While his troops are away, King David spots and seduces Bathsheba, wife of one of his soldiers, Uriah. Bathsheba becomes pregnant. David tries to cover up what he has done by bringing Uriah home; but Uriah refuses to be with his wife while others are still fighting. So, David sends Uriah back to the battlefield, instructing his commander to use him where he is most likely to be killed – and he is.

David has gone from shepherd boy to king – he has arrived at the position to which God had called him. However, now he is king he has full freedom of action – and, in the same way that his heroism previously led to freedom for others, now his sin will result in the suffering of other people. Often, we focus on our own suffering, but God’s justice insists we look also at those who hurt us and those impacted by our own choices.