Bathsheba and David one of the greatest love stories
in the Bible

There is not much said about the woman that David married, Bathsheba, in the Bible. And there is less even spoken about their courtship. In my love analysis of this male and female relationship I am taking several liberties which include: poetic license, my personal experiences with women, along with many I have observed, and I will try and paint a picture in your mind of this romantic interlude. I do this in striking contrast to how they are usually described in a Church setting amongst the congregation.

The Bible is full of sex and drama, and love, and romance. We have to keep in mind that they were just people like you and I. We read our Bible’s and are taught who they were and what happened years later. The thing is though; they did not know the future anymore than we do. They were just living their lives not knowing what the consequences of their actions would be just like you and me. They were just living their lives.

God only knew what their future held, and what purpose their children would serve in his plan. Like Adam and Eve only God can join two together as one in marriage. There is no divorce by God. And no man can join them or separate them any more than he can separate them from the love of God. Men who have been married know that. Some are just the marrying kind, some are not. To sire children is the peradventure of God, even to wed.

I’d like to start of by talking about her name, “Bath-Sheba.” A woman, who is not identified by name, came to see Bathsheba’s son King Solomon, and find out if he was as wise as he was purported to be. She was a woman of great wealth that was displayed in the great company she brought with her. And the gifts she brought including gold of great abundance and spices that no one else had. And she knew the God of Israel, and that God would establish them forever, and made Solomon king over them.

But what is inferred from this information in my opinion, is that this women's status, title, importance, and where she was from indicates that she had a relationship or responsibility for Bath-Sheba. Notice the hyphenation. Perhaps to witness what was produced by Bath-sheba’s union with David. I hyphenated her name so you can see their possible connection.

It is possible that Bath-Sheba's name is derived from her place of origin, or birth. That would be Sheba. The kingdom of Sheba was one of the most fertile districts of Arabia and consisted of many cities. And the woman unidentified by name, but by her place of origin was the Queen of that kingdom. She is referred to as the Queen of Sheba.

In my opinion this is what is inferred from the information I have read: Bath-Sheba from the kingdom of Sheba was there to marry King David. And their union produced king Solomon to whom her mother the Queen of Sheba came to visit. Yes the Queen of Sheba was Bathsheba’s mother who came to see her grandson and bring him gifts.

But to continue with this love analysis, and to further support this contention I'm going to take this study to even another place I am going to talk about the, “Courtship of David and Bathsheba.”

I have never heard the relationship between David and Bathsheba described as one of the great love stories in the Bible as I am going to attempt to do. Whereby, God with full knowledge and consent allowed the union in marriage of David and Bathsheba before the foundation of the earth. One of many such marriages God made manifest which are a link in a chain for his purpose. It was necessary that they should become one flesh.

David had a heart for God, and he would do what he had to do for God, even though he would suffer consequences for what he did even chastisement from God for there is much fruit that comes from serving the LORD. And there is much fruit that came out of this union in fact fruit that affected our eternal destiny.

So to begin with, if we examine things closely, here we have this chance meeting. Or is it really premeditated, or as I said the providence of God? Picture this: David for some reason comes and sits on his rooftop. Bathsheba is there washing herself in view of David and David alone. This is the first time he has ever seen her, or at least took notice of her, or maybe not. She has seen David on numerous occasions after all he is the king.

He was awe-struck by her beauty and loveliness. His heart was pricked. David was in love. Bathsheba wanted David, and he was enamored with her. She presented herself to the king with her utmost. Her womanliness was pervasive in the air. It drew him to the roof top. He could not help but stare. David could feel it. Bathsheba knew he was on the roof. She eyed David as he eyed her. The chemistry was flowing back and forth.

The timing was right. The mood was right. It was a beautiful evening. Hardly anyone was around. David came out to enjoy the coolness of the evening. Bathsheba found it a good time to wash herself. Preparing for the rest of the evening, she was cleansed for David. David talked to her about her cleansing after he sent for her.

She was past the time of purification. She was eight days past her period, maybe more. He wanted this woman badly. She could even conceive. Perhaps that is why he had that conversation with her. If she did become pregnant, he would have no choice but to pursue her further. He definitely wanted to. He made passionate love with Bathsheba, she departed into the night. David had to send her home, and waited for the results of their torrid love making.

The army of David was out doing battle. It was that time of the year. Every able body was gone. This particular time David decided to stay home and relax. Bathsheba knew that the king had stayed behind. The king’s whereabouts are always known. She had a husband but he did not sire any children from her. Either he was unable to or she did not desire to have his children. But she wanted to have David's babies.

I remember when I met two women I married and raised families with. I knew right away that they were the ones I wanted for that purpose. One wanted to have my babies and one wanted me to raise hers. In that manner I'm like David, but I only had one woman in my household at a time. David had several. So I know what happens when you find the woman to marry. It is right. I know what I had to do to get them and to keep them. They were already mine from the beginning. David did what he had to do. Bathsheba's are worth it.

David and I needed one or several of God's tender mercy's to pursue our Bathsheba's. Ever since the fall men get all the blame and we accept that, and suffer the consequences. Some things are meant to be and there is no way around it. David loved women. But there was something intriguing about this one. He could not get her off his mind.

She would show herself at times he would not expect. But he knew she was supposed to be there. They probably talked from a distance without words, or perhaps a few words were exchanged, and that was enough but not enough. She may have walked by and he caught a whiff of her perfume, and was entranced. He sent someone to inquire about her. And of course she had to have heard of it.

