Reflection: Bathsheba is not usually noted in Scripture as a mother. She is better known as the beautiful, married woman who committed adultery with King David. Their sinfulness led to David’s rebuke by the prophet Nathan, and his acknowledgement that he had indeed sinned against God, which led to sincere repentance (see Psalm 51). God forgave David his sin, yet the result of his sin was that David and Bathsheba’s infant son died.
What enormous repentance, regret and grief must have faced Bathsheba as her son took ill and died. Bathsheba’s her grief and repentance can only be assumed to mirror David’s, as seen in Psalm 51. Yet, David comforted his wife. God had mercy on Bathsheba, and her life began anew. God blessed Bathsheba as a mother. She and David went on to have four more sons (1 Chronicles 3:5). One was named Nathan (perhaps even named for the prophet who rebuked David for his sin) and another was Solomon, God’s chosen king after David. We are told that ‘the Lord loved’ Solomon. Bathsheba continued to act on Solomon’s behalf, ensuring his succession to the throne, and continued as Queen Mother (1 Kings 2-3).
Question: Can you relate to Bathsheba’s
regret, repentance, and grief? How does God’s mercy in her life encourage you?
Prayer: ‘Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight… My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.’ Amen.
We are reading the Bible with Karen Mudge until 19th May.