2 Samuel 12:24-31: a reflection

24David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her. She bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. The LORD loved him; 25and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah, for the LORD’s sake. 26Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. 27Joab sent messengers to David, and said, “I have fought against Rabbah. Yes, I have taken the city of waters. 28Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called by my name.” 29David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, and fought against it and took it. 30He took the crown of their king from off his head; and its weight was a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones; and it was set on David’s head. He brought a great quantity of plunder out of the city. 31He brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work under saws, under iron picks, under axes of iron, and made them go to the brick kiln; and he did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

After David's grievous sin with Bathsheba, and the death of the child born from it, this passage records a quiet turn toward grace. David comforts Bathsheba, and she bears another son, Solomon; and the text adds a tender note: and the LORD loved him. God even sends word through the prophet Nathan to name the child Jedidiah, beloved of the LORD. After the deep failure and the grief that followed, God shows love and grace, giving a son whom he loved.

Notice the grace that follows David's failure. David's sin had been grievous, and its consequences painful, including the death of the first child. Yet God did not abandon David to his failure; he brought, out of the aftermath, a new mercy, Solomon, whom the LORD loved. Where we might have expected only lasting judgment, God shows grace, love, a new beginning. His grace reached beyond David's failure, bringing good and love even after the worst.

That grace beyond failure is a deep comfort. When we have failed grievously, and suffered the painful consequences, we can feel that God is finished with us, that only judgment remains, that no grace could follow such failure. But God's grace reached beyond David's grievous sin, bringing a son whom he loved. God is able to bring good and grace even after our worst failures; his mercy is not exhausted by our sin. If you have failed grievously, and feel that God is finished with you, remember that after David's sin, God gave a son whom he loved. God's grace reaches beyond failure; do not think that your failure, however grievous, has placed you beyond his love and mercy. The God who loved Solomon, born after David's deep failure, is able to show you grace and love beyond your failures too. His mercy is greater than your sin; do not despair, but hope in a grace that reaches beyond even grievous failure.

Lord, after David's grievous sin and the grief that followed, this passage records a quiet turn toward grace: David and Bathsheba have a son, Solomon, and you added a tender note, and the LORD loved him, even sending word to name him Jedidiah, beloved of the LORD. Give me the deep comfort of that grace beyond failure. When I have failed grievously, and suffered the painful consequences, I can feel that you are finished with me, that only judgment remains, that no grace could follow such failure. But your grace reached beyond David's grievous sin, bringing a son whom you loved. You are able to bring good and grace even after my worst failures; your mercy is not exhausted by my sin. If I have failed grievously, and feel that you are finished with me, help me remember that after David's sin, you gave a son whom you loved. Your grace reaches beyond failure; keep me from thinking that my failure, however grievous, has placed me beyond your love and mercy. You, who loved Solomon, born after David's deep failure, are able to show me grace and love beyond my failures too. Your mercy is greater than my sin; keep me from despair, and help me hope in a grace that reaches beyond even grievous failure. Thank you for grace beyond my failures, Lord.