Make notes on the following: 2 Samuel 11:1-12:25 Her character Her sorrow/heartache Her joy/redemption Write a summary of her story Prayer Focus Abuse is so prevalent today. Any kind of abuse - sexual, phyiscal, emotional, mental... If you have suffered abuse - whether it was just today or yesterday - or it was 60 years ago - please don t suffer alone. Talk to a trusted friend or seek Godly counselling. God does heal, restore, and redeem - I am evidence of this truth. Learn healthy coping skills and pray for healing for your precious heart. If you have not experienced abuse, then you probably know someone who has been - or will come across someone wha has been. Educate yourself on the effects of abuse and pray for those who have experienced it. Pray for healing and restoration. And then take the time to listen. To listen and pray for those who have been hurt in such a horrific way. Notes:
. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear that name? For me, it used to be a word like seductress because for as long as I remember, this woman was portrayed as one. She beguiled David like it came as second nature to her. But lately, I ve been questioning that initial understanding of this woman. Especially after studying the Proverbs 31 woman (it is suspected that it is giving her son such wisdom). was simply minding her own business and bathing after her monthly period, which was according to Leviticus law. She was desiring to be ritually clean. And then David saw her bathing and he refused to have any self-control. He found out who she was and sent for her. Then he slept with her. Do you think that she, a commoner, was in any position to deny the king his wishes? I doubt that she was willing I doubt that she wanted to sleep with him. She was a married woman and if she took the ritual bathing seriously, she likely took her wedding vows seriously, too. I believe that David, in his lust, took advantage of. I know we don t like to think of David as such a man especially since he was said to be a man after god s own heart. But the reality is that our temptations and lustful desires, if they go unchecked, can entrap us into deadly sin. And that sin drags others into the web, innocent or not. This can happen to even the best of us just as it did David. I guess it is also quite uncomfortable to think that even a Godly man as great as David can so easily fall into sin. That means we can as well. It takes just one lapse in judgement and the web begins to be spun. 1. Do you think was innocent? Or do you think she played right into David s hands? What makes you think this? Read through the passage (2 Samuel 11:1-12:25) and come to your conclusion. _ 2. David was tempted. God s word says that we will not be tempted beyond our control and that God will always provide a way out of temptation for us (1 Corinthians 10:13). How do you deal with temptation? _ Do you trust in His word when you are tempted to complain and grumble? What about sexual immorality it is so prevalent today and the temptation is constantly in our faces! What about when you don t want to find an escape from temptation? That is rarely discussed, right? I ve been there before! I want to indulge in that temptation! I try to remember the fact that I regret every single indulgence that I ve succumbed to. That does help me to remain vigilant to walk away from temptation. But it isn t easy! That s why it is called a fight. 3. ends up pregnant by David. If we continue with our thought that was an innocent victim in this terrible sin, we can conclude that she conceived a child from
being raped. It may not have been a violent rape but it was likely rape nonetheless. This was not her choice. And yet she must live with the consequences of what was done to her. What are your thoughts about this? Maybe you understand in a new way. Maybe you can relate to her better? 4. s husband had been fighting in war. When David sent for him, take note of David s cunning and shrewd way of dealing with Uriah. Look at verse 7 and note how David asked him business as usual questions. How did Uriah react to David and his kindness of encouraging Uriah to spend time with his wife? What was the idea behind David s craftiness? I wonder if Uriah wondered why he was getting all this attention from David suddenly. I wonder if he thought it strange. 5. When all of David s plans failed, what did he end up doing? What did his web of sin and deception lead him to do? How do you think felt about this? She was married to Uriah and she got pregnant by another man. To say that she was in deep would be an understatement. 6. Uriah was killed in battle, as was set up by David. How did react? I am thankful that David was at least honorable in marrying. But what a mess! A huge mess. 7. Why did God send Nathan to David? What did Nathan say? What was David s reaction to Nathan s story?
If David is the rich man, then who is in this story? Who is Uriah? _ Understanding who and Uriah were in Nathan s story, does that help you understand that maybe they were both innocent victims in David s sin? was a young lamb and Uriah the poor man who loved his wife very much. 8. Why was God angry with David? _ 9. David finally acknowledged his sin. Sometimes we need to hear about our sin from someone else in a very clear way to confess and repent. Has anyone had to help you see your sin before? Or maybe you ve helped someone see their sin? What was the outcome? _ It wasn t until David acknowledged his sin that the Lord forgave him. Is there sin that you need to confess and repent today? Don t wait any longer! Think about this as well David s sin was grave. And yet, when he confessed and repented, God forgave him immediately. Consider this truth in your own life. How does this part of the story tell us that God does not punish us after we have acknowledged our sin? That He does not put us in a penalty box? _ 10. David was forgiven, but the consequences of his sin remained. Read 12:14 carefully. The enemies of the Lord would have no problem behaving in a way that David behaved. But the children of God should never have any part in such behavior. We are not like the enemies of the Lord. We are set apart. But because David acted just like everyone else, and they likely all figured out what happened, it gave the enemies an opportunity to blaspheme God. 11. What was the huge consequence of David s sin?
I find it interesting that is still referred to as Uriah s wife here. When conceived the child, Uriah was still alive, and they were married to each other. Maybe God is saying here, Just because you (David) married after Uriah died doesn t make everything alright. What do you think? 12. How is it that must also suffer because of David s sin? Not only did she have to grieve the loss of her husband, now she must grieve the loss of her child. This was not her fault! Maybe you understand even more now. Maybe someone sinned against you and you had to suffer through loss and pain even though it was not your fault. Maybe you ve found yourself screaming at God, Why is this happening to me? I didn t do anything wrong!?. I ve had to go through this kind of thing many times in my own life. Because of another s sin, I have been hurt. I ve experienced loss. I don t think there are any pat answers for this. And I won t even try to offer any. BUT The death of that child is not the end of s story. It would be good for us to remember that truth. 13. Read verse 24. What happened? bore another son. And it is none other than the man who became the wisest person who ever lived and don t you think that some of that wisdom came from??? Although their marriage started out with such sin and deceit, God blesses them. This happened when David confessed and repented and turned to the Lord in worship. Maybe, when David came back to be the Godly man he was supposed to be, and he started to lead his family in godliness. What does this tell us? That no matter what your marriage started out as, or what has happened, when hearts are returned to God, He can and will restore even the most broken marriages. I can attest to this in my own life. Marcus (my husband) and I lived together before we were married. Not a great start to a God-honoring marriage! But, when we both turned our hearts to the Lord and started following Him, He blessed our marriage in such unbelievable ways. If you are struggling in your marriage, I d love to pray for you. Simply reply to this newsletter and I ll add you to my prayer journal. How have you seen God s blessing in your life? _
The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 Exodus 34:6-7 For your name s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Psalm 25:11 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. Hebrews 8:12 Have compassion on me, LORD, for I am weak. Heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony. Psalm 6:2 Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Proverbs 16:24