Was he sending her a message? Did he know who she was already? Obviously her marital status did not matter. Someone said with a voice of warning in the form of a question as an Observer! "Is she not the wife of Uriah the Hitite?"

But this remark did not stay David. He had a passion for this woman. He had to have her. He was going to take her away from her husband. He could have just sent for her, and then send her back. He did but that was not the end of it.

Have you ever seen that woman you had to have? And the feeling was mutual? And it was not just pure lust? And you valued her and wanted to make her your own? You wanted to live with her, marry her, provide for her, and she is the one to have your babies?

Time passed maybe less than a month and she sent word to David that she had conceived. Obviously she wanted him to take the next step. David had a choice; he could either cut bait or fish. He could have pursued her wholeheartedly or just dropped her like a hot potato. If he sent for her husband someone would still count the months. It seems to me that David got the answer he was looking for. The wait was over. He had the excuse to pursue her now. After all she was carrying his child. No one would dare stand in his way. The clock was ticking. Everyone would see what time it was.

Where have we heard this one before? It is an old story. With all the messages going back and forth between David and Bathsheba there was bound to be some talk. There had to be a few people that knew David even got Bathsheba pregnant! They were not very discrete about this whole matter. I believe that was purposeful.

So now it was time for David to eliminate the obstacle that prevented him from marrying Bathsheba. He sends a letter to Joab an officer in his army, instructing him to send Uriah to see him. When Uriah arrived he probably got wind of what went on between David and his wife. He knew he was a dead man. At this point what else could he do but make up excuses why he could not go home to be with Bathsheba no longer his wife and he did not.

David sent a mess of meat to his home which confirmed what he was told. David was not being discrete. Then David let Uriah stay around for a few more days, but he still would not go home. David finally invited him over again and got him drunk, but he still would not go home.

Uriah was between a rock and a hard place. If he attempted to go home what would David have done? Would that endanger Bathsheba? Would Bathsheba even let him into the house? Did he want to raise the kings child with the king and others knowing who he was? Did Bathsheba send Uriah word that it was better that he just stayed away that it was over between them? Was David testing her faithfulness? Uriah was even more certain now. He was a dead man.

Uriah got his final papers. David sent Uriah back to Joab with a letter. He already knew what it said, and dared not break the king’s seal and read it. At least he would die with honor. The letter instructed when received by Joab to place Uriah in a position whereby he would be killed and he was. Uriah looked at his body language to confirm what he already knew. He was probably sent to the front line.

And after the traditional time of mourning for her husband’s valiant death in battle, David and Bathsheba had a traditional marriage ceremony of a king similar to the wedding festival Jesus attended.

The feelings that David had for Bathsheba were not just lust. David did not just want to possess her as a thing of beauty. He did not want her just for sexual pleasure. If that were the case he could have made her one of his concubines and not a wife. He wanted her babies to have the opportunity to be heir to his throne. He gave Bathsheba a lot.

Out of all of David's wives her son Solomon became heir to his throne. And God loved Solomon. David loved Bathsheba so much he was willing to do anything to make her his wife. Even to cause the LORD to become angry with him. David had a heart for God. Perhaps in his heart of hearts he knew he had to do this for the LORD, and God once again forgave him.

There are several instances in the Scripture where David had to repent even though a purpose of God was fulfilled. It was not above David to do the will of God for fear of consequences. That was how secure he was with the LORD. He always followed through with prayer sometimes asking God not to take the Holy Spirit from him to restore the joy of his salvation. To purge him with hyssop so he may be clean again. That’s salvation. We are not perfect but we are. We always turn to God not the other way.

God’s children are: Evident! Evidential! Evidence! You have to ask yourself, “Is there enough evidence that you are with a Christian.” You don’t want to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. You two will not walk together, through stormy weather. I once thought that was not possible. I’m certain of number 3 wife. One flesh, we are. I call her my footprints.

And David was never short on giving God the sacrifice of praise and worship. He was truthful before the LORD his God in all of his ways. He worshiped God in spirit and in truth. Not by the letter of the law, and in confessions to the LORD.

Other than the loss of her firstborn who went to heaven, and her prior husband, there is no mention of Bathsheba suffering any personal consequences such as David had to face. Wasn’t that enough? Men can’t even begin to imagine her suffering. But this was purposeful. She had babies to be born by David for a purpose. She did what she had to do, and suffered the consequences, thereof, until then of. A burden she can’t share. You have to have a heart for women to understand. David was a warrior.

Of all the things he could have asked of God, Solomon desired wisdom. Here’s why: Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. That quote, Proverb’s 3:13-19, is from the only Authorized Version of the Bible, the King James Version. As in the Old Testament, Kings talk to God.

Something grand came out of this newly formed preordained relationship. David and Bathsheba were a match made in heaven. Not only did David sire King Solomon from Bathsheba, but they had another son by the name of Nathan. This child was not significant in and of himself in any manner mentioned during his life, but through his seed descended Jesus Christ the Messiah and our Savior.

David had a heart for God, and David had a heart for Bathsheba. Like Adam he disobeyed God to be with his woman. Their women wanted a man who wanted to be with them above all else, men who trust God to never leave them or forsake them. They will put you to the test. Bathsheba got her a man. Eve got her a man. The failure would have been to deny these women. But of course they could not. It was the providence of God.

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ps This is a friend's work