2 Samuel 12
F.B. Meyer · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Samuel 12
Meyer says "Sin may be forgiven (2Sa 12:13), as David’s was, and yet a long train of sad consequences ensue. The law of cause and effect will follow on, with its linked chain of disaster: though God’s mercy to his erring and repentant children will be shown, in converting the results of their sin into the fires of their purification; in setting alleviation of the tenderest sort against their afflictions; and in finally staying the further outworking of evil. O soul of man, this is solemn reading for us; it is the inner story of God’s dealing with his own. As He dealt with David, He will deal with us. He will forgive, but He may have to use the rod; He may restore to his favour, and yet permit us to drink the bitter waters which our sin has tapped. Be meek, patient, and submissive; thou wilt come forth out of the ordeal a white soul, and men shall learn through thy experiences the goodness and severity of God. Forgiven men may have to reap as they have sown. (The Stripes of the Children of Men) Blaikie comments that...Here we find a great principle in the moral government of God, —correspondence between an offence and its retribution. Of this many instances occur in the Old Testament. Jacob deceived his father; he was deceived by his own sons. Lot made a worldly choice; in the world’s ruin he was overwhelmed. So David having slain Uriah with the sword, the sword was never to depart from him. He had robbed Uriah of his wife; his neighbours would in like manner rob and dishonour him. He had disturbed the purity of the family relation; his own house was to become a den of pollution. He had mingled deceit and treachery with his actions; deceit and treachery would be practised towards him. What a sad and ominous prospect! Men naturally look for peace in old age; the evening of life is expected to be calm. But for him there was to be no calm; and his trial was to fall on the tenderest part of his nature. He had a strong affection for his children; in that very feeling he was to be wounded, and that, too, all his life long. Oh let not any suppose that because God’s children are saved by His mercy from eternal punishment, it is a light thing for them to despise the commandments of the Lord! “Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee; know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that thy fear is not in Me, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Jer 2:19KJV) (An Exposition of 2 Samuel) The sword shall never depart from your house - The International Children's Bible says "So there will always be people in your family who will be killed by a sword." Observe that David's sowing of sin by the sword (struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword...killed him with the sword - 2Sa 12:9) would reap a similar harvest. David's sin against Uriah became a permanent stain on his otherwise godly life 1 Ki 15:5 recording "because David did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite." Never - This word "never" must have been painful to David. Beloved, we need to heed this warning. THOUGHT- While every bad choice has the potential for negative consequences, some bad choices may bring about consequences that never go away (until glory)! That truth should cause each of us to "think twice" before we make the foolish choice to willfully, wantonly leap into the next sin! And just as Nathan had had prophesied (and David also may have "foretold" when he called for fourfold restitution [2Sa 12:6] - David's son by Bathsheba was the first of the four to die [2Sa 12:14, 15]) we see Absalom avenge Amnon's rape of his sister Tamar (Observe Amnon taking a woman that was forbidden, just as his father had done!) by striking Amnon and putting him to death (see 2Sa 13:28, 29). We see Joab and his armor bearers strike Absalom and kill him (2Sa 18:14,15), which prompted a painful mourning from King David (he would have surely given anything to go back and reverse that night he looked at Bathsheba but it was too little, too late as they say) "The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!" (2Sa 18:33)And finally we see King Solomon order the death of David's other son Adonijah (2Ki 2:23, 24, 25). While David did not live to see Adonijah's death, he must surely have been aware that his passing of the reign to his son Solomon was tantamount to passing a death sentence on his eldest son Adonijah. How ironic that Solomon, one of his sons who survives the sword, penned words that ironically were an apt description of the harvest from David's sins "The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself does it. Wounds and disgrace he will find, and his reproach will not be blotted out. (Pr 6:32, 33+) Had David only known that one glance allowed to turn into a lingering, lustful (lust filled) gaze on a spring evening would set in motion a lifelong avalanche of death, suffering and pain! How vital is it that we read and heed David's tragic story of the lifelong cost for just a moment of pleasure! Zeisler comments that "Some people think of the consequences from God as random punishments from an angry deity. "I did something that made God mad, and that's why I got hit by lightning," or, "That's why I contracted this disease." It's rare that God directs specific negative events at a person as consequences for sin. In Romans 1, when we read of the descent of a culture into wickedness, it says God "gave them over" and let rebels have what they wanted. We create consequences for ourselves. We set in motion terrible things that have their own life, that bring their own hurt. That's exactly what Nathan was predicting here. Three of David's sons would end up dying untimely deaths. Two of those were acting just like their father. They learned of his lust, lies, and violence, and they acted similarly. (2 Samuel 12:1-15 You Have Despised The Word Of The Lord)
2 Samuel 12
