Bathsheba, David’s Great Sin
11 Then it happened [a]in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they brought destruction on the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem.
2 Now at evening time David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. 3 So David sent servants and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 Then David sent messengers and [b]had her brought, and when she came to him, he slept with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house. 5 But the woman conceived; so she sent word and informed David, and said, “I am pregnant.”
6 Then David sent word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asked about Joab’s well-being and [c]that of the people, and the condition of the war. 8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the king’s house, and a gift from the king [d]was sent after him. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. 10 Now when they informed David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?” 11 And Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in [e]temporary shelters, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Should I then go to my house to eat and drink and to sleep with my wife? By your life and the life of your soul, I will not do this thing.” 12 Then David said to Uriah, “Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you go back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the day after. 13 Now David summoned [f]Uriah, and he ate and drank in his presence, and he made [g]Uriah drunk; and in the evening Uriah went out to lie on his bed with his lord’s servants, and he still did not go down to his house.
Now, lest we think David had it all together, we find out he is still, in fact, human. Things were going well, he had vanquished the Arameans, and it was a new year.
David sends out the troops to finish what the Ammonites had started, and there’s this contrast. It says “at the time when kings go out to battle”, but continues with “David sent Joab and his servants…” Not that this was the first time he had sent Joab instead of going himself, but it was common for the kings to go out and show their support, even if they did no fighting.
Instead, David decides to take it easy, and enjoy the finer things in life, and before he knows it, temptation is knocking at his door. The contrast this time, is with Uriah, one of his soldiers. Uriah showed incredible honor, and would not return to his house while his fellow soldiers were still out fighting and camping in tents, even when David got him drunk.
When you’re in leadership, it’s important to stay involved. Even when things appear to be going well, and it seems you could just take it easy and let folks handle it. Now, that’s not an excuse to micromanage and ruin the confidence of those on your team. But it means you need to be present, and give your full support to whatever task you have given those under your supervision.