ISRL News Release - King David's Speech
By William H Smith, World Magazine
My fellow countrymen, I have requested this airtime
on ISRL to speak to you about questions regarding my relationship to a
woman you've heard a lot about in recent months. I mean, of course, my
newest wife Bathsheba. You may have wondered about our marriage so soon
after the death of one our national heroes, her late husband Uriah. Many
rumors have been spread concerning the tragic death of our son shortly
after his birth. As you well can imagine, this has been a painful time
for me and my family.
I acknowledge that there was something inappropriate
about my relationship with this woman before our marriage. I realize that
my silence coupled with my previous statements may concern you. My assertion
that I did not have sexual relations with my wife before our marriage was
technically correct (for she was not my wife before our marriage). I was
also correct when I affirmed that when Uriah was killed in battle I had
nothing to doo with it, because the battle orders were issued by General
Joab. I, however, did not volunteer to reveal any information. You may feel
you have been misled.
There are reasons for my silence and my previous
statements. For one thing, I did not see any reason I should suffer
public embarrassment by revelations about one of my personal relationships.
I have also been concerned about the impact of this information on my other
wives and children. And I did not feel it proper for anyone to cast a shadow
over my latest marriage or the sorrow of a recently widowed woman I have tried
to comfort.
But there is another reason, and it is the cause of the
anger you discern in my voice and my demeanor tonight. I have had enough of
that meddling, investigative, and judgmental prophet Nathan. What happened
between Bathsheba and me should have remained a matter to be handled within
the royal family - and it would have if Nathan had not burst uninvited into
my palace and tricked me, by taking advantage of my compassionate nature, into
saying things better left unsaid.
You need to know that this prophet Nathan is mean-spirited.
In addition to exposing my private life, he has heartlessly announced "judgments",
short-term and long-term, for my mistake. You won't believe this, but he says
the death of our son was the result of what he calls "my sin." Can you imagine
the anguish this has caused grieving parents?
He also has the audacity to predict that, while I may be
forgiven, I must live with the consequences of my actions for the rest of my
life. He says my family will always experience conflict and that I will be
humiliated "in broad daylight" for what I did "in secret." All this after I
replaced a failed king, united the country, defeated its enemies, and moved
the ark to Jerusalem. What kind of man is this?
Enough is enough. This matter is between me and my family
and our God. It is not the business of the prophet or anyone else. It will be
settled within our family and in the privacy of our personal consciences.
I'm sure you agree. Which of the elders of Israel or which
of you could stand up under the scrutiny of a prying prophet like Nathan?
Citizens, and yes, even kings, have a right to privacy.
It is time to move on. My family and I need time to heal
from the tragedies we've experienced and from the unmerciful probing of this
prophet. As a nation we need to deal with the current threats of the Philistines
and Ammonites, to deepen our national unity, and to build on the prosperity I've
brought you during my reign.
I am confident of your understanding and support. You and I
are flawed people. What we need is not confrontation and condemnation by priggish
prophets. Let us forgive each other, feel each other's pain, and sympathetically
help each other deal with the many arbitrary and unwelcome providences that disturb
our personal peace.
Goodnight and God bless us, as we so richly deserve.