anything new from 1 Samuel. Samuel the prophet and judge dies in chapter 25 of 1 Samuel, but the reason for this book being named 2 Samuel has to do with how Protestants have divided the books of the Bible. In the Hebrew scriptures, there is no book called 2 Samuel, rather they just have one long book called Samuel, which encompasses the whole narrative.

This division of the book really doesn't amount to anything other than a decision made in church history to shorten the length of Samuel by dividing it into two separate books. The same decision was made for first and second kings as well. on David and his reign as the king of Israel. Let's jump into the episode and see where God's Word takes us next.

2 Samuel chapter 1 begins with a narrator looking back on Saul's death and David's reaction when he finds out. We take for granted with our current age of technology how quickly we find out information. You have to remember that it's only in the last 150 years or so that we've been able to transmit information quickly like that. So for the majority of the history of the world,

You didn't find out information until someone found you to tell you. So David would have been completely unaware of Saul's death at this point. So a messenger comes to David to share the news and this messenger is a questionable character at best. He gives a little more detail to Saul's death than we read in 1 Samuel chapter 31. Some believe these two stories are synchronous and just give us different details.

Some believe this Amalekite is making up a story to try to get on the good side of King David. Either way, we see that Saul's failure to wipe out the Amalekites is still plaguing him even after death. So this messenger tells David that he just happened upon the battle between Israel and the Philistines, and King Saul asked him to kill him because he was beyond saving. So this Amalekite did what the king asked of him.

and he took his crown and his armlet and brought it to David. And I don't think David's reaction was quite what the man expected.

Saul has been after David's life for years, and at the mention of his death, he doesn't breathe a sigh of relief or rejoice that the threat on his life is over. No, David immediately tore his clothes and mourned and wept and fasted until evening for the Lord's anointed King Saul and his friend Jonathan and his people were killed.

And then David, I think catching on at this point, says, where did you say you were from? Reflect back on Saul's pursuit of David. David had opportunity to kill Saul. Think about the cave where he cut off his robe and then feel so convicted about doing that that he runs out to apologize. So David, thinking upon that, I'm sure, asks, how is it you...Amalekite who should be dead...were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed. So David has him killed because he killed, or at least professed to kill, the anointed king of Israel.

In this next section, we see David's first recorded lament in scripture. I'm not saying it's the first one he wrote, it's just the first one recorded for us. This lament is a profound expression of public and personal grief and shows that David's ascent to the throne was not malicious.

This whole laments theme in talking about Saul and Jonathan both is how the mighty have fallen. Though Saul had egregiously wronged David, David chose to remember Saul in this generous way, even saying it should be taught to the whole people.

Moving into chapter two, verse one, it says, after this, David inquired of the Lord. What a breath of fresh air to hear that, right? So at the Lord's command, David went up to Hebron and the men of Judah came and anointed David King over the house of Judah. Later, we read that David was 30 years old when he started to reign here.

Notice this is not King over Israel, just King over Judah at the moment. Just like the Lord delivered his people into the promised land, but not the entire land at once. We'll see a similar fashion for David's kingship.

So David finds out that the men of Jabesh-Gilead buried Saul, and he sends a very kind letter to them that reads, May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your Lord and buried him. Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you, and I will do good to you because you have done this thing. Now therefore, let your hands be strong and be valiant, for Saul your Lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.

But Abner, the commander of Saul's army, tries to continue Saul's kingdom by making Saul's son Ish-bosheth king over Israel.

So sometime later, they end up having a fight at Gibeon, where Abner and his men were beaten by the servants of David. And note the three brothers listed there.

Joab,

Abishai and Asahel.

These were actually David's nephews. And it seems Abner and his men were turning back in defeat. Yet David's men pursued and one of the three brothers, Osahel, was super fast and he purposely pursued Abner.

seemingly passing other men to get to him.

Abner pleads with him to stop, but he does not give up his pursuit and ultimately Abner has to kill him. So Joab blew the trumpet and all of David's men stopped pursuing their fellow men of Israel.

