“A Man After God’s Own Heart”?

David listened as Nathan pronounced the judgment of the Lord.

The sword would never depart from the descendants of David (see 2 Samuel 12:10). David’s sin would jeopardize his ability to command the respect of his family.

His influence over the people would be damaged.

Where David had sinned in secret and tried to cover up his actions, God now stated his punishment would be open for all to see (v. 12).

With eyes now open, David recoiled with horror from his selfish actions.

God had blessed him and placed him on the throne of Israel.

He had promised David’s seed would reign forever.

In return, David abused God’s blessings and used his position as king to do evil in the sight of God. As the nation’s religious ideal, David had failed to set a positive example. In slaying Uriah and then taking his wife, “David committed an offense that throughout the ages has given enemies of the Lord the opportunity to blaspheme and reproach God’s holy name.” Scoffing, they say, “A man after his [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; see also Acts 13:22)? He committed these horrific deeds and sinned appallingly, but God just ignored his acts and did not require his death, as required by law (2 Samuel 12:13). Did God, therefore, sanction David’s behavior? “Few have been guilty of any baser sin, any greater ingratitude, any more intense or brutal selfishness than was David in his murder of Uriah. Yet when he sincerely acknowledged his sin the Lord readily granted forgiveness and restored him to divine favor. At the same time a course such as David pursued is fraught with extreme danger. Repentance involves a change in the basic attitude of the sinner toward his sin. Men generally sin because they love to. This makes it difficult for them to be sorry for a sin they deliberately planned and purposely executed. . . . Any man interested only in receiving forgiveness for past transgression while planning to repeat his sin, is insincere and seeks forgiveness in vain.” True repentance requires a change in behavior and an honest endeavor to never repeat the offense.