Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Then Nathan went to his house. The Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became very ill.”
NL Daily Devotion for Tuesday, October 27, 2020
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Solomon’s birth is overshadowed by a darkness in the house of David. David fell in love (lust, really) with Bathsheba while she was still married to Uriah. David had Uriah sent to the front lines of war, ensuring he would be killed, which he was. So, David essentially killed Uriah, and then stole his widow, who was already pregnant with David’s son. What. A. Mess.
The Lord was not happy with David, so the Lord killed David’s son. Once their grieving was over, David and Bathsheba had another child, Solomon, who became one of the most wealthy, powerful, and shrewd kings Israel had ever seen.
Do I believe God killed a child to punish a parent? No. Absolutely not. It’s one of those things we do to try to make sense of a senseless event — we blame God. At least if God is in control (even when it’s devastating), then we can feel like there’s a greater purpose, and that the suffering was not for nothing.
But God doesn’t kill kids to punish parents, any more than God rewards the grieving parents with an even better kid. Sometimes events occur, and they suck, and there’s no greater purpose, and we can make no meaning of it. It’s part of the human condition.
Also part of the human condition is the capacity to heal; the willingness to move through the depths of despair alongside those we love who are grieving; the ability to pick ourselves up and make something good come out of a situation that never should have happened; also trusting that God grieves with us and gives us strength to get out of bed day after day.
David and Bathsheba’s grief didn’t end them. They healed; they clung to each other for support (I assume); they went on to have another child; and most importantly, they kept faith in a loving God.
God, grief comes in many places. Let me grow in my trust to you. Amen.
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