Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Bathsheba - Unappreciative

2 Samuel 11:7-9 When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. Then David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master's servants and did not go down to his house.

David calls Uriah to come home from battle under the pretense of wanting to know how the war was going. David's plan at this point was to get Uriah to sleep with his wife - thus making it seem as though the baby would be Uriah's. I'm sure Bathsheba was also involved in this - maybe she asked him to come home - that it had been so long. . .

We see in a later verse why Uriah refused to sleep with his wife. Bathsheba must have been getting desperate - but there must have been something more she was feeling. . .
Uriah would not go home because the men that were fighting in battle could not go to their homes. Uriah would not enjoy the pleasures of being at home while his men were out in the field battling for their lives.

Uriah was a man of integrity. This was a true test of his character - a true clincher to the type of man he was. I wonder if Bathsheba thought beyond her own sin and was able to see the damage she had done to this man who would not dishonor his men by having a simple night at home. I wonder if Bathsheba realized how good a man she actually had and that it would never be the same again.

Have you ever had a moment like that? If you had just stopped to appreciate how good you truly had it, maybe the temptation to search for something better would not have been there. Temptation comes when we think that life can be better when we take control of it, instead of God. Take the time to thank God for all that you have - even the small things, and the humility to be able to appreciate it.

2 comments:

Kay Martin said...

Good thoughts on these scriptures. As I read through Kings and Chronicles King David must have had a strong appetite for many women. To determine his death they sent in a young woman and when he had no response they concluded he was dead.

Uriah was a man of integrity and loyalty. After reading this post I suspect Bathesheba had to think on that all of her life...what she lost in a loyal man.

Love your writing. Thanks, Bible study is a delight when you're leading.

Dorothy Champagne said...

You're too sweet Kay. How interesting about David's death - I did not realize that. Where did you find that?