The Daily: Tuesday September 5, 2023

Daily Lectionary Reading: Psalm 17 (NRSV, The Message); Revelation 3:7-13 (NRSV, The Message); 2 Samuel 11:27b–12:15 (NRSV, The Message)

...the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.
2 Samuel 11:27b (NRSV)

When the first part of this story, one of the most horrific in scripture, popped up yesterday, I just wanted to slam my Bible shut. I didn't want to deal with it. Growing up, the story of David and Bathsheba was presented as a pecadillo, a redemption story, even a love story. "Look, God can still use this horny son of a gun." It is none of those things.

David raped Bathsheba. When the king sends his messengers to get you (2 Samuel 11:4) to "lay with you," you go. When she became pregnant, he sent her husband, David's trusted servant, to the fornt lines of a hot battle to be killed. Murdered to cover up the rape-caused pregnancy.

I can see why the Lord was displeased. David used his power to take what he wanted with seemingly no regard for the consequences. He treated his subjects as objects. He had his servant killed.

Thank God for Nathans. Now, Nathan's admonishment of David only scratches the surface of David's depravity in these circumstances. But he spoke truth to power, he delivered God's judgement to empire.

It is a great reminder on this day after Labor Day, that it always displeases God when empire (government, corporate, or otherwise) takes advantage of those who give thier service and allegiance.

May we each we be deputy Nathans in speaking for God's truth to power.