King David Question

[bufferb34]

I'm hoping someone can help me understand this. When you read the bible it repeatedly talks about how bad adultery is and how adulterers will not inherit the kingdom. How can David be held in such high regard when he was married to several women? That definitely is adultery 24/7/365. This may seem strange to you but I have a really hard time reading the OT because some of them had multiple wives even though that goes against what the bible says and yet they are held as examples to us as how we should live. Am I missing something? :confused

[Mommy2KandM]

I feel your pain... when it comes to figuring David out. I remember when I was in BSF one year and we did Israel and the minor prophets.... and I kept thinking.. "why in the world does everyone LOVE this David guy, I want to smack him." :laugh

I don't think I was able to appreciate King David until I read a biblical Fiction book by Francine Rivers. Yes it is fiction, and the book was actually about Bathsheba (lineage of grace series, covered 5 women in Jesus's blood line.) But Rivers tries hard and does lots of research to try and make her biblical fiction as accurate to what scripture says and what the customs, thoughts of that time period were. So while the book can not be taken as scritpure... it helped me humanize David and see his heart better. I could then read the scriptures with a better view of David and truly see his heart. And that is what made him a Man after Gods own heart. He did some awful horrible things.... but his heart truly broke over them as well and he understood deeply what it was like to strip down and stand ugly and naked before the Lord and pour out your heart, what ever it is feeling in honesty to God. He truly loved and respected God, yet he sinned just like you and me. If someone like David can be a man after Gods own heart.. then there is hope for me yet. :):

I don't think that God ever instructed anyone (though I could be wrong) to have more than one wife at a time. But I can understand why it would "feel" necessary in that time period and especially for a King who needs to keep his kingdom full of possible successors, or risk the thrown going to another family. I think God allowed David to suffer hardships, and struggles because he had more than one wife. What a headache. :laugh

[Indiana Janz]

If someone like David can be a man after Gods own heart.. then there is hope for me yet.

:nod :cry

[B A N E]

Moving to Christian Chat

[Reepicheep]

Hi Buffer,

I think that's a great question, and one that I've asked God about many times. It seems difficult to understand how this "man after God's own heart" was also a prolific adulterer, liar, and murderer. Here are some points to consider that I hope helps:

1. The Bible's account of David's adultery lends truth to it's historical accuracy. Usually, when heroes are described in history, the bad details are left out while the more virtuous are left in. Yet God's Word is brutally honest when it comes to describing the faults of men...even men who who are regarded as "heroes." Surely, a man writing these accounts would leave these sordid things out--so David's crimes point to the Bible's divine origin.

2. David's adultery demonstrates the power of compromise in our life. We all have areas of compromise. For many men, it's sexual, though for others we compromise with our time, self-image, or with money. David was warned early in his life that adultery was against God's Law. He knew the Law, yet he chose to break it. Just because we compromise doesn't mean that a bolt of lightning will zap us immediately. David's many wives shows us that we can remain in our sin for a long time, and that we can establish a pattern of compromise. However, as we will see later, compromising God's Law always has dire consequences. David will reap what he sowed.

3. David's adultery demonstrates the biblical responsibility of leadership. In the Old Testament, Israel was specifically instructed by God that her kings were not to 1.) build up riches and gold, or 2.) acquire many wives for themselves. David had no problem with the first part. But we all know he fell down on the second part. The reason why this was so tragic in David's case is that he was a king of Israel, and thus he had a greater responsibility. He was held to a higher account. As a result, when David sinned, it wasn't just him or his family that felt the consequences--it was his whole country. By this we are instructed that leaders should carefully consider their actions before the Lord, because they have the power to lead their followers astray or to lead them in God's way. One of the consequences of David's adultery is civil war in the nation of Israel.

4. Sin, even David's sin, always has consequences. Don't think for a moment that David got away with it. And don't think that just because it's written about in the Bible means that it's acceptable in the Bible. David's firstborn to Bathsheba would die, and he would later deal with incest, rape, murder, rebellion, and civil war. God brought David peace and prosperity after the death of Saul's son, but David wrecked the peace completely with his adulterous and murderous actions. God's Word, among other things, is teaching us that David is an example of how far you can fall, and how your choices always have a result. You can be in the prime of your life with all going well, and your sin can and will destroy it all. Sin always leads to death.

