Did King David Commit Adultery or Assault?

David, commit adultery with Bathsheba or did he a soldier.

That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity why this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question.

At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram, twitter, or our YouTube channel and you can email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. Here we are just about a week away from Christmas in Israel. I was hoping you where your Santa hat to work today but you decided not to. Yeah, I left it. I got me. I have so many at the house and I can't believe I forgot it. I bet Bill that you're wearing a Santa hat right now.

You probably been wearing adult elf costume yes at all yesterday okay please stand ours. Alright, well let's start off with a question that we received from one of our listeners. This is from Paul and Paul says dear Pastor Israel I was listening to your show and heard you talk about Advent. However, I was wondering what your understanding of Advent may be, is Advent the same as Christmas.

I thought Advent was preparation for Christmas, getting ready for the birth of Christ.

What is the difference yeah your barite amine. Typically Advent is to become from Glenwood and when to switch means coming and it's that the period of time leading up to Christmas.

If you will the birth of Jesus, where different Christian traditions will meditate on. Think about that the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Both his first Advent, the incarnation, so often times there will be passages, you know what going going to prophecies in the Old Testament that predicted the coming of Jesus. Even the preaching of John the Baptist, angelic visitations, and so on and so forth, but also not just that the first coming of Jesus, but also setting our our eyes on his second coming. The second advent of Jesus Christ and so that's you know not. Not every church Christian tradition. You know talks about Advent is that that sort of church calendar thing but for the ones that do, it's that the season leading up to Christmas and so your you're right on. I just think it's like he could be a sweet thing to do to consider all of the prophecies in the Old Testament, especially that so clearly point forward to her pointed forward to the coming of the Messiah, with great specificity and so it's one of the things I think that actually can bolster our faith in Christ.

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Let's go to an email that came in from one of our listeners and she says my question is regarding David and his sand toward Bathsheba and second Samuel 11 was it adultery or was it assault. I've heard many different opinions on this particular topic. Now one of the most tragic stories in all of the Bible. I remember when when I was reading the first and second Samuel with my children and you know up until this point in David is sort of depicted is this great hero hero this mighty deliver. And then he sends in this in this horrendous way enter my kids just being shocked really him. You know that that kind of thing and in and so you know if this is this is a great tragedy coming up.

There is obviously sin here and and David is is judged because of it by the Lord God takes us very seriously.

But the question is what what exactly took place there is this just an adulterous affair or is it more than that. Is this a an assault or sexual assault. To give you just that that the definition of rape in the dictionaries and unlawful sexual activity and usually carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against a person's will with the person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent because of mental and illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, consciousness or deception that this is of that think this helps to do with what were considering second Samuel chapter 11 this this passage of Scripture.

I think I think it helps to illuminate if you will what what's taking place here were told in verse two.

It happened late one afternoon when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house that he saw from the rueful woman bathing and the woman was very beautiful and David sent, and inquired about the woman and one said is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Liam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite David is is watching him he he he sees it in once and you can even say praying on this woman. He goes and finds out who she is and then we read in verse four David sent messengers and took her and she came to him and he lay with her now.

She had been purifying herself from her uncleanness. Then she returned to her house and the woman conceived and she sent and told David. I am pregnant now just on on the surface reading of the text that that phrase in verse four through David sent messengers and took her the word take their it can mean to seize it's used in other contexts in the Bible to refer to instances where an individual was sexually assaulted. Think of Genesis chapter 34 verse two. Referring to the assault of Dina there other words that the Hebrew Bible can can use other there is this sort of broad semantic range that you know some people say we don't know that he forcibly forced himself on her. Maybe she was.

She was open to this advance from the king. But the reality is this something a lot of people don't consider when they're thinking about these kinds of things adjusted the power differential between David and Bathsheba. This woman who is in a very vulnerable position. She's at home alone. Her husband, who works for the king if you will is gone. He's fighting David's battle and David sends messengers. We imagine a group of guys showing up at your house and they take Bathsheba to bring her to the king and she's gotta be wondering what what in the world could the king want with me maybe might my husband's died in battle and I'm not sure what's going on and David takes advantage of his position of power of his authority as the king of Israel and is spiritual authority is the shepherd of his remedies called the care for Israel in particular, the vulnerable like this woman, Bathsheba, and instead he uses his power to in one sense very, very, really did to force himself onto her so III don't have any problem with saying that this is an assaulted too often we think about the heroes in the past we want to sort of minimize or downplay their sin, their failures, the heinousness of that we don't have to do that God takes is very serious and that's very clear from what we see. You know throughout the Scriptures and and especially as David is confronted becomes very clear clear. David is told by Nathan the prophet you deserved to die because of what you've done now. God extended mercy to David, but there were consequences for his behavior for sinful behavior serious consequences.

