2 Sam 11.6-27

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It was one thing to take a wife from another man. It is another thing to take a man’s wife while fighting for your freedom. The effects of David’s sin do not just stop at him and Bathsheba, but extend to the offended party, Uriah.

Joab extended the invitation of some R&R for Uriah as he is able to come back to Jerusalem. David uses it as an opportunity to gain some knowledge of the war front, perhaps to be his guise as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

The next stages of Uriah’s encounter with David seem a bit odd. Why wouldn’t Uriah go home to his wife? Why did Uriah sleep outside? Yet, the answers provided by Uriah indicate that his heart was more devoted to justice and equity than even the kings.

The entire evening, Uriah sleeps at the door of the kings house. This is an act of humiliation, but willful humiliation. Uriah acknowledges the fact that he could not conceive of going home to a warm hearth and bed while his brothers in arms are out fighting, let alone while the ark of the Lord is dwelling outdoors as well.

Perhaps David’s hope is that by forcing Uriah to stay another day, he may return to his wife. We are unsure again of David’s motives. The fact Bathsheba is pregnant, perhaps David wants it to seem like it is Uriah’s child so as to not throw any suspicion his way.

What we see, however, is how sin’s effects run far beyond their initial targets. David is going at any lengths imaginable to make it seem coincidental that Bathsheba is pregnant. Uriah becomes the object of his deception. If he can deceive Uriah, he can be freed from his own sin.

Yet, Uriah stays with the servants the following night.

How alarming is it the lengths that David goes to cover up this sin?