Bathsheba and the Bath of Death

Bathsheba and the Bath of Death

2 Samuel 11: 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. (NLT)

            David was king over Israel and had been blessed with tremendous wealth, fame, success, respect, and a household of wives and children. He was in need of nothing for God had blessed him and helped him to conquer the giants in his life. Unfortunately, this did not stop him from doing something wicked that absolutely displeased God.    

            One evening as David was out on his rooftop, he noticed a beautiful woman named Bathsheba taking a bath. David lusted after the beauty of this woman and allowed it to lead to an adulterous affair where she became pregnant. The question can be asked, “Did Bathsheba even think to say no to the king, or was she mesmerized with the notion that a man of his status would take notice of her?” The Bible does not say, but needless to say, the affair took place and had disastrous results.

            King David, upon receiving word about the pregnancy, tried to have Uriah, her husband, come home to be with his wife as a way to pass the child off as his. Uriah, being the dedicated soldier he was did not want to leave his men. Therefore, David plotted Uriah’s death and then married Bathsheba. He thought that he had gotten away with murder, but God had seen it all. David was punished where peace was taken from his home and he and Bathsheba lost their first child. A bath led to an affair and an affair led to the death of a husband and a child. It was indeed the bath of death.

            Bathsheba may not have known at first that the king was watching as she bathed, but there was a choice to be made as to do what was right, or be entangled in wrong. We too must be careful of the choices that we make and the situations that we allow ourselves to get in. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (ESV) One choice, without the leading of the Holy Spirit, can result in death. Maybe not of the natural sense, even though that has happened with many people, but a spiritual death where returning to the Potter becomes hard to do. Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (NIV)

            We must always ask the Lord to lead and guide us in all areas of our lives. Only then can we ensure that we are walking in the fullness of Him and become the vessels that can be used for His glory. Isaiah 64:8 And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. (NLT)