King David
As we examine the heroes of the faith outlined for us in the Old Testament, we would be hard pressed to find a more faithful man that King David. After the death of King Saul, David became the King of the Hebrew people. David, who was meek and pious, steadfastly believed in the true God and tried to do His will. He had endured much persecution from Saul and other enemies but did not become bitter, did not lift his hand against Saul, as he was the Lord’s anointed, but placed all his hope in God, and the Lord delivered him from all his enemies. So could it be possible that such a great man of God could be guilty of such terrible sins as adultery and murder? We need only read the book of 2 Solomon chapters 11-13 to see that it is not only possible, but indeed fact. King David was responsible for many sins that would be detestable in the eyes of God. His story shows us that no matter how great a person is in the eyes of both man, and God, no one is without sin. Despite this flawless reign on a national level, David had many problems in his personal life. One day while the men were at war, David spied a beautiful woman, Bathsheba, from a rooftop. He discovered that she was married to Uriah the Hittite, but this did not stop him from sending for her and getting her pregnant. When he saw her, David sent his servant to go and retrieve her to him, and David proceeded to convince her to lie with him. He then recalled Uriah from battle and pretended that Uriah was the father of Bathsheba’s baby. Uriah refused to go home to his wife, so David sent Uriah to the front lines of battle, where he was killed. David then married Bathsheba. When confronted by Nathan the prophet, David admitted his sin. In punishment, Bathsheba’s child died and David was cursed with the promise of a rebellion from within his own house. Bathsheba and David soon conceived a second son, Solomon. Here we see David in his first major fall from grace. King David accomplished a great evil, a two-fold