Obviously, that resulted in the death of their child and so I don't see any any issue with with describing what took place in second Samuel chapter 11.

In that way. I mean the other big question is good. Could Bathsheba in this position of vulnerability as she's being summoned by the king.

Could she really even consent to cheat, have the ability to say no because you have this position.

This person is in this great position of power, who is sending his royal guard if you will to bring you in and in your ear in this very vulnerable position.

She's she's just obviously caught off guard and so it was a great tragedy again. We want to minimize the sins of the patriarchs and the fathers and those who've gone before us, but we also know that God forgave David. Even though there were consequences, and so that's it, that the best way to than that hot inside understand the passage. Thank you for that question.

Tough situation.

And of course God's grace is amazing.

And to think that he extends his grace to even people like that made made that those kinds of acts was because of sinful acts.

It gives hope, I think, to all of us. Elaine is calling in from Wichita, Kansas, and has a question related to David and something he says in the Psalms, Elaine, what your question, I don't know what the only yeah after everything I just said there. I mean, it's not very obvious that Bathsheba is being sinned against in this very grievous way and so is is David just sort of forgetting all about that zombie Psalm 51 and it what's interesting about this is this was where if you if you just read what comes the very beginning, the choirmaster, a Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet, went to him after he had gone into Bathsheba. In other words, this was when he was confronted by Nathan the prophet because of his sin and his response is to cry out to God for mercy says, have mercy on me.

Oh God, according to your steadfast love. According to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions, wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin, for I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Verse four against you. You only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment the way I take this Elaine is that David is is realizing that when we sin, even against another person. Those sins are still first and foremost sins against a holy God that you me think about what John says in first John, how can we say we love God and yet hate our neighbor if if we hate our neighbor. We can't say that we love God how we treat the people around us says something about our belief in God says something about our relationship to the Lord and so I think what he what he's highlighting here is the fact that not not I would say that that she did not sin against Bathsheba think it's very clear that he did and Uriah and so many others I don't know that David would deny that. I think that's what's that. Of these, trying to deny that you're at the keys he's focusing on the fact that first and foremost sin is an offense to God himself that when we sin against each other. We have to go to the Lord because of sin against another person is a sin against God. And so that's that's the way I would take verse four there of Psalm 51 and of course he's crying out to the Lord throughout this is chapter verse seven. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean, wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness. Let the bones that you have broken. Rejoice hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities God disciplined him again. There was also too busy to David as my bones are broken within me. There was this great discipline and so he knows he sent sinned against the Lord and that's what's being highlighted there in verse four. Thank you for that question. Thank you Elaine thanks for listening to core Christianity. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Our phone lines are open right now. In fact, you can ask us question about the doctrine or theology or your Christian walk. What's going on in today's culture and how your Christianity impacts that intersects with that would love to hear from you. Here's the phone number it's 833-843-2673 will be taking calls for the next six or seven minutes or so, so hop on the phone, 833.

The core of Scott O'Brien in Fort Wayne, Indiana Brian, what's your question for pastor atrial subjects is trying to trap Jesus and questioned about the seven brothers errors that earn the same only because they did I not believed that the other kids had married a woman so they could have sought child for the first guy that married no one when we die and go to heaven.

Jesus says that you know you don't marry her or given in the marriage but the ones are married now, do we still have our life is just something that would unknown but we are going home is a life premises.

We disagree question when I thought about how my wife is thought about and we've talked together and I it's not entirely clear right because at that verse right there in Matthew chapter 22 to set the chapter you're referring to in verse 30 Jesus said 14 the resurrection that his new creation. They neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. I tend to think that the marriage relationship that we have here on earth, which is a type if you will, a shadow of the marriage supper of the land. The marriage between Christ and his bride. As Paul says in the book of Ephesians that that the relationship is good to be different now you.when my wife and I talk what is a call man will. That doesn't sound great.

You know like we we love each other what you know we we but what we can say is our relationship and having to be perfect so whatever that looks like whatever your relationship with your spouse now looks like to be even better, even if it's not the exact same thing.

There can be perfect love, perfect peace, perfect everything in the new creation and so nobody's an essay on man night. I just wish heaven was a little bit different and while we don't know exactly what it's going to be like we do notes and be better than everything we could ever think or imagine.

