Old Testament Scriptural Summaries and Commentary

2 Samuel, Chapters 11, 12, 13; Psalm 51

Supplemental; 1 Samuel 25-30; 2 Samuel 1-10

Gospel Doctrine Class, Sunday School Lesson 24

"Create in Me a Clean Heart"

"Soon after David spared Saul’s life, Saul sought David’s life one more time. Again David had the opportunity to kill the king, but he refused to do so. Battles continued between the people of Judah and the surrounding nations, and Saul and Jonathan were killed in one of those battles. David succeeded Saul as king and became one of the greatest kings in the history of Israel. He united the tribes into one nation, secured possession of the land that had been promised to his people, and set up a government based on God’s law. However, the last 20 years of his life were marred by the sinful decisions that are discussed in this lesson" (Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual, (2001), Lesson 24, pp. 111-116).

2 Samuel, Chapter 11 — David’s Fall

The war with the Ammonites and Syrians is still plodding along but David has not gone to battle.  He has remained in Jerusalem while Joab and his army are sent to fight the war.  The scriptures say, “And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house; and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon” (v. 11:2).  David sent messengers to find out who she was.  And one said that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.  Then David sent for her “and he lay with her” (v. 11:4).

From this encounter, Bathsheba conceived and was with child.  David sent for Uriah to come home to be with Bathsheba so all the kingdom would think that Uriah was the father of the child.  But Uriah refused to stay with Bathsheba out of respect for his troops who were sleeping in open fields in battle (v. 11:11) and he slept with the servants of the king.  Then David sent Uriah back to Joab with a note telling Joab to put Uriah into the front of the battle and to retire the troops around him so he would be fighting alone.  Joab didn’t understand the message, but did as he was commanded and Uriah was killed in battle.  When Bathsheba heard that her husband had been killed, she mourned. “And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife and bare him a son.  But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD” (v. 11:27).

2 Samuel, Chapter 12 — Nathan tells David the parable of the ewe lamb

The Lord sends the prophet Nathan to David to expose David’s sins.  Nathan tells David a parable about a rich man and a poor man who lived in the same city.  The rich man has many flocks and herds but the poor man has nothing but one little ewe lamb that he loved and nourished and cared for as if it were his child.  When a traveler came to the rich man, he was so selfish that he refused to take one of his own flock to prepare a meal for the wayfaring man, but took the poor man’s lamb and dressed it for the stranger.  As David listened to the story, he became angry at the rich man and said, “As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die;” (v. 12:5).  “And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity” (v. 12:6). 

And Nathan said to David, "Thou art the man” (v. 12:7).  Then he lists all the blessings the Lord has given David and says, “thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite, …and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon” [in battle with the Ammonites] (v. 12:9).  And Nathan prophecies of three terrible future events:  (1) “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house;” (2) “Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house;” and (3) “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” [it will become public knowledge] (vv. 12:10-11). And when Bathsheba’s child was born, on the seventh day, it died (12:18).  After mourning for the dead child, Bathsheba conceives again and bore a son and named him Solomon, who was loved by the Lord (v. 12:24).

Now, Joab [captain of David's army] had taken the royal city of the Ammonites and sent to David for help.  When the war was won, they took all the spoils of the city and put the people in bondage to David.  And that was the last of the Ammonite wars (vv. 12:26-31). 

Note: David is guilty of murder and did not receive resurrection at the time of Christ’s resurrection.  He remains in spirit prison until the time that he will be redeemed and given a place in a lower kingdom.  See a change in verse 13: "And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD, And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath not put away thy sin; thou shalt not die" (see JST - Joseph Smith Translation; also 2 Nephi 9:35).

From the Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual — "What happens when we try to cover our sins?" Elder Richard G. Scott said: “Do not take comfort in the fact that your transgressions are not known by others. That is like an ostrich with his head buried in the sand. He sees only darkness and feels comfortably hidden. In reality he is ridiculously conspicuous. Likewise our every act is seen by our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son. They know everything about us. …“If you have seriously transgressed, you will not find any lasting satisfaction or comfort in what you have done. Excusing transgression with a cover-up may appear to fix the problem, but it does not. The tempter is intent on making public your most embarrassing acts at the most harmful time. Lies weave a pattern that is ever more confining and becomes a trap that Satan will spring to your detriment” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1995, 103; or Ensign, May 1995, 77).

Psalm 51 - David's Psalm of forgiveness for his sin of adultery and murder

David writes: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies."  He pleads with the Lord to "blot out my transgression;…Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity; and cleanse me from my sin."  He tells the Lord that he "acknowledge"/s his transgression and his sin is ever before [with] him—that when judgment comes the punishment will be justified by the Lord (vv. Psalm 51: 1-4).  He knows that the Lord "desirest truth in the inward parts:" and in his "hidden part" the Lord will teach him wisdom (v. 51:6).  David cries "Purge me with hyssop and I will be clean" [hyssop was an herb used for cleansing and medicine; Internet].  Two more times he asks the Lord to forgive his sins and iniquities (v. 51:7-9).

Now David asks the Lord, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (v. 51:10).  He begs not to be "cast away" from the Lord's presence [spiritual death]; and not to take the Holy Ghost away from him. David pleads, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit" (v. 51:11-12).  And he promises the Lord that he will teach "transgressors" and "sinners" the ways of the Lord; and he will "sing aloud" of his righteousness  

and praises to the Lord (v. 51:13-15).

Although the Law of Moses has not yet been fulfilled, David knows the Lord does not delight in unrighteous sacrifices of burnt offerings.  And he explains what sacrifice is required: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart" (v. 51:17).  Finally, he asks God for his "good pleasure" for Zion" that the walls of Jerusalem will be built. Then the Lord can again accept the "sacrifices of righteousness" of burnt offerings on the Lord's altar (vv. 51:18-19).

2 Samuel, Chapter 13 — Tragedy in David’s house

Amnon was David’s oldest son born to Ahinoam at Hebron.  He was the crown prince and natural heir to David’s throne.  Amnon becomes infatuated with Tamar, his half-sister, whose brother was Absalom.  When she refuses his advances, he rapes her.  "Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; …And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone" (v. 13:15). 

And Tamar went to Absalom and told him what had happened and he hated Amnon for the deed (v. 13:22).  When David heard about Tamar he was filled with rage also, but did nothing about it (v. 13:21).  After two years passed, Absalom invites David and all his sons to a party in celebration of sheep shearing time several miles north in the mountains of Ephraim.  David declines to go but agrees to send Amnon and all his sons.  During the feast, Absalom commands his servants to wait until Amnon "is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him…" (v. 13:28). And when the brothers saw what happened to Amnon, they hurried back to Jerusalem.  "So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.  And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead" (vv. 13:38-39).

See following supplemental reading 1 Samuel, chapters 25-31; 2 Samuel, chapters 1-10.