Meyer - God’s mercy to his erring and repentant children will be shown in converting the results of their sin into the fires of their purification. Struck (Smite) (05062) nagaph means to give a blow, usually from God and either fatal or disastrous (Ex 8:2, Passover - Ex 12:23, 27, smiting Israel after making a golden calf). Prophecy to Israel she would be struck down because of her disobedience (Lev 26:17). Moses warning Israel would be struck down if they went against their enemies after refusing to go into the promised land (Nu 14:42). Lord causes defeat of Israel's enemies if they obey (Dt 28:7) but defeat (striking down) of Israel if the disobey (Dt 28:25)> Striking one's foot (figuratively speaking) is prevented by walking in wisdom (Pr 3:23). Norman Geisler - 2 SAMUEL 12:15–23—How could a loving God take the life of David’s child because of the sin of David? PROBLEM: As a result of David’s sin with Bathsheba, the life of the child that Bathsheba bore to David was taken. However, 2 Samuel 12:15 states that it was the Lord who struck the child with illness so that it died. How could a loving God commit such an act? SOLUTION: The taking of the life of the child was not a judgment upon the child, but upon David. The Word of God assures us that death is not the end. This passage in particular indicates that David’s child was taken to heaven upon its death (see comments on 2 Sam. 12:23). Consequently, the child was probably spared a life of sorrow and trouble as the illegitimate offspring of the illicit relationship of David and Bathsheba. David’s faith in the all-loving God is clearly illustrated in verses 22–23. While the child was alive, David fasted and wept in hopes that God would graciously allow the child to live. However, when the child died, David trusted in the goodness of God to take the child to be with Him in heaven, and that one day David would be reunited with the child. (Borrow When critics ask : a popular handbook on Bible difficulties) 2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground. BGT 2 Samuel 12:16 καὶ ἐζήτησεν Δαυιδ τὸν θεὸν περὶ τοῦ παιδαρίου καὶ ἐνήστευσεν Δαυιδ νηστείαν καὶ εἰσῆλθεν καὶ ηὐλίσθη ἐν σάκκῳ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς LXE 2 Samuel 12:16 And David enquired of God concerning the child, and David fasted, and went in and lay all night upon the ground. KJV 2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. NET 2 Samuel 12:16 Then David prayed to God for the child and fasted. He would even go and spend the night lying on the ground. CSB 2 Samuel 12:16 David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted, went home, and spent the night lying on the ground. ESV 2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. NIV 2 Samuel 12:16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. NLT 2 Samuel 12:16 David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. NRS 2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child; David fasted, and went in and lay all night on the ground. NJB 2 Samuel 12:16 David pleaded with Yahweh for the child; he kept a strict fast and went home and spent the night lying on the ground, covered with sacking. NAB 2 Samuel 12:16 David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth. YLT 2 Samuel 12:16 and David seeketh God for the youth, and David keepeth a fast, and hath gone in and lodged, and lain on the earth. GWN 2 Samuel 12:16 David pleaded with God for the child; he fasted and lay on the ground all night. BBE 2 Samuel 12:16 So David made prayer to God for the child; and he took no food day after day, and went in and, stretching himself out on the earth, was there all night. RSV 2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in and lay all night upon the ground. NKJ 2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. ASV 2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. inquired of God: 2Sa 12:22 Ps 50:15 Isa 26:16 Joe 2:12-14 Jon 3:9 fasted: Es 4:16 Ps 69:10 Isa 22:12 Ac 9:9 lay all night: 2Sa 13:31 Job 20:12-14 2 Samuel 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID PLEADED FOR THE CHILD David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground - David had heard the clear decree that the child would surely die, but still felt compelled to ask God to spare his life, even with fasting and prostrating himself before the LORD. Guzik makes an excellent point - This shows that extraordinary prayer and fasting do not change God’s mind. It put David in the right place to receive what he must from God, but it did not “force” God to change His plan. Extraordinary prayer and fasting are not tools to get whatever we want from God. They are demonstrations of radical submission and surrender to God’s power and will. 2 Samuel 12:17 The elders of his household stood beside him in order to raise him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat food with them. BGT 2 Samuel 12:17 καὶ ἀνέστησαν ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἐγεῖραι αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν καὶ οὐ συνέφαγεν αὐτοῖς ἄρτον LXE 2 Samuel 12:17 And the elders of his house arose and went to him to raise him up from the ground, but he would not rise, nor did he eat bread with them. KJV 2 Samuel 12:17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. NET 2 Samuel 12:17 The elders of his house stood over him and tried to lift him from the ground, but he was unwilling, and refused to eat food with them. CSB 2 Samuel 12:17 The elders of his house stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them. ESV 2 Samuel 12:17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. NIV 2 Samuel 12:17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. NLT 2 Samuel 12:17 The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused. the elders: 2Sa 3:35 1Sa 28:23 2 Samuel 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ELDERS ATTEMPT TO CONSOLE DAVID The elders of his household stood beside him in order to raise him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat food with them - David is "sin sick", forgiven but suffering the consequences. 2 Samuel 12:18 Then it happened on the seventh day that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "Behold, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him and he did not listen to our voice. How then can we tell him that the child is dead, since he might do himself harm!" BGT 2 Samuel 12:18 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ καὶ ἀπέθανε τὸ παιδάριον καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ δοῦλοι Δαυιδ ἀναγγεῖλαι αὐτῷ ὅτι τέθνηκεν τὸ παιδάριον ὅτι εἶπαν ἰδοὺ ἐν τῷ ἔτι τὸ παιδάριον ζῆν ἐλαλήσαμεν πρὸς αὐτόν καὶ οὐκ εἰσήκουσεν τῆς φωνῆς ἡμῶν καὶ πῶς εἴπωμεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ὅτι τέθνηκεν τὸ παιδάριον καὶ ποιήσει κακά LXE 2 Samuel 12:18 And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died: and the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive we spoke to him, and he hearkened not to our voice; and thou should we tell him that the child is dead?-- so would he do himself harm. KJV 2 Samuel 12:18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? NET 2 Samuel 12:18 On the seventh day the child died. But the servants of David were afraid to inform him that the child had died, for they said, "While the child was still alive he would not listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He will do himself harm!" CSB 2 Samuel 12:18 On the seventh day the baby died. But David's servants were afraid to tell him the baby was dead. They said, "Look, while the baby was alive, we spoke to him, and he wouldn't listen to us. So how can we tell him the baby is dead? He may do something desperate." ESV 2 Samuel 12:18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm." NIV 2 Samuel 12:18 On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, "While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate." NLT 2 Samuel 12:18 Then on the seventh day the child died. David's advisers were afraid to tell him. "He wouldn't listen to reason while the child was ill," they said. "What drastic thing will he do when we tell him the child is dead?" NRS 2 Samuel 12:18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, "While the child was still alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us; how then can we tell him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm." NJB 2 Samuel 12:18 On the seventh day the child died. David's retinue were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. 'Even when the child was alive', they thought, 'we reasoned with him and he would not listen to us. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He will do something desperate.' NAB 2 Samuel 12:18 On the seventh day, the child died. David's servants, however, were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said: "When the child was alive, we spoke to him, but he would not listen to what we said. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do some harm!" YLT 2 Samuel 12:18 and it cometh to pass on the seventh day, that the lad dieth, and the servants of David fear to declare to him that the lad is dead, for they said, 'Lo, in the lad being alive we spake unto him, and he did not hearken to our voice; and how do we say unto him, The lad is dead? -- then he hath done evil.' GWN 2 Samuel 12:18 On the seventh day the child died. But David's officials were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. They thought, "While the child was alive, we talked to him, and he wouldn't listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may harm himself." BBE 2 Samuel 12:18 And then on the seventh day the child's death took place. And David's servants were in fear of giving him the news of the child's death: for they said, Truly, while the child was still living he gave no attention when we said anything to him: what will he do to himself if we give him word that the child is dead? RSV 2 Samuel 12:18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, "Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us; how then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm." seventh day: Nu 20:15 2 Samuel 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE CHILD DIED ON THE SEVENTH DAY Then it happened - This did not "just happen." Why do I say that? Two reasons - First Webster's says "happen" means to occur by chance. With God there is no such thing as "chance," but it is providence (and sovereignty and omnipotence, etc). Second, in this case there is a clear statement as to what "it happened." If you look at 2Sa 12:14 you will see that the reason it happened is because the "LORD struck the child." And if you compare Deuteronomy 32:39+ God plainly declares ‘See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life." In summary, this (and any time you encounter "happened" in the Bible) is because it was caused by or allowed by the LORD God Almighty. Nothing just "happens." God is either in full control or He is not in control at all and of all! There is no middle ground. On the seventh day that the child died - Nathan had prophesied and it was fulfilled. The seventh day is the day the LORD ordained and would be the day before the male child could have been circumcised according to the OT law (Lev 12:3+). NIV Study Note says "If reference is to the child’s age, his life was so short that he remained uncircumcised and unnamed (see Lk 1:59+; Lk 2:21+; cf. Ge 21:3–4)—and therefore was not counted among the Israelites." (Borrow NIV Study Bible) Guzik on the child died - This illustrates an important principle: even when sin is forgiven a price must be paid. God does not simply pass over or excuse our sin. It is forgiven, and a price is paid. Often an innocent party pays the price. