David's Heart

'King David Enthroned', by Jerry Harston

My wife and I have been working on a question. To keep up our Spanish-speaking skills we have been reading scriptures in that language together for many years. Over the past month or so we wrapped up the part of the Old Testament that covers the period of King David, King Solomon, and those that followed immediately after them when the kingdoms of Judah and Israel were divided. We were struck by the profound negative affect David had through his poor choices concerning Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah. Despite these deeply sinful acts many of the later scriptures reprimand his descendants saying something along the lines of their heart was not right before God as His servant David all the days of his life. Of course, we were puzzled by this expression knowing his choice of adultery followed by deceit in trying to have Uriah spend time with Bathsheba so the resulting child would be thought to be Uriah’s. When that approach failed he had Uriah sent to the front lines where the battle was the hottest. The desired result was achieved. Uriah was killed, and David took the widow as another of his long line of wives.

These acts don’t sit well with the idea of David’s heart being 'right' before God. Then over the past few weeks in Come Follow Me we have been studying the life of the apostle Paul (originally Saul). Here again is another example of one who assisted in the stoning of Christians only to repent through miraculous means to become a great missionary to the gentiles. This leads to other examples such as Alma the elder and Alma the younger, as well as the sons of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon. In a few future posts I’ll attempt to share just a few of the small insights conversations between my wife and I have brought about. Do good deeds and a repentant heart somehow counteract former grievous acts and attitudes? How does the Atonement apply under such stark circumstances? I doubt I have many answers, but maybe a simple thought or two.