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the adulterer guilty of death； and the proud…spirited soldier； so shamefully
wronged； might avenge himself by taking the life of the king or by exciting
the nation to revolt。
Every effort which David made to conceal his guilt proved unavailing。 He had
betrayed himself into the power of Satan； danger surrounded him； dishonor
more bitter than death was
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before him。 There appeared but one way of escape； and in his desperation he
was hurried on to add murder to adultery。 He who had compassed the
destruction of Saul was seeking to lead David also to ruin。 Though the
temptations were different； they were alike in leading to transgression of
God's law。 David reasoned that if Uriah were slain by the hand of enemies in
battle； the guilt of his death could not be traced home to the king；
Bathsheba would be free to become David's wife； suspicion could be averted；
and the royal honor would be maintained。
Uriah was made the bearer of his own death warrant。 A letter sent by his
hand to Joab from the king commanded； 〃Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the
hottest battle； and retire ye from him； that he may be smitten； and die。〃
Joab； already stained with the guilt of one wanton murder； did not hesitate
to obey the king's instructions； and Uriah fell by the sword of the children
of Ammon。
Heretofore David's record as a ruler had been such as few monarchs have ever
equaled。 It is written of him that he 〃executed judgment and justice unto
all his people。〃 2 Samuel 8：15。 His integrity had won the confidence and
fealty of the nation。 But as he departed from God and yielded himself to the
wicked one； he became for the time the agent of Satan； yet he still held the
position and authority that God had given him； and because of this； claimed
obedience that would imperil the soul of him who should yield it。 And Joab；
whose allegiance had been given to the king rather than to God； transgressed
God's law because the king commanded it。
David's power had been given him by God； but to be exercised only in harmony
with the divine law。 When he commanded that which was contrary to God's law；
it became sin to obey。 〃The powers that be are ordained of God〃 （Romans
13：1）； but we are not to obey them contrary to God's law。 The apostle Paul；
writing to the Corinthians； sets forth the principle by which we should be
governed。 He says； 〃Be ye followers of me； even as I also am of Christ。〃 1
Corinthians 11：1。
An account of the execution of his order was sent to David； but so carefully
worded as not to implicate either Joab or the king。 Joab 〃charged the
messenger saying； When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the
war unto the king；
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and if so be that the king's wrath arise； 。 。 。then say thou； Thy servant
Uriah the Hittite is dead also。 So the messenger went； and came and showed
David all that Joab had sent him for。〃
The king's answer was； 〃Thus shalt thou say unto Joab； Let not this thing
displease thee； for the sword devoureth one as well as another： make thy
battle more strong against the city； and overthrow it： and encourage thou
him。〃
Bathsheba observed the customary days of mourning for her husband； and at
their close 〃David sent and fetched her to his house； and she became his
wife。〃 He whose tender conscience and high sense of honor would not permit
him； even when in peril of his life； to put forth his hand against the
Lord's anointed； had so fallen that he could wrong and murder one of his
most faithful and most valiant soldiers； and hope to enjoy undisturbed the
reward of his sin。 Alas！ how had the fine gold become dim！ how had the most
fine gold changed！
From the beginning Satan has portrayed to men the gains to be won by
transgression。 Thus he seduced angels。 Thus he tempted Adam and Eve to sin。
And thus he is still leading multitudes away from obedience to God。 The path
of transgression is made to appear desirable； 〃but the end thereof are the
ways of death。〃 Proverbs 14：12。 Happy they who； having ventured in this way；
learn how bitter are the fruits of sin； and turn from it betimes。 God in His
mercy did not leave David to be lured to utter ruin by the deceitful rewards
of sin。
For the sake of Israel also there was a necessity for God to interpose。 As
time passed on； David's sin toward Bathsheba became known； and suspicion was
excited that he had planned the death of Uriah。 The Lord was dishonored。 He
had favored and exalted David； and David's sin misrepresented the character
of God and cast reproach upon His name。 It tended to lower the standard of
godliness in Israel； to lessen in many minds the abhorrence of sin； while
those who did not love and fear God were by it emboldened in transgression。
Nathan the prophet was bidden to bear a message of reproof to David。 It was
a message terrible in its severity。 To few sovereigns could such a reproof
be given but at the price of certain death to the reprover。 Nathan delivered
the divine sentence unflinchingly； yet with such heaven…born wisdom as to
engage the
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sympathies of the king； to arouse his conscience； and to call from his lips
the sentence of death upon himself。 Appealing to David as the divinely
appointed guardian of his people's rights； the prophet repeated a story of
wrong and oppression that demanded redress。
〃There were two men in one city；〃 he said； 〃the one rich； and the other
poor。 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds： 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。 And there came a traveler 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。〃
The anger of the king was roused； and he exclaimed； 〃As the Lord liveth； the
man that hath done this thing is worthy to die。 And he shall restore the
lamb fourfold； because he did this thing； and because he had no pity。〃 2
Samuel 12：5； 6； margin。
Nathan fixed his eyes upon the king； then； lifting his right hand to heaven；
he solemnly declared； 〃Thou art the man。〃 〃Wherefore；〃 he continued； 〃hast
thou despised the commandment of the Lord； to do evil in His sight？〃 The
guilty may attempt； as David had done； to conceal their crime from men； they
may seek to bury the evil deed forever from human sight or knowledge； but
〃all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to
do。〃 Hebrews 4：13。 〃There is nothing covered； that shall not be revealed；
and hid； that shall not be known。〃 Matthew 10：26。
Nathan declared： 〃Thus saith the Lord God of Israel； I anointed thee king
over Israel； and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul。 。 。 。 Wherefore
hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord； to do evil in His sight？
thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword； and