2 Samuel 12:14
Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
The verse is Nathan's sentence upon David after his adultery with Bathsheba and his ordering Joab to abandon Uriah in the hottest battle so he would fall by the Ammonites. David's sincere repentance put away his sin so swift judgment would not fall on himself, yet justice required that the death he deserved be transferred to the child of his sin, whose suffering and death became David's bitter punishment. Forgiveness spared his life but did not excuse his crimes or remove every consequence, which was further accomplished in his sons' crimes, Absalom's rebellion, and Shimei's cursing. The reason given is that his deed dishonored the Lord who had favored him, misrepresented God's character, lowered the standard of godliness, and gave enemies of truth occasion to heap scorn on believers. That occasion continues through successive generations, as unbelievers point in triumph to the stain on the man after God's own heart, blaspheme God and His word, harden souls in unbelief, and grow bold in sin under a cloak of piety.
Setting and Sentence
The verse belongs to the account of David's adultery and his murder of Uriah, in which Uriah himself carried his own death-warrant from David to Joab. The order commanded Joab to set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle and then retire from him, that he might be struck down and die. Joab, already guilty of one wanton murder, obeyed without hesitation, and Uriah fell by the sword of the children of Ammon.
It stands after Joab sent David an account of the execution of the order, worded carefully so as not to implicate either Joab or the king. Joab instructed the messenger, if the king's wrath arose at the report, to add that Uriah the Hittite was dead also. David then answered that the sword devours one as well as another, and told Joab to make the battle stronger against the city and overthrow it. At this time David had departed from God and yielded himself to the wicked one, becoming for the time the agent of Satan while still holding the position and authority God had given him. He used that God-given position to claim an obedience that would imperil the soul of him who yielded it, and Joab, whose allegiance was to the king rather than to God, transgressed God's law because the king commanded it. Power given by God is to be exercised only in harmony with the divine law, and when what is commanded is contrary to God's law it becomes sin to obey.
The verse belongs to Nathan's reproof, whose faithful portrayal of David's true condition made David aware of his sins and helped him put them away. David accepted the counsel humbly and bowed before God's chastisement. His sin was put away so that he himself would not die by swift judgment, yet justice had to be maintained, so the sentence of death deserved by David was transferred to the child of his sin. The suffering and death of the child was part of David's punishment and gave him opportunity for repentance, and to David it was far more bitter than his own death would have been. The reason given was that by his deed he had given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.
Forgiveness Yet Punished
Sincere repentance and confession brought David forgiveness and spared his life from part of the threatened calamity, yet it did not remove every consequence, for he was still punished by losing the child born of his sin. The Lord forgave David when he sincerely repented, while still punishing his transgression in the death of the child. That punishment stands as proof that God did not excuse or justify David's crimes, though he had once been called a man after God's own heart. The later public reproach that falsely claims God justified those crimes and uses it to attack the Bible is therefore contrary to the meaning of the sentence, which instead shows God did not excuse his sin.
The predicted punishment was further accomplished in the hardships that followed, including the crimes of his sons and Absalom's rebellion. The cursing and stoning by Shimei the Benjamite during David's flight from Absalom was part of that predicted punishment being accomplished. David recognized and openly acknowledged before his people and chief men that Shimei's cursing was part of God's predicted correction, bore the reproach with humility as correction from God, and trusted that if he endured it humbly the Lord would lessen his affliction and turn the curse into a blessing. This disposition to receive correction and to make God his only trust proves a converted experience in the things of God. God rewarded that humble endurance by defeating the counsel of Ahithophel and preserving David's life.
Occasion to Blaspheme
The conduct of God's people can give their enemies occasion to blaspheme God and heap scorn on believers in the truth. The sins of leaders carry greater accountability because of their influence, for they can make wrongdoing seem less serious to the people and can lead other nations to dishonor God. That same influence means even a later sin that is sincerely repented of can still embolden the people to transgress God's commandments, and brings punishment upon the leader.
David's deed toward Bathsheba and Uriah became known with time and raised suspicion that he had planned Uriah's death, dishonoring the Lord who had favored and exalted him. The deed misrepresented God's character and cast reproach on His name. For the sake of Israel God had to interpose, because the sin lowered the standard of godliness in Israel, lessened the abhorrence of sin in many minds, and emboldened those who did not love and fear God to transgress.
The occasion thus given continues through successive generations, as unbelievers point to the dark stain on David's character and cry in triumph and derision that this is the man after God's own heart. By this reproach is brought upon religion, and God and His word are blasphemed. Souls are hardened in unbelief, and many become bold in sin under a cloak of piety.
Giving this occasion darkened David's character and brought reproach on God and on God's name. By forsaking God's teachings and violating God's will David sullied a once-fair reputation and brought retribution upon himself. This consequence remained a source of grief to David, and his later sorrow over his sins reflects the lasting harm of a leader's wrongdoing and its enduring grief and sorrow.
Even with pure motives, failing to abstain from all appearance of evil gives the enemies of faith cause to blaspheme. Being often alone in company and conversation with another man's wife before she leaves her husband causes believers and unbelievers to judge, and unbelievers put their own construction on it, especially after the death of one's own wife. Marrying her afterward brings a reproach upon oneself and upon the cause that a whole future life cannot wipe away.