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "Behold (hinneh; Lxx - idou) while the child was still alive, we spoke to him and he did not listen to our voice. How then can we tell him that the child is dead, since he might do himself harm - Servants feared that David might take his life when he hears the child has died. The Sins of the Father 2 Samuel 12:18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, "Indeed, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!" The consequences of sin frequently affect more than just the one who is sinning. Unfortunately, children are often the victims. Some years ago a study was done at Harvard University that found six out of every ten juvenile delinquents had fathers who drank to excess, and many had mothers who did the same. Researchers also discovered that three out of four delinquents had parents who showed no interest in appropriate discipline. Four out of five had parents who took no interest in their children's friends or amusements. Many wayward children came from broken homes, and few had religious training of any kind. This same scenario played itself out in David's life as well. It's true that David suffered humiliation and shame. But he was not the only one to bear the consequences of his behavior. Sexual sin plagued his family. His son Amnon committed incest by force with his half-sister Tamar (2 Sam. 13:14). Absalom sexually humbled his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel (16:22-23). Even Solomon, in his latter years, had his heart turned away from the Lord by his 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). It is apparent that David's sin found fertile soil in the lives of his children. Even though our children must bear the responsibility for the sinful choices they make, our behavior as parents can strongly influence them in one direction or the other. When we justify sin in our lives, it is all the easier for those who look to us as examples to do the same. If you are tempted to sin, remember that the consequences of your transgression can ripple down through the generations that follow. Ask yourself, Is it really worth it? (Back to the Bible) There is no such thing as private sin. QUESTION - Why did God punish David and Bathsheba’s innocent child with death? ANSWER - In 2 Samuel 12, the prophet Nathan confronts David concerning his sin with Bathsheba and pronounces a judgment against David. Sadly, that judgment included the death of David and Bathsheba’s infant son (verse 14). The fact that an innocent child dies—instead of the guilty pair—is troubling in light of what we know of God’s justice and His care for children. We will attempt to clarify a few issues involved here. At the same time, we recognize that, even when we come to understand God better and accept some of His “harsher” actions, there is no relief from the visceral response we get when a child dies. Everyone should be hurt and appalled at the death of a child. God does a lot of “uncomfortable” things that simply must be done in a world of sin. But the fact is that God never intended for us to be comfortable with sin and its outfall (which includes its punishment). We should be bothered by the effects of sin. Mature Christians understand this, but it doesn’t make living in a fallen world any easier. In the case of the death of David’s infant son, some people feel anger at God for killing the child. There are two main points of contention that can cause problems in our thinking. The first is that God did not deal with David harshly enough. But this accusation ignores the context of the passage at hand; God did indeed punish David, and He did so threefold. David would never again have peace in his house, he would be publicly shamed for his private sin, and, at the apex, his son would die. Nathan outlined the three judgments: “‘Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel. . . . The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die’” (2 Samuel 12:10–14). In an honor-based culture (as was the ancient Near East), some things were worse than death, like public humiliation. Dishonor would be bad enough for the common citizen, but, as God made a point of reminding David, he was no common citizen—he was the king (2 Samuel 12:7). So, although God did not kill David for his evil deeds, the punishments he received caused him to live in shame. David did not get off easy. A second point of contention is that, when God sent the illness that killed the child, He was unjustly punishing the child. However, from God’s perspective, He was not punishing the child; He was punishing David. The king’s grief was so severe that his servants thought he might die himself: “David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, ‘While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate’” (2 Samuel 12:16–18). God’s intention in taking the infant in death was to punish David. After a brief illness, the child was gathered up into the arms of God—as all innocents are. This is not a bad thing. This does not exculpate David; when David sinned, he stole the potential of a life lived from his child, and that was a horrible theft, because life is wonderful, life is exciting, and God has a purpose for every life. But, using David’s other children as examples of how this child’s life might have played out, we can say that maybe God was preventing something worse. If this child had grown to reject God like his siblings, then his early death was his salvation. The death of a child will never feel right—and in no reasonable eyes would such a death seem right—yet it can indeed be right when ordained by God. In this case, that was demonstrably true, since God caused the illness. Finally, we should not confound the high and perfect standards of God’s Law with how its subsequent justice plays out through the filter of God’s mercy. God’s Law and His mercy work together. They are decidedly cooperative, not mutually exclusive. In fact, if it were not for God’s mercy—if the Law just had its way with sin—then God would have to destroy every person who ever lived, and that would be counterproductive to His reasons for creating us (to glorify God and to enjoy him forever, as the Westminster Shorter Catechism says). It is true that people will be held accountable for their own sins (Ezekiel 18:4). But this does not mean that God must strike them all down immediately. Instead, God brings them through a process called redemption—and processes take time. We see this in David’s life (Psalm 51). After he repented of his sin, David was restored to fellowship with God. You see, God wants to work with those who are willing to work with Him, as was David, and He desires that all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). The Law plays a role here in that we need the Law to clarify sin (Romans 7:7). God’s mercy is evident throughout Scripture. “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10). “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail” (Lamentations 