Tag: Bathsheba

Posted in Bible study, Journey Through The Word, She, Volume 1

Bathsheba, part 2

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Adapted from the study ‘She, volume 1, pp 17-18

Read: 2 Samuel 12; Ps.51

She lost her firstborn son

“…she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon…”

Oh, how I love the hope from this passage of our journey:

  • Repentance makes a difference. (1 Jn 1:9)
    • “Our mistakes do not have to ruin our entire life.”
      • We can instead use the lessons we learn to encourage others to refrain from the same faults.

Bathsheba’s story, through David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51, confessing his sin concerning Bathsheba and Uriah, serves as a beautiful picture that God offers us true forgiveness when we repent of our sins.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

1 John 1:9
  • According to God’s mercy and loving kindness, He “blots out” our transgressions. The words of Isaiah confirm this in Isaiah 43:25
    • I, I am the one who blots out your rebellious deeds for my sake; your sins I do not remember.
  • Bathsheba is included in Matthew’s account of the genealogy. Note: She is referenced not by her name but as being the wife of Uriah. (Matthew 1:6)
  • It is said by some commentators that Bathsheba is the mother of King Lemuel, and therefore, perhaps the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. I find joy in contemplating the very idea of this, but nowhere is this confirmed in the Scriptures. See: https://www.gotquestions.org/King-Lemuel.html

In the account of David and Bathsheba, we find many lessons. 

  1. Secret sin will be found out.
  2. God will forgive anyone who repents. 
  3. The consequences of our sin remain even when the sin is forgiven. 
  4. God can work even in difficult situations.
    1. In fact, David and Bathsheba’s next son, Solomon, became the heir to the throne. Even in bad situations, God has a plan that serves His sovereign purpose.  

“Bathsheba’s story reminds me that God has a plan, and that He can and does work even through difficult situations with imperfect people to bring about something good. Queen Bathsheba, despite the unsavory events surrounding her coming to the palace, became the mother of the wisest and most successful king ever to grace the throne.” (https://www.gotquestions.org/Bathsheba-in-the-Bible.html)   

Reflection and Application:
  • How important is repentance in your life? Are you quick to confess your sins, or do you let them pile up until the end of the day, week, or month…? What is/are the benefit(s) of confessing our sins to God?
  • What stood out to you in today’s journey?

I invite you to leave a reply below or at today’s Journey Through The Word post @ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17nAoUC7AY/

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study
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A Heart of Repentance

Today’s Reading: Psalm 51 (SOAP: Ps. 51:17)

The sacrifice God desires is a humble spirit
O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.

Psalm 51:17
After Bathsheba

Following David’s affair with Bathsheba he was confronted by Nathan, the prophet about his sin. This Psalm is David’s prayer of repentance sometime after the confrontation. David calls on the Lord’s loyal love and compassion. He acknowledges his awareness and sorrow for the sin and pleads for God’s forgiveness and cleansing, and the joy of God’s deliverance. He seeks God’s sustaining power of obedience and rescue from the guilt of murder. David lived in the time of burnt offerings and blood sacrifices but would have been well aware that there were none acceptable for murder or adultery. He was also aware of what we know today this side of the cross and of what Isaiah proclaimed long before the cross. God is not interested in the tangible sacrifices of bulls and goats, or of incense and rituals, but that of the heart, humbled and repentant and yielded to Him and His will.

A great example

This truly is a beautiful prayer, one we would do well to learn from and to use as a model for our own whenever we sin. Note David’s contrition and awe of God. David knows that he is not deserving of the mercy and forgiveness he requests from God but bases the request on God’s loyal love and great compassion. He knows that his actions have been rebellious and sinful and he knows that God is right to confront and condemn him. I love that he demonstrates not just sorrow for the sin but a longing to be right with God, to tell others of God’s mercy, and to lead them to God.

Application
  • No amount of our good works or acts of services like serving in the nursery, singing in the choir, visiting the shut-ins, or attending every church event will ever be able to atone for our sins. What truly matters to God is our love and obedience.
  • We shouldn’t just go through the ‘religious acts ‘ with God but rather seek and invest in a relationship with Him.
  • We must keep in mind that what God desires and will not reject is a heart humbled and repentant (yielded) before Him.
prayer prompt

Father, You are a gracious and merciful God, willing to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. May we never forget that Your forgiveness comes at the great cost of Jesus’ blood. In remembering this – may we, as David, humble ourselves before You – offering not sacrifices of human hands but rather of our own repentant hearts – hearts that turn away from sin and toward You. – We ask not because we are worthy but because of Your faithful love and promises. Amen – in Jesus’ name.

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Shame Breaker, Week 3-Tuesday Led To Repentance

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Today’s Scripture – 2 Samuel 12:13; Romans 3:23-24; 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (SOAP Rom 3:23-24)

David Confesses His Guilt

13 Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” — Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. Read full chapter

Romans 3:23-24

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.

2 Corinthians 7:10-11

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.

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Shame Breaker, Week 3-Monday The Shame of Adultery

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Today’s Scripture –2 Samuel 11; Psalm 103:10-11 (S.O.A.P. Psalm 103:10-11)

David and Bathsheba

In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. 5 Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.”

6 Then David sent word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent him to David. 7 When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing. 8 Then he told Uriah, “Go on home and relax.” David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace. 9 But Uriah didn’t go home. He slept that night at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard. READ THE REST OF THE STORY …

Psalm 103:10-11

 He does not punish us for all our sins;
    he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

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