David’s Punishment And Conquests
June 10, 2019
Commentary
In this section we find David’s response to his son’s sickness and death. After Nathan left David, God allowed sickness to come to the child born to he and Bathsheba (vv. 15-16). We do not know what the sickness was but we know that after seven days the child died (vv. 17-18). David had mourned when Saul and Jonathan died in battle (II Sam. 1), and when Abner was killed by Joab (II Sam. 3). David has done intense fasting and praying that the Child might live but when he found out it was dead he ceased his mourning. He washed up, worshiped and began to eat, which was contrary to customs and much to the amazement of his servants (vv. 19-20). David said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, but now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? Then David’s faith soared when he stated: “I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” The statement suggests a belief in infant salvation and immortality (vv. 21-23). David felt certain that the little baby was saved. He said, “I will go to him someday.” He knew that when death came to him, he would be reunited with his son. That was not the case when his son Absalom died many years later. Absalom was a heartbreak to David because he was not sure he was saved.
David comforted Bathsheba over the loss of their son. Eventually she become pregnant a second time by David. The son who was born was named Solomon. Now God loved this child. He sent the prophet Nathan to bestow on the infant a special name: Jedidiah, “beloved of God.” (vv. 24-25).
This tragic episode began with David pampering himself at home, but it ends with him taking his rightful place on the battlefield and leading the nation to an important victory. It is encouraging to see that God was willing to use David again in spite of his sins. He had confessed his sins; God had forgiven him; now he could fight for the Lord again. It is bad for believers to sin; it is also bad for them to live in the past and think themselves useless even after they have confessed their sins. Satan loves to shackle God’s people with memories of sins that God has already forgiven and forgotten. Satan is the accuser (vv. 26-31).
Application
In order to feel forgiven and experience comfort as David did I just need to admit my sins to God and turn to Him. Then I can move ahead with a new and fresh approach to life.
2 Samuel 12:15– 31 (NET)
15 Then Nathan went to his home. The Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and the child became very ill. 16 Then David prayed to God for the child and fasted. He would even go and spend the night lying on the ground. 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.
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!”
19 When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he realized that the child was dead. So David asked his servants, “Is the child dead?” They replied, “Yes, he’s dead.” 20 So David got up from the ground, bathed, put on oil, and changed his clothes. He went to the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then, when he entered his palace, he requested that food be brought to him, and he ate.
21 His servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? While the child was still alive, you fasted and wept. Once the child was dead you got up and ate food!” 22 He replied, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, ‘Perhaps the Lord will show pity and the child will live.’ 23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Am I able to bring him back at this point? I will go to him, but he cannot return to me!”
24 So David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He came to her and went to bed with her. Later she gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. Now the Lord loved the child 25 and sent word through Nathan the prophet that he should be named Jedidiah for the Lord’s sake.
26 So Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city. 27 Joab then sent messengers to David, saying, “I have fought against Rabbah and have captured the water supply of the city. 28 So now assemble the rest of the army and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city and it will be named for me.”
29 So David assembled all the army and went to Rabbah and fought against it and captured it. 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. 31 He removed the people who were in it and made them 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.