I am not talking about our youngest son, David, here. I love talking about our own blessed children, but this is about the lineage of Jesus ...including King David.

Yes, it has something to do with design.

From Adam to Noah ...and then on to Jesus, I somehow look to the significance of each.  In the lineage, some of the people are mentioned significantly more than others ...and I look to what God is showing us with each mention.

I know we don't know much about the people after the ever popular kings.  But I am hopeful, not that I may someday be a king, but that my life is significant also ...in spite of the decisions I've made and the actions I've taken in life.

I see Jacob who stole the blessing from Esau, but that was in the design ...and Jacob was later named Israel. I see that Esau had no heart for the true value of the blessing like Jacob did.  And in this, I see that our desires are what are most important ...and significant how those desires align with God. 

Desiring what God would have for us to do should be our compass, and if our actions do not follow that line, we should attempt to correct them and redirect our path.

When I read of David, I see that he is mentioned as a man after God's own heart.  And I look at that heart, and sometimes marvel at why it was through Bathsheba that God chose the line to Jesus.

In looking at this, I try to look at the heart of both Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah.  Uriah did not have the status of King David, but if he lived today, I imagine him as the Homecoming King ...the honored one of the gridiron.  I see Bathsheba as the Homecoming Queen, and proudly walking with him.  I see them getting married, and then Uriah joining the honored ranks of the military.

Anyway, back to the real story, he was an honored warrior and he seemed to relish that title.  But, beyond relishing that title, one that he obviously felt he earned, he seemed not to cherish a title he didn't earn ...one he entered into as a gift from God.

You may suspect what I'm going to say, as it is a role that God has provided for all of us men.  It is a role that doesn't need to be taken, but it is available in God's design ...and it is called the role of a husband.  And the provision by God for that man ...is the role of a wife, through marriage.

And what God gives us, we should honor above all else that we somehow feel we acquire or achieve ourselves.

Not at all overlooking all the wrong that King David did, when Uriah was called back from the war ...he had a chance to spend some intimate time with his wife.  After all, most wars are fought to preserve that which is of highest and cherished value ...inclusive of the relationships that God gives us.  They certainly should be cherished, and we should not war against them.

Uriah did not go to spend the evening with his wife ...he slept at the entrance of the palace.  David asked Uriah why he did not go to his wife, having returned from a long military campaign.  But, Uriah could not separate himself from the thoughts of his military comrades, "How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife?  As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!"  

God made the relationship between husband and wife ...as designed by Him, and as one of the most cherished unions entered into when joined together with Him at the center.

Selah.





Post-selah ...

The King sends his servant to tell the woman to get off the streets …if she wants to engage in that sort of activity, she needs to move out beyond the outskirts of the city.

The servant returns with this word, “The woman said that in all due respect, she was not on the streets …she said she was in her walled private courtyard, where no one would be able to see her.  And she is married.”  

The King notices a slight smile, “Is there something amusing about all this?”

The servant quickly explains, “No, Your Excellency, I was just trying to remember what else she said.”

The King asks rather abruptly, “Have you had adequate time to collect your thoughts?  What else did she say?”

The servant hesitates, “I guess it was really nothing.”

The King insists, “But, it is really something …and I want to know what that something is.”

The servant avoids eye contact, “Well, she just said that only someone from the castle wall could have seen her …and no one within the King’s noble employ would dare admit to the King that they had seen her.”

The King commands, “Bring her to me …so I can speak with her.”

After much time, the woman enters the King’s presence in her humble robes.

The King knows how intimidating this may seem, standing before the King …for uncertain reasons or consequences, “I apologize …it was not my intent to violate your privacy, nor to assume fault on your part where none existed.”

The woman’s eyes meet his eyes, “I also apologize …as I knew you’d be able to see me, and I don’t know what came over me.  Please forgive me.”

The King steps closer.  He pretends he doesn't know she is married, wondering if she will pretend also.

The King peers into her soft eyes, “Excuse me for saying so, but you are a very beautiful woman …anyone in my employ would gladly give you the attention that any woman deserves.  And any one of my loyal soldiers would surely fight for the opportunity to have you as their wife.”

The woman speaks softly, “That is the problem.”

 The King is a bit confused, “What is the problem?”

The woman begins to cry, “The fighting.”

The King is trying to understand, “I didn’t mean any of my soldiers would literally fight for you …as if you were a prize of a brutal contest.”

The woman attempts to wipe away the tears, “No, that’s not what I meant …not fighting for me.  I am already married.  It’s just that with all the fighting, each soldier’s wife could soon find herself without a husband.  No one is challenging our borders …why must we go outside the kingdom, looking for the next fight?”

The King attempts to defend his stance, “No one may be challenging us now, but if we appear weak to them …well, that could all too quickly change.”

The woman seeks his understanding, “I know that you truly loved the previous king’s daughter …and besides being common knowledge that he chased you all over the country, it’s also no secret that during that time he gave your wife to another man. And though no one would dare say it in front of you, I dare say we all know that you and your armies killed many men …and on occasion, when you killed a supposed enemy, you felt guilty when a couple women were left without their husbands, and no child.  You also took those women as your wives …so, was it perhaps out of your kindness, to make up for their loss?  And how do you view the wives of your own soldiers?  Do you also feel compassion for us.  When our husbands die in battle, will you take all of us as your wives also?”

The King turns away for only a moment, then turns back to her, “If I make a habit of this, I will have no army to defend our kingdom …but, I will make an exception for you.  I will call for your husband …and tell him he has served me well, but now he shall raise you a family, and you can both work for me here in the castle.”

The woman’s tears return, “I appreciate your concern, and what you are willing to do, but it will not work.”

The King is assertive, “Of course it will work …if the King commands something, it will be carried out.”

The woman continues to cry, “That’s not what I mean.  I know my husband …how loyal he is.  He is so dedicated to the fight, if he is called back, he will still not sleep with me.  He will beg to go back, and he is so committed to the fight …he will eventually die, and will leave me with no child.”

The King insists, “Please don’t cry …it is my weak point, seeing any woman cry.  How could your husband possibly ignore you, if I called him back and told him to go to you? What can he imagine we all are fighting for?  We fight so all women and children can hold within them the hope of having peace and safety.  You are the reason we fight …how can we ignore the very ones that we are fighting for?”

The woman continues to cry, “I don’t know why he doesn’t understand that …but, he doesn’t.”

The King rests a comforting hand, and dries her tears with his robe, “Perhaps he would understand that giving you a child would be preserving our future army …if it’s a boy. And if it’s a girl, perhaps she will be like you …and be able to help educate the rest of us less sensitive soldiers, or kings.”