The beginning of sin of David with Bathsheba, 2 Samuel 11

[frederick]

Anyone have any thoughts on the people David sent to inquire about the woman (v:3)? Someone came back and gave David the name, family association, and marital status. We are also told in v:4; Then David sent messengers and took her.

Should we be willing to step up and offer godly counsel if someone we know is considering the idea of adultery?

 

[Maddog]

David followed Yah except for the case of Bathsheba. Acknowledge the sin, be remorseful and repent and move on. The rabbis giving excuse for adultery saying it was not sin are probably covering for themselves in case they got caught. Had Bathsheba been single there would not be sin. It goes to my point that sex is not sin. It is the "with whom" that establishes the sin. Same with the "Thou shalt not covet" aspect. IF that woman belongs to someone else(husband) then she is off limits.

Son, direct your gaze someplace else!

Coveting or desiring is a natural action and is acceptable as long as that object or person is actually available for transaction. You have to covet(desire) before you buy anything. Coveting that is out of control leads to theft, lying, adultery, murder, etc. Oh Wait! THAT is what David did! Coveting the wrong things is the foundation for many other sin. If one cannot LEGALLY obtain said object, THEN it is sin. If it is for sale, then take a look!
I have refused many times to have extended contact with a woman that belongs to someone else. I don't need that problem. But on the other hand you need to determine if that human soul would be beneficial in your life.

 

[Mkb]

I am of the opinion that in those times women generally married quite young especially if they were beautiful like Bathsheba. If a woman was much past puberty, she was probably married.

Perhaps this understanding is incorrect.

My own great grandmother was married at 14 or 15 in the early 20th century USA and was a respectable Christian woman (not shotgun wedding or anything).

Your understanding is incorrect. Some women married that young in many cultures, usually arranged marriages. But a study that was done across cultures we have records of shows that the average age hasn’t shifted much in recorded history, varying between late teens to mid-twenties.

 

[Mkb]

I just LOVE new commandments... BUT wait! Jesus did not give a new commandment. He said so plainly. So what will it be? A new one or NOT a new one?

Do you believe Jesus is God?

As to your argument please read the whole statement he made. He is not adding a new commandment he said “…for you have committed adultery with her in your heart.” He said much the same about murder. The error is thinking that if I only imagine doing it and don’t physically do it I’m free of sin, Jesus says no, the God who sees into the darkest recesses of the earth sees the darkest corners of your heart and knows what you did. These things would have been a reasonable extension of the scriptures already known to his audience.

 

[Mkb]

David followed Yah except for the case of Bathsheba. Acknowledge the sin, be remorseful and repent and move on. The rabbis giving excuse for adultery saying it was not sin are probably covering for themselves in case they got caught. Had Bathsheba been single there would not be sin. It goes to my point that sex is not sin. It is the "with whom" that establishes the sin. Same with the "Thou shalt not covet" aspect. IF that woman belongs to someone else(husband) then she is off limits.

Son, direct your gaze someplace else!

Coveting or desiring is a natural action and is acceptable as long as that object or person is actually available for transaction. You have to covet(desire) before you buy anything. Coveting that is out of control leads to theft, lying, adultery, murder, etc. Oh Wait! THAT is what David did! Coveting the wrong things is the foundation for many other sin. If one cannot LEGALLY obtain said object, THEN it is sin. If it is for sale, then take a look!
I have refused many times to have extended contact with a woman that belongs to someone else. I don't need that problem. But on the other hand you need to determine if that human soul would be beneficial in your life.

Coveting and desiring are two separate things. As are appreciation and desire. That seems quite obvious to me. I can appreciate a man’s bravery or skill in an accomplishment without desiring to have such myself. For example a beautiful piece of music, I can recognize the beauty of it and the effort that the musician went to in order to gain the skills needed to perform it while knowing that I myself would never be able to put the effort in to make it.

Coveting is built on a need to take from another. Desiring merely wants.

 

[Victorious]

The child died. I consider that capitol. She was not free in Creator's eyes.

 

[frederick]

The child died. I consider that capitol. She was not free in Creator's eyes.

2 Samuel 12:14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die. The death of the child was for the preservation and protection of God's name.

 

[steve]

Also, Im not saying I buy the thought. It’s just another perspective.

I’ve heard of this one before, and I would take the middle ground.
If she did in fact have the ghet in hand, it shouldn’t be surprising that David might have felt that he had some wiggle-room.
He didn’t, but the spirit of justification loves grey areas all the same.