When Life's Not Fair

big fish in little bowl, little fish in big bowl

26 When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. 27 When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD

(2 Samuel 11:26-27)

Bathsheba's husband had been killed, and now she must live with the man responsible - King David. Did she know, or even suspect, all that had taken place?

The prophet, and adviser to the king, Nathan, went to David and told him a story about a rich man who stole from a poor man. Showing no self-awareness, David was enraged, and said the responsible party should be killed. When Nathan revealed that David was the rich man in the story, and told him the consequences for his actions, David was finally repentant.

11 Thus says the LORD: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun. 12 For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun." 13a David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."

(2 Samuel 12:11-13a)

But what about Bathsheba? The child she was carrying died shortly after Nathan's pronouncement. While God does not condone the evil we do to one another, neither does God always prevent the consequences of our sin. But God sees the bigger picture that we can not see. Solomon would later be born to Bathsheba - blessing her life and glorifying God. Beauty from ashes. We must trust God's judgment even as we long for God's mercy.

6 You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

(Psalm 51:6-12)