2 Samuel 11

2 Samuel 11:1-5

We have here a foul fall of David recorded, as a warning to others. Many, no doubt, have been exhended to sin, and hardened in it, by this flory, and to them it is a favour of death unto death; but many have by it been awakened to a holy jealousy over themselves, and constant unattribuously against sin, and to them it is a favour of life unto life. 1. David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, ver. 1—5. 2. He contrives to father the child upon him, ver. 6—13. 3. When that preach fails, he pleats his death by the sword of the Ammonites, and afflicts it, ver. 14—25. 4. He marries Bathsheba, ver. 26, 27. Let him that reusseth, understand what the hoff of men are, when God leaves them to themselves.

Aunt 1. A ND it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth as battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, Vol. I.

1. A ND it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth as battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, Vol. I.

and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah: but David tarried at Jerusalem. 2. ¶ And it came to pass in an evening-tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman walking herself, and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3. And David sent and enquired, after the woman: and one said, Is not this Bath-sheba the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4. And David sent messengers, and took her, and the cause in unto him, and he lay with her, (for the way purified from her uncleanness) and she returned unto her house. 5. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

Dark and dismal are the contents of this chapter; David’s fun suffers a dreadful eclipse; and in the midst of his victories abroad, he is worse than vanquished at home, fallen a slave under brutish lofts and justions.

1. In pursuit of the former victory, Joab prefers hard on the deserted Ammonites, (David being returned in triumph to Jerusalem) and having subdued their country, inveits their capital. Note, When our enemies are falling, we must pursue the blow.

2. David in the mean time is seduced into the grievous crimes of adultery and murder. Whilst other kings are heading their forces in the field, he was indulging himself ingloriously as safe at home; whilst they endured the hardship of a camp, he rose from his downy bed, idly to saunter on the roof, and enjoy the evening’s breeze: there his wandering eye rolled around; and, as such had prepared the fud, a spark of lust entered, that kindled it into a flame. A beautiful woman in her garden retired, or in her chamber overlooked by the king’s palace, walked herself, from her natural ceremonial impurity, and thus innocently became a snare to the unguarded monarch. At the light, unhallowed defies kindle in his bosom; he turns not away from the inflaming object, but urged by lawless appetite, contrives how to enjoy her. He enquires her name and condition, and not deterred by her belonging to another man, invites her to his house, and tempts her to his bed; to which, with too early compliance, she confesses. See now the deadly gloom that covers this great character! For one moment’s bold indulgence, he is as much lost to all sense of shame, honour, and the fear of God, as the most abandoned atheist. Lord what is man? Every circumstance served to aggravate his crime: a king that should have punished with death the adulterer, one who wanted not numerous wives of his own; an aged man, in whom these youthful lusts were doubly brutish; the person injured, his friend and servant, now fighting for him in the field; and an accomplished woman, before innocent and respectable, prevailed upon perhaps, not more by the glare of his crown, than the fame of his party, as though that could not be criminal which David proposed. Note, (1.) On this side the grave, no man is secure from presumptuous sins. (2.) The lusts of the flesh are the most befitting evils, and the lust to be subdued. (3.) They who make provision for the flesh, by such and senselessly, are prepared for every temptation. (4.) When we are out of the way of duty, we can no longer expect Divine protection. (5.) If the eye be suffered to wander, the heart will not be long restrained from sin. (6.) Every indulgence given to carnal appetite, leaves us more unable to resist its cravings, and hurries body and foul headlong into perfusion. (7.) When once the heart is given up to lewdness, then men can sacrifice honour, interest, friends, yea God himself, to the idol of their hateful passions.

3. ¶ And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7. And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. 8. And David said to Uriah, ‘Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king. 9. But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house, with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. 10. And when they had sold David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Cameft thou not from thy journey? why thou shalt thou not go down unto thine house? 11. And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah abide in tents, and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine’s house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? At thou liveth, and at thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. 12. And David said to Uriah, ‘Tany here to day also, and to-morrow I will let thee depart. So U-

Before God Ration: David 16. 6. riah abode in Jerusalem, that day and the morrow. 13. And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him, and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of hisfood, but went not down to his house.

2 Samuel 11:14-27

When once the devil hath entangled us, we know not whither he will lead us. David little intended the murder of Uriah, when first he call his eyes upon his wife; but the way of wickedness is steep, and when nothing but this he thinks can conceal his shame, he hesitates not at this crime. 1. Uriah is himself made the messenger of his conversion. He seems to have entertained no suspicion of what had passed, and less of what was continuing against him; whilst David, covered with crimes and dark designs, plots his ruin, and in such a war, as might most effectually remove him without suspicion of his being necessary to his death. With deliberate zealms therefore he declares the fatal letter, taken advantage of Uriah’s known courage, to place him in the path of danger, and with bassist ingratitude thus repays his fidelity: many most necessarily be involved in his fall; but now David is lavished of the blood of his subjects, and dares to tempt, nay command Joab to be an accomplice in the crime; bringing guilt upon his cause, giving the Ammonites courage, and endangering thereby the loss of his army, and perhaps of his crown withal: well may it be said, that they who are given up to their lusts, are led captive by the devil at his will. Now, (1.) Sin blinds the eyes, then hardens the heart. (2.) Deliberate malice and murder is the himself of human wickedness. (3.) Many dare do what they dare not own. Such atheists are sinners that no fear of God restrains them, if they can but conceal their shame from the eyes of men. 2. Joab failed not to execute the king’s orders; perhaps pleased to find his king no longer able to reproach him with innocent blood, as involved in the same guilt, or, it may be, concluding that Uriah was guilty of some crime, for which David thus clenke to punish him, rather than by a public execution. He sets him therefore on an assault, where the greatest opposition was expected, and not supporting him properly, he set with other brave soldiers, advancing to the breach. Now, (1.) It is a pleasure to the sinful world, to find those in any particular like themselves, who are high in a religious profession, and nothing tends more to harden them in their iniquities. (2.) Obesience to the king’s orders are not always a sufficient warrant of excuse. 3. An express brings David the welcome tidings of Uriah’s death; and Joab bids him clothe his narrative of these lots in the attack with this article, as what would prevent all upbraiding. The messenger makes an exact report, and carefully inserts the last particular; as what, from Joab’s manner of ordering him, he might well inspect the king desired to hear. Now, God often leaves sinners to run to the end of their line, and preffer to their iniquities, but the time of recompense is at hand. 4. David is perfectly satisfied with the relation; creates rething of the lots of so many hence men, and bids Joab not be disheartened, but carry on the finger with vigour, and encourage himself and the army to continue their approaches. 5. Without delay, he acquaints Roah-Sheba with the death of her husband, and after the thirteenth morning, probably not more than seven days, (See 1. Sam. xxvi. 7.) She becomes his wife: thus all the matter seemed his/her up, and the child, the somewhat before the time, would not come so much out of season, but that it might pass without suspicion of evil; but there was an eye, from which those who coverings could not conceal his guilt and shame. God marked his dark and winding way; and, with just indignation, regards the various flops of this infamous procedure, from the first rising of concupiscence till the sword was bathed in Uriah’s blood, and his adulterous wife was taken to his bed. Now, (1.) Let men groanish themselves what already they will, there is an eye from which no darkness, or shadow of death, can hide the reality of iniquity. (2.) The sins of God’s people have a peculiar aggravation in his sight; and though his eternal designation cannot be made void, he will make them feel that severity of correction, which will bring them to bitter anguish over the iniquities which provoked it.