How does 2 Samuel 11:5 connect to the commandment against adultery? The Verse in Focus “Then the woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, ‘I am pregnant.’” (2 Samuel 11:5) The Commandment Recalled “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14) Immediate Connection—A Direct Breach • 2 Samuel 11:5 records the tangible result of adultery: Bathsheba’s pregnancy confirms that David and Bathsheba have crossed the line God forbade. • The Seventh Commandment is not theoretical here; its violation now has flesh-and-blood consequences. • By literally fathering a child with another man’s wife (Uriah, 11:3), David repudiates the covenant boundaries God set at Sinai. Ripple Effects of Adultery • Hidden sin becomes public: the pregnancy makes secrecy impossible (Luke 12:2-3). • A cascade of further sins follows—deception (11:6-13), drunkenness (11:13), ultimately murder (11:14-17)—illustrating James 1:14-15. • David’s adultery wounds multiple relationships: – Bathsheba, who is drawn into guilt and grief. – Uriah, robbed of honor, marriage, and life. – Israel, whose king betrays covenant faithfulness. – God, whose name is blasphemed among enemies (2 Samuel 12:14). • Proverbs 6:32 warns, “He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.” David’s ensuing anguish in Psalm 51 bears this out. Scripture Echoes and Amplifications • Deuteronomy 17:17 had cautioned Israel’s kings not to multiply wives, anticipating such lapses. • Jesus intensifies Exodus 20:14: “Everyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28) David’s first look (11:2) validates Christ’s teaching. • Nathan’s rebuke (2 Samuel 12:7-9) frames the sin as despising God’s word, proving that adultery is ultimately against the Lord (Psalm 51:4). Lessons for the Heart Today • Sin’s first step often appears small—a lingering gaze—yet its harvest is devastating. • God’s law stands unaltered; breaking the Seventh Commandment invites compounded sorrow. • Genuine repentance is still possible (Psalm 51), yet consequences may persist (2 Samuel 12:10-12). • Guarding the heart (Proverbs 4:23) and honoring marriage (Hebrews 13:4) remain vital safeguards against repeating David’s misstep. |
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