3:22). Today’s criminal law works on the principles that God established. We spend our primary energies on the criminals’ lives, not on their deaths. Only rarely do we exercise capital punishment. Some have the idea that Old Testament justice was swift, unyielding, and deadly—that we could use more of that today! But that’s simply not how it works. We declare the highest standards of our societies by writing down our laws. But it is difficult to obey these perfectly, which should temper our view of those who sin (like David). The law serves society—and it does not serve a society to kill its citizens, except in isolated, narrowly controlled cases. Executions consume a small percent of law-and-order’s resources today—and they are also rare in Scripture. The concept of atonement existed even before the Law. Godly people were sacrificing animals long before Moses revealed the instructions for the tabernacle sacrifices at Sinai. But the Law showed us that atonement had a greater purpose in view: to restore the sinner to God and to the people. This is why the Law used the terminology of “clean” vs. “unclean”—not “alive” vs. “dead”—because death was not in view. Death is the last option in civilized legal proceedings. Killing King David for his sin with Bathsheba would have sent the wrong message. We all deserve to die for sinning against a holy God. But God’s purpose for David then was the same as it is for us today: He wants to restore us to fellowship, not kill us for our sins. This is why the Law had ritual atonement (and why Christ had actual atonement), so that we (and David) do not have to die because of our sins. It is true that all have sinned (Romans 3:23), but if all sinners receive instant punishment in the form of physical death, then life on earth would cease. God lets people live, and sin is a part of life in this fallen world. Sin and temptation themselves become a trial, and we are better people for having wrestled with them. God had plans for David and Bathsheba—Solomon would be born to them next. He has plans for His children today, even when they sin. As we stumble along, we are also learning and growing and being sanctified. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face” (Psalm 89:14KJV). Therefore, let us never rush to judgment. Let us instead rush to mercy.GotQuestions.org Related Resource: How many children did King David have? | GotQuestions.org 2 Samuel 12:19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; so David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "He is dead." 2 Samuel 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID LEARNS THE CHILD IS DEAD But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead So David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "He is dead." - So here we see the first death of a sons of David which would be followed by several more, all consequences of David's sins. Steve Zeisler - Let me make a couple of observations in conclusion. First, the record suggests that David was never again a great king. He had been a remarkable ruler and a brilliant general, but he declined in stature from this time forward. On the other hand, he grew and deepened as a man of God. Most of the psalms people have loved in every generation for three thousand years were written as David reflected on what he had learned throughout his life. David was restored as an intimate of God. He was once again the sweet singer of Israel. He could lead others in genuine worship and offer hope to the failed and broken. History does not remember David as a failure. Neither Jews nor Christians, when they tell David's story, turn primarily to this account. It was not the center of David's life story. He was a man whose life is summarized more by his psalms than by his failures, a man who wrestled with God, a man who loved God. He is, by any standard, one of the greatest and most influential figures in human history. My son is named David in honor of King David. The only thing Nathan had to persuade David with was God's word, and David assented. He could have refused. But the voice of one man saying God's words changed everything. (YOU HAVE DESPISED THE WORD OF THE LORD) NAIL HOLES - "I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' and You forgave the iniquity of my sin." - Psalm 32:5 All sin carries a price tag. Its consequences may range from minor to major, but the bill always comes due. Somebody always pays. There's a story about a boy whose father pounded a nail in the barn door every time the boy did something wrong. Soon there were many nails. Then one day the boy accepted Christ as Savior and began living for Him. To impress upon his son the wonder of being forgiven, the father took him to the barn and pulled out every nail from the door. "That is what it means to have all your sins forgiven," he said. "They are gone forever." The boy was deeply impressed. Then looking at the door he asked, "But Father, how can I get rid of the holes?" "I'm sorry," said the father, "but they will remain." The psalmist David paid dearly for committing adultery with Bathsheba and engineering her husband's death to cover up his sin. Guilt sapped his strength (Ps. 32:3, 4). Even though he confessed his sin, and God "removed the nail," David carried with him a deep sorrow (2Sa 12:15 16 17). But this did not rob him of the blessedness or forgiveness. How blest is he whose trespass Has freely been forgiven, Whose sin is wholly covered Before the sight of heaven. -- Psalter Although God heals the wounds of sin, scars may remain. 2 Samuel 12:20 So David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he came into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he came to his own house, and when he requested, they set food before him and he ate. arose: Job 1:20 2:10 Ps 39:9 La 3:39-41 anointed: Ru 3:3 Ec 9:8 house: 2Sa 6:17 7:18 Job 1:20 2 Samuel 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID CEASES GRIEVING AND WORSHIPS THE LORD So (therefore, for this reason, term of conclusion) David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself (NET - put on oil), and changed his clothes and he came into the house of the LORD and worshiped.