Sinning against Whom?

The Text

Psalm 51:1–4 “Have mercy on me, O 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. 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 Context

2 Sam. 11&12, the matter of David’s sin of adultery and murder

Based upon this, would we say that David had also sinned against both Bathsheba and Uriah?

Look at 2 Samuel 12:10 “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’”

2 Samuel 12:12 “For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun. ”

2 Samuel 12:13 “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”

The Facts

David had sinned in secret—thinking that what he’d done had been totally hidden from view

This reflected his utter defiance of his God!

God did absolve him of his guilt; though he did carry the baggage of his sin

Did he sin against Uriah and Bathsheba? Yes; but it pales beside his defiance of God—had he not done that, the sins of adultery and murder would not have happened