Purpose: To encourage class members to be chaste in thought and action and to repent of their sins.
Elder L. Whitney Clayton, Of the Seventy gave a talk in which he referenced the scriptures that we are studying this week and the story of David and Bathsheba. He provides a quick synopsis of the story. It is worth posting here. Though I have to admit this story has me shaking my head. It makes me so sad, but it is an important reminder how closely we must safeguard our thoughts and actions. On our own, we are susceptible to foibles that can sink us.
Elder Clayton: "There’s an account in the Old Testament about someone who fell prey to a trap. That man was mighty King David, and what happened is one of the saddest stories in the scriptures.
“And it came to pass … at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they [fought against Ammon]. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
“And it came to pass in an evening-tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon” (2 Samuel 11:1–2).
David learned the woman’s name was Bathsheba. Her husband, Uriah, a soldier, was away fighting the Ammonites with the rest of the army, where David, their king, should have been. David had Bathsheba brought to the palace. They committed adultery, she became pregnant, and David began to fear that their adultery would be discovered. Hoping to cover his sin, David ordered that Uriah be sent back to Jerusalem. Uriah returned, but refused on principle to go to his home to visit Bathsheba. David then arranged for Uriah to be slain in battle (see 2 Samuel 11:3–17). This series of dreadful decisions brought death to Uriah and misery to David, Bathsheba, and eventually the entire kingdom. With rich understatement, the Bible says, “The thing that David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27).
Do you see how David got caught in this trap? He was on a rooftop courtyard of his palace, and looking below in a neighboring yard, he saw something he never should have seen. That was the adversary’s bait. Modesty, chastity, and good judgment required that David turn away immediately and not watch, but he didn’t do either thing. Instead, he allowed his mind to turn to forbidden fantasies, those thoughts led to actions, and things quickly spiraled downward from bad to worse to fatal. David was trapped, and for him the consequences were eternal."
(Whitney Clayton, “Blessed Are All the Pure in Heart,” Liahona, Nov 2007, 51–53)
To read the entire article, which I highly recommend, go HERE! For another article with great insight and detail go HERE (Arthur R. Bassett, “The King Called David,” Ensign, Oct 1973, 63).
2 Samuel 11–12; Psalm 51
Study the following scriptures:
a. 2 Samuel 11. David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (11:1–5). David fails in his attempt to hide his sin (11:6–13). He arranges the death of Uriah (11:14–17). David marries Bathsheba, and they have a son (11:26–27).
b. 2 Samuel 12:1–23. The prophet Nathan teaches of the severity of David’s sins by telling David a parable (12:1–6). David is told that he will be punished because of his sins (12:7–14; note that in the Joseph Smith Translation of verse 13, Nathan states, “The Lord hath not put away thy sin that thou shalt not die”). The first son of David and Bathsheba dies in infancy (12:15–23).
c. Psalm 51. A repentant David seeks forgiveness.
David succeeded Saul as king and became one of the greatest kings in the history of Israel. He united the tribes into one nation, secured possession of the land that had been promised to his people, and set up a government based on God’s law. However, the last 20 years of his personal life were marred by the consequences of his sinfulness.
• What did David do that led him to commit adultery? (See 2 Samuel 11:2–4.) What might lead people to be tempted to commit sexual sins? What can we do to avoid being tempted to commit sexual sins?
• What more serious sin did David commit in an attempt to hide his immorality? (See 2 Samuel 11:14–17.) From whom do you think David thought he could hide his sin? How do people try to cover up sins today? What happens when we try to cover our sins?
In a psalm to the Lord, David expressed a desire to help others repent, saying, “I [will] teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee” (Psalm 51:13). Even though David forfeited his exaltation because he arranged the death of Uriah, we can learn from his repentant attitude as he sought forgiveness for the sin of adultery. His words in Psalm 51 teach many aspects of true repentance. As you study the psalm, look for ways that you can apply David’s repentant example to your life.
No matter how successful or strong we may be, we are not above temptation. We should work now to make any necessary changes in our lives to help us remain chaste in thought and action. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and his Atonement. It is because of the Atonement, we can be forgiven of our sins.
1 comment:
Thank you very much for sharing the article by Arthur R. Bassett, “The King Called David,” Ensign, Oct 1973, 63. Though it was a brief summarization of David's life, it gave much insight about him. We can all learn from David's example, both good and bad.
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