David's Child from Adultery Dies, 1st Judgment
- Dates
- 991 BC
After Nathan the prophet confronts David over his sin with Bathsheba, the prophet predicts the child will die. David fasts and prays but the child still dies.
In detail
Even after He has pronounced judgment God has sometimes seen fit to turn aside the penalty in response to sincere repentance and earnest petitions to Him (Ex. 32:9—14 cf. Jonah 3:4—10). David knew that God was "merciful and gracious, long—suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth" (Ex. 34:6). He therefore pleaded earnestly for forgiveness and for the life of the child.
However, this does not imply that he refused submission to the divine will. He simply hoped that God's mercy might spare the child. But the child died. The death of the child was God's solemn answer to the earnest entreaty of the father. God did not give a favorable answer to David's petitions, but the king was humbly submissive to the divine will. When Heaven's answer is contrary to our plea we must remember that God knows best, and that for some reason, often unknown to us, He sees that it is not best to extend the life of the one who is sick.
Bible passages
- 2 Samuel 12:15-23
15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. 16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. …
Text of the King James Version.