King David was known for a great many things, but the greatest would be what is stated in Acts 13:22 when God said, “I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.” We should all aspire to the lofty praise of being described as people after God’s own heart.
Nobody who understands the stories of the Old Testament can say that David was perfect. Taking one example alone, the sins he committed with Bathsheba are damning without taking into account any other mistakes he made in his life. David, in 2 Samuel 11-12, saw the most beautiful woman bathing and he desired her. Being the king, he had his servants go and collect her, and he committed adultery with her.
David knew before she arrived that she was married. David knew that doing what he did with her was wrong. When she sent word that she was pregnant, David knew that what he had done was heinous, so to try and cover it up, he gave Uriah every opportunity to be with his wife in hopes that the child might be mistaken for his own. Uriah was too good a man for that, pledging his loyalty to King David, neglecting himself so long as he has a duty to serve. David then tried to get Uriah so drunk, he would succumb to the temptation to see his beautiful wife, but Uriah was still too loyal. David then set out to murder Uriah. He doubled down on his evil by trying to cover it up again by murdering him seemingly in the fog of war.
Bathsheba was heartbroken over the loss of her husband. David had used his power and authority to have this woman and destroy her life. Who can deny the king? She was pregnant with a son, and she became the wife of King David. It is possible that David thought he got away with it, but God saw everything that had happened. He was upset and sent the prophet Nathan to David to tell him of the sins he had done, bringing them to light. David, after hearing a parable of a rich man taking a poor man’s ewe lamb, saw the evil he had done brought to light, and was told of the pain he would feel. David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die” (2 Samuel 12:13-14).
David saw his son become deathly ill. David had been given a reprieve from God by his repentance, but he was told he would lose his son. David knew the old stories and how God can be made to change His mind through repentance. David manifested fasting, laying on the ground, and wearing sackcloth and ashes.
As soon as the child died, he got up, cleaned himself, changed his clothes, worshiped God, and finally ate. His mourning was over. This confused the servants, but David explained that he had a new objective. He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:22-23).
David had explored the depths of human sin, knowing the truth of the matter. He had sinned against God, man, and himself. His sin had destroyed the lives of many in his wake. Could he ever return from this? Is his sin so great that he could never recover? He was a man after God’s own heart, not because of his sin, but because of his repentance and dedication to doing what is right even in the face of sin and his own human failings. “I shall go to him,” meaning that he had to turn back to God. He comforted his wife, and was blessed with a son, Solomon.
David was blessed — not because he sinned, but because of his repentance. This is a repentance we all can take part in if we so choose. Nobody has strayed too far. But the further we do stray, the harder it is to get back, and the more consequences we have to suffer in our lives because of our actions. Turn back today.
Lance Byers