- Anointed himself (NIV - "put on lotions") was a practice marking the end of mourning (cf 2Sa 14:2+)David refuses to grieve further. He accepts the Word of the LORD concerning his son. He expresses no bitterness toward God, but instead worships! This is probably the first time he has truly worshiped from his heart for over 9 months! David is showing hereby why he is called a man after God's own heart. House of the LORD is undoubtedly the tent David had prepared to house the Ark of the Covenant (see 2Ch 6:17+). David's actions remind me of Paul's words in Phil 3:13-14+ "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." THOUGHT - David gives us a powerful, liberating example to follow when we have sinned grievously against our Great God. Yes, horrible sin; yes, even greater grace and, yes, complete forgiveness in Christ. It is time to move on. Are you stuck in the miry clay of past ugly sins you have committed (and stuck perhaps because you are still experiencing the consequences)? If so, you need to arise, wash yourself with the Word (Eph 5:26+), acknowledge and live in the power of your anointing by the Spirit (2Co 1:21-22+ - Who is now not grieved or quenched after you have confessed your sins!), change your grave clothes and put on your grace clothes (Eph 4:22-24+), and present yourself to the Lord as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable (pleasing) to Him, as your spiritual service of worship! (Ro 12:1+). Guzik makes an excellent point (see his related comment above) - This shows that David’s extraordinary prayer and fasting were answered. He had a sense of peace when the child died, knowing he did all he could to seek God’s mercy in a time of chastisement. The ability to worship and honor God in a time of trial or crisis is a wonderful demonstration of spiritual confidence. Then he came to his own house, and when he requested, they set food before him and he ate - Note he worshiped before he ate. He "fed" his starved soul first and then his starved body. Spiritual food was (is) more important to him (us) than physical food (Mt 4:4+)! The Answer Is No Children are so lovable and innocent—until their parents say no to their demands. When that happens, some kids scream uncontrollably, insisting on what they want. When our children were little, my wife and I thought it was important for them to learn to accept no for an answer. We felt this would help them to handle the disappointments of life more effectively. We prayed that it would also help them submit to God's will. Today's Bible reading records King David's admission of guilt when confronted by Nathan. David was forgiven, but God let the consequence of his sin fall on the baby conceived out of wedlock. David fasted and prayed to the Lord day and night for his son's healing. In spite of his sincere petitions, the baby died. Instead of behaving like a demanding child and being angry with God, David got up, washed, changed his clothes, "went into the house of the Lord, and worshiped" (2 Samuel 12:20). His actions teach us an important lesson: Sometimes we must accept no from God as the answer to our pleas. In times of difficulty or loss, we should seek God's help and deliverance. But we must still trust Him if He does not answer our prayers the way we want Him to. I do accept Your will, O God, And all Your ways adore; And every day I live I'll seek To please You more and more. —Anon 2 Samuel 12:21 Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food." What is this thing that you have done: 1Co 2:15 2 Samuel 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SERVANTS CONFUSED AND QUESTION DAVID'S ACTIONS Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food - NLT - "His advisers were amazed. "We don't understand you," they told him. "While the baby was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the baby is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again."" James Freeman - What astonished the servants of David was that their master should act so contrary to old established customs of mourning in time of bereavement. In 1636, in a book titled Travels into Persia and the East Indies, John Chardin wrote: The practice of the East is to leave a relation of the deceased person to weep and mourn, till on the third or fourth day at furthest the relatives and friends go to see him, cause him to eat, lead him to a bath, and cause him to put on new vestments, he having before thrown himself on the ground.” In contrast, David changed his apparel and ate food as soon as he learned of the death of his new son. (New Manners and Customs) John
2 Samuel 12
Meyer - Our Daily Homily - 2 Samuel 12:29 And David went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. Victory might seem to have been forever forfeited after so great a fall. We could not have been surprised had we been told that from this time onward the course of David’s conquests had stayed. And yet this thought would be a misconception of God’s dealings with the penitent. Where there is true contrition, confession, and faith, He not only forgives, but restores; He not only restores to the enjoyment of His favor, but reinstates in opportunities of usefulness. So Jesus not only met the apostle who had denied Him, and put him back into the old position of happy fellowship, but gave him a commission to feed His sheep and lambs. We have sometimes met backsliders who have doubted the possibility of their forgiveness; or, if they have realized this, they have never dared to hope that they could ever be what they had been. And so long as faith refuses to believe in the perfect work of God’s love, it must inevitably take a back seat. Let us seek for such an entire faith in God’s forgiving and restoring love as to dare to believe that we are put again into the old place, and allowed to anticipate the same victories as aforetime. “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). Directly David said, “I have sinned,” in the flash of a moment Nathan said; “The Lord hath put away thy sin”; and when Joab sent tidings that Rabbah was about to fall, David was permitted the honor of its final capture, though it had been associated so closely with Uriah’s