Chapter three tells us there was a long civil war, if you will, between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker. To the point that Ish-Bosheth, whom Abner himself appointed king over Israel, falsely accused Abner of sleeping with his father's concubine. And Abner hurls quite an insult here. He says basically,

I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul, your father, and have not given you over to David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. God do so to Abner and more also if I did not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan to Beersheba.

And of course Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word.

So Abner sent word to David that he wants to make a covenant with him and conferred with the elders of Israel and ultimately comes before David to tell him that he will gather all of Israel to David so that they can all make a covenant with him as king. So David agrees and sends Abner away in peace. Well, Joab and the army returned from a raid and Joab was none too pleased to hear that Abner,

killed his brother in battle, came and went in peace.

He says to David, what have you done? Basically, why are you trusting him? he's only come to spy on you.

After this, unbeknownst to David, Joab sends for Abner to come back, and he and his brother Abishai kill Abner for the blood of Asahel, their brother. When David hears of this, he curses Joab's clan and holds a public funeral for Abner. It was important for David and his future kingdom that all Israel know it was not the king's will to put Abner to death.

chapter four, by now you'd think people would know how righteously David reacts to men of Israel dying. But apparently, as they were all mourning the death of Abner,

Two captains of Ish-bosheth get the bright idea to kill him in his sleep. first few verses in this passage tell us that these were fellow Benjaminites no less. They so proudly present his head to David as if he's going to be so pleased.

And I don't know how you guys read verse nine in your head, but I narrated David saying this in the most frustrated bless your heart tone I could imagine. As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity? When one told me, behold, Saul is dead and thought he was bringing good news. I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. How much more?

When wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?

At least the Amalekites said Saul wanted him to do it. These guys just straight up murdered the current king of Israel. David does indeed have them punished by death for their actions and buried Ish-bosheth in the tomb of Abner.

Now, the other details about Jonathan's son earlier in this chapter are relevant because they show us why the people likely didn't pursue him as the next king. He was still a child and he was crippled, meaning he could not lead the people into battle as a king does.

Now in chapter five, all the tribes of Israel came to David and said, basically, we are your brothers and you have led us faithfully into battle. and the Lord said to you, you shall be shepherd of my people Israel. So they make a covenant with him at 37 years old and they anoint David as king over all of Israel.

David then captures the Jebusite occupied city of Jerusalem to serve as the capital of his united Israel. Up to this point, Jerusalem had not been controlled by any tribe,

So this was symbolically and geographically suited to be the capital of all Israel. He builds a palace in his royal city and continues to have children there, among those being Solomon,

who we will hear more of soon.

I'm gonna introduce you to a phrase here that I don't know that we've used before on the podcast. It's called, is not normative. Meaning, just because you see it accounted for in scripture, doesn't mean that that thing is normal or righteous in the eyes of God, or something that we should ascribe to do or be. For example, David took more concubines and wives. This scripture is accounting to you that this is what happened.

not that God told David to do this, nor that God was encouraging this. This also does not mean that you should go and take multiple wives or concubines.

So in this instance, narrative is not normative.

next account of David's rule, we see the Philistines here of David's kingship, and they went up to search for him. But David went out to meet them. I'm sure if they could have picked anybody to be king, it wasn't David, the boy who slayed Goliath with no armor and a sling and a stone.

And verse tells us again, David inquired of the Lord, just like he has before and during his reign. And the Lord assures David of a victory, which he gets. But the Philistines come back again. And I love how David does not presume the Lord's will here. He inquires of him again. And this time God says, you shall not go up, go around to their rear. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees,

Then come out for battle, for the Lord has gone out before you to strike down their army. And David does as the Lord commanded him and struck down the Philistines,

driving them out of the central hill country.

In chapter six, we see David's next move is to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem. Scripture tells us they carried the Ark on a new cart, likely a ritualistically clean cart, but that was not the way that the Lord had commanded his people to move it. Remember, God's command was that the Ark should be carried by the Levites using poles placed through rings on the sides of the Ark. Pin that thought.

So David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with songs and liars and harps and tambourines, castanets and cymbals.

This was a celebratory time that the ark was coming to Jerusalem. Now notice that it says before the Lord, meaning the Lord himself was present above the ark.

