Messianic Women - Bathsheba

Bathsheba

Bible reading: 2 Samuel 11.1 - 2 Samuel 12.24

We are now on to part four in our series of sermons on the Messianic women – those women mentioned in the family history of Jesus given at the start of Matthew’s gospel.

Considering the vast number of men in that list, we have asked ourselves why these few women were included. We have looked at the faith of Rahab the prostitute in Jericho, Tamar, whose twin sons by her father-in-law became forbears of the tribe of Judah, Ruth, the foreign widow, whose love and commitment to her mother-in-law led to marriage, parenthood and a secure future, and now Bathsheba ………..

I don’t know about you, but when I read the account of Bathsheba and David, it reads like something from the most sordid of the gutter press and I’m left with lots of questions in my mind…

Why was it necessary to detail this story?

What purpose does it serve?

Why tell the story of this woman when women as daughters, wives and mothers are part of every stage of a family history?

The Bible Account

Bathsheba’s family were among the central group of loyal followers of King David, and her marriage to Uriah the Hittite, and the proximity of their house to the palace indicates their significant status. Uriah was among those of non-Israelite descent who over the years had come to be accepted as Israelites and had probably come to belief in God. Indeed Uriah is named as one of David’s inner group of mighty warriors.

David led his men in many battles and skirmishes but on this occasion, when victory was pretty much assured, he himself remained in Jerusalem.

According to Second Samuel, King David was tempted upon seeing Bathsheba bathe in her courtyard from the roof of his palace. He had her brought to his chambers and slept with her, resulting in a pregnancy. In order to make it appear that the baby was Uriah’s, David summoned Uriah from battle to meet him, suggesting that he go home and "wash his feet," meaning to spend time at home and sleep with his wife.

Uriah refused, claiming a code of honor with his fellow warriors while they were in battle. It was common for warriors in preparation for battle to abstain from sex, as a practice of discipline. After repeatedly refusing to see his wife Bathsheba, David sent Uriah to his commanding officer, Joab, with a letter that ordered to put Uriah in the front of the battle and have the soldiers move away from him so that he would be killed.

When Bathsheba heard of the death of her husband, she mourned him……. Then David sent for her and married her, ensuring the legitimacy of the son she bore him.

The prophet Nathan confronted David about what he had done, by first telling him a story of a rich man and a poor man: The rich man had many sheep, while the poor man had only one little ewe, whom he cared for greatly. A traveler approached the rich man for food, whereby the man took the poor man's ewe rather than one of his own, killed it and cooked it to give to the traveler.

Hearing this story, David grew angry and replied: "As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity."

Nathan replied, "You are the man!”  God had revealed to the prophet the truth of David's adultery, deceit and murder of Uriah.

He points out to David the enormous generosity God has shown him and that there would have been more too had he not despised God and committed adultery and murder.

David recognises his sin and repents, but Nathan tells him that although God forgives him, his behaviour will have consequences not only in damaged relationships but in the death of this baby conceived with Bathsheba. So Bathsheba suffers another loss when the baby dies after seven days. Scripture says that David comforted Bathsheba and they later had a second son, named by Nathan, Jedidiah – beloved of the Lord, or as he became known, King Solomon.

Whatever happened in the intervening years, the passage today shows that Nathan had a watchful eye on the situation and that even at the end of David’s life, it was to Bathsheba that Nathan went to help him with the strategic handling of the king with regard to the succession.

However the relationship between David and Bathsheba started, she proved a faithful wife and mother.

Searching for truth

Over the years the relationship between David and Bathsheba has been much debated by biblical interpreters, and responsibility for what happened is variously apportioned. Did Bathsheba knowingly seek David’s attention or was she a victim of a King’s power and lust?

Nathan is unequivocal in holding David responsible - but David is not alone in bearing the consequent death of the baby.

I wonder what Bathsheba herself might have said could we but hear her voice, her story.

What was life like for a woman whose husband was frequently away fighting, a married woman without children?

What choices were available to her?

What about the shame of discovering she was pregnant and fear about the consequences of committing adultery – Note that Leviticus says ‘If a man commits adultery with the wife of a fellow Israelite, both he and the woman shall be put to death’.

How did she expect him to respond to her pregnancy?

If she had known what he would do to her husband, would she have condoned it?

And thereafter, what about married life as one of his many wives and concubines?

Of course, we cannot answer such questions.

Bathsheba continues to be defined as adulteress by some, wife of Uriah by others, mother of Solomon by yet others.

It is perhaps interesting to notice how often in our daily lives we are invited through the media or through our family, friends  or colleagues to make judgements about people on the basis limited information.

Politicians, bankers, footballers, soap stars hit the headlines quickly for any wrongdoing - but nearer to home we might be equally hard in our judgement of the noisy neighbour, the anti-social teenager, the “foreigner”.

Application

What about you and me? I wonder what it would be like to be defined by a relationship? – someone’s parent, child, spouse or friend?

By age, or by disability …

By a uniform you wear, your job or your interests?

And how would it feel to be defined by the worst mistake you or I made in life – whatever our responsibility in the matter?

How would we want people to remember us? And how will we remember others?  Perhaps with a little more compassion?

Today’s Gospel reading provides a further telling example. Was Matthew or Levi to be defined forever as a tax-collector – as someone to be despised and avoided? Jesus challenged those who criticized the company he kept. He could see beyond what society saw and called Matthew to be his disciple.

Jesus similarly calls each of us by name and invites us to see in others what God intends them to be, not as people limited by society’s definition.  Bathsheba will perhaps forever carry whatever label people put on her but we know that she was used by God in His perfect plan to bring forth the Christ, the Saviour of the world.