Old Testament Lesson 24 – “Create in Me a Clean Heart”

Lesson 24 (2 Sam 11, 12 )

(2 Sam has 24 chapters)

2 Samuel 11. David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (11:1–5). David fails in his attempt to hide his sin (11:6–13). He arranges the death of Uriah (11:14–17). David marries Bathsheba, and they have a son (11:26–27).

2 Samuel 12:1–23. The prophet Nathan teaches of the severity of David’s sins by telling David a parable (12:1–6). David is told that he will be punished because of his sins (12:7–14; note that in the Joseph Smith Translation of verse 13, Nathan states, “The Lord hath not put away thy sin that thou shalt not die”). The first son of David and Bathsheba dies in infancy (12:15–23).

Psalm 51. A repentant David seeks forgiveness.

 

OT Gospel Doctrine lesson #24, Create in Me a Clean Heart
2 Samuel 11-12, Psalm 51

The Coronation of David

Background: Saul and Jonathan are killed in battle against the Philistines. Their bodies, decapitated and desecrated by their enemies, are recovered and given a proper burial.
For the first time in decades, Israel is without a king. The heir apparent, Jonathan, is dead. There is a leadership vacuum, one Israel never experienced when Jehovah was their king.

Civil War
With Saul and Jonathan dead, David's loyalty oaths to the royal lineage of Benjamin is ended. While Saul's one remaining son, Ishbosheth, is made king of most of Israel, the powerful tribe of Judah anointed David as king.

Civil war broke out between the two feudal lands and lasted for many years.

2 Sam: 3 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

Keep in mind, this civil war sets the stage for the eventual rupture into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah later on.

Joab and Abner
Two powerful generals figure into the long and drawn out Civil War. Joab was chief captain of David's armies (and was David’s nephew). He was a genius at strategy, but in personal matters often let his passions take precedence over his obedience to the king.

Judah has David who has General Joab (his nephew)

Israel has Ishbosheth who has General Abner

Abner was Ishbosheth's pragmatic, yet less strategic, general. During one intense battle, Israel was forced to flee from the battlefield. While Abner was in retreat, he was chased by Asahel, Joab's younger brother.

2 Sam ¹⁹ And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

²⁰ Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.

²¹ And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.

Abner proved to be the better soldier and slew Asahel. Joab would not forget his brother's death.

Ishbosheth vs Abner
After years of several major defeats, King Ishbosheth insulted Abner by claiming he was distracted from the war by sleeping with one of his father's concubines. Incensed that an incompetent runt of a king would treat him so, Abner decided that a unified kingdom under David would be better for all of Israel.

David was ecstatic to have Abner's support. Preparations were made to have the tribal elders all give allegiance to David, abandoning Ishbosheth. However, Joab was incensed that David would embrace Abner whose efforts caused the war to last years. He also would not forget his brother's death by Abner's hand.

Joab's strategy was simple. Lure Abner back for a peace meeting

3²⁷ And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

²⁸ And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner

David Saves the Peace
With Abner dead by Joab's sword, the likelihood of winning the peace and tribal allegiance suddenly dimmed. David knew he only had one chance to win over the hearts of Israel's elders. He condemned Joab's action, though acknowledging his right of retribution under Mosaic Law. Still, David told Israel that the curse would be on Joab. Judah's king gave Abner a royal funeral

3³¹ And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

³⁷ For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

³⁸ And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

Israel was impressed with how David treated their war hero and favorite son. Israel gave its loyalty to David.

Assassination of Ishbosheth
2 Samuel 4
At this same time, two of Saul's former soldiers sneaked into Ishbosheth's room and assassinated him. Stabbing a person "under the fifth rib" was a choice strike zone for causing instant death. This is the same spot used by Abner to slay Asahel, and Joab to kill Abner. The soldiers brought Ishbosheth's head to David expecting a reward.

4¹⁰ When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:

¹¹ How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

¹² And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

David, King of Judah & Israel
2 Samuel 5
With Ishbosheth dead and Abner buried with full honors, Israel knew its choices were limited. David showed them respect and they needed a king. Israel's elders came to David…ready to make David king of Israel.

