Women in the lineage of Jesus

Bathsheba - transforming the impact of other’s sin

Date: December 16, 2024
WARNING: This content may be triggering for people with traumatic sexual experiences. 

Dive in and Read: 2 Samuel 11; Matthew 1:6

Opening prayer: [Eph 1:18-20 NASB20] 18 [I pray that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. [These are] in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly [places,]

Discover: Matthew lists five women in the lineage of Jesus Christ in chapter 1. As we study these amazing women together, may we see no matter how we view ourselves, Jesus redeems our stories and they become part of His. Let’s continue with Bathsheba.

Bathsheba is listed in Matthew 1:6 as Uriah’s wife; mother of King Solomon. As you re-read her story in 2 Samuel 11, explore it from the lens of a nameless, voiceless, and powerless woman. This is in direct contradiction to our two previous stories of Rahab and Ruth. Both these women were in positions where they were named, heard and made decisions that empowered their future. Bathsheba, however, was a woman who survived the choices forced upon her by another’s sin. God connects her humble, gentle story with Jesus’ Kingdom of loyal love and faithfulness.

Again, Bathsheba’s story is immersed in the ancient patriarchal culture. Due to the imbalance of power between King David and Bathsheba, there could not have been mutual consent to a romantic or sexual relationship. This story is filled with imbalances and contrast between 2 ways of living. King David was a powerful conquering King with all authority over Israel and its inhabitants and property. In this part of David’s story, we see his life choices breaking five of the ten commandments in Exodus 20: coveting/lust, adultery, false testimony, violent death/murder and misrepresenting the authority given to David under Yahweh’s name.

In contrast, overview Bathsheba’s position and life. She is lower in status by being female and the wife of a top military officer (counted among King David’s 30 mighty men). Both those status gave her no authority over herself. When King David saw Bathsheba, she was conducting a Jewish traditional ritual of purifying herself after she had completed her menstrual cycle. This meant she was a loyal follower of Yahweh, Israel’s God. She was discreet in the ritual within the privacy of her own home and at night. She had no option except death if she refused her King’s summon. She was the recipient of someone else’s sin for no reason or cause of her own. She had no voice or control over her situation. YET. God chose her son, Solomon to inherit the throne. God promised that someone from the line of David would reside on His throne forever. God had plenty to choose from as King David had 19 other sons from multiple other women. However, Bathsheba’s lineage was the one who Jesus descended from. God saw her plight. He saw her pain, suffering, loss, hardship. He exalted her humble circumstance as part of Jesus' story forever.

Our story is Bathsheba’s story. We are often unnamed, unheard and under the effect of other people’s choices who are in authority over us. Until Jesus invites us into His family and gives us His protection, provision and a purpose. Jesus transforms our unjust pain and suffering into life giving grace. We are seen and heard because our King Jesus lives!

Deeper Connection: How does viewing Bathsheba’s story as an imbalance of power and authority change our understanding of her? How do we carry the power we have over others who are more vulnerable or under our authority in the same manner as  Jesus?  How can Jesus transform our experiences of betrayed sacred trust between a leader and one under their care?