2017-10-29 Fall of David
From Giants to Graces: The Fall and Restoration of David
The Danger of Complacency
It starts when David decides to stay home instead of going out with his army. Remember, David had accomplished a lot: from a young shepherd to a fierce warrior, a gifted general, a poet, a compassionate king, and a wise ruler. His military victories were remarkable, his people followed him without question, and his devotion to God was an example to the whole country. Under his rule, the nation prospered.
However, the Bible notes that spring is the time when kings go to war. War was a way of life for most nations back then, driven by border disputes, feuds, or desires for expansion. The nation had been very successful at war under David’s leadership, and most of their neighbors feared and respected them. David’s armies had become accustomed to victory under his command.
As David grew older, he seemed to tire of his duties. He had generals, so why not let them handle the dusty, dangerous work of war? He could stay behind in comfort. After all, he was the king, and kings can do whatever they want—right? We often fall into the same trap, thinking we can do whatever we want or avoid the things we simply don't feel like doing.
The Stare That Led to a Sin
Probably bored, David wandered around the roof of his palace looking over the city. He saw a woman in her private garden taking a bath. This was not unusual; with no indoor plumbing in most places, a walled garden was an ideal spot for bathing.
Now, you cannot always avoid seeing things, but the problem arises when you glimpse something you shouldn’t look at and decide to keep looking. David should have turned away the moment he saw her, but he didn’t. Instead, he stared. Despite having multiple wives, David had no business staring at another man’s wife, yet he did. He allowed himself to be filled with a deadly sin: lust.
Lust for anything can become a giant in our lives. We always want more—bigger, newer, better—and are often unhappy with what we already have. David had become used to getting his own way. Despite his own harem, he felt he "needed" this woman. We know the rest of the story: David sent for Bathsheba, had her brought to the palace, and slept with her. She became pregnant. To cover it up, David arranged to have her husband killed and then took her as his wife.
I am not sure how much blame can be placed on Bathsheba. David was the king, and she was under great pressure to obey him. What would have happened if she had refused? I honestly don't know. However, she appears to have been an ambitious woman. Once married to David, she pressed to make her son David’s heir, despite the fact that he had several older sons with prior claims. It also appears she remained close to David for the rest of his life. Whatever her character, she is one of only four women listed in Jesus’ genealogy.
Confrontation and Remorse
There are three things we can learn from David’s fall: forgiveness, consequences, and restoration (or reconciliation).
When the prophet Nathan heard about these shameful events—the adultery and the subsequent death of Uriah—he went to David and told him a story. He spoke of a rich man with many sheep and a poor man who had only a single pet lamb that was like part of the family. When the rich man had visitors, instead of slaughtering one of his own many sheep, he took the poor man's only lamb and killed it for the feast.
David was outraged, declaring that the rich man should be severely punished. Nathan then pointed out the truth: "You are the man." David was shocked and immediately stricken with remorse. His first words were, "I have sinned against the Lord."
Our children often have different approaches to apologies. One might say, "I’m sorry. I was wrong. Will you forgive me?" The other might say, "I’m sorry I did that, but I wouldn’t have if you hadn’t made me mad." Which one is easier to forgive? The latter is like King Saul, who tried to justify his disobedience. The former is like David, who acknowledged his sin without excuses.
The Weight of Consequences
David had been brought down by the giants of lust and greed. In his sorrow and shame, he poured his heart out to God and wrote Psalm 51. When David turned to God and confessed, God forgave him and restored their relationship. However, David still had to live with the consequences of his actions, and they were terrible.
The prophet Nathan told David that because of his sins, warfare and violence would plague his personal life and the nation forever.
The child conceived in adultery died.
David’s son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar.
Absalom killed Amnon in revenge. (Could Absalom have justified this because he knew his father had killed Uriah?)
Absalom later rebelled against David, nearly taking the kingdom. David’s commander, Joab, killed Absalom against David's orders.
Another son, Adonijah, tried to seize the throne before Solomon could be crowned.
His family was dysfunctional, his nation was torn by rebellion, and a massive stain remained on his reputation. All seemed lost, but God—who puts away our sins—is also a God of reconciliation. God did not desert David.
The Race of Faith
I once read a story about two runners. The first was fit and agile, always running a perfect race. The second was clumsy and slow, often tripping. As they ran a grueling course, the second runner fell almost immediately, and the first runner moved ahead. The second runner got up, stumbled again, and fell further behind. Near the finish line, however, the "perfect" runner tripped on a rock and fell. He quit because he only knew how to run perfect races. The second runner, though far behind, kept picking himself up after every fall. He won the race because he refused to stay down.
In the New Testament, David is listed as a hero of faith. He is still revered as Israel’s greatest king, remembered for having a "heart for God." This is a message for those of us who have done things that displease God.
God knows we will sin. He knew it in the Garden of Eden, and He knows it now. But He is always ready to forgive and restore us. No matter how many times we fall, we can get up and continue because of His great love.
The Step Back to Restoration
David’s fall reminds us of the consequences of our actions. His life went "downhill" after his choices with Bathsheba, yet he did not become bitter. He didn't blame others or God. Instead, he faced his consequences with unbroken faith and gratitude for God’s forgiveness. Because he truly repented, God continued to bless him. His second child with Bathsheba was Solomon, who continued the lineage. David’s love for God did not wane; he continued to write psalms of praise that still comfort us today.
God would prefer we never sin, but He knows our human frailty. A line from a song by the band Petra says: "You say you’ve walked ten thousand steps away. Don’t you know that it’s only one step back?"
None of us want to do wrong, but we often do. We hate getting caught and often try to explain our sins away or blame our circumstances. When we do that, we act like Saul. But when we face our sins like David, we take that "one step back" and find restoration.
There is no one who hasn't sinned. Some sins are large, like David’s; others are subtle, like grumbling. All of them hinder our fellowship with God and cause consequences. But if God can redeem a man who fell as hard as David and still call him a hero of faith, think of what He can do for us.
If anything is separating you from God today, confess it. Turn back in honest repentance and accept the gracious restoration waiting for you. A giant might have knocked you down, but you don’t have to stay there.
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