David (technically) did not commit Adultery! Then why did he confess? Day 24

Please read Psalm 51:3-5

According to Jewish teaching, King David had a rule (man-made of course) that every one of his soldiers going to war must provide his wife a conditional get, a certificate of divorce. This was in case the soldier died during the war. Then the war widow, after confirmation of her soldier husband’s death or his missing, could easily get remarried without any trouble. So Uriah must have given such a get to Bathsheba before going to war – so technically Bathsheba was not a married woman. So King David, again technically, did not commit adultery.

However, God’s word teaches us “to whom much was given, of him much will be required” (Luke 12:48). When David committed his sins, he was not a young man, and he no longer was a mere shepherd. According to some Jewish traditions around 57 years of age. Other estimates put his age around 50. David was a mature man, the mighty King of Israel, a man given much by God.

Though technically (man-made law) David was not an adulterer, we are told “… the thing that David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27). God made David the king and expected much better conduct from David. Therefore David, the king blessed by God, does not use the conditional get excuse for his adultery but confesses his sin (2 Samuel 12:13).

In today's reading, we see how David confesses – he does not justify his action, and when he writes “my sin is ever before me”, he is indicating that it was his lust, his action that caused the sin and no one else is to be blamed. He also does not blame Bathsheba. His plea and his confession are direct and straightforward- “I sinned and done what is evil”. He realizes he fell short of what God expected of an Israelite King (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). God’s word and judgment are just and blameless, and David realizes he did not do what was expected of him.

Dear brother and sister in Christ, whenever you confess your sins do you recognize that the cleansing of that sin cost Jesus his life? Our Good works (Isaiah 64:6) cannot cleanse our sins as David realizes (Psalm 51:16-17). So let’s confess with “a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” so that God forgives us for the sake of His Son.

Dear Jesus, I forget that the forgiveness of my sins cost you everything.  I also realize that I am forgiven because of your suffering and death and not my prayers, tears or fasts. Equip and embolden me to truly repent of my sin. Amen.