One of the most striking facts about Scripture is its transparency in regards to human error. Only acts of faith could have documented, but, from start to finish, sins and their consequences, which occur in everyone’s life, are exposed.
David, for example, had the privilege of being known in his biography as a “man after God’s own heart”. But this does not mean he lived in constant fear of Him. The details of his downfall were not kept from us, so we could learn from his mistakes, without the need to repeat them.
He was already established in his kingdom, had many victories and was prosperous. But when the spring rains had past and the kings went out to war with their troops, he preferred to rest, sending in a replacement. While idly walking around his terrace, he saw and lusted after the wife of his most loyal soldier, Uriah.
There is a fine line between lust and actually executing those thoughts, which is only respected by those who are vigilant in faith. David committed adultery with her and, as a result of this relationship, an unwanted pregnancy occurred.
To hide his sin, David lied, schemed and ended up killing his lover’s husband.
If this happened in Brazil, the crime of murder David committed has several qualifications within the Penal Code, which would have earned him many years in prison. Among them is “unworthy motive; futile; cruel; by stealth; without giving the victim a chance to defend himself; and with the intention of ensuring no punishment would be received”.
Apparently, no one would find out or be able to prove his guilt. But God saw and called him to pay for his unrighteousness. His adultery triggered so many other sins, which caused him terrible problems: Uriah’s life cost him the death of four children, the same penalty that he suggested Nathan apply to the “rich man who stole a sheep from the poor man”.
Misfortune began in David’s life with the death of Bathsheba’s newborn son. Then, just as he betrayed, he suffered betrayal within his family. His son Amnon raped his own sister, Tamar. And when his brother, Absalom, found out, he became enraged and killed him.
Absalom rebels against his father to take the throne. He conspires with such hatred that he is able to turn the people against the king. David is forced to flee from his own son. Besides this, on the same terrace where his sin began, Absalom humiliates his father by having sexual intercourse with his concubines. However, during a battle, he is killed by Joab.
The sword did not depart from David’s house, not even during the last days of his life. Adonijah tried to take advantage of his father’s old age and weakness to try and seize the throne promised to Solomon. Later, however, he is murdered.
David’s repentance brought him God’s forgiveness and erased the eternal consequences of his actions. However, earthly consequences cannot be erased.
Having God’s mercy at our disposal does not mean we have the freedom to sin, for we will have to give account of all our sins.