Then, verse 6 tells us

The oxen stumbled and Uzzah put out his hand and took hold of the ark of God. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah and God struck him down there because of his error and he died there beside the ark of God. Now.

Let's pause for just a second and let me ask you this question. Was God wrong for doing this?

Absolutely not. I think in our offense-free culture, we have lost the concept of the righteous, absolute, face-melting holiness of God, that just seeing Him with our eyes would overtake us unto death.

Because of the direct access to God given to us by the Lord Jesus, tearing the veil and sending the Holy Spirit, we take His presence for granted and have lost the holy reverence that we should approach Him with.

Remember in Exodus, Moses had to look at his passing backside so he didn't die in God's holy presence. And then, Moses still had to wear a veil in front of the people for a while because the glory of the Lord was so much that it reflected off of Moses' face.

And so here in this passage, Uzzah physically touched where the glory of the Lord was actively dwelling. Of course he was struck down, righteously and justly.

God had also given a certain way for the ark to be carried, and that would have prevented this tragedy from happening. The author of Hebrews tells us it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Why is it fearful? Because he is 100 % completely perfect, and we are not.

and we must keep that perspective in mind anytime we come across a passage like this.

So picking up in verse eight, David was afraid of the Lord that day. This incident was a dramatic reminder to David of God's holiness and of the necessity of approaching God only according to his revealed instruction. So much so that David was afraid to even bring the ark all the way back to Jerusalem anymore. So he sent it to the house of Obed-Edom for three months and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-Edom.

So David finally had the ark brought up to the city of David or Jerusalem. Now notice in verse 13 that the ark is carried properly this time. It says, when those who bore the ark, it's not on a cart with oxen this time.

And David danced before the Lord with all his might and all the house of Israel brought up the ark with shouting and the sound of the horn. This is super interesting because the word dancing in verses 14 and 16 does not appear anywhere else in scripture except this one passage. So again, narrative is not normative. We don't want to model our church services with dancing and shouting and horn blowing because again, this was not in the temple.

have just seen with Uzzah that God gives instructions on how things in his house should be conducted.

And in the New Testament,

we have instruction on what a service of the New Testament church should look like. However, again, this is a momentous and victorious occasion for the people of Israel. It was a very common practice in victory parades and joyous celebrations for dancing and music to be going on in the streets as the victors enter, yet probably never by the king himself. And as McCall saw this, she was not happy.

So they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts and distributed among the whole multitude of Israel bread and a portion of meat and a cake of raisins to each one. Now let's take a pause just a moment and address some concerns that you may have. So it may seem that David, despite being from the tribe of Judah,

is exhibiting some very priestly elements here, such as offering sacrifices. Now, much like David bringing the ark back to Jerusalem, these things were done at David's express command, not necessarily by David himself. David didn't physically carry the ark, but he was instrumental and responsible for its return. He may not have physically offered those sacrifices, but the sacrifices were offered at his instruction.

David was also wearing a linen ethad. Now this is just the plain linen ethad, yes worn commonly by the priests. But this was not the same as the special ethad and golden breastplate that the Mosaic law restricts only to be worn by the high priest.

Mosaic law does not restrict the wearing of plain linen aphids to only the priests.

David in this moment, remembering the first attempt at bringing the Ark to Jerusalem, is purposely divesting himself of his royal robes and assuming a garment that is undeniably associated with divine service. He is willingly emphasizing who is the true king of Israel coming before him in servitude.

After all this, David comes home to bless his own household, but is met by McCall with a very sarcastic comment. How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants, female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself.

Now, the narrator never tells us that David was exposed during this time. This just shows how disgusted she was with the overall situation, probably implying that he exposed himself by mingling with the commoners and not wearing his royal robes. And David, who quips back to her with a cutting yet truthful statement, says,

appoint me as Prince over Israel, the people of the Lord.

and I will celebrate before the Lord. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.

So in other words, he's saying, if you think that behavior in which I was putting aside my regal position to magnify and celebrate the Lord was equivalent to flashing the female servants, then there are going to be other things that I do that to you will be worse. I will look completely debased in your mind. But to those servants whom you deem less than, I will be held in honor for serving the Lord.

