WOMEN OF WONDER - Uriah’s Wife (Bathsheba): Another Man’s Lamb
May 26, 2019
2 Samuel 12:1-23 (p. 215)
Introduction:
I was watching this documentary the other day about the Lincoln assassination and they interviewed some of the elderly descendants of John Wilkes Booth.
One of them was the 97 year old great niece. As she talked she mentioned there was an unspoken rule during family get-togethers that you did not mention his name or bring up that subject in conversation. She said, “Everyone knew…everyone felt a sense of pain and shame…but God help you if you mentioned it!!!”
Matthew has already mentioned the name Tamar who dressed as a prostitute so she could fool her father in law Judah into having sex…she got pregnant with twins through this incestuous relationship…Perez, one of those twins was in the lineage of Jesus.
Matthew has no problem mentioning the name Rahab…she was a prostitute by trade in Jericho until by faith she rescued some Israeli spies…and is saved by a scarlet cord!
Matthew writes the name Ruth with no problem…a descendant of Lot (who got drunk and got his daughter pregnant)…Ruth was a Gentile and an unbeliever who became a grandmother through the Guardian Redeemer Boaz…
But when you come to verse 6, Matthew writes: “And Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, WHOSE MOTHER HAD BEEN URIAH’S WIFE.”
Did Matthew have a memory lapse while listing the genealogy? Has the name Bathsheba just slipped his mind?
I don’t think so…Bathsheba is the woman David committed adultery with…she became pregnant by David…So, David has her husband Uriah killed intentionally in battle…It’s murder. She then marries the man who has killed her husband…in punishment, this child dies.
One commentator wrote…“Their sin is so heartbreaking that Matthew blushes at even the thought of mentioning her name.”
I don’t know…my first thought is…we’re not talking about equals here…at least in King David’s time…He’s a King…she’s a woman…a soldier’s wife. Kings usually get what they want and if you don’t comply, “It's off with your head.”
But my wife…who is a woman, asked me… “Was her roof the only place she had to take a bath? Didn’t she know she could be seen from the palace? Uhhh…I would think…“YES.”
Why does Matthew not write her name? Is it because King David is the key figure here? Is it because she never repented of adultery (or at least we have no record of it). Is it because of shame or for her protection. I don’t know…but she is included in the messianic line for the primary reason…A Savior came through sinners…lets look at the story. First of all:
I. IT’S DANGEROUS TO RETIRE FROM THE FIGHT
2 SAMUEL 11:1-5 (p. 214)
If you look at the early chapters of second Samuel they are filled with King David’s victories.
David’s victories over the 1st King’s House, Saul, it lasted a long, long line…David’s house grew stronger and stronger…David’s reclamation of Jerusalem…David defeats the Philistines of Jerusalem…(Goliath’s crowd)…David brings the Ark of the Covenant back to the temple in the Holy City.
In fact, Chapter 8 is entitled…“David’s victories toward the end of it says “The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.” (v. 11) David reigned over all Israel doing what was just and right for all his people.” (v. 12) And Chapter 9 in 2 Samuel is the “feel good, tear jerking, grab your heart” chapter in the Old Testament…
David remembers his best friend Jonathan (Saul’s son) and he says…is there anyone left in this family that I can show my love for Jonathan to? And Jonathan has a crippled son…name “Mephibosheth” and David brings him and his family into the palace and cares for them as his own…yeah…see!!!)
In Chapter 10…David defeats the biggest enemy of the Israelites…the Ammonites (also descendants of Lot…through his youngest daughter…yes, he was drunk that time as well).
So in Chapter 11 when spring rolls around…when it’s time to get back in the fight…David…Uhh, “rests.” “He retires from the fight.”
David doesn’t go out to war…He sends Joab, his general to fight for him…They destroy the enemy, but David stayed in Jerusalem.
It’s a little like us thinking…“I don’t need to serve Jesus anymore…I’ll let someone else take care of the lost and hurting.”
I’m afraid many times “Spring has sprung” for way too many Christians…Way too many of us retire from the fight and rest at home hoping others will do the dangerous warfare…we go up on the rooftop so we can oversee things…and we retire from the spiritual battle.
Let me share with you what lurks for those who do this:
II. THE SIN OF THOSE WHO SIT ON THE SIDELINES
I do believe one of the reasons Bathsheba isn’t mentioned by name here in Matthew’s genealogy is the emphasis is on King David and not her…David’s sin with Uriah’s wife.
David, at the peak of his accomplishments, decides to rest on his previous victories - and maybe as he walks on the rooftop he wants to look out on the battlefield and glory in what he’d done.
