David’s great sin is followed by due punishment. Coveting Uriah’s wife and indirectly causing his death is an act that cannot be overlooked by God. He bravely admits his guilt to Nathan, the prophet, and accepts the divine sentence. Bathsheba gives birth to a son that will live only a few days. David is devastated. Nathan foretells again that David will live to see further tragedies in his household. The prophecy is gradually fulfilled – three more of David’s sons, Amnon, Adonijah, and Absalom, will die during his lifetime.
“Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife” (2 Samuel 12:10)
“And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die” (2 Samuel 12:13)
“And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:22-23)
When we restrict negative impulses, judgment becomes lovingkindness.
