Tag: Uriah

• 1 Chronicles 20: Not Judging

  
  

  

  Friday, June 25, 2021

  1 Chronicles 20

  Not Judging 

  From the HARPERCOLLINS STUDY BIBLE (633): “At this point 2 Samuel 11.2-12.25 tells the story of David, Bathsheba, Uriah, and the prophetic condemnation by Nathan before reporting the conclusion of the battle with the Ammonites. Since Chronicles idealizes David’s and Solomon’s work for the temple and its ritual life, it would not have served its purposes to rehearse the sins of the United Monarchy. We may be sure that the Chronicler and his readers were well aware of these negative incidents”.

  Evil sneaks up on us when things are going well, when we are most confident and assured and most likely to have left God for a time. God accompanies us in our good times and bad. We may not feel God’s presence but God is with us all the same.

  Thoughts from Scripture . . .

  John 15:18: If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.

  Wisdom 2:12: Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.

  Jeremiah 18:18: The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem said, “Come, let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah”.

  Matthew 20:26: Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be you servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

  Matthew 20:22: Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?

  The Chronicler knows, as we read in our notes, that David has sinned. So have we all.

  Jesus tells his apostles that leading is serving. This Message we have heard many times.

  Jeremiah witnesses to the treachery that lies in wait for the faithful. This reality we have lived.

  Jesus reminds us that the world hates goodness. This rejection we have felt.

  Jesus asks us if we can drink from his chalice. This question we have heard within ourselves.

  Judging. Not judging. It is difficult for us to refrain from forming ideas for or against individuals or groups but it is essential for us to refrain from judging. We know that the measure that we measure is measured out to us. Ultimately, we have only this to ask ourselves: Can we live up to the harsh yardstick against which we measure others?

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  Meeks, Wayne A., Gen. Ed. HARPERCOLLINS STUDY BIBLE (NRSV). New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1989. 633. Print. (Meeks)

  To learn more about Bathsheba’s story, click on the image above or go to: https://bible.wikia.org/wiki/Bathsheba

  Adapted from a March 23, 2011 favorite.

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  June 25, 2021

  Bathseba, David, evil, Jeremiah 18:18, John 15:18, Matthew 20:22, Matthew 20:26, Nathan, Solomon, Uriah, Wisdom 2:12

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• 2 Samuel 11-12 and Psalm 51: Sin and Parable – Part V

  
  

  Friday, November 12, 2020

  2 Samuel 11 and 12 and Psalm 51

  Sin and Parable – Part VI

  Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

  I always wonder about Bathsheba.  e might see her as one dimensional, a figure standing for beauty and grace, a woman-object, a child-bearer. Yet she endures in David’s court. And while she shares in David’s act, no mention is made of her grief or guilt, most likely because she is a female, chattel in these ancient times. We can imagine how much she may have suffered. She continues to appear in Kings and in Chronicles and is revered as Solomon’s mother, yet she is a quiet back-figure in this long-running story of sin and parable.

  Let me hear joy and gladness, let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

  It is appropriate that this story come to us as we near the end of the Liturgical year and prepare for Advent.  The beautiful psalm of repentance, Psalm 51, was written when Nathan came to David after having committed adultery.

  Oh Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise. 

  When we sing this song of repentance we are repeating the words of one who has lusted, one who has slept with another’s beloved, one who has arranged murder. This is fitting, for in some way we all transgress on those around us when we covet, take or tear down something or someone. And there are many small ways in which we end a life beyond the physical act of murder. We might destroy someone emotionally, professionally, psychologically or spiritually.  et, there is always mercy to be sought . . . and granted.

  Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will turn back to you.

  There is much to be heard in this story. There is much to be lived, much to be sung. David takes something he wants. David destroys. Nathan speaks. Nathan restores.  Relationships cannot be put back as they had been, time cannot be reversed, and although Uriah cannot return, some quality, some relationship reappears. Bridges can be built. Pride can be put aside. Transgressions can be brought to light. Forgiveness can be sought and given. Restoration can happen.

  Miracles can take place . . . souls can be saved.

  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 

  What do we do when Nathan stands before us? How do we react? When confronted by big sin, we need a big spirit. We need constant relationships which help us to develop rather than comfortable friends who discourage us from growth or who encourage us to wallow. We need a steadfast spirit, a renewed heart, an eager soul. We need God. And these we have all been given. We need only take them up and commit ourselves to them.

  Create in me a pure heart, oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Create in me an open willingness to listen. Renew in me a faithful heart that takes in the world. 

  Amen.

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  To discover the medicinal uses of hyssop and how it was used in ancient times, click on the  botanical image above or go to: http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/h/hyssop48.html

  Second image from: http://mydaybook.wikidot.com/giant-hyssop

  Adapted from a reflection written on February 13, 2008.

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  November 12, 2020

  Bathsheba, David, healing, miracles, Nathan, relationships, restoration, Uriah

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• 2 Samuel 11-12 and Psalm 51: Sin and Parable – Part II

  
  

  Monday, November 9, 2020

  

  2 Samuel 11 and 12 and Psalm 51

  Sin and Parable – Part II

  Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

  The story is a famous one: David succumbs to human lust and he takes something which belongs to another. When Bathsheba conceives, he tries to trick her husband Uriah into a scenario in which the king’s child can be passed off as Uriah’s. When Uriah’s purity and faithfulness to Yahweh get in the way, David arranges the murder of this good and loyal man. A terrible tale. Nathan brings David the parable of a man who steals a beloved object from another. David at first is angry, then admits his guilt and expresses regret and grief for the damage he has done.

  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

  Lust, Adultery, Murder. These are all acts of selfishness, of obliqueness, of anger. There is nothing direct here, nothing open or honest. These acts take place in shadow and in deep places. There is no light. There is no truth.

  Let us consider the sins we have committed either actively or by leaving undone an action we have been called to complete. Let us consider how these commissions and omissions separate us from all that we are meant to be and do.  And let us consider what these sins have  to say about who we are.

  Let us consider how many parables Jesus teaches us with his words. Let us consider how many parables Jesus teaches us with his actions. And let us consider how many parables our own lives teach.

  Visit one of the Gospels and choose a parable that Jesus teaches us. Spend time with it today reflecting on how we might teach others through our actions rather than our words.

  Tomorrow we consider the sacrifice God asks of us.

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  Adapted from a reflection written on February 13, 2008.

  Image from: https://www.theleidencollection.com/artwork/david-and-uriah/

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  November 9, 2020

  anger, Bathsheba, David, guilt, loyalty, Nathan, purity, regret, Uriah

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