So after this, the only other verse we are given is, and McCall, the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

I think it's interesting that in both of these places, McCall is identified as the daughter of Saul. There will be no son of David who is also grandson of Saul. is further evidence of divine withdrawal from the house of Saul and continues to drive forward the kingdom of David.

Chapter 7 sees so many promises tied together from earlier in the Old Testament and a new significant promise made. And that new promise is where we're going to focus our attention.

As we open up chapter seven, we have David living in his palace and God giving him rest from all of his enemies. So for the first time in a long time in David's life, he really is at peace. His attention turns to the future and he thinks about how he is living in a palace made of cedar, which was a really expensive and lavish item at the time.

and the Ark of God was still in the Tabernacle, which remember was a tent.

David says to Nathan, see now I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent. And Nathan replies, go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you. It's important to note that while Nathan is a prophet, it's not as if whenever he speaks that he is prophesying. And that's the same for all the prophets.

had a visit from the Lord that night and he gave him some instruction for Nathan to relay to David.

God says in verse 5, would you build me a house to dwell in? Right here when you read this, it could seem that God is asking it like, would you? It would be so nice. But when you continue reading, God starts listing off all the things that He has done, bringing up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt, taking David out of the pasture, making him a prince over Israel, cutting off David's enemies.

He says that he will make David's name great. The point here, not that God is angry about this, but that he is basically saying, I needed a house, I wouldn't tell you, I would just make it.

In other words, to echo off of what happened with Uzzah, it is more about what God says than what you think. Again, and I can't stress this enough, it isn't wrong or sinful to want to do something for God. But if it's out of step with His will, it ultimately doesn't matter too much.

Think about these verses along with the concept of what I'm saying. God says in Psalm 50 verse 12, if I were hungry, I would not tell you for the world and its fullness are mine. In Acts 17, Paul says in verse 24, the God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands as though he needed anything.

since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

So to tie this up before moving on, even the tabernacle, which was made at God's command and the temple later were not made for God. They were made for Israel so they could sacrifice and make atonement for their sins. Everything God does with the law and with the Old Covenant was a benefit for the people.

When you begin to understand the historical context, God is always setting Himself apart from the pagan gods because they need sacrifices and offerings. God is always making it clear that we can't do anything for Him in a way that benefits Him. Now, what this does not mean is that our service doesn't matter. God, as crazy as this is,

uses us to fulfill his plans to save a people from every tribe, tongue, and nation from his judgment at the end of his means of grace to get the gospel to the

out and preaching, serving, and loving doesn't benefit God. It is what God uses to save people who without the gospel would have no hope.

Moreover, the Lord declares that the Lord will make you a house.

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of those men. But my steadfast love will not depart from him

as it did from Saul, whom I put away before you.

And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.

Let me say this off the cuff before we jump in. There are a lot of Christian scholars who disagree on what this section means.

Some think it only points to Christ and has nothing to do with Solomon. is definitely not a promise regarding Christ. believe this passage is both about Solomon and Jesus.

Think about it. We've discussed this in episodes in the past. The Old Testament is often referring to some future reality, like in a recent episode where there was a passage that was referring first to David and then to Christ later. Or one that always comes to mind is Ezekiel, who speaks of God returning his people, ⁓ Israel, to their land, but also speaks of God regenerating Christians.

Solomon does indeed go on to build the first temple. Solomon also being David's son goes on to be in the lineage of Jesus. Solomon also makes several big mistakes toward the end of his reign as king and God does discipline him just as this passage says.

And that part is the part where some feel this passage can't be about Jesus because Jesus never commits iniquity. But let's look a layer deeper there. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21, our sake He, God the Father, made Him, Jesus, to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

friend, Jesus on His cross became the literal embodiment of sin.

This passage we're discussing says that God would use the rod of men with the stripes of the sons of men to discipline him because God was giving Jesus on the cross what you and I deserved. But God also says that his steadfast love will not depart from him.

In Christian theology, have a doctrine called Asiatic. The basic explanation of it is that God is eternal, self-existent, never lacking or needing anything. Within this thought is the idea that the Father, Son, and Spirit have always been in fellowship and always loved one another. God the Father, even in this hardest of all moments, never removed His love from God the Son, and it is precisely because of the events on the cross

where the wrath of God was satisfied, and the events after Christ's death where He rose again that God can keep His steadfast love on us even when we sin, because the wrath of God for every sin has been satisfied for all who would trust in Christ.