5. The accounts of David's adultery demonstrates God's justice as well as his grace. We are all like David in that we don't get what we deserve. Your God-given sense of justice is screaming loudly! We don't want to see the guilty lofted up as innocent. While David's actions certainly had bad consequences (see #4), he deserves neither fellowship with God nor God's favor. Yet he obtained both. How? Because of God's grace alone. We look back in time to Christ as the basis of our grace. David looked forward to the time of Christ. That's an important point--to realize that David was given grace by Jesus' death on the cross. We look backwards to the cross. The "heroes" of the OT looked forward to the cross. Read some of his Psalms as evidence of this. Similarly, God was able to operate in David's life in wonderful ways. David rebelled against God at Ziklag--and very nearly fought against Israel's armies. Yet, he always repented before God. When we repent, God's grace is there. It's there because of Jesus.

6. The accounts of David's adultery teach on the responsibility of parenting. Perhaps the best known example of a polygamist king is Solomon. It's no coincidence that he is David's son. The Bible says that Solomon had 700 wives! (The man must have been crazy!). And again, we see the consequences discussed above--those wives, the Bible says, lead Solomon and the whole nation of Israel away from God. But where did Solomon learn that it was "ok" to have many wives? Probably from David, his father. David started an example of sin that was followed by his son, and we should know from this that our example as parents is quite strong to our children. This is a warning to parents from God's Word.

In the end, Jesus told us that there is only One who is good. Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Isaac, and yes David were not good men. I think it was Martin Luther who said, "the best of men are men at best." It was the holy God who used them, and operated through them, who is good. Regard Jesus as your example of grace. One suggestion: look for pictures of Jesus in the OT. You see the examples of sin already in the OT, now it's time to look for grace. It's amazing to read how God foretold of Jesus on the cross, and the grace therein, to a rebellious people who continually fell astray. We are taught that not as an example of how good men went bad, but how bad men are made good by God. In other words, it's about you and I.

[antsinmypants]

How can David be held in such high regard when he was married to several women? That definitely is adultery 24/7/365.

Actually, it isn't. The bible did allow for-- but did not hold highly, marrying more than one wife at a time. In the admonitions that YHVH gave to Moses to give to everyone (in scripture) it says that if a man marries another wife, he is not to diminish his regard for his first wife, nor his care for her.

However, the example and the way G-d wants all to live, is "Husband of one wife". G-d created Adam and Eve and married them together, not Adam and sharon and eve and shara and melinda.

However, even in the same admonitions G-d speaks about if there is ever a King over Israel, that he is not to marry many wives.

The reason that David is held in High regard, is as G-d said "he was a man after G-d's own heart".

Sure, he screwed up and sinned. However, he repented and did his best to live right... and because he was a man after G-d's own heart-- that is why he is held in high regard.

[Rebecca S]

Thank you so much for bringing this up. I am currently reading through David's story, and while I was hoping to be impressed with this great leader, I ended up just wanting to smack him. However, after reading everyone's posts, especially Reepicheep's, I think I understand now. It's his willingness to expose himself completely to God that makes him a man after God's own heart, rather than having led a virtuous life. It does indeed bring hope. All sins will be forgiven, you just have to be willing to prostrate yourself before God.

Thank you everyone.

[Jayhawk]

You have to also remember one sin is no worse than another in God's eyes. Sin is sin. So adultery is just as sinful as lieing and a sinful as stealing.........

So remember what sins have we committed?? They are all bad and all sins in God's eyes. We are all ugly when we stand before God. That is why we need our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

[Christine]

Jayhawk,

If this were the case, then what is the White Throne judgment all about?

God would just grade on a scale of pass/fail -- and the difference between the White Throne and BEMA is pass/fail by definition.

:confused

[GratefulGentile]

I'm hoping someone can help me understand this. When you read the bible it repeatedly talks about how bad adultery is and how adulterers will not inherit the kingdom. How can David be held in such high regard when he was married to several women? That definitely is adultery 24/7/365. This may seem strange to you but I have a really hard time reading the OT because some of them had multiple wives even though that goes against what the bible says and yet they are held as examples to us as how we should live. Am I missing something? :confused
David was not all bad...
He was very good, then very bad, and then very good again.
We are to model the good!

He is an excellent example of God's workmanship. Like David, we are capable of the utmost evil. BUT also like David, God can do an amazing work in and through us, if we submit to His leading.

[GratefulGentile]

You have to also remember one sin is no worse than another in God's eyes. Sin is sin. So adultery is just as sinful as lieing and a sinful as stealing........
People always say this but it is simply not true. God obviously sees rape and murder as being worse than breaking the speed limit.

What you mean is that the minimum penalty of any sin is death. No one measures up in this regard.

