Musical Prelude and Service.

Samuel 11:1-15 & Ephesians 3:14-21
Well, this is not exactly the scripture I would embrace for my first Sunday back after a vacation. Once again, this story about David and Bathsheba is not easy. It is, frankly, quite ugly.
This is in fact a story that can be easy to avoid. Preachers can be tempted to focus on a different scripture. A different issue. But I have tried over the years to embrace the challenge of reflecting on these ugly or distasteful stories and questions. Sometimes we need to feel uncomfortable and to confront the ugly side of humanity and really ask the question; “where is God in these painful times?”
Back in my days working for a community newspaper as an editor, I described news media as holding a mirror up for the community. We reflect to our readers who we are as communities.
Sometimes the view is positive, showing the generosity and kindness and the courage of our neighbours an dour leaders. Other times our stories reveal the not-so-nice element of our community. The violence, the corruption, the consequences of greed and self interest. We show the anger and the fear and the hatred that is always lurking beneath the surface.
I believe that often the stories we read in scripture do the same thing. I am not suggesting scripture tells us what exactly happened in those times. These are stories told in a variety of genres, for a variety of purposes. But often the stories about the kings and the judges and the early families, offer us a view of how people related to one another and to God.
We read stories of courage and love and beauty. But we also read stories of violence, betrayal, greed and hatred.
I suspect that often the story of Bathsheba is distorted. We may be led to believe it is a romance. David is a hero. God’s chosen. How could he possibly do anything abusive or dishonourable? But here we are.
Let’s review this story. Earlier in this book, we are made aware that by now, David has six wives already, several sons and daughters by these different wives, and far from bringing peace to Israel, David’s kingdom remains at war, accumulating more and more territory.
His army is now besieging the city of Rabba, but David has chosen to remain in Jerusalem. He spies upon the wife of one of his soldiers and he decides he must have her.
Let’s consider this story from the perspective of Bathsheba. Her husband is away fighting a battle for the king. Who knows how long he will be away. She has just finished ritually bathing at the end of her monthly period. There is a knock on her door, and she comes face to face with the king’s guard, who have come to take her to King David.
There is no indication in this story whether consent is granted, but I can’t imagine any scenario where Bathsheba would feel she is able to say no. Or a context where she would be heard or believed if she said she didn’t welcome the advances of the king.
In any case, David sends Bathsheba away eventually, and as far as he is concerned that brings things to an end. Except, eventually she sends word (she can’t just go and tell him personally) that she is pregnant.
Where David starts this story in control, now things have spiralled out of his control. And it is about to get worse. Daivid recalls Uriah and encourages him to visit his home. What healthy soldier wouldn’t want to visit his wife. Well, apparently Uriah sees that as dishonourable since his comrades
in arms remain on the battlefield. Even a second attempt to encourage him to visit Bathsheba goes awry.
And so on to plan B which is effectively the murder of Uriah.
After an appropriate period of mourning, David marries Bathsheba.
So, where do we find God in this story?
Yes, we are told time and again, Daivd is God’s beloved; the chosen king of Israel. But it would seem even one so favoured by God, filled with God’s grace, is capable of losing their direction. Of being corrupted by the power and wealth that come with such a lofty position.
He is using his power and wealth to enrich himself, not to benefit the people is supposed to be responsible for. He does not see Bathsheba as a person with her own dreams and affections and hopes. He sees her as something else to be acquired. To be possessed. He is entitled to whatever he wants.
A few months ago, reading from first Samuel, the prophet and judge argued against Israel’s desire for a king insisting that eventually Israel’s sons would be soldiers running in front of the King’s chariot and the daughters would serve that king. The people of Israel will be forced to sacrifice their freedom and their lives for this king.
This has come to pass.
There is more to come in this story. As much as David has worked to cover up his sin, he has not been successful. We hear more about that next week. There remains something rotten in the house of David and beyond what we read in the lectionary passages, there is a tale of violence, betrayal, jealousy, greed and heartache.
As for Bathsheba, her son Solomon eventually ascends to the throne. He builds a second throne for his mother and bows down before her, installing her as the first queen mother; a position that endures for several generations.
Where is God?
I don’t see God endorsing the behaviour of David. As we hear next week, God is angered by these actions. I see God, weeping alongside Bathsheba as she endures her abuse. I see God offering comfort and a path forward from what must seem an impossible situation.
I also believe what we are told here, is that God does not control the actions or the choices of people, but also, does not shelter us from the consequences of those decisions. God is active in the midst of the chaos we create; fashioning options and the opportunity for something good in the future. But we need to be ready to own our decisions; acknowledge our greed and self interest, and not place the blame elsewhere.
Furthermore, this story, beyond what we read this morning, the story of David, Bathsheba and David’s wider family and the trajectory of their lives, tell us the harm is not limited to the primary target of the abuse.
It’s bad enough what David inflicts on Bathsheba and Uriah. But the harm, the suffering – the ramification of David’s corruption his narcissism attempts to disguise his actions, ripple out to encompass his whole family and the fate of the whole community.
We don’t live in bubbles, no matter how much it may sometimes seem that way.
Finally, I think it is useful to ask what happened to David; this favourite of God. This bright star among God’s people has been corrupted by power and wealth and adoration. He seems to have lost sight of God. Instead of God’s light guiding him, he can only see his own star.
In Ephesians, Paul prays that the church in Ephesus can be guided by the Holy Spirit that is working in and among them. That Christ’s presence will open their eyes to the beauty of the world God has created for them.
When we are moved by God’s presence in and amongst us, our view of the world is transformed. We see the people around us in a new light. We are moved by gratitude, compassion, empathy, and love. We are better able to resist the temptations spurred by greed, anger, fear and hatred.
May we see this story as the cautionary tale that it is. May we heed the message of dangers of power and greed. May we be moved to compassion for those who are the victims of unrestrained power and corruption and may we work for a world that values life and compassion over power and self aggrandizement.
And may we be moved to live lives of gratitude and love so we may continue to say,
Thanks be to God. Amen

Music provided with permission through licensing with CCLI License number
2701258 and One License # A-731789