Make Things Right

Based on 2 Samuel 10-12

"Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their Lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?"
2 Samuel 10:2‭-‬3.

As we've seen in previous chapters, David got stuck in some unfair scenarios. Even when he tried to do right, he was blamed for doing wrong. As described above, the princes of Ammon completely misunderstood David's motives. David wanted to do right in comforting them, but they did not receive that. Instead, it caused a battle to take place. Sometimes, the battle is without. But sometimes, the battle is within...and even David struggled with an inner battle of temptation:

"And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem."
2 Samuel 11:1

Ammon did finally get destroyed, but David was not in the right place. David stayed back from the outer battle. As king, he was especially responsible for being on the frontlines of battle, but instead, he "tarred still at Jerusalem." Therefore, an inner battle & temptation was presented to him, and he did not make the right choice...

"And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath–sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house." 2 Samuel 11:3‭-‬4.

David saw a woman bathing named Bath-sheba. He was informed that she was a married woman, but he took her and layed with her anyway. Of all the times David had better judgment and was concerned with making things right, this was not one of those times. Of course we can't expect perfection from David, because we can't of ourselves, but we should then desire to come to a place to make things right. However, it took David a while to realize his wrong, and more wrongs were done to try to cover up the original sin...

"And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my Lord Joab, and the servants of my Lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing." 2 Samuel 11:11.

David told Uriah, Bath-sheba's husband, to go to his house & leave the troops. He did this because Bath-sheba ended up getting pregnant with David's child, and David was hoping Uriah would go and lay with his wife so it would look like the child would be his. But Uriah was so committed to his cause, that he stayed with the troops. This probably made David feel pretty guilty about not being in battle that day...

So, the last resort David thought he had was to have Uriah killed in battle:

"And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die."
2 Samuel 11:15.

Sadly, David had Uriah himself deliver this letter to have him killed! David's heart desperately needed to be pulled back to The Lord. He needed to make things right in the sight of God, not try to make things right in his own power. That's when Nathan the prophet came to speak to him. He told a story of a king who took the beloved sheep of a poor man instead of using one of the many sheep he had to feed his guests. David said the man should be killed, realizing the wrong he had done. Nathan said David was that man. David finally realized what he did. He didn't try to hide it anymore. Nathan said that David would not die, but the child born to Bath-sheba would...

"And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord . And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die."
2 Samuel 12:13‭-‬14.

Since David realized his wrong & had a repentant heart, God did bless him with another child:

"And David comforted Bath–sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him." 2 Samuel 12:24.

From the beginning, David wanted to comfort the Ammonites, but was misunderstood. Then, David made several mistakes, but he found comfort in The Lord through repentance, because he was even able to worship after the first baby's death. Then, he was truly able to comfort Bath-sheba, and she gave birth to Solomon, who would later end up building the temple for God. We can find comfort in facing our wrongs, seeking The Lord, and making things right!