Ep 652 – 2 Samuel 12:15-23

In 2 Samuel 12:15-23, we're faced with a difficult story involving the death of the baby born to Bathsheba and King David. The passage makes it painfully clear that the baby's death was the direct result of God discipline on David for his sin. But this kind of justice seems alien to us. It contradicts our sense of justice. After all, what had the baby done to deserve death? It had committed no sin. It was guilty of no transgression against God. And yet, the text tells us that the Lord afflicted the child…and he became sick. In time, the child died. And David mourned his loss, but also worshiped his God. He didn't cast blame or shake his fist in the face of God. He knew he was guilty and that the child's death was just punishment for his crime against God. While this story rocks our modern-day concepts of justice, we must be careful in passing judgment on God. He is not the one who sinned. He had not been unfaithful. But He was just.