God forgave David's sin but there would be a price to pay. Calamity would always come against David from within. His own son would war against him and the child of David and Bathsheba would be stricken ill and die. This same problem would afflict David's son Solomon as well. King Solomon was considered the wisest king ever. People would come from all over the known world to hear his counsel. He was rich beyond his dreams and could have had anything he wanted. God had warned him though to not take foreign wives who would lead him away from Him. Solomon did not concentrate on all God had provided for him though and took hundreds of foreign wives. As God had warned, they led Solomon away from the Lord.
The
LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD,
the God of
It is always the forbidden fruit we seem to be so drawn to. In the Garden of Eden, God had given Adam and Eve complete freedom to eat from any tree, except one. Take note of how the bible describes the decision to eat the forbidden fruit:
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3: 6
She saw the fruit was good for food, despite the fact that God had already provided more then they could have needed through the other trees in the garden. It is not like they were starving and needed to eat of this fruit. She also saw it was "pleasing to the eye." I am sure that is how David would have described Bathsheba as well. Because it was so esthetically pleasing, it made her forget that she did not necessarily need it; just that she wanted it. Lastly, she saw that it was desirable for gaining wisdom. This is what happens when we wander away from the direction of God in pursuit of our own wisdom. The Prophet Daniel said of God in prayer:
He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2: 21
And what does the bible remind us the very beginning of wisdom beloved?
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. Psalm 111:10