5:1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

² Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

It's important to note that David was king over two nations, not one. While David reached out to both Judah and Israel, their united front would remain fragile, virtually held together by charisma and duct tape. They were a united kingdom only as long as they had a worthy and righteous king that dealt fairly with everyone.

Jerusalem, City of David
To establish his kingdom further, David sought to move his chief city from the southern Judaean city of Hebron, to a city that did not belong to any tribe: Jerusalem. Jerusalem, then named Jebus, remained in the hands of the Jebusites, It was a fortress-city with high, thick stone walls that seemed impenetrable.

So impenetrable that when David invited them to join his kingdom, they scoffed at him.
David, however, found a way in.

⁸ And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter (water shaft), and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

Archaeologists now believe the gutter to be a vertical water tunnel, now named Warren's Shaft after the explorer who discovered and climbed it in modern times.

 

5¹⁰ And David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.

Shall I Go Up to Battle?
The Philistines did not like the idea of Israel again having a king, so they invaded Israel's borders twice.

Each time, David inquired of the Lord, "shall I go up?" The Lord gave David strategic counsel in sending him to war, guaranteeing the victory (2 Sam 5:22-25).

5²³ And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass (circle around) behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

The Ark comes to Jerusalem
2 Samuel 6
With victories and security established, it was time for David to establish the Lord as Israel's God.

6² And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims..

As the ark lumbered along the bumpy trail on a new cart, Uzzah set forth his hand to steady it. While his intentions were good, he was not authorized to touch the ark, or throne of God, and was smitten dead.

Just as when it was returned from the Philistines and some of the inhabitants of the city looked into it and were killed, David feared to move the ark to Jerusalem, thinking it could curse him as well. So he left it in the home and care of Obed-edom. For 3 months the ark rested there, blessing the home.

Obed-edom was a Levite, whose special prosperity while keeper of the ark after the dreadful death of Uzziah encouraged David to carry it up to Jerusalem. Obed-edom and his sons were later made doorkeepers of the tabernacle at Jerusalem

2 Sam 6:

¹³ And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

¹⁴ And David danced before the Lordwith all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

¹⁵ So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lordwith shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

He danced before the ark the entire journey. Finally it arrived, where David placed it in a Tabernacle he had constructed for it. It was finally home.

Jewish Bible Quarterly indicates this was some sort of “whirling” dance showing continually David’s subservience to God.

A Temple for Jehovah?
2 Samuel 7
After years of war, David and Israel finally had peace. David desired to honor God by giving him and the ark of the covenant a permanent home.

7:1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

² That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

But the reply is that David will not build it…

¹² And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

¹³ He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

The Lord revealed to the prophet Nathan that the time was not right, nor was David the correct person to build it, as his life had been too violent. Instead, his son would build the temple during a period of peace.

Notice also that Nathan the prophet is on the scene.  In chapters past, Davis inquired of the Lord, now Nathan is handling that…

In the meantime, Israel would have several locations for worshiping Jehovah: the original Tabernacle at Shiloh, the new Tabernacle with the ark of the covenant in Jerusalem, and a myriad of high places (Hebrew: bamoth) or altars established by Samuel and other judges and priests over the years as local outdoor temple/tabernacles to God.

Take special  notice here.  When Josiah appears on the scene and has the great purging between the first temple (Solomon’s temple) and the second temple one of the first things that is done is to restrict worship to the Temple in Jerusalem only. 

This leads to some obvious questions.  If David is in good standing as is Nathan (and as was Samuel, clearly) why did there have to be the great purging between the 1st and 2nd temples?  If there was a problem, wouldn’t they have known it now?

David Obtains the Land of Promise
2 Samuel 8-10
The next few chapters focus on David’s military forays into the lands of the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Amalekites, Edomites (children of Ishmael), and others. Each became subjected to Israel, paying tribute to David and caused to pledge their loyalty to him and Israel. David built fortresses in many of these areas to ensure the people did not revolt. Still, we find that

8¹⁵ And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

David discovered that Jonathan’s invalid son Mephibosheth still lived. He brought the young man into his own castle and cared for him. He also restored all of Saul’s personal lands to Mephibosheth.