And so as I said, I am my tendency is to think were not married, or given marriage in the new creation is Jesus said very clearly there, but that does not mean that were going to be missing out to be far better than anything we could ever imagine.

And so we give thanks to the Lord for that. Thanks and questioned her questions. This is core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez. You can leave us a voicemail anytime 24 hours a day and we love to hear from you can even call this weekend if you like and leave us a message at 833-843-2673. There's a voicemail we received from one of our listeners named Kendra. I really like "home and actually gotten pretty good at it the more I fell a local AA fire as it may, offering training, I enjoy competing in tournaments in our area. My goal is to possibly get ESPN at least one this painting is gambling am I doing something wrong.

Hey Kendra, thank you for that question. If you ever in San Diego and you wanted a challenger to corn hole. I would be happy to know we can we can organize something I'd probably lose. I don't think I'm them enough played a few times and I nothing on that good but I'm decent so okay anyways.

Is this the same thing as gambling, I don't see why it would be. I don't think so at all. I think there's there's freedom here obviously right mid think of the only verse of Scripture that I would. I would commend to you.

Here is Paul's words in verse 20.

In chapter 10 verse 31 so, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. And so I would say you can roof. If this is something you can do the glory of God. You enjoy it and it gives you joy. It's a blessing for you. I would say go for it. There's there's my mind there's no there's no sin involved here. Now if it became something where you know you were so consumed with corn hole that you are going to church and all the tournaments run Sunday and so you can be a part of worshiping body and that Kennedy will that say yeah that's that's probably an issue and you want to reconsider, but as it stands, it sounds to me like this is just something you enjoy a fun game or sport and so I would say do it in it and God bless you.

Hope you get the ESPN to an end. We get to watch you and the say hey that's Kendra from core Christianity blessing. What about pickle ball.

I wonder if that's something that God would have a problem with what you think. I have no idea what the pickle ball is what pickle ball and skylight tennis out of the normal rhetorical ran like baseball and for all and the solder we bring in the pickle ball yeah yeah ibis is fine visit. All pickles and some know it does not is not all right.

Let's go back to the phones Jean is on the line from Columbia, Missouri, Jim.

What's your question for pastor atrial.

What I that is not to consider divorce hi hi Jean thank you for for that question and right was assuming there are there different kinds of abuse and I think this is true love and there is physical abuse. Oftentimes read that the evidence of that can be very clear, but there are other kinds of abuse as well. There is verbal abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse there different kinds of abusive behaviors and so I think I think really I mean if if you're having this these thoughts is this these kinds of questions a couple of things. One, I think seeing an abuse counselor can be really helpful for a couple especially enough with both of them are willing to see an abuse counselor but but that can help Dick to give some clarity on the situation and certainly involving the people that are close to you in your life Jean are you are you a part of the church is this is a something that you're able to talk about with with your pastors and elders I am. I have just started.

Okay, probably in the last six months the person who the person that I marriage is involved in. Sorry is involved in ministry so very well known sense of talking to somebody is always feasible. Yeah, and Bill, I want to get your good thoughts here as well.

Would when there's a situation of of abuse like this. I think wanted. It is important to to shed light on the situation so maybe there where you're at. I don't know exactly what the circumstances are. But if it's something where there is no one to go to in your immediate church because this individual is in a position of authority and ministry finding help outside of of that contact me.

Certainly I think bring it to light there as well but but you really need support and people who were gonna be around you and provide accountability provide care even provide protection and so it's a tragic situation, especially when any any situation of abuse, but especially when you have that spiritual component as well. And someone who were just talking about David right and how seriously God takes this and so I think you should pursue an abuse counselor accountability within the church, and if if that church isn't set up to where they're holding this individual is a person that you're with is in ministry accountable than then you're going to have to find it outside built what would you add anything there.

Why think you mentioned the personal safety issue. I mean if there is if there is harm involved. She does need to go and there are places that you can find where you can find a safe house in organization where you can be protected and then I would say if it's a ministry situation you go to a higher authority. If you can't go to somebody in the church you go to the denomination you go to someone who's a leader in that region and that maybe the next. The next step. The next recourse that she takes the there. There's an organization called grace stands for godly response to abuse in a Christian environment and they have Jean a lot of really good resources.

Their website is www.netgrace.org and they might even be a group that you would want to contact in and just get some more information. I'd personally. I do think that there are situations of abuse that do warrant them, not just physical abuse but other kinds of abuse that do warrant a severing of the relationship there needs to be accountability and this needs to be brought into the light and let me just say Jesus loves you and is for you and cares for you and in the so check out those resources and may the Lord bless you and be with you. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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