The United Kingdom Rejected Part 7/9

By Teena Myers

A decade later, David shamed the nation and God proved he does not show partiality. David’s attempt to show kindness to the son of a friend turned into a war between Israel and Ammon.[1] He sent Joab to conquer Ammon, but he stayed home. David knew God’s judgment on those who commit adultery, yet satisfied his lust for Bathsheba, the wife of one of his mighty men, who fought with Joab at Ammon. When she became pregnant, he successfully did to her husband what Saul tried to do to him. Arranged to have him killed in battle. If David thought God would give him a pass because God had anointed him king to replace Saul, he was wrong. God decreed a severe judgment on David’s abuse of power. David would fight wars to his dying day, God stirred up problems within David’s family, and what David did secretly, God would do openly for all Israel to witness.

The son conceived with Bathsheba died. Two years later, David’s son Ammon raped his half-sister Tamar, and her brother Absalom killed him. Absalom fled to Geshur for refuge, and David mourned for three years before Joab convinced David to let his son return. Two years after Absalom returned, David reinstated him to his place in the family, only to be betrayed. Absalom led an insurrection and drove David from the city. Then he slept with David’s concubines on the roof of the palace, fulfilling God’s judgment for David’s sin.

In the battle that followed, Joab killed Absalom contrary to David’s command and David returned to the throne. A damaged and less popular David continued his reign only to sin again, resulting in the death of 70,000. As David grew weak with age, his son Adonijah exalted himself to be king. When David appointed Solomon the next king, Adonijah’s followers abandoned him. David spent his final years co-reigning with Solomon, collecting material for God’s house, and preparing his son to build the temple.

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[1] 2 Samuel 10:1-8