Second Samuel 11-12 and 1 Chronicles 20 tell of a same time frame, but in very different ways. The 1 Chronicles 20 telling speaks briefly of facts regarding war and victory.
In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, Joab led out the armed forces. He laid waste the land of the Ammonites and went to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and left it in ruins. 2 David took the crown from the head of their king—its weight was found to be a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones—and it was placed on David’s head. He took a great quantity of plunder from the city 3 and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes. David did this to all the Ammonite towns. Then David and his entire army returned to Jerusalem. (1 Chronicles 20:1-3, NIV, emphasis mine)
I think to myself how incomplete a story is regarding a limited view of what I can see. How often do I make assumptions about others based on limited facts–and worse, limited understanding?
But in 2 Samuel 11-12 the story is told from a different perspective, that of someone closer to David, someone who walked alongside David in the private spaces most people aren’t an audience.
Where 1 Chronicles ends at David remained in Jerusalem, 2 Samuel 11-12 fills in the rest of the story: David’s affair with Bathsheba, Uriah’s return home, the orders to have Uriah killed in battle, the confrontation from Nathan, David’s days of fasting and grief, the death of his son. This is the part of the story that tells me more of the things behind the scenes. The same battles and victory mentioned in 1 Chronicles, but all the rest of what else David battled–his own sins, pride, and remorse.
19 David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.
“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”
20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. (2 Samuel 12:19-20, NIV, emphasis mine)
It’s been 32 years since my mother died. I could easily tell you the battles she faced. And though I walked that journey with her in many respects, I was too young and immature to know the fullness of the difficulties she truly faced or to have compassion, grace, or admiration for her. My focus was on all the things that knocked her down. But recently, it felt like God’s grace and compassion whispered over me, “Did you see all the times she got back up?” And that changed everything.
There is always more to a story than we realize. And only God gets the true perspective of it.
Psalms 51 and 32 give greater insight to David’s heart, his humility, and his gratitude–things that 1 Chronicles and 2 Samuel don’t tell me.
Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit. Psalm 32:1-2, NIV
I am reminded that the blessing isn’t reserved for perfect, sinless people. The blessing is on those whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
Father God, I am so grateful you know all the details of a story. Satan accuses and shames. You forgive and restore. Thank you for your strength to get back up after the times I’ve been knocked down. Thank you for softening my heart with truth, grace, and your whispers of compassion and knowing. Thank you for blessing us with forgiveness and covering us with your righteousness.
Courtney (66books365)
Sixty-six books in a year 