Goose and Gander February 24, 2016

²² “If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.  Deuteronomy 22:22 ESV 


³ And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” ⁴ So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. 2 Samuel 11:3 ESV

I have sit through many lessons and sermons that recount, review, and reflect upon David and his adulterous affair with Bathsheba.  David's lust, the resulting pregnancy, the murderous cover-up, the revelation of his actions, and his eventual repentance are well know to most Southern Baptist church goers.  But I don't recall ever hearing mention of another sin committed by David during this episode.  That is his refusal to follow God's express law for the Jewish people.

Way back in Deuteronomy, which would have been available to King David, Moses wrote these words from God's inspiration, "If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die."  According to God's express directive at that time, both David and Bathsheba should have been killed for their transgression.  However, we know from scripture that did not take place.  In fact there was a child born from their adulterous coupling.

I realize that death for adultery is not an idea that would receive support with Christians today, nor should it.  We are under the covenant of grace, forgiveness, and reconciliation, not punishment and retribution.  But what I found interesting was the lack of application of that day's current law to the king.  I feel confident that death sentences for adultery had been pronounced and executed many times over in Israel during this time in their history.  However, now it the king, the captain, the monarch who had fallen to temptation.  Kill the king?  Unthinkable even though God's word did not delineate as to who would or would not be exempt.

How often as parents, bosses, or leaders do we hold ourselves to a different standard than those who we lead?  Do we expect more from others than we do from ourselves?  An employee comes in late and gets written up, but the boss takes a 90-minute lunch.  We admonish a child for not keeping his room clean, but allow the household finances to become a mess.  A husband who chides his wife for spending too much on clothes justifies that new table saw.

If we find ourselves in a position of leadership, we are not above the rules, expectations, or laws we wish enforced with others.  In fact, the expectations we have for ourselves should be a level above.  Our accountability greater. 

I wonder how many of the "commoners" in David's day asked behind closed doors, "I wonder if King David will get what's coming to him?"  Only to have the whispered reply, "Nah, he's the king.  He can get away with anything."