Rounding out this chapter, David shows his gratitude with a prayer which mentions several things including what God did in redeeming Israel, what God has done for him personally, as well as the greatness of God.

we see David victorious on all sides, defeating old enemies such as the Philistines, Moab, Edom, and the Ammonites.

An important thing to note here is that the events of this chapter aren't necessarily chronological with the book, meaning that some of these things mentioned here could be serving as a prologue to chapters 10 through 12.

There's one name that will come up again in Chapter 10, and it is that of Hadeaser.

The last verse of this chapter says that David's sons were priests. This stood out to me since all the priests were Levites and David was from the tribe of Judah. A resource I checked said that not much is known of what is meant here since it is never mentioned again in Scripture. This could have meant that his sons assisted in certain duties or something along the lines of a chaplain, but clearly the line of priests were all Levites.

In chapter 9, we see a beautiful callback to 1 Samuel chapter 20. In 1 Samuel chapter 20, Jonathan saw a son and also David's friend, knowing that David will be king and not him, asked David to make a covenant with him not to destroy his household from the earth.

Whenever there was a dynasty change in ancient times, customary for the new dynasty to do just that, to wipe out the old dynasty's household. The new ruler would kill anyone who was a threat to his rule, so Jonathan knows that his children and perhaps he himself, if he were alive to see David become king, would be prime targets. David agrees to that covenant happily.

is left in the household of Saul that he may show kindness to for his friend Jonathan's sake.

David is answered and told that Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, is alive

is living in the house of Makir.

David has Mephibosheth brought up to him and restores to him all the land that belonged to Saul, as well as making sure that the family that had previously been taking care of him was there to work and till that land for him.

David also had Mephibosheth come to live in Jerusalem and dine at the King's table. What a marvelous, gracious gift to a weakened and weary would-be adversary.

David doing this would not only provide for Mephibosheth, but it would also provide for Mekir and his family since they would be in charge of working and tilling the land, and what presumably would be a large portion of land. This also honors David's word to his fallen comrade.

father had recently died.

some of Hunan's people convinced him that this was David using the opportunity to spy out the land. So Hunan sent his men to capture David's men. When they did, they cut off half the beard of David's men and stripped them of their clothes from the waist down. humiliated and David had them clothed and told them to wait until their beards grew back before returning to their home.

knew they had messed up and sent for the Syrians of Zohar who was ruled over by Hadadazer who we mentioned from chapter 8 to reinforce them.

David sent Joab, the commander of the army, with the elite fighting force of Israel

Hanan, laid a trap that basically had Joab fighting on two fronts. Unfortunately for Hanan and Hadezer, this plan failed.

Joab was more than able to hold the line against both armies and several smaller ones for that matter.

So Hadadazer called out to Syria his country and they sent the entire army of Syria. David responded by sending the entire army of Israel, leading them himself.

The Israelites were victorious and the victory ultimately landed all of the kings that had fought on Haada-Dazer's side to be ruled over by David.

As we enter into chapter 11, chapter 11 and 12 are really one narrative for the most part. And this is the start of some really hard times for David and his family.

Right in the beginning of chapter 11, there is a wink that something is not right. We are told that it is springtime and that this is the time that the kings go out to battle, but David was at his palace having sent Joab to fight for Israel in David's stead. David is walking on the roof of his house and sees a woman named Bathsheba who is bathing because she had been unclean, probably to do something with her menstrual cycle.

her and lay with her and she returned to her house. Nothing in the narrative suggests that he forced himself on her by the way. That certainly doesn't make his actions okay for a host of But I do want to point that out here.

So speaking of that host of reasons, let's talk about a few of those. David should have been out fighting with his army, not at home. Had he have been doing his duty as king in that way, none of this would have ever happened. David knew she was David wasn't married to her and already had a wife himself. She was ritually unclean until the morning and that didn't stop him either. Friends,

we get in our head we want to do something, it's easy to ignore the red flags, isn't it? David knew all these things, but proceeded anyway.

