Day 119: The birth of Solomon

David has to do something unfamiliar today: repent.

Nathan’s parable and David’s confession
2 Samuel 12:1-15
His prayer for forgiveness
Psalm 51, 32, 38
God’s love and mercy
Psalm 103
David’s intercession
2 Samuel 12:16
His prayer for help
Psalm 6
David’s child dies
2 Samuel 12:17-23
Solomon’s birth
2 Samuel 12:24-25

Thinking about this story, it occurs to me that David is rescued now by his righteous behaviour of the past. He didn’t surround himself with yes-men, instead there’s a man there with the integrity and courage to tell the king the truth about himself. Take a bow, Nathan, you are a hero.
David is shattered. To his credit he admits his sin, and today’s Psalms sing of guilt and sorrow and repentance. Also of God’s grace - David knows he doesn’t deserve to be forgiven, but God is merciful. “he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:10-12)
But things are not completely back to how they were before. There will be shame and disgrace to come, the child of David’s union with Bathsheba dies, even though David prays for him desperately. But he gets to keep Bathsheba, and God’s favourite son is born to her - Solomon.