Guilt by Association:
Bathsheba has many times been found guilty by association. Some say she was a little too willing to obey the order of the King. I would like to ask when anyone in history, let alone a woman, has ever had the choice to obey or disobey the King. We must always be aware that we can be blamed for those around us and can be found guilty by association.
2 Samuel 11-2 Samuel 12:1-25
King David was the absolute authority his commands were obeyed. Some say that Bathsheba should not have been bathing in a public place. Bathsheba did not probably bath in public but behind the walls of an enclosed courtyard. We have to remember that King David was at war and his men were on the battle field fighting. It was King David who had an abuse of power to gratify or appease his own lustful desires. King David had six other wives why was he not with one of them?
Bathsheba had to obey to go to the palace or face execution if she decided to defy the King. Because David asked about who she was he did not know her marital status. Once he knew she was married he should have walked away. Instead, he slept with her she got pregnant and she told the king.
King David sent for Uriah the Hittite and planned to cover up his sin and to put the blame of the pregnancy of Bathsheba on the husband. Uriah was more honorable and faithful than the king. He refused to go home when his soldiers were still staying in temporary shelters and camping in the open field. David was getting desperate and because of his desperation he did a very stupid deed. David had a plan which could be said to be premeditated murder.
Because Bathsheba was pregnant with his child, he had to get rid of her husband. King David wrote a letter to his general Joab and set it by Uriah. The letter said “And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.” (2 Samuel 11:15). Joab obeyed the Kings Order and Uriah the Hittite was dead.
2 Samuel 11:26 tells us that Bathsheba mourned for her husband. This tells us that she must have loved him and did not know of his ordered death. There are some who again blamed Bathsheba for the death of her husband. There is no proof that she planned with King David in his premeditated murder of her husband. There is some who feel that this guilt by association Bathsheba should have not kept silence about her pregnancy or the death of her husband.
Bathsheba was the only one who knew the entire truth and could testify again the King. We cannot forget that Bathsheba was a woman and the wife of a general soldier who had just died. Who was she supposed to trust to tell this truth? All Bathsheba could do was mourn her husband death.
It was David who did evil in the sight of the LORD. He could not hide this sin and he could not keep the LORD from punishing him for his sin. It was not the sin of Bathsheba she was not guilty by association. She lost the baby, and her husband that could feel like a punishment but it was not her guilt nor was it her punishment.
David confessed his sins to the LORD and was ready for the punishment from the LORD. Instead, it was the grace of the LORD that allowed King David to live. The child died but the King lived. The LORD showed His grace for forgiving. King David wrote Psalm 51 which is the prayer of repentance to the LORD after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.”
There are many women who have experienced moral collapse or even divorce. Everyone who considers herself or himself a follower of Jesus has the same expectations for moral behavior as any other follower of Jesus. The story of Bathsheba and David can be a message of hope even healing and restoration for them. It can be a reminder of the great love the LORD has for His people. We can find hope in His grace and restoration. The main focus has to be on the repentance, healing and then restoration.
We are all washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11). We can never forget If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanest us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:7-9)
It is by the grace of the LORD that brings salvation. It is the teachings of Jesus Christ that tells us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. We need to be looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the LORD God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11-14). Praise Be To GOD!
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Guilt by Association:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Oct 2014.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1644,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014, October) “Guilt by Association:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1644,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014) “Guilt by Association:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (October), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1644, (accessed).
