Up to this point we've seen David as a virtuous figure. His dealings with his persecutor Saul in particular established him as a magnanimous and noble example for all of us in dealing with our enemies. But here in 2 Samuel 11 we see that even the mighty fall. David's infamous affair with Bathsheba shows us that we are all sinners. It would have been consistent with human nature to try and conceal this episode from the story of David. Again, up till now he had been portrayed as a near perfect person. But this major fall from grace (made far worse by how Bathsheba's husband was dealt with) casts a negative glow on David -- and still the writer of 2 Samuel 11, whether that was Nathan or Gad or someone else, did not shrink from showing his king as flawed. It speaks to the veracity of Scripture. Plus, this event leads to many fruitful opportunities for repentance (Psalm 50 comes to mind as a particularly powerful one), thus showing how God brings good out of evil situations.
What struck me most was how David dealt with Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba. At first it just seemed vile and murderous to go after Uriah after committing adultery with his wife. It becomes a twofold sin. And it truly is abhorrent no matter how you think about it. But it's clear that Bathsheba's conceiving of a child was the difference-maker that caused David to go to such drastic lengths. David acted to protect Bathsheba's honor. Her fate would have been much different had he just left her to bear the harsh consequences of a scandalous pregnancy. And of course even after the sordid origins of their relationship, Bathsheba does go on to be the mother of Solomon and thus eventually the queen mother of all of Israel. In the latter role she prefigures the Queen Mother, Mary, mother of Christ the Son of David. Proving once again that God always has the last say and can cause a human failing by His Grace to bear fruit.
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