"Bathsheba", 1889, by Jean-Leon Gerome.
I have spent a fair amount of time trying to view this scene from the perspective of the angels.
We tend to view this scene from our natural perspective, but also busily working, hidden from our view, is God, his angels, Satan, and his dastardly minions.
Layer upon all that God's sovereignty, and we have a scene that will leave us scratching our heads until the resurrection.
Clearly the seeds of sin had been growing in the heart of David, all while he is enjoying the great blessings of God. Remember, this is the man whose heart is very pleasing to God. I suppose with all the wives, and concubines, David had developed quite a sexual appetite.
And here, in this scene, we find David presented with the forbidden fruit as it were. Satan had no doubt been laying this trap for years. Tragically, with one forbidden act of sinful passion, we find the beginning of David's decline, and with it the great pain (curses of God?) that will follow David the rest of his life. Perhaps his greatest pain found in God's refusal to let David build the Temple.
It doesn't take a great deal of imagination to understand the adultery. Yet David's irresponsible use of his power to commit murder, and attempt to cover his tracks is quite surprising.
Was Satan using the riches, the beautiful women, the power, and man's ego to bring down this man of God?
Was there a scene in heaven similar to Job, where Satan appeals to God to allow this temptation? If so, what does that all mean?
Isn't is surprising that God continually uses great sin to accomplish his will? Remember, out of this sinful act will come Solomon, and the blood-line to Messiah! Who can plumb the depths of this?