death. Where sin abounds grace superabounds, and reigns through righteousness. Dare to 2 Samuel 12:30 Then he took the crown of their king from his head; and its weight was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city in great amounts. BGT 2 Samuel 12:30 καὶ ἔλαβεν τὸν στέφανον Μελχολ τοῦ βασιλέως αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ σταθμὸς αὐτοῦ τάλαντον χρυσίου καὶ λίθου τιμίου καὶ ἦν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς Δαυιδ καὶ σκῦλα τῆς πόλεως ἐξήνεγκεν πολλὰ σφόδρα LXE 2 Samuel 12:30 And he took the crown of Molchom their king from off his head, and the weight of it was a talent of gold, with precious stones, and it was upon the head of David; and he carried forth very much spoil of the city. KJV 2 Samuel 12:30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance. NET 2 Samuel 12:30 He took the crown of their king from his head– it was gold, weighed about seventy-five pounds, and held a precious stone– and it was placed on David's head. He also took from the city a great deal of plunder. CSB 2 Samuel 12:30 He took the crown from the head of their king, and it was placed on David's head. The crown weighed 75 pounds of gold, and it had a precious stone in it. In addition, David took away a large quantity of plunder from the city. ESV 2 Samuel 12:30 And he took the crown of their king from his head. The weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone, and it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. NIV 2 Samuel 12:30 He took the crown from the head of their king--its weight was a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones--and it was placed on David's head. He took a great quantity of plunder from the city NLT 2 Samuel 12:30 David removed the crown from the king's head, and it was placed on his own head. The crown was made of gold and set with gems, and it weighed seventy-five pounds. David took a vast amount of plunder from the city. took: 1Ch 20:2 2 Samuel 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Chronicles 20:3 David took the crown of their king from his head, and he found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there was a precious stone in it; and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. DAVID CROWNED WITH AMMONITE KING'S CROWN Then he took the crown of their king from his head; and its weight was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was placed on David's head. Heb “and its weight [was] a talent of gold.” The weight of this ornamental crown was approximately 75 lbs (34 kg). The writer of Chronicles adds that David "brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount." Omanson - "The weight of this crown lends support to the belief that it was not taken from the head of a human being who would have had difficulty bearing such a weight for any length of time, but removed from the head of an idol....While the Hebrew word for stone is singular, some versions take it as a collective noun, saying “precious stones” (NIV, NAB, NJPSV, SPCL, NVI) or “gems” (NLT; similarly NCV).....Scholars differ on whether the pronoun it refers to the crown or the jewel. For some versions this pronoun refers to the crown; for example, ICB renders this whole clause as “The crown was put on David’s head” (similarly NIV, NLT, NJPSV, SPCL, NVI). Logically, it seems difficult to imagine David wearing a 34 kilogram or 75 pound crown on his head for any length of time. If the reference is to the jewel, then the intended meaning is probably that David later or eventually had the jewel made a part of his crown. FRCL makes this clear by rendering this clause and the previous one as “and it contained a precious stone, which was placed on the royal crown of David” (similarly GNT, BRCL, Peregrino). GNT similarly says “In it there was a jewel, which David took and put in his own crown” (similarly CEV, BRCL). NJB seems to say that David wore just the jewel: “and in it was set a precious stone which went on David’s head instead” (similarly NAB, Maredsous, Osty)." (Omanson - A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles) TSK Note - the weight: If this talent was only seven pounds, as Whiston says, David might have carried it on his head with little difficulty; but this weight, according to common computation, would amount to nearly 114 pounds! Some, therefore, think, that {mishkelah} should be taken for its value, not weight; which renders it perfectly plain, as the worth of the crown will be about 5,074#. 15s. 7d. sterling. The ancients mention several such large crowns, made more for sight than use. Atheneus describes a crown of gold that was 24 feet in circumference; and mentions others that were two, some four, and others five feet deep. Pliny takes notice of some that were no less than eight pounds weight. Besides the crown usually worn, it was customary for kings, in some nations, to have such large ones as described, either hung or supported over the throne, where they sat at their coronation or other solemn occasions. Thompson has an interesting comment on the parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 20:3 writing "He took the crown from their king (or their god; see NIV text note) and took a great deal of booty. The god of the Ammonites is given as Milkom (“Molech,” NIV) in 1 Kgs 11:5; 2 Kgs 23:13, having the same consonants as the word malkam, here translated “their king.” The term malkam at times must be translated “their king” (Ps 149:2; Jer 30:9; Hos 3:5), but in other places it appears to be an alternative designation for the Ammonite god (Jer 49:1, 3; Zeph 1:5; and probably Amos 1:15). In this verse it could be either, but the weight of the crown would suggest that it refers to the god." (New American Commentary - 1,2 Chronicles) Selman has this note related to the crown mentioned here in 2 Samuel and in 1 Chronicles 20:2 - The crown (2Ch 20:2) belonged either to the Ammonite king (NIV), NRSV, RSV) or, with some of the VSS (LXX, Vulg.), to the chief Ammonite deity ‘Milcom’ (GNB, REB, NEB). Its chief features were (a) distinctive precious stone(s) and its weight (c. 30 kg). Hebrew syntax suggests that the crown rather than the jewel (against