But clearly Jesus warns people against egregious sins, such as harming little innocent children or leading them away from God, attaching a more severe penalty to these crimes.

Also, there were those unbelievers who saw Jesus perform miracles whom Jesus said would suffer more in eternity than those who saw none.

Finally, there is one unforgiveable sin that is worse than all the rest: rejecting God's Son and His finished and sufficient work on the cross in spite of the Holy Spirit's striving to convict us of the Truth.

:wave

[bufferb34]

I agree with Christine and Grateful Gentile. Different sins have different consequences. Sins are only the same in regard to the fact that they separate us from God and without Jesus they result in our spiritual death.

[littleone]

Why was David a man after God's own heart? The answer lies in repentance and doing what is right in the sight of the Lord after one has repented. When it was pointed out by Nathan that David had sinned greviously, David not only repented of his sin of adultery, but of the murder of Urriah, and suffered the consequences of those sins in the death of David and Bathsheba's first son.

They were blessed with Solomon however, and Solomon did sit on the throne. David never did get sucked into idol worship as Solomon did and Solomon also repented when he was old, that is clear in Ecclesiastes.

I hope this helps.

[ManhattanGuy]

I agree with Christine and Grateful Gentile. Different sins have different consequences. Sins are only the same in regard to the fact that they separate us from God and without Jesus they result in our spiritual death.

All lead to death. Is there susch a thing as less death? And do you have a scripture for it?

[GratefulGentile]

All lead to death. Is there susch a thing as less death? And do you have a scripture for it?
I believe the point that was being made is that there are degrees of punishment (or suffering--and, yes, it is all bad)---not degrees of death (or separation from God)---and therefore we can conclude that God does not "see" all sin as equal.

By our God-given sense of justice we know this to be true, as well as from the Word...

God obviously sees rape and murder as being worse than breaking the speed limit.

What you mean is that the minimum penalty of any sin is death. No one measures up in this regard.

But clearly Jesus warns people against egregious sins, such as harming little innocent children or leading them away from God, attaching a more severe penalty to these crimes.

Also, there were those unbelievers who saw Jesus perform miracles whom Jesus said would suffer more in eternity than those who saw none.

Finally, there is one unforgiveable sin that is worse than all the rest: rejecting God's Son and His finished and sufficient work on the cross in spite of the Holy Spirit's striving to convict us of the Truth.

[bufferb34]

Death is death. I never said there was a less death but it's obvious there are different consequences for different sins in this life.

[BHiles]

Why was David a man after God's own heart? The answer lies in repentance and doing what is right in the sight of the Lord after one has repented. When it was pointed out by Nathan that David had sinned greviously, David not only repented of his sin of adultery, but of the murder of Urriah, and suffered the consequences of those sins in the death of David and Bathsheba's first son.

They were blessed with Solomon however, and Solomon did sit on the throne. David never did get sucked into idol worship as Solomon did and Solomon also repented when he was old, that is clear in Ecclesiastes.

I hope this helps.

Not only did David Repent but prior to his repenting David Judged his own sin without realizing it and pronunced the sentence.

2 Samuel 12:1 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. 4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. 5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: 6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;


1. 2 Samuel 12:18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?

2. 2 Samuel 13:32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

3. 2 Samuel 18:15 And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

4. I Kings 2:24 Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.

4 of David's "Ewes" were killed.

[B A N E]

Brent,
:thumb hadn't caught that!

[Bigdaddy]

A few things I've seen in my studies of David are these.

He's the only one called " a man after Gods' own heart". Yes it confused me at first until you understand that David repented of his sins, truly repented. He didn't continue in sin after realizing he was sinning. He made a lot of mistakes but owned up to them.

As to the adultery slant due to many wives, I think (someone correct me please if I'm wrong) he was only guilty of adultery with Bathsheeba. In that day and time, it was common in that culture to have more than one wife. It was a custom handed down throughout the generations I believe because of a need to populate the earth in the early days of the earth. Ants already made reference to a Biblical allowance for this.

Maybe it's relevant to remember that earlier when it was just Adam and Eve starting out, how did all the generations come about? There had to obviously be some brothers and sisters procreating or we would never have been here. And we also know that this practice was later outlawed. Throughtout time, God has used whatever he deemed necessary to reach His intended result. Obviously His ways are not always our ways so things don't make sense to us sometimes.

[antsinmypants]

While it was "permissable" though not smiled upon to have more than one wife, it was forbidden to do so as king. King David, and later King Solomon really fouled up this way. However, people can overcome sin...