How David's Greatest Sin Led to His Salvation?
A story of Two Nathans
David's greatest shame led to his own salvation. He was called a man after God's own heart (insert reference). David united the kingdom of Israel, serving as the leader God’s people needed from the beginning. He was a man of prayer and praise.
Yet, despite his power, prestige, and piety, David fell into grievous and deadly sin. In summary, he committed adultery with a married woman, attempted to cover it up with lies, and ultimately had her husband murdered to conceal his actions. Although David could hide his sin from the people, he could not hide it from God. Nathan the prophet was sent to confront him.
2 Samuel 12:1-7 (ESV):
"And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, 'There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.' Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, 'As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.' Nathan said to David, 'You are the man!'"
When most people hear this story, they stop at Psalm 51, the psalm that David wrote in repentance for his heinous sin. However, buried deep within the genealogies of 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, and Luke 3, we find several important truths. David married Bathsheba and provided for her and her children, the most famous of whom is Solomon, who would go on to be the wise king of Israel. Yet, the son born after Solomon plays a vital, albeit small, role in salvation history.
Matthew and Luke present both sides of Jesus' genealogy: Matthew traces the lineage through his adopted father, Joseph, while Luke traces it through Mary. These two genealogies are quite similar until David. Matthew's genealogy follows the royal line of David, while Luke's genealogy diverges to trace through Nathan, another son of David.
The Curse
The Davidic line was subject to a curse in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of Jeremiah 22:30. In this verse, God pronounces a curse on Jeconiah (also known as Jehoiachin), a king of Judah, stating that no descendant of his would sit on the throne of David:
Jeremiah 22:30 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not succeed in his days, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah."
Implications of the Curse
This curse raises questions about the legitimacy of Jesus as the Messiah, given that he was a descendant of David through Joseph, who was, in turn, a descendant of Jeconiah. However, this is where the distinction between Matthew's and Luke's genealogies becomes significant:
Matthew's Genealogy: Traces Jesus' legal lineage through Joseph, showing his connection to the Davidic line but also incorporating the curse through Jeconiah.
Luke's Genealogy: Is often thought to trace Jesus' lineage through Mary, thereby providing a biological connection to David without the curse.
Theological Resolution
Christian theologians often resolve the tension created by the curse by affirming that Jesus is not a biological descendant of Jeconiah through Joseph, as Joseph is not his biological father. This understanding preserves Jesus' status as the legitimate heir to the Davidic throne while also circumventing the curse placed upon Jeconiah's line.
David's Salvation
The Bible is clear that all those who are forgiven of their sins, as David pleaded for (insert Psalm 51 verse), are forgiven because of the accomplished work of Christ in his life, death, and resurrection. The promised Messiah descended from the line of David symbolically through Joseph and physically through Mary. Thus, He fully fulfilled the promise of God and was not under the curse of physical offspring. He came as the true Son of David and the true means of salvation—not only for David but for sinful people like you and me.