After some time, Bathsheba sent to David to let him know that she was pregnant. David sent for her husband Uriah and acted as if he wanted an update from the front lines where Uriah had been fighting.

David's true motive, was to let Uriah go home to sleep with his wife, thus covering up his sin. Uriah, however, was too noble of a man for that.

When David sent Uriah home after he had given the king the update, Uriah stayed with the king's servants instead. And when David asked him why he didn't go home, Uriah said that all the men of Israel and his lord Joab were out fighting and it wasn't right for him to go home.

What a dagger this must have been to David's heart. If not here, certainly later. David keeps him there another couple of days and even has him dine with him and goes so far as to get him drunk trying to convince him to go home once more. It does not work.

returns to the battlefield and David sends orders to have Uriah at the front line of the battle and then have Joab pull all the other men that he's fighting with away from the battle, leaving Uriah alone and vulnerable. Joab does as he is told and Uriah is killed.

A really important thing to think through here, the way that this happens when you read the scripture is that Uriah wouldn't have been the only one killed while they're trying to do this. This sort of maneuver put not only Uriah, but other men too close to the walls of the Ammonites. So David trying to cover up his sin, not only got Uriah killed, but also other men Uriah's units. Remember, sin leaks.

Bathsheba mourned the loss of her husband and when her time of mourning was over David sent for her and married her

Chapter 11 ends with these words, But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

Chapter 12 opens with Nathan the prophet delivering this message from the Lord to David.

There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie on his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.

Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him. But he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him. David responds in anger, saying, As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die.

Nathan responds, you are the man. Thus is the Lord the God of Israel. I anointed you King over Israel and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.

God goes on to ask him why he would despise him and have Uriah killed with the sword of the Ammonites. God further promises David that he will not die, but the sword will never depart from David's house, meaning that there will be in-fighting in David's house because of what he has done to Uriah.

God also promised that he would take David's wives and give them to a neighbor and he would lie with them in the sight of all the people. In verse 13, David admits his guilt and is immediately answered by Nathan who said that,

That is clearly gospel related and in preparing this episode I was trying to figure out what to say.

In my study Bible, I looked at the three reference verses related to this verse. I want to read those to you really quick. Psalm 32 verse 1. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Ashley and I were talking. You wonder how many days, months, or years after this moment David wrote this Psalm. When he says this here, he knows the Lord should have taken his life as he confessed himself, but rather he was given mercy.

Micah 7, 18 says, Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

lastly, Zechariah 3 verse 4. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, remove the filthy garments from him. And to him he said,

Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.

Friends, God has always been able to and been willing to forgive the sins of someone with a contrite heart. A heart that truly knows what it has done and that it has done wrong.

God knows, because it has always been the plan, that the Messiah, Jesus, would come to take the place of all those who would call on His name on the cross and bear our sins.

David is the greatest king Israel would ever have until Jesus arrives. And Jesus, the branch that the prophet Zechariah mentions, has been crowned king of all.

But the story doesn't end here for David.

Nathan tells him that even though he would live, the child Bathsheba would give him would die. Now friends, like Ashley said earlier, narrative is not normative.

This is a pretty special circumstance here in Scripture. It is not normal for God to bring consequences of sin from the parents onto the children in this way.

Ezekiel 18 verse 20 tells us,

The one who sins is the one who shall die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son.

This child isn't being punished for David's sin, but the child is born sick and dies within 7 days of his birth. This would signify the onset of problems for David's household.

During the short time of the child's life, David wept and fasted hoping God would spare the boy. When God does not spare his life and he dies, David anoints himself and he says this beautifully heartbreaking line in verse 23. Can I bring him back again?

I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.

Friends, if you have lost a child, please know this. That child is with the Lord. And if you belong to Christ, you will see them again one day.

After these things Bathsheba became pregnant again and bore to David another son, whose name would be Solomon.

and finishing out this chapter, Joab calls for David and together they take the city of Raba, the capital of the Ammonites.

And after all that, we will give your ears a break, friends. Thanks so much for jumping into Second Samuel head first with us. May his grace abound to you and to me as we study to find Jesus in the Old Testament.