_______________________________________

The Bible Project summarizes David’s rise and fall well, as follows.

After some time inhabiting the Promised Land, Israel was supposed to be faithful to God and obey the covenant commands, but they failed. It was a time of moral chaos that showed Israel’s need for wise, faithful leaders.

David’s exciting rise to power is told in 1 Samuel 16-31. He first rides the wave of success (2 Samuel 1-9), followed by his own tragic failure and the slow-self destruction of his family and kingdom (2 Samuel 10-20).

During David’s high point, God lets him understand that through David’s royal line, there would come a future king (Jesus) who would build God’s temple on earth and set up an eternal kingdom. Sadly, it’s right here, amid God’s blessings, things go terribly wrong. David makes a terrible mistake. David sees Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, bathing. David finds her, sleeps with her, and gets her pregnant. He then tries to cover it up by assigning Uriah to his death and marrying Bathsheba as soon as she is widowed.

When David is confronted by the prophet Nathan, he immediately owns up to what he’s done; he’s broken and repents, asking God to forgive him. And God does forgive him, but God doesn’t erase the consequences of David’s decisions. As a result of his horrible choices, David’s family starts to fall apart. 

David’s last days find him back on his throne but as a broken man, wounded by the sad consequences of his sin.

Reflection: Our society confuses love and lust. Unlike lust, God’s love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. The more we become like Christ, the more love we will show others.

______________________________________