David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1 Through 12:25)

Question:

A friend is doing an advanced study, and I was hoping Unity could provide me with their interpretation of it, since I know Unity is more grounded in Truth and spirituality.

Comment:

Unity doesn't have a single interpretation of this biblical story, nor of any other part of the Bible. We offer a metaphysical perspective that allows each reader to experience the passage for themselves and find the resonances that bring the story out of history and into own life experiences.

There is no doubt that the story has King David making choices that are contrary to his divine guidance. He seduces Bathsheba while her husband Uriah is away fighting the king's war. Together they try to deceive Uriah into sleeping with his wife so that the child could be thought to be Uriah's instead of David's. And when that scheme fails, David contrives to ensure that Uriah will be killed in battle, leaving the king free to take Bathsheba as his wife. He believes he has gotten away with it all, until Nathan the prophet shows up with a warning from the Lord that his negative choices will inevitably have negative consequences. And indeed, the child is born sickly and soon dies.  

To me, the significance of the story lies, not in the sex or sinning, but in David's response to the prophet's words. He doesn't deny anything. Instead, he strips himself of his kingly attire and humbles himself in sackcloth and ashes. He prays for the baby's well-being so passionately that his servants are afraid he might actually harm himself. And then, when the worst has happened and the baby has died, he cleans up, gets dressed, and goes on with his life. When his servants ask him why he is no longer penitent, he explains that he did what he could for as long as he could. Once the outcome was clear and the worst had happened, he was able to accept the consequence and move on to make new and (presumably) better choices. Indeed, Bathsheba soon bears another child, a boy, and they name him Solomon. So great good can come from even our most painful experiences if we are willing to acknowledge our responsibility for the consequences of our choices and then move on, making new choices that bear joyful and powerful consequences.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed