How does 2 Samuel 11:4 connect with the commandment against adultery in Exodus 20:14? Scripture Passages 2 Samuel 11:4: “Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (She had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home.” Exodus 20:14: “You shall not commit adultery.” The Command Stated • One of the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:14 lays down God’s clear boundary for marital faithfulness. • It forbids any sexual act that breaches the one-flesh covenant God designed for husband and wife (Genesis 2:24). • Adultery is therefore not merely a private matter; it is rebellion against God’s moral order (Leviticus 20:10; Hebrews 13:4). David’s Action in 2 Samuel 11:4 • David sees Bathsheba, summons her, and “slept with her.” • Both are married to other people (Bathsheba to Uriah; David to multiple wives), so the act squarely fits the biblical definition of adultery. • The brief narrative line underscores how swiftly temptation, desire, and opportunity can lead to sin (James 1:14-15). Direct Connection to Exodus 20:14 • David knowingly violates God’s explicit command—no technicalities or cultural loopholes soften the verdict. • The text presents a living illustration of what the commandment condemns, turning an abstract law into a concrete historical event. • By recording David’s failure, Scripture affirms that even Israel’s king is under God’s law (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). Ripple Effects of the Violation • Personal guilt and broken fellowship with God (Psalm 51:1-4). • Collateral damage: Uriah’s death, Bathsheba’s grief, a child’s death, and national repercussions (2 Samuel 11:15-17; 12:14). • Public dishonor on God’s name: “You have given the enemies of the LORD great occasion to blaspheme” (2 Samuel 12:14). • Long-term family turmoil—echoing Proverbs 6:32-35, which warns that adultery “destroys his own soul.” New Testament Reinforcement • Jesus intensifies the command: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). • The David-Bathsheba episode shows the progression from a lingering look to a decisive act, matching Jesus’ teaching. • 1 Corinthians 10:11 reminds us that these events “were written for our instruction.” Personal Takeaways for Today • God’s moral standard is timeless; position, power, or past victories never exempt anyone. • Sin often begins with an unchecked glance or thought—guard the eyes and mind (Job 31:1). • Quick repentance matters; David’s delay multiplied the fallout. • God offers forgiveness and restoration (Psalm 32:1-5; 1 John 1:9), yet consequences often linger—another motivation to honor the commandment from the outset. |
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