The Five Women Named in Matthew's Lineage of Christ, Part 5

By Jerelyn Wright Pearson

| Introduction | Tamar | Rahab | Ruth | Bathsheba | Mary |

Bathsheba

In Matthew 1:6 we find that David begat Solomon.

Matthew 1:6
6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

It is interesting that Matthew identifies Bathsheba as “her that had been the wife of Urias”.

In 2 Samuel chapter 11, we learn more about Urias, Bathsheba, and David. I encourage you to read the full story, but here is a condensed version.

King David sent his soldiers and their leaders into battle while he tarried at Jerusalem. Usually David lead his men into battle. But this time he sent them and stayed behind. One evening from his roof he saw a beautiful woman washing herself. When he found out she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah who was away in battle, he sent for her, lay with her, and she conceived. Then David sent for Uriah supposedly to report on the progress of the war. He encouraged Uriah to go home for a rest and a meal, but Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house. When Uriah refused to relax at home while his troops were at battle, David sent him back with a letter to his commander, Joab, instructing him to assign Urias to the most dangerous mission so that he would be killed. When Bathsheba heard that her husband had died in battle, she mourned for him. After her period of morning, David married her, and a son was born. David’s actions displeased the Lord who sent the prophet Nathan to confront David. David immediately confessed and repented.

2 Samuel 12:13-14
13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

God is always willing to forgive a repentant sinner, but as we have seen before, often there are serious consequences for that sin, sometimes because of how it affects others. After the death of the child and a time of mourning, David comforted Bathsheba his wife.

After the death of the child and a time of mourning, David comforted Bathsheba his wife.

2 Samuel 12:24
24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

God provided a son to carry on the lineage.

When David grew old, his son Adonijah set himself up as king instead of Solomon. Nathan the prophet informed Bathsheba.

1 Kings 1:11-12
11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?
12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

Nathan and Bathsheba brought this matter before David.

1 Kings 1:28-31
28 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.
29 And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,
30 Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.
31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever. (1 Ki. 1:28-31 KJV)

God protected Solomon’s reign as King as well as the lineage of Christ.

David lusted after Bathsheba. Together they committed adultery. David repented and received forgiveness. There was still a price to pay.  Bathsheba suffered the loss of her husband Urias, and both suffered the loss of the son conceived as the result of their sin. God in his mercy and grace provided another son Solomon and established him as King after David. Thus, the lineage of Christ continued.

Bathsheba’s life plan drastically changed from what she expected. Often circumstances change our lives unexpectedly. But instead of giving up and becoming a victim of circumstance, she faithfully persevered through her circumstances and played a part in the establishment of her son Solomon’s reign as king after David, and more importantly the continuation of the lineage of Christ.

NEXT: MARY

 

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Presented 14 February 2021 in Pride, Louisiana