King Nahash of Ammon had shown David much kindness in the years that David was on the run. Upon his death, David sent messengers to the funeral.

10:1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon (Nahas) died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

² Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father.

However, David’s conquests were reknowned, and Nahash’s son Hanun suspected the messengers to be spies. He cut their beards half off, as well as their clothing, then sending them away in disgrace, especially since the Mosaic Law required the men to wear their beards and be modestly clothed.

10⁵ When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

David sent Joab and Abishai with their “mighty men” of war to fight Ammon. The Ammonites paid the Syrians to assist them, but David defeated both. The Syrians ended up paying tribute to David, and never assisted the Ammonites again.
David and Israel ruled the Promised Land.

To keep the kingdoms straight, remember that David is from Judah and rules the Kingdom of Judah until he overcomes Ishbosheth where he rules everything.  When it splits later on you will have the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel. 

David and Bathsheba
2 Samuel 11-12


(This is where the lesson in the Gospel Doctrine manual actually begins.)

David sent Joab out to war with his mighty men and they beat the Ammonites. But David neglected one thing. The king was expected to go out to war with the military. In previous times, when Israel was righteous, their king Jehovah went out with them to battle. The priests would carry the Ark of the Covenant into battle, showing that the true King of Israel was with the Israelites. Once human kings were set in place over Israel, it was expected that the mortal king wage the wars for Jehovah. Saul always went out to war as was expected of the king.

But David neglected his duty, and sent his mighty men of war out without him. Instead, he remained in Jerusalem and enjoyed his leisure. With his idle time came idle thoughts. He encountered Bathsheba bathing upon the roof of her house, which would easily be visible from the palace roof, which looked down one of the valleys of Jerusalem’s old city. This probably was not a one time glance, but he may likely have seen her atop her roof day after day, evening after evening. Regardless of the fact he had dozens of wives by this time, he allowed his mind to wander into dangerous territory.

He called for Bathsheba to see him. She obviously was aware of his watching her, because we do not see her put up any struggle when he called for her. They both thought they could have a quick fling and then go on their way, except for one problem: she became pregnant.

Uriah was a Hittite, a foreigner who had converted to Judaism. He was one of David’s “mighty men” of war, one of a select few out of the thousands of soldiers who was renowned for heroic efforts. He was like Hercules was to the Greeks, one who could do great things for the nation. Uriah, like David, was extremely devoted to God, Israel, and David. Uriah was also Bathsheba’s husband. During war time, the soldiers were expected to stay away from all women. To sleep with a woman would make the man unclean for a week, and unable to serve in war.

Uriah had not slept with Bathsheba due to being in battle. David sought to hide the adultery by inviting Uriah back from the war, where he could sleep with Bathsheba and would then think the child was his own. But Uriah would not make himself unclean, nor would he eat nor drink, while his soldiers were still in the field.

¹¹ And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.

Note that the ark of the covenant left Jerusalem to go out to battle, but David remained behind. Uriah swore by both David and his own life that he would not lie with his wife while the army was in danger. David should have had such an attitude as well.

David sent Uriah back to the war. He gave Joab instructions to place Uriah in the most dangerous spot in the war, so that he would die in battle. David got his wish. Uriah died serving the king and Israel. After her period of mourning, Bathsheba was brought into David’s house and became his wife, bearing him a son.

David thought his actions were secret and would not be found out. Yet, the Lord sees in secret. Nathan the Prophet went to David to explain to him about a rich man who stole a poor man’s only and precious ewe.

12:1 And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

² The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

³ But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

⁴ And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

And David replies…

⁵ And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

⁶ And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

And he doesn’t even realize it’s about him…

⁷ And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

⁸ And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

⁹ Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

¹⁰ Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

That is to say, David lost the temple.  Later he will ask to build the temple.  Here is where he lost it.  The sword will not depart because he shed innocent blood. 

