The Bible reading plan I’m following landed in 1 Chronicles 20 today. Verse one felt familiar:

At the turn of the year, the season when kings go out to war, Joab led out the army and devastated the land of the Ammonites. He went and besieged Rabbah, while David remained in Jerusalem. Joab smote Rabbah and left it in ruins.

I kept reading the chapter, subtitled, “Clearing Out the Giants,” in which all the Ammonite cities were subdued, there was war with the Philistines and Goliath’s brothers were killed: “… they fell by the hand of David and his servants” (v. 8).

This passage recalls victory, conquest and success. There was peace and prosperity. But…

But then I turned to the other account which reads,

Now it came to pass at the turn of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his officials with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the children of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem. One evening David rose from his bed and strolled on on the roof of the royal palace. Then from the roof he saw a woman washing–a very beautiful woman. So David sent someone to inquire about the woman, and he reported, “Isn’t this Bath-sheba, daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”

Then David sent messengers and took [Bathsheba] when she came to him, and he lay with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness). Then she returned to her house. (2 Samuel 11:1-4)

The story continues, as we know it does. Here are some questions to consider:

Who knew what David did? The messengers; the servants. Bathsheba. God. Perhaps the city watchman.

Who didn’t know what David did? The men who were at war. The people of the city. Those sleeping in the palace.

Who needed to know? Uriah. The priests. David’s advisors.

Who/What prevented them from knowing? David.

What did others see? Victory. Conquest. Success.

What was really happening? Failure to take personal responsibility. Lust. Sexual Immorality. Impurity. Indecency. Jealousy. Selfish Ambition. Disobedience. Idolatry. Adultery. Rape. Deceit. Murder.

So if there were no witnesses, was it a sin? If we were to apply the New Testament approach, who are Bathsheba’s witnesses? Would she have a voice in our local churches, even today? In truth, Bathsheba was silenced and isolated by gender, geography, social constructs, practical and economic limitations. This is the reality–even now, in America and around the world. Church discipline, in this and similar situations, is preposterous. She may have witnesses of her character, but if the requirement is that someone else can witness to the event, justice will never be done. Although the instruction of Matthew 18:15-18 is good, right and true when individuals of equal standing sin against each other, it does not (cannot) apply to situations where there is an imbalance of resources and power (position).

The more important question is, “How did God interpret the situation?”

Now when the wife of Uriah heard that her husband Uriah had died, she mourned over her husband. When the time of mourning was over, David sent someone who brought her to his palace. So she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done was evil in ADONAI’s eyes. Then ADONAI sent Nathan to David. (2 Sam. 11:26-12:1).

Be a Nathan. Be someone God speaks to, someone who listens to and hears the voice of God, someone who is willing to confront evil, someone who loves each individual, someone who is courageous. Confronting the situation won’t change what’s already happened, but it provides an opportunity for repentance, for restitution, for God’s grace and favor. Speak truth. Represent ADONAI accurately. Be an image bearer that is a true and faithful reflection of our Creator, Sustainer, and Savior.