Lessons from the Fall: The Story of David and Bathsheba

One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. Now this woman was very attractive. So, David sent someone to inquire about the woman. The messenger said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” David sent some messengers to get her. She came to him, and he had sexual relations with her. (Now at that time she was in the process of purifying herself from her menstrual uncleanness.) Then she returned to her home. (2 Samuel 11:2-4)

David, the shepherd turned king, remains an iconic figure in the Bible. His unwavering pursuit of God’s heart, courage in facing giants, and beautiful psalms have inspired many Christians. But, like all of us, David was not perfect. The story of his sin with Bathsheba is a warning for us—a reflection of our own weaknesses.

In this blog, we won’t just focus on David’s sin. Instead, we’ll look closely at the choices he and Bathsheba made that led to the sin. By understanding these key moments, we can learn to handle our own desires and avoid making the same mistakes.

1. From the roof he saw a woman bathing.

Bathing required nakedness. Nakedness requires uncovering. Apart from physical nakedness, this can also mean emotional baring – opening your heart and soul to another in confidence. Doing this can lead to lust depending on who and what is said.

2. The woman was very beautiful.

You must know yourself and the effect you have or may have on people. Many people act like they have demons because despite experience and common sense, they pretend that they have nothing to cause attraction. Whether you are male or female, certain things like beauty, build, smooth talk, mannerisms, intelligence, coquettishness or coyness, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, etc., can make people fall for us! We must not act like we are 3-year-olds. Know how you can be a stumbling block and veil it when you can.

3. And David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”

Be careful about the information you give about yourself and to whom. It is not everyone you have an obligation to be open to. Some of us tell everyone, everything, about ourselves. In the name of being frank, we spout our fears and weaknesses and desires to people we just met; people whose motives may not be pure. This openness creates a false sense of intimacy and leads to further unnecessary demands on us. Everyone is not seeking your well-being!

4. Then David sent messengers to get her.

There are messengers you do not go with. The gaps between our interactions with people, are for praying. If she was a praying woman, God may have distracted her enemy from completing his quest. She had not yet learnt the art of appealing or seeking counsel, a quality which she showed years later when she collaborated with Nathan the prophet (1 Kings 1:11-21). Everything we do must be committed to the Lord even if it’s a 3-second prayer or one-minute call. Do not get over-excited about the attention of the influential or powerful. It’s not just about what you may get; it may not end well. The Scriptures say put a knife to your throat (Proverbs 23:1-8). Pray always and seek counsel often!

5. She came to him…

She went to him. On her feet, in a car, on invitation or however else, she went to him. Watch where you go to. In these times of church people seeking a special blessing and endless declarations of, “Your own case shall be different!”, be wary of ‘the case’ being too different. Use your brain also and stop ignoring warning signals.

Ask, “Why is this ‘king’ sending all sorts of messages to me? Do I have any special set of skills he may be looking for? Am I a Bezalel or Oholiab, Daniel or a Joseph? Or am I just beautiful company? Do I look lonely, like easy prey?” Remember, her husband was at war.

Where are your brethren? Some Christians look desperate for attention from anyone else because they despise those around them as lesser quality. Be careful.

6. …and he slept with her. Then she went back home…

She slept with him. Why would she, someone who had given her heart and hand to another, sleep with one who was also given to another? Did she not know the law against adultery?

We have given our hearts to the Lord. Let us ensure that we do not share it with others. Most times, they have given their own heart to someone/something else. There are discussions that you are not required to have no matter who or where it comes from. Put your foot down clearly if you have already gotten to the last stage, when the intentions are perfectly shown to be sinful. Like Joseph, say, “No my lord/boss/pastor/mentor, how can I commit this great sin before God?” (Gen 39:9)

Don’t think about the job or opportunity you may lose. Don’t think about how it may appear disrespectful. And certainly, do not say, “This person is already so good a person that it must be okay to do it. Am I better than him or her or more anointed?”

Finally, don’t say you are just trying to help them because they have a lot of stress from the responsibilities they carry. Because after your compromise, their future stress will explode exponentially!

7. Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness

If she had just recently ended her monthly menstrual cycle, she should not have been fertile and therefore should not have taken in.

This may be the basis on which they agreed to sleep together. Do not reason out how you will escape from the sin you commit. Do not strategize an escape route from sin; away from the eyes of the devil tempting us (he has witnesses at every crime scene he sets up!), or away from the One with whom we have to do — God Almighty! (Hebrews 4:13) Don’t say, “I will sin but get away scot-free. My Husband and Maker will never know.” He will know.

Last Thoughts

This single act by Bathsheba resulted in the death of her husband and the death of likely her first child. Then she lived with the knowledge that all the catastrophes in David’s house were somehow linked to her.

Don’t be a weak person. Male or female, we belong to our Lord, and He alone is the one that we should serve.