¹¹ Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

¹² For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

¹³ And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

JST 2 Sam. 12:13 … hath not put away thy sin that thou shalt not die.

Nathan said that David was guilty of breaking several of the 10 Commandments, including killing, adultery, coveting, and bearing false witness (lying). God was willing to do many things for David, if he were just to ask. Instead, David took without permission. David would live, but his life would be filled with violence and trials, brought on by his own family. The trial began with Bathsheba’s newborn son dying.

Why Reject Saul but Accept David?
Why did God reject Saul, but only chastised David severely? Isn’t adultery and murder worse than Saul’s making sacrifice to Jehovah?

The Ten Commandments are set up in a specific order. The first 4 commandments are laws regarding man’s relationship with God. The last 6 regard man’s relationship with one another. Saul rebelled against God, while David rebelled against his fellow man. Saul was rejected because his sacrifices and other choices went against Saul’s relationship with God. If Saul sacrificed in disobedience to God, what else would he do in disobedience and open rebellion against the Lord?

David’s sins were crimes of passion against his fellow men. While today we consider murder and sexual sins to be the worst sins besides denying the Holy Ghost (Alma 39:5), we need to consider a few things. First, Alma 39:5 warns us about the “shedding of innocent blood” which can be construed in many ways from simple murder to only the killing of the most innocent (children or Christ). Next, in ancient Israel the rebellion against God was a greater sin than anything against other people. The Mosaic Law included stoning people to death for breaking the Sabbath Day. In modern times, we can understand the death penalty for murder, but for going out for food on the Sabbath Day? We can see that we view things very differently now than they did then.

Bathsheba would bear another son, Solomon. He would be one of many of David’s sons. These sons would fight among each other, and Absalom would later war against David for a time, before Joab would slay him (2 Samuel 13-18).

Create In Me a Clean Heart
Psalms 51 (a penintial psalm)
The Psalms are songs that were prepared and sung primarily for holy worship in the Tabernacle/Temple. Many are believed to have been written by David, including this one, while others were written by priests in the Tabernacle, often under David’s direction.
David understood he was unclean. He was unable to enter the Tabernacle and offer sacrifice of any kind: including a sin or trespass offering. First, he had to become clean before the Lord. The Psalm goes as follows:

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly (NKJV thoroughly) from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

(Hyssop, a medicinal herb)

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness (NKJV the guilt of bloodshed)  O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Will David Burn in Hell Forever?
Thoughts on this and related Psalms. Some past LDS leaders and others have felt that David can never obtain more than the Telestial Kingdom because of his sins. However, I would note that he lived under the Mosaic Law, not the Celestial Law of Christ. He was chastised and punished severely for years for his sins, as God promised. But God also promised to accept David in the end. Verse 7 shows that David believed he could be purified of his sins, even through the trials and tribulations God placed him in, as long as he repented with a broken spirit and contrite heart (vs 17). David begs to not be cast away from God’s presence, meaning both his Tabernacle and His true glory.

What good is such a Psalm, if there is no hope for the sinner? Does Christ’s atonement atone for all those who truly repent, or just some? I cannot judge which kingdom David will end up in, but I truly hope that God and Christ’s power and grace is sufficient to save and exalt any and all of mankind on condition of repentance and obedience. David walked very circumspectly and obedient before God for the rest of his long life. He not only rent his clothes and laid in ashes, but he rent his heart and laid bare his soul to the Lord. I would hope that after all the chastising and great trials he went through, there is a better kingdom for David.

This is especially true since David is a symbol of the future and eternal King of Israel, Jesus Christ. That David could be Israel’s greatest mortal king and sin, only to be raised up and cleansed by the Eternal King of Israel will be a sight to see. For if David can be forgiven and saved after repenting of his sins, there is hope for all mankind if they but repent, and sacrifice a “broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart.”

“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”(Psalms 16:10)

“For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.” (Psalms 86:13)

These leave open to speculation just where David will end up. Personally, I believe we should leave such judgment to a Just and Merciful God who has power to save all as He chooses.