Robert Barron, in his theological reflections on this episode in the life of King David (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible: 2 Samuel [Brazos, 2015] p.96) points out the bitter irony of the encounter and subsequent cover-up: “It is indispensable that we do not forget that the David who fell with Bathsheba was none other than he slayer of Goliath, the friend to Jonathan, the loyal servant of Saul, the man after Yahweh’s heart, and the sweet singer of Israel.” And then these trenchant thoughts, David “is not presented as a sexual pervert or a self-involved, power-hungry tyrant; quite the contrary, he is a remarkably good man, one of the best that Israel ever produced, a new Adam. And yet, like the old Adam, he sinned. Thereupon hangs a tale of enormous theological importance.”
The theological angle in the David Story is indeed intriguing. If you think of the rise of David, you see that God began making a New Beginning after the dark ages of the Judges. First Samuel told the Story of the demise of the old order, and highlighted God’s “rebuilding” of His People. It was almost like a second “In the Beginning.”
With the rise of David, there was the sense that a new Adam and a New Garden was being inaugurated. Jerusalem was to be the New Garden and David, the New Adam. David was charged with tending to this “Garden,” just as the First Adam was to steward that perfect Paradise. However, David grew lax. And one day— when he should have been out to battle with his armies, he is instead found roaming around the roof of his palace, contemplating his pleasures and greatness, perhaps. It is not a coincidence that Uriah mentions the ark of God out in the field with the troupes (11:11). It is biting that one of the motivations of David when he became king was that the ark of God dwelt in a tent, and how he so desired “to build a house for God.” And yet, here the king is, lounging around in his luxurious dwelling, while the ark of God is out in the open field, at war, accompanying, supporting and encouraging the people.
Here's the deep dig: The tragic scene from the original Garden of Eden is replayed. David (Adam) and Bathsheba (Eve). David sees the forbidden fruit and partakes. And the kingdom disintegration begins. This becomes the turning point of the Story. David will never again rise to the heights he had attained. His family will grow dysfunctional. The kingdom will eventually divide. The sons of David will be a mixed bag of faithfulness and unfaithfulness. And ultimately, the People of God will go into Exile. The North scattered by the Assyrians in 722 BC, and the South, carted away to Babylon in 586 BC.
The entirety of the Books of Samuel and Kings begs for a righteous Adam. This is where our “Messiah” and “Messianic Hope” language comes from. This is why Jesus, the last and final and perfect “son of David” is so big. Jesus is the Last Adam. All that First Adam and New Adam (David) should have been, Jesus was… and continues to be. Faithful to the end.
Come Lord Jesus.