“From the roof David looks down at everything else…including Uriah’s house…Uriah is with Joab…out fighting the Battle…but his wife is bathing on the rooftop (I don’t know if she had another place to bathe or not…I don’t know if she knew David liked to take walks on the rooftop)…but she’s beautiful…the only other place this description is used is when “Rachel is described” and when “Joseph is described” (In the masculine tense).
There are moments for all of us when decisions are made…for Cain, for David the King, for Rick Burdette…and for every single one of you…it’s a moment where we know something is wrong…but our very soul desires it intensely…and David chose to gratify that intense desire, even when he had to do it in stages…
He could have said no…and turned his gaze aside from the rooftop…he could have said “NO” when he found out whose daughter and “wife” Bathsheba was. He could have said “NO” even after she was brought to him by the “messenger.”
This sin has been thought about…toyed with…a plan formulated in his heart.” One that was described to be like “God’s own heart,” reached a place of crossing over, even before the very act itself…no wonder James describes the process like this.
JAMES 1:13-15 (p. 847)
David’s sin did just that…Bathsheba conceives a child through this adulterous sin.
When David received word of the pregnancy, he responds just like most of us - not with shame or guilt, no remorse or repentance…He tries to cover it up.
2 SAMUEL 11:6-13 (p. 215)
One soldier is a man of integrity who knows his place is on the battlefield with his brothers…one is a King caught in sin and deception…and his sin will give birth to what sin always gives birth to…death. David sends Uriah back to the battle. He tells Joab… “Put him on the front line…where the battle is fiercest…then pull back so he will die.”
I’ve met a lot of people on the sidelines who are willing to kill others because of their guilt and sin…haven’t you?
2 SAMUEL 11:16-17 (p. 215)
What’s David’s response when he receives news that Uriah is killed? “Oh well…people die in war…don’t let it bother you Joab…press the attack!” He says this to encourage Joab.
Have you noticed that when you involve someone else in your sin from the sidelines you want them to think it’s OK?
It’s never OK for us as Christians to forget what we are fighting for…we are to be making disciples…In the world…but not of it…we are to be salt that hasn’t lost its flavor…Having the same servant hearted mindset as our Lord in our relationship to others.
No one should be on the sidelines teaching others what it means to be a follower of Jesus…If they are not actively doing it…
We will not lose our salvation if we don’t serve others as the Church and share Jesus…but someone else might!
Those who don’t share Jesus, invite others to church…actively look for relationships for disciple making…will teach others information and involve them in the sin of sitting on the sidelines…and that is deadly to the church.
The Greatest King of Israel…in fact the Messiah would be called ‘The Son of David”… and he’s an adulterer…a premeditative murderer…He’s a leader that involved others in his sideline sin…and yet there is still hope for forgiveness and grace.
Listen to:
III. A STORY ABOUT A LAMB
God’s not happy with what’s happened so he sends a messenger of truth named Nathan to David (I believe Nathan is an Old Testament shadow of the reality of the New Testament Holy Spirit). When Nathan comes before David he says:
2 SAMUEL 12:1-5 (p. 215)
David got so angry when he heard this little story, he said, “The man who did this deserves to die…He should pay 4 times what he owes because he did this…with no “pity.”
And Nathan looks at King David and says…“You’re the man.” God made you King of Israel…He gave you everything Saul had…even when you’d been a shepherd and the youngest…God would have given you even more!
David said, “I’ve sinned against the Lord.”
Nathan said, God’s forgiven your sin…but there will be consequences…Man they are severe too!!! The child in this union dies…rebellion takes place in his family, and the sin he tried to hide in the dark…God puts it on public display.
No wonder God includes David, and Uriah’s wife in the lineage of the Christ…It’s the story of every single one of us…it’s a story we should see ourselves right in the midst of…even if adultery and murder wasn’t your sin…I promise you lust and hatred have been…every one of us has stood at that door Cain stood at…David stood at…and each of us…men and women alike stepped through it…thought we could hide it…and maybe for a time we were successful.
Our hope isn’t in the little lamb in Nathan’s story…our hope is in Mary’s little Lamb. On one side of his genealogy is Tamar’s deception, Rahab’s sexual past, Rahab’s unbelieving family, David’s murder and adultery…brokenness, lies, darkness, deception, guilt, shame…some of which we don’t even speak about. “God help you if you mention it.”
But on the other side is…holiness, purity, righteousness, gentleness, humility, obedience, perfection, Jesus…the incarnation…child of Mary, a Virgin…Son of David…God in the flesh…“The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
How will He do that? Our sins will be put on public display…in His body as He dies perfectly in my place.”
All sin…every sin…David’s sin…Rick’s sin…your sin.
“PAID IN FULL.”
The question…Will you accept His payment…surrender your control and live eternally?
