“And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.” (2Sa 12:24 AV)
David and Bathsheba had an affair. When it was told to David that Bathsheba was with child, David arranged for Bathsheba’s husband to die in battle. Uriah was sent to the front lines and told to assault a city wall. An enemy arrow pierced his heart. That was God’s way of bringing Uriah home. Uriah never found out his wife had been unfaithful. With the birth of this child, God struck the child with sickness that would take his life seven days later. It was only right that God would not allow David and Bathsheba to enjoy the fruits of their sin. In those seven days, David prayed for God’s grace. In particular, David sought health for his newborn. God did not grant David’s wish, but He did show infinite grace. Most of us would see the event as one that could never be blessed. David committed adultery and murder. One would think that God would never give them a child. But He did. He gave them Solomon. Solomon would be that certain king of Israel who grew the nation into a world power. God loved Solomon. God showed grace to two repentant and humble parents in the giving of a child He used for His glory.
God is far more gracious than we might think. His tender mercies do not fail. Because of who and what we are, we deserve an eternal hellfire. Yet, the LORD is slow to wrath and quick to forgive. When we take stock of the blessings of God, there is not one honest saint who can say they deserve all they have. Even if the saint is highly disciplined and righteous, he or she still deserves the pits of hell. When compared to the glory of God, falling short of it is infinitely short no matter how righteous we might be. Let us never forget that! When remembering all the LORD has done over almost 50 years of salvation, this saint stands humbly amazed at what God has done. This writer deserves the hottest place in the devil’s domain. The account, although settled along ago, still grows. Even after I know better. The old man seems to be more of a pest every day I live. Sin is at the door. The heart is stained with sin. Sin that has to be battled every day. Some battles are won. Some are lost. Seeking God’s forgiveness is a daily thing. The day of glorification cannot come too soon. Yesterday, while door knocking, I spoke to a man in his nineties who knew the LORD. We both agreed that the LORD cannot come soon enough.
Solomon was God’s way of telling two flawed people that they were forgiven. Solomon was God’s extended hand of love and mercy toward two people who made very bad choices. Solomon was God’s way of telling two people that in spite of what they had done, God loved them and was going to use them for His glory. The existence of Solomon went a long way in healing the scars left by sin. David would have to pay his fourfold cost for stealing another man’s wife. He lost his newborn, but would lose three more sons before he passed. The consequences were not totally avoidable. But Solomon was the grace to endure what was coming. Solomon, by his mere existence, was an amazing young man. Every time he called out for Momma or Daddy, it was God’s way of saying, “I forgive you and I still love you”! Praise God for His wonderful grace to the children of men.
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