My Lottery Dream Home
One Year Bible May 26, 2022
2 Samuel 9:1-11:27
My Lottery Dream Home
“You’re a millionaire! You’re a millionaire!” You Deserve It!
What a great show this is to remind us of the principle of ENTITLEMENT.
You didn’t earn it. You just receive it. Ready or not…
Today’s passage shows two recipients of the big lottery, for ‘Better’ or for ‘Worse’! (And it will be in that order).
First, there is a boy who is crippled in both feet. He goes from not being able to “stand on his own two feet” to sitting nightly at the King’s own dining room table. He goes from “rags to riches” overnight! He is now treated as a son of the King!
Who is this young man? He is the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul. He was injured when his family fled, and dropped by his servant. His name is Mephibosheth and David shows kindness to him because of the oath he made to his friend and brother, Jonathan.
David had been like a son to Saul and a brother to Jonathan. He too sat at the king’s own table, and he feels in his heart like part of the family. He is still married to one of the king’s daughters, Michal.
So, he welcomes Mephibosheth into his family. Not only that, he gives to Jonathan’s crippled son all of Saul’s land and property.
Overnight, the son of Jonathan has just won his Lottery Dream Home!
There is a second person whose life was changed in a moment. She too was randomly chosen and becomes part of palace life. Her name is Bathsheba. Does this sound familiar?
Her name says it all, “BATH-SHE-BAAAAAA!” Got it?
She will forever be remembered as “the beautiful woman on the patio taking a bath that lured David”. I have heard this version of the story most of my life, but is this really the way it happened?
Let’s take a look, “One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace,. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her.…” (2 Samuel 11:2)
Who was on the roof? The verse tells us that the king arose from his bed and he walked on the roof of his palace. He saw the woman “from his roof”. (Peeping Tom. I mean, David.)
Was the woman also out taking a bath “On Her Roof”?
We can learn two important things about her “Bath”. It was a ceremonial washing ritual that is still observed by Orthodox Jews today. Bathsheba was following the law of Moses, which required her to wash monthly (after her period for ceremonial cleansing). This was to return her to a spirit of purity to create life.
While Bathsheba was cleansing herself ceremonially to please God’s commands, David was looking upon her to break God’s commands.
Secondly, when David summoned Bathsheba to come to him, couldn’t she just say, “Thanks, but no thanks”, Oh King, sir. According to the laws of that day, Bathsheba could not have resisted had she desired, for women in ancient times were completely subject to the king’s will. Perhaps, she could have chosen disobedience with the risk of death instead.
Lastly, we find no place in the entire Bible where the judges or prophets of God put any blame on Bathsheba. She bowed to the authority over her though he was completely in the wrong. She wept at her husband’s murder, and she lost her child conceived with David to death.
Nathan, the prophet, likened Bathsheba to a “little ewe lamb” that was stolen from her poor master and slaughtered. She was viewed as innocent and the sin and resulting heartache were squarely placed on David’s shoulders.
This indeed is the “Worst” segment in the life of David. It is heartbreaking and it will change the fabric of his family’s life, FOREVER!
“In the spring of the year,” when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites… However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.”
Why do you think David stayed behind?
In this period of time, men had many wives and concubines. David had a palace filled with all the comforts a person could want and then some… (More women than anyone could possibly need!)
Why did he feel the need to take this woman, Bathsheba (who was married to a Uriah, the Hittite, an officer, one of "David’s Mighty Men”)?
Please, write your comments and questions. I would truly love to hear your thoughts. We will be looking at the outcome of his decision more tomorrow.
In closing, let me just ask you something. Have you ever thought about how your life would be different if you could just win that lottery ticket?
Would you like to hear those words, “You’re a Millionaire!” “You’re a Millionaire!”? Or the words, “You Deserve it”?
Many people are totally addicted to “getting something for nothing”. David’s “Something” left him with a huge loss in his heart, and there was NOTHING he could do to undo what he had done!
He had played the lottery and LOST! Entitlement, what a hidden trap…
‘My Lottery Dream Home’. “I want it and I deserve it”. What could possibly go wrong?
