The night had given way to the sun, dispelling every sign of darkness. It was the longest night that Bathsheba could remember in all her life. She got out of bed and walked towards the tub. Her mind was ruminating over the events that had taken place just a few hours ago. She relived the night in her mind, from the instant she heard a knock on her door, to the hour she was escorted back home in the dark from the royal palace of king David.
She washed in hyssop water, thinking that the warm medicinal water would serve as cleansing potion to relieve her from the stain of guilt imprinted deep in her heart. "Could this be called seduction or rape?" she thought to herself. "Or could what I am feeling now be the result of my own desires?" Bathsheba was in the bathtub, bathing, soaking in hot water. She was confused. She was trying to understand what had happened.
She remembered hearing the determined sound of soldiers approaching her love nest. She wondered if it was her husband, Uriah. But how could it be? He had just left for the battlefield. Israel was again at war with the Syrian army. The knocks on her front door persisted. She opened the door. Two of King David's military officers were standing at the doorsteps. They informed her that King David himself had requested a private audience with her. She did not know how to react. Why would the King want to see her? Was Uriah in trouble? Yet she felt a tinge of excitement at being summoned by the king. She put a dark shawl over her back to protect her from the cold air and followed the officers to the palace. She was expecting the worse. Uriah must have been killed by the Syrian army.
Bathsheba felt at ease once she found herself in the presence of the king. David assured her that everything was fine with Uriah. David did not hesitate in communicating his intent in having her brought to the palace. It had happened so fast that she did not know what to make out of the whole situation. "How could have I refused the king," she thought. "He is so powerful!" She vacillated between fear and flattery. She could not put her finger on exactly what she was feeling. The emotions were running wild and deep within her. She wanted to wash away what had happened. She could not understand what would have happened if she would have refused the king. "Did he use his authority and position to force me into something I did not want to do? Was it my fault for not refusing to run away from his embrace? Or was it truly my heart's desire to be embraced by the king?" she asked herself. Bathsheba was confused. It had happened so fast. She could not make any sense of it all.
King David had violated the law of God. They both deserved death. Bathsheba felt the sting of guilt. Would she be able to tell Uriah what had happened? Would she be killed by David's men if she reported it? It was her word against the king. How could she explain it? She scrubbed at the invisible stains on her skin - aware of her sin and wanting to remove all evidence. As she was thinking of what would happen in the future, her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door. Thump, thump! Thump, thump! "Was it David's men coming to take me back to the palace?" she wondered. She felt torn. Or was it Uriah? Frightened and scared, Bathsheba got out of the bathtub not knowing exactly what to do.
A VIEW FROM THE TUB - STUDY NOTES
Objectives
A. To explore the dynamics and personal consequences of sexual infidelity.
B. To identify how the contemporary church deals with people involved in sexual infidelity.
C. To develop a theological response to dealing with people involved in sexual infidelity.
A Different View Of Adultery?
In life we tend to view the world through the lenses colored by our own experiences. Our world views are defined by many different factors such as: class, education, race, gender, cultural mores, religious beliefs, sexuality, and ideologies. Our case study forces us to deal with the issue of sexual infidelity from a female perspective. We must fully understand the issues a woman has to face as a result of an adulterous affair. Force yourself to understand effects of infidelity.
A. Describe the similar consequences that males and females share as a result of affairs.
B. Compare and contrast the consequences of affairs for males and females.
Analyzing The Case Study
A. What are the issues with which Bathsheba and David are struggling?
B. How would Bathsheba define her sexual infidelity?
C. How does the biblical account describe what happened to Bathsheba in her encounter with King David? (2 Samuel 11:1-27)
A Cultural Perspective
A. Seek to understand how infidelity is viewed from at least three different cultures. Compare and contrast the social consequences of infidelity in your culture, a culture other than your own, and the culture of the text.
B. How is a woman's infidelity viewed in Baghdad, New York, and Amsterdam?
C. Describe the results of your findings.
A Differing World-View Perspective
A. Identify a world view other than your own. Find out how the issue of fidelity is handled? For example, what is a feminist response to the question? What is the perspective from an agnostic or atheist?
B. Clarify and state your understanding of infidelity from a biblical perspective. Give specific biblical responses to the issue.
Integration
A. Are women caught in infidelity treated differently than men?
B. What can the church do to address the issues of social and spiritual marginalization that women face due to infidelity?
C. Was Bathsheba a victim? an accomplice? an instigator?
D. Was David a victim? an accomplice? an instigator?
Application
A. How should the church deal with church leaders who victimize their parishioners through sexual contact?
B. Suggest a response a Board of Elders should take with a woman who has had an affair with her pastor. Give ample biblical evidence to support your response.
