“King David: Part Two: Hearts!” (Grace Note #100)

This is “Part Two” in a series of three essays on the story of King David’s sinful encounter with Bathsheba.

(Click HERE for “Part One”)

“King David: Part Two: Hearts!”

Grace Note #100

By Gary L. Clendenon, May 11, 2023

(All Bible verses quoted from The Message Bible)

In 2^nd Samuel 12:1, we read, “But GOD was not at all pleased with what David had done.” Ya think? This seems to be one of the greatest understatements in the Bible! (1)

Nathan, the Prophet of GOD, comes and tells David a “Word Picture” story—wisely using a harmed sheep as one of the main characters of the story knowing that David, the former Shepherd, would relate to and connect with the imagery! (2)

It worked well! “David EXPLODED IN ANGER”. Now, this is more like the reaction that I might expect from Almighty GOD—“Righteous Anger” at the harm caused to one of his little lambs!!

And then, with brilliant timing, Nathan, the Prophet of GOD, says, “YOU ARE THAT MAN!” Nathan then lists what GOD had done to bless David, what David had done to sin against GOD and His sheep—Bathsheba and Uriah, and then the consequences that will follow for David’s sins—and they are very serious, life-long consequences (looking back in hindsight, we can see that David’s command that “the man who did this...must repay...four times over” was about what happened to David throughout the rest of his life). (3)

Please notice David’s response to Nathan the Prophet’s story and consequent description in verse 13 of 2^nd Samuel 12: “Then David confessed to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against GOD’.” Finally, David is in his right mind. He gets it. And, immediately, David owns up to his sin. THIS shows one of the reasons why David is called “a man after GOD’s own heart.”

One of the main themes of the Bible is “our hearts”. GOD, above all else, wants our hearts. And David exemplifies this knowledge, understanding, and application so well in his later written response to Nathan’s message from GOD—as found in the 51^st Psalm. In verse 10 of Psalms 51, David says these now famous words: “Create in me a clean heart, O LORD, my God.” Later, in verse 17, he says, “I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. O God, you will not reject a humble and repentant heart.” That’s all GOD wants when we mess up: Admit it, receive the consequences and responsibilities of our choices, and ask for another chance to grow and do better as we learn from our mistakes.

Notice what happens next in 2^nd Samuel 12:13 after GOD’s Prophet had announced David’s consequences: “Nathan pronounced, ‘...but that’s not the last word. GOD forgives your sin. You won’t die for it’.” The Biblical consequences for adultery and murder were “Death” in the Kingdom of GOD. Some people say that it wasn’t fair for GOD to pardon David’s death, but there was one key difference between his sin and King Saul’s sin: David acknowledged his sin and sought forgiveness while Saul, when confronted with his sin, hardened his heart and remained unrepentant. This contrast, again, points to the importance of our hearts to GOD and His willingness to work with anyone who understands their sinfulness and wishes to be better. (4)

My Prayer: “GOD, give me the soft, clean heart of David to be honest with you about my sins when you make them aware to me. I want to be ‘a man after GOD’s own heart’.”

CLICK HERE for Part Three:

FOOTNOTES:

1. Note: This verse is found in 2^nd Samuel 11:27 in other versions than The Message Bible.

2. For more on this concept of “Word Pictures”, read Gary Smalley’s excellent book The Language of Love.

3. 2^nd Samuel 12:10,11. For a deeper reading of this, see Ellen White’s Patriarchs & Prophets chapters 71-73.

4. Regarding David “getting out of his punishment” Ellen White says, “The sentence of death was transferred from David to the child of his sin. Thus the king was given opportunity for repentance; while to him the suffering and death of the child...was far more bitter than his own death could have been.” Patriarchs & Prophets, p. 722.