Wow! Scripture is so full of amazing stories and truths! This David is such a man of contrasts! Hmmmm. . . seems like I have said this before! Chapter 9 starts out with such evidence of why God called David a “man after his own heart.” David shows kindness to the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, even though Saul had tried to destroy David most of his adult life. David remembered Jonathan’s friendship and kindness to him and repaid it to Mephibosheth many times over. The fact that Mephibosheth was crippled was very significant given the values of the king’s household. David shows great kindness and mercy.
Then chapter 10 is a 180! David sends to the Ammonite king to demonstrate kindness to him as well. When the gesture is suspected and spurned, David lashes out in vengeful anger.
Chapter 11 and 12 are the beginning of the end of God’s full favor on David. For lust of the eyes–sexual pleasure–David goes against everything that he believes and knows to be right. How very powerful sexual sin is. This is why the scripture treats it so seriously. David not only commits adultery, but then, has the woman’s husband killed in battle to covere his sin. 12:1 makes it clear that the Lord is not pleased and the very judgement David proclaims to Nathan should be given such a scoundrel, becomes his own. God uses the affliction of David’s child to teach him a lesson and the sins of the father really are visited on the sons and the sons, sons. Not because God supernaturally causes it, but because withdraws his favor and transforming power and David’s family reaps the consequences of their lust for sex and power.
But chapter 12 also reveals that God continues to keep a remnant–a loyal people for himself. God had a special love for the second son of David born by Bethsheba and it is through this child that God will continue to work to accomplish his purposes. Solomon, too, will be a man fashioned by God and yet, fallen like all human beings and in need of God’s great forgiveness and mercy.
There truly is no God like this God! He can use sinful, broken people to accomplish his purposes and through it all, God is glorified and people are redeemed and fitted for an eternity God has prepared for them.