GNB, REB, NEB) was placed on David’s head, though its heaviness must have made any act of coronation quite brief! (Borrow 1 Chronicles : an introduction and commentary) NET NOTE - Part of the Greek tradition wrongly understands Hebrew מַלְכָּם (malkam, “their king”) as a proper name (“Milcom”). Some English versions follow the Greek here, rendering the phrase “the crown of Milcom” (so NRSV; cf. also NAB, CEV). TEV takes this as a reference not to the Ammonite king but to “the idol of the Ammonite god Molech.” David’s fall should put those who have not fallen on their guard, and save from despair those who have. -- Augustine 2 Samuel 12:31 He also brought out the people who were in it, and set them under saws, sharp iron instruments, and iron axes, and made them pass through the brickkiln. And thus he did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. BGT 2 Samuel 12:31 καὶ τὸν λαὸν τὸν ὄντα ἐν αὐτῇ ἐξήγαγεν καὶ ἔθηκεν ἐν τῷ πρίονι καὶ ἐν τοῖς τριβόλοις τοῖς σιδηροῖς καὶ διήγαγεν αὐτοὺς διὰ τοῦ πλινθείου καὶ οὕτως ἐποίησεν πάσαις ταῖς πόλεσιν υἱῶν Αμμων καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Δαυιδ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς εἰς Ιερουσαλημ LXE 2 Samuel 12:31 And he brought forth the people that were in it, and put them under the saw, and under iron harrows, and axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick-kiln: and thus he did to all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. KJV 2 Samuel 12:31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem. NET 2 Samuel 12:31 He removed the people who were in it and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, putting them to work at the brick kiln. This was his policy with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem. CSB 2 Samuel 12:31 He removed the people who were in the city and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to labor at brickmaking. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then he and all his troops returned to Jerusalem. ESV 2 Samuel 12:31 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes and made them toil at the brick kilns. And thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. NIV 2 Samuel 12:31 and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes, and he made them work at brickmaking. He did this to all the Ammonite towns. Then David and his entire army returned to Jerusalem. NLT 2 Samuel 12:31 He also made slaves of the people of Rabbah and forced them to labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to work in the brick kilns. That is how he dealt with the people of all the Ammonite towns. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem. NRS 2 Samuel 12:31 He brought out the people who were in it, and set them to work with saws and iron picks and iron axes, or sent them to the brickworks. Thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. NJB 2 Samuel 12:31 And he expelled its inhabitants, setting them to work with saws, iron picks and iron axes, employing them at brickmaking. He treated all the Ammonite towns in the same way. David and the whole army returned to Jerusalem. NAB 2 Samuel 12:31 and also led away the inhabitants, whom he assigned to work with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, or put to work at the brickmold. This is what he did to all the Ammonite cities. David and all the soldiers then returned to Jerusalem. YLT 2 Samuel 12:31 and the people who are in it he hath brought out, and setteth to the saw, and to cutting instruments of iron, and to axes of iron, and hath caused them to pass over into the brick-kiln; and so he doth to all the cities of the Bene-Ammon; and David turneth back, and all the people, to Jerusalem. GWN 2 Samuel 12:31 He brought out the troops who were there and put them to work with saws, hoes, and axes. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the troops returned to Jerusalem. BBE 2 Samuel 12:31 And he took the people out of the town and put them to work with wood-cutting instruments, and iron grain-crushers, and iron axes, and at brick-making: this he did to all the towns of the children of Ammon. Then David and all the people went back to Jerusalem. RSV 2 Samuel 12:31 And he brought forth the people who were in it, and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them toil at the brickkilns; and thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. NKJ 2 Samuel 12:31 And he brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them cross over to the brick works. So he did to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. ASV 2 Samuel 12:31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem. DBY 2 Samuel 12:31 And he brought out the people that were in it, and put them under the saw, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkilns. And so did he to all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. set them under saws 1Ch 20:3, Also, 2Sa 8:2 Ps 21:8,9 Am 1:3 2 Samuel 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Chronicles 20:3 He brought out the people who were in it, and cut them with saws and with sharp instruments and with axes. And thus David did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. DAVID PUTS AMMONITES TO WORK He also brought out the people who were in it, and set them under saws, sharp iron instruments, and iron axes, and made them pass through the brickkiln. And thus he did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem - This verse literally says “and he sawed [them] with the saw and with the iron picks and with the saws.” While some interpret this as David's killing them, most commentaries and translations interpret this as David making them his laborers. Thus the ESV says "he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws." See Omanson's lengthy note below. Charles Ryrie - set them under saws. Lit., put them to the saw. There are two views as to the meaning of this verse: (1) David imposed hard labor on the captives. However, this requires a change from "pass through" (KJV and NASB) to "toil at" (NIV, "work at"). (2) David had them killed in accordance with cruel Ammonite ways (cf. 1Sa 11:2; Amos 1:13). (Borrow Ryrie Study Bible)