YOU CAN REMAIN MORALLY CLEAN

Learning From the Sins of David

Sadly, though, even outstanding servants of God have become involved in sexual immorality.  One such person was King David, who for decades had served Jehovah faithfully.  There is  no doubt that he loved God intensely.  Yet, he plunged into a course of sin.  As with the young man whom Solomon described, there were steps that led to David's sin and then compounded it.

David was then middle-aged, possibly in his early 50's.  From his rooftop, he saw beautiful Bath-Sheba bathing herself.  He inquired about her and learned that her husband Uriah, was engaged in the siege of Rabbah, an Ammonite city.  David had her brought to his palace and had relations with her.  Later, things became complicated-she found that she was pregnant by David.  Hoping that Uriah would spend the night with his wife, David summoned him back from the war.  That way, Uriah would have appeared  to be the father of Bath-Sheba's  child. But Uriah did not go to his home.  Desperate to cover his sin, David then sent Uriah back to Rabbah with a letter to the chief of the army saying that Uriah should be put in a position where he would be killed.  Uriah thus lost his life, and David married the widow before it became public knowledge that she was pregnant. -2 Samuel 11:1-27.

Seemingly, David's scheme to cover his sin had worked.  Months passed. The child -a son-was born.  If David had thing incident in mind when he composed Psalm 32, then clearly his conscience tormented him.  (Psalm 32:3-5) However, the sin was not hidden from God.  The Bible says:  "The thing that David had done appeared  bad in the eyes of Jehovah."  ( 2 Samuel  11:27)  Jehovah sent the prophet Nathan, who skillfully confronted David with what he had done.  David immediately confessed and begged Jehovah's forgiveness.   His genuine repentance brought reconciliation with God.  (2 Samuel 12:1-13) David did not resent the reproof.  Rather, he showed he attitude described at Psalm 141:5: "Should the righteous one strike me, it would be a loving-kindness; and should he reprove me, it would be oil upon the head, which my head would not want to refuse.

Next time: Continue with Learning From the